Congressional Briefs: Cummings, Kilpatrick, Lee, Lewis, Norton, Obama, Tubbs

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Publisher

July 29, 2007, 5:20 p.m. - Rep. Carolyn C. Kilpatrick (D-MI), chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, last week released the following about the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007:

"I am most proud of the Congressional Black Caucus of the 110th Congress. Since the commencement of this Congress, CBC Members have helped draft and pass legislation which supports our commitment to America. The passage of this bill represents a sizeable victory for American families, particularly female heads of households. This bill will help build healthier and stronger families, by improving nutrition and access to affordable dietary options. The bill boosts funding for renewable energy programs by 600 percent, encourages the production of renewable energy and, ultimately, energy independence."

H.R. 2419, the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007, offers significant improvements to the Food Stamp Program, 1890 land-grant institutions, and improves access to programs for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers. This bill also includes language to address outstanding claims from African American farmers through the case Pigford v. Veneman.

"This farm bill is a reasonable approach to securing the nation's food and fiber supply," said Homeland Security Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS). "Chairman Colin Peterson has worked in good faith with a diverse cross-section of Members to ensure that a respectable balance is restored to our agricultural programs, including those intended to increase conservation efforts."

The CBC worked closely with Agricultural Committee Chairman Peterson to include key provisions:

* Raising the minimum authorization level for 1890s extension;
* Allowing deserving Pigford claimants an opportunity to have their cases heard to redress civil rights abuses against Black Farmers;
* Mandatory funding of section 2501 Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Outreach Program;
* Raising the minimum authorization level of Evens-Allen for 1890s research;
* Raising the Standard Deduction and Minimum Benefit for Food Stamps for the first time in 20 and 30 years, respectively;
* Food Stamps indexed with the TRUE cost of living;
* Lifting the $175 dependent child care cap in Food Stamps, allowing families to deduct ALL of their childcare expenses.

In addition to allocating necessary resources to the existing nutrition program, the bill addresses funding for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). "The Farm Bill reauthorization legislation provides many strong and positive steps toward addressing unmet needs of minorities," said Congressman G. K. Butterfield (D-NC). "From providing additional resources to HBCU's to ensuring access to assistance for socially disadvantaged farmers, to bolstering our nutritional programs for children to increasing opportunities for buying farmland, this bill addresses a great number of important needs."

Congressman Bobby Rush (D-IL), added, "Far too many of our constituents suffer from poor health because they lack access to fresh produce. The consequences range from diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other lifestyle maladies. That is why, the CBC worked to reauthorize the $25-billion farm subsidy system."

The Congressional Black Caucus, 42 Members from 21 states, representing 40 million Americans will continue to confront the crises that impact our legacy. "This is a remarkable piece of work. Members of the CBC played a critical leadership role in putting together a comprehensive bill to support healthy families," remarked Congressman David Scott (D-GA).

Norton Gets UDC in Farm Bill, Introduces Prostate Cancer Bill

Washington, DC- Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) last week won a major victory for the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) with House passage of the Farm, Nutrition, and Bioenergy Act of 2007 (Farm Bill), which includes Norton provisions enabling UDC's valuable urban agricultural research and extension services to be eligible for millions of dollars in federal grants and other benefits.  "These changes are a breakthrough in equal treatment for the nation's only urban land grant institution," Norton said.  Currently, UDC is left out of numerous funding opportunities open to similar institutions.  For example, the University is required to provide 100 percent matching funds for its Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Programs, unlike all other small land grant institutions.  UDC will now have access to grants to significantly upgrade the University's teaching, research and extension programs and facilities, as a result of provisions Norton negotiated into the bill with Agricultural Committee Chairman Collin Peterson (D-MN).  Norton also got the Congressional Black Caucus to put the UDC provisions in the CBC farm bill package to underscore the importance of the UDC changes based on equal treatment.  UDC's Cooperative Extension programs provide pesticide safety training and licensing for professionals; water quality education and monitoring and gardening assistance for D.C. homeowners; and resources for teachers to integrate agriculture in the classroom; among other services.

Norton has long fought for equal treatment for the District's only state university.  In 1999, when Norton's D.C. tuition assistance grant bill (DCTAG) was passed, she insisted that Congress also give UDC the long-sought Historically Black College and University (HBCU) federal funding status for its undergraduate programs that had always been denied. Earlier this year the Congresswoman introduced a bill to extend HBCU funding to UDC's qualified graduate programs.

