Congressional Briefs: Butterfield, Norton, Cummings, Tubbs

By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Publisher

June 22, 2007, 3:00 p.m. - Congressman G. K. Butterfield boosted funding for renewable fuel research by $30 million at six historically black land-grant universities, including North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University.

"Our historically black land-grant universities have been left out far too often when it comes to research funding," Butterfield said. "These deserving institutions can and should be playing a leading role in researching renewable fuels, and this funding will help ensure that it happens."
 

During last night's subcommittee consideration of the House's Energy Independence bill, Butterfield succeeded in offering an amendment earmarking $5 million each in research funding for North Carolina A&T State University, South Carolina State University, Alcorn State University, Virginia State University, Tuskegee University and the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. The amendment was approved by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce's Energy and Air Quality Subcommittee by a 17 to 14 vote along strict party lines.

Butterfield, who serves as the vice chairman of the subcommittee, said the amendment directs the six historically black 1890 Land Grant Universities to create "Centers of Excellence" where the funding would seed research in bio-fuels and cellulosic ethanol as renewable transportation fuels.  

"North Carolina is a natural choice because it has such an abundance of biomass and cellulose materials like switch grass, wood chips and bark," Butterfield said. "America's belief in technology and innovation has been the foundation for successfully building the world's most diverse, resilient and vibrant economy. In keeping with that idea, this research provides and opportunity to look at a viable long-term alternative energy source that could come from North Carolina."
 

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The bill is expected to be considered by full House Energy and Commerce Committee next week before heading to the House Floor for a vote. If approved by the House, the Senate must also pass its version of the bill, and then any differences between the two versions must be reconciled before a final bill can be voted on by both bodies. Once approved, the final bill would then go before President Bush to be signed into law.

Butterfield said he is hopeful that the funding will hold up through the process.

Norton Gets Long Sought Relief for D.C. From Coal Burning Capitol Power Plant

As Democratic House and Senate leaders today announced the "Greening of the Capitol Initiative," Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) got her amendment through the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (T&I) to reduce pollution emissions from the U.S. Capitol Power Plant, the most glaring carbon dioxide (CO2) issue for which the federal government is responsible here.  "Starting in our own backyard is the way to begin cleaning the environment," Norton said.  "Capitol Hill neighbors have complained for years about coal dirt on their porches and in their homes."  Norton's amendment, to control carbon dioxide emissions by installing equipment and using practices to capture and store CO