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BIPARTISAN PROPOSAL TO REQUIRE FEDERAL CONTRACTORS TO PAY TAXES PASSES SENATE 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Barack Obama (D-IL), Bob Casey (D-PA), Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) last week lauded the Senate’s passage of their amendment to the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Appropriations bill that would withhold federal homeland security contracts from companies and grantees that have not paid their federal taxes.  According to studies by the Government Accountability Office (GAO), thousands of federal agency contractors owe billions of dollars in unpaid taxes.  This amendment will withhold large DHS contracts from businesses and organizations that failed to file tax returns and were delinquent on payroll taxes for a significant period of time.   

“Our government should not reward companies that fail to pay their taxes with federal contracts,” said Senator Obama.  “Working Americans don’t get a free pass if they are unable to pay their taxes when they are due, and corporations shouldn’t either.  This amendment will ensure that corporations that receive taxpayer funding play by the rules, and it will increase transparency and accountability over how our money is spent.” 

“The fact that these contractors continue to receive millions of dollars in federal contracts despite having unpaid tax bills is unacceptable,” said Senator Casey.  “If you don’t pay taxes, you can’t get a taxpayer-funded contract.  I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for recognizing the importance of holding these contractors accountable so that we can reduce the abuse of the tax system.” 

"The notion that we should reward companies who fail to pay taxes is hugely misguided," Senator Durbin said. "Billions in unpaid taxes from thousands of federal contractors, and the inability for agencies to take action is unacceptable and we need to put a stop to it." 

Representative Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) originally introduced the Federal Contractor Accountability Act (H.R. 1986) in the House of Representatives in April.

In numerous studies, the GAO found that thousands of General Services Administration (GSA) contractors maintained tax debts totaling over $3 billion.  Many of these businesses failed to forward payroll taxes withheld from their employees and other taxes to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).  Failure to submit payroll taxes is a felony under the law.  Moreover, some companies even redirected payroll taxes for personal gain.  These companies were contractors for the Department of Homeland Security amongst other agencies.

Neither federal law nor GSA policies require federal agencies, like the DHS, to consider tax debts in making contracting decisions.  In fact, current law prohibits the disclosure of taxpayer data, which means there is no mechanism for contracting officers to access the IRS’s tax data when conducting their review of prospective contractors. 

While the government requires agencies to consider various criteria, including financial resources, business ethics, and integrity, tax debt is not considered in the determination.  Without a systematic review process, the federal government ultimately continues to award lucrative contracts to companies with significant tax debt.  This amendment will withhold federal contracts and grants over $5 million from tax delinquent businesses and organizations.

Tubbs Jones Releases Statement on 3rd Anniversary of Darfur Genocide 

Washington, D.C. - Three years ago last week, Congress formally declared that genocide was taking place in Darfur. Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones released this statement regarding her support of ending the genocide in Darfur.  

"For many years now we have seen the devastating atrocities taking place in the Darfur region of Sudan. With the support of the Sudanese government, the Janjaweed militia has ravaged the people of Darfur, raping, torturing, murdering, and forcing hundreds of thousand of Darfuris to flee to refugee camps in neighboring Chad and the Central African Republic.  

"We saw the same devastation in Rwanda over a decade ago, and the American people have made their voices heard on this issue vowing never again to remain silent when humanity is threatened. 

"A few months ago, an event was held in my Congressional district regarding this issue. During the event it was noted that according to www.darfurscores.com I was receiving a grade of 'C' in my support of ending the genocide in Darfur. While it may appear on the surface that I have not been supportive of these efforts, it is important that you know I am in total support of ending the genocide in Darfur.  

"I along with many of my Congressional Black Caucus colleagues including Donald Payne and Barbara Lee were some of the first members of Congress to speak out about this issue. During the last Congress, we specifically addressed this issue with President George W. Bush in a meeting asking him to take immediate action. Additionally, I have co-sponsored and voted in favor of legislation as far back as the 108th Congress regarding this issue. Some of the bills I have supported included a bill for the appointment of a Presidential Special Envoy for Sudan and to prohibit companies that conduct business operations in Sudan from receiving government contracts. Most recently, I voted in favor of legislation calling on the League of Arab States and each Member State to acknowledge the Darfur genocide as well as signed onto a letter to the China government asking them to use their significant economic influence with the government of Sudan to end these crimes against humanity.  

"While I understand that there may be some gaps on paper with regard to my record on this issue, trust that my support for ending the genocide in Darfur has been unwavering. It is my hope that I will be able to work with the people of the 11th Congressional district and across this country to continue to let our voices heard on this issue. I encourage my constituents to contact me with your ideas and resources so we can continue to fight this injustice against humanity."

SENATORS INTRODUCE BILL TO PROVIDE SAFETY NET FOR THE FAMILIES OF WOUNDED SERVICE MEMBERS 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) was last week joined by Senators Claire McCaskill (D-MO), Tom Harkin (D-IA), John Kerry (D-MA), Max Baucus (D-MT) and Joseph R. Biden, Jr. (D-DE) to introduce legislation that would provide up to a full year of job protections for any family member who is caring for a recovering service member at a military medical facility.   

Obama, McCaskill, and Harkin last introduced this legislation as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Act.  This measure – called the Military Family Job Protection Act --would help ensure that military families will not be forced to wonder whether their job will still be there when they get back home and ease the burden on service members who must focus on their own recovery.  This approach was endorsed yesterday by the President’s Commission.   

“When America’s sons and daughters are injured overseas and they return home to begin their recovery, their families should not be forced to choose between caring for a wounded child or keeping their jobs,” said Senator Obama.  “This legislation would provide a safety net that allows families to offer the care that’s necessary for our wounded heroes, easing the burden on the service members.  Providing our service members and their families with the care and compassion they deserve is one thing we can still get right about this war.” 

“Family members should not have to choose between their livelihoods and caring for wounded loved ones and our bill would remove that burden,” Senator McCaskill said.

“Our military families make tremendous sacrifices to ensure our men and women in uniform can protect our nation,” said Senator Harkin. “We must do all we can to protect them as well. This bill would prevent job discrimination and ensure families of service members have peace of mind when they are caring for a wounded loved one. I am proud to support this bill that will ensure the families who support our wounded service members have one less challenge to overcome.” 

“We must support our military families by giving them the time they need to care for their loved ones – our heroes who serve this country,” Senator Kerry said. “Extending the amount of time they can take leave to care for a wounded loved one is the very least we can do to honor their service. The last thing our military families should worry about is whether they are also going to lose their jobs as they care for those who have so honorably served this country.” 

“When our brave men and women serving in uniform are wounded, their families should be focused on helping them recover, not worrying about where their next paycheck is going to come from,” Senator Baucus said. “And this legislation will help ease some of the pain along the road to recovery.” 

"We must ensure that family members of our wounded warriors are not forced to choose between providing care for their loved ones or keeping their jobs,” said Senator Biden.  “The emotional support these family members give their loved ones, along with the personal, medical and convalescent care they provide, is invaluable and goes a long way in a wounded soldier's recovery." 

Many families that are already experiencing financial strains due to the deployment of a loved one face additional financial and employment pressures when that service member returns with severe injuries.  It is not uncommon for a severely injured service member to spend months recovering at facilities like Walter Reed.  There are cases in which family members have had to choose between caring for a loved one and keeping their jobs.  Under the Family Medical Leave Act (FMLA), a family member may only receive 12 covered weeks of leave in a given year to care for a seriously ill family member.   

This legislation will provide employment protections for family members who are carrying for members of the Armed Forces recovering from illnesses and injuries incurred on active duty for up to one year. 

The bill is based on a provision in the Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act (S. 713) that was introduced in February by Senators Obama and McCaskill and has 34 bipartisan cosponsors. 

Rep. John Lewis Supports Fair Payment to All Medicare Insurers

Last week, two health insurance company lobbyists tried to stage a bogus media event outside of Congressman Lewis's district office to scare seniors about proposed changes to the Medicare Advantage program.  Other members of the U.S. House Ways and Means Committee have been subjected to a misinformation campaign launched by health insurance companies to pressure them from voting for changes to the Medicare Advantage program.  When questioned by Lewis staffers yesterday, many of the seniors had no idea who had asked them to come to the so-called rally or why they were there. Some even complained about their Medicare Advantage service.

"This is a shameful attempt to frighten the most vulnerable citizens," said Rep. Lewis, "Seniors have paid their dues and deserve our deepest respect for the service they have given to our society.  They should not have to worry about whether their benefits will be available when they need them, and that is what Congress is trying to insure.  The changes to the Medicare Advantage program we propose will not change seniors' benefits.  They will help preserve the Medicare system and make federal payments to insurance companies fair and equal across the board."

In a series of past legislative efforts, including the controversial Medicare Prescription Drug bill, Congress decided to overpay health insurance companies for enrolling seniors in the Medicare Advantage program.  Health insurance companies were paid 12 percent more, amounting to millions of dollars, as an "incentive" to sign up Medicare patients.  This was a back-door means to privatize Medicare and entice seniors to move from traditional Medicare into private health insurance plans.  In Senate and House Congressional hearings testimony from many parties, including the American Association of Retired People (AARP), independent research conducted by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, the Congressional Budget Office, the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, Families USA, and the Kaiser Family Foundation have all verified that this overpayment is a waste of taxpayer dollars that weakens the Medicare system and increases its insolvency.

The changes to Medicare Advantage that the House Ways & Means Committee will vote on this week will not affect benefits to seniors at all, but they will require that all federal payments for Medicare beneficiaries, whether in the traditional Medicare program or in the Medicare Advantage program, are the same.  It would help end the slush fund health insurers have enjoyed at the taxpayers' expense and divert those funds to strengthen Medicare benefits for all seniors and support the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP), a valuable program that is about to expire.  Even though President Bush and some Senate Republicans have vowed to stop these bills, Rep. Lewis and supporters in the House see these changes as government at its best, working for the people, not for special interests.  Rep. Lewis will continue to pursue the kind of policy that preserves Medicare, respects the dignity of all senior citizens, and paves the road toward universal health care.

OBAMA INTRODUCES BILL TO STRENGTHEN EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE SYSTEMS

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) last week introduced the Improving Emergency Medical Care and Response Act of 2007, which would provide funding for programs that would enhance emergency care systems throughout the country.  Recent reports indicate that our nation’s emergency medical care system is not yet equipped to take on new challenges we could face in the coming years.  Through multi-year grants in regions across the U.S., this legislation would better coordinate public health, safety, and emergency services, streamline emergency communications and organize medical data and information to better serve the public. 

“Our nation’s emergency departments are overburdened and ill-equipped to respond to the public health crises we must be prepared to face,” said Senator Obama.  “This bill will ensure our emergency rooms, medical personnel and response teams have streamlined communications systems, real time data, and other coordination tools.  We will face unprecedented challenges in the years to come, and we need to equip our emergency departments to prepare for the unexpected.” 

In 2006, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) published a series of reports titled the Future of Emergency Care.  The reports concluded that in many places throughout the nation, emergency medical services (EMS) are highly fragmented, poorly equipped, and insufficiently prepared for day-to-day operations, let alone major disasters.  Furthermore, emergency departments (EDs) are increasingly overburdened.  Between 1993 and 2003, the nationwide number of EDs declined by 425 while the number of emergency visits rose by more than 25 percent—from 90,300,000 to almost 114,000,000.  ED overcrowding, which can lead to ambulance diversion, flawed coordination between emergency medical services and EDs, poor communication with public health departments, and lack of disaster preparedness are among the areas that need thoughtful improvement.   Notably, the American College of Emergency Physicians (ACEP) agreed with the IOM findings, giving emergency care in the U.S. a national grade of C− in its 2006 “National Report Card on the State of Emergency Medicine.”  

The Improving Emergency Medical Care and Response Act of 2007 

Regionalized accountable emergency care systems show substantial promise in addressing the complexity of an efficient EMS response, which must properly manage the coordination of a number of groups, agencies, and individuals involved—from incident recognition to providing specialized care to public education.  This legislation would support 4 multi-year grants to support demonstration programs aimed at designing, implementing, and evaluating a regionalized, accountable emergency care system.  Within a defined region, these systems would be designed to: 

1.      Coordinate public health, safety, and emergency services.

2.      Facilitate access to the emergency medical system (e.g., 9-1-1 Public Safety Answering Points).

3.      Establish a mechanism for ensuring a patient is directed to the proper medical facility.

4.      Track hospital resources in real time (e.g., bed capacity/ambulance diversion).

5.      Coordinate standardized data management, for pre-hospital, hospital, and inter-facility transport. 

Grant applicants must assure certain criteria are met for the proposed system such as compatibility with applicable State EMS systems, establishment of a designation system for special medical facilities, and inclusion of a patient tracking system.  A report will follow the completion of each demonstration program to identify: the impact of the regional, accountable emergency care system; factors contributing to the effectiveness of the system; strategies to ensure long-term financial sustainability; policy and legislative requirement for system maintenance; and identified barriers and proposed solutions to those barriers. 

Support for Emergency Medicine Research

Emergency medicine is uniquely defined by the urgency and location of treatment rather than specific organ systems or conditions.  This has proven a challenge for funding in emergency medical research because of the broad scope of clinical disciplines it covers.  In 2003, only 0.05 percent of NIH training grants awarded to medical schools went to EDs, compared to 29 percent for internal medicine.  This Act establishes support for emergency medical research through various Federal agencies in order to expand and accelerate our understanding of the basic science of emergency medicine and enhancing patient outcomes through improved medical service delivery. 

This legislation is supported by the American College of Surgeons, the American College of Emergency Physicians, and Advocates for EMS.  

Senator Obama serves as a member of the Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee. 

House Passes Lee Bill to Ban Permanent Bases in Iraq 

(Washington, DC)  -  This week, by a vote of 399-24, the House passed legislation introduced by Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-Oakland) to prevent permanent military bases in Iraq and bar U.S. control over Iraqi oil resources.

Lee's bill, H.R. 2929, declares that it is the policy of the United States not to establish any military installation or base for the purpose of providing for the permanent stationing of United States Armed Forces in Iraq and not to exercise United States control of the oil resources of Iraq and prohibits the use of funds for these purposes.

FEMA Responds to Requests from Cummings for Action on Toxic Trailers

-Fulfilling a pledge prompted by repeated requests from Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) this month at a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator David Paulison has promptly taken action to inform residents of the risks of formaldehyde exposure in FEMA-issued trailers to victims of Hurricane Katrina.

"I am encouraged by FEMA's quick response to my requests to notify trailer residents of their potential exposure to formaldehyde; however, additional steps must be taken," Congressman Cummings said. "So many families had to endure the disaster wrosught by Hurricane Katrina, and we must handle the relief efforts in a safe and efficient manner to prevent prolonging the disaster in their lives."

The action from FEMA followed a hearing last week where-after repeated requests from Congressman Cummings-David Paulison pledged to notify all displaced residents recovering from Hurricane Katrina of their potential exposure to formaldehyde from trailers provided by the federal relief agency. The action taken by FEMA includes air quality testing of the trailers by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Department of Homeland Security's Office of Health Affairs, a dedicated toll-free help line with operators from CDC and FEMA to answer residents' questions about formaldehyde-related issues, and the distribution of a formaldehyde fact sheet to the 65,000 occupants of FEMA trailers in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas.

"Although I applaud Mr. Paulison's prompt efforts to help correct the terrible situation in these toxic trailers, I am still concerned that FEMA is not doing enough," Congressman Cummings said. "They are still withholding vital information to residents regarding the potential risks of formaldehyde exposure, and this is a concern that must be addressed."

Specifically, the fact sheet being distributed to residents neglects to explain that individuals may be exposed to formaldehyde at levels too low to smell or cause symptoms but still high enough to increase their risk for developing cancer.

"I am further troubled by indications that FEMA has been trying to sell these trailers to residents for as little as $300 before testing them for formaldehyde," Congressman Cummings said. "I strongly urge FEMA to cease this practice and to fairly provide hurricane disaster victims with the protection to which they are entitled."

Congressman Cummings has vowed to continue monitoring this issue as FEMA works to address the problems that arise. "Because we do not have an accurate picture of the scope of this problem, it is difficult to say what burden FEMA will have to bear to adequately address this problem," Congressman Cummings said.  "It is my intention to follow this issue closely to ensure that our Gulf Coast hurricane victims are not further victimized."

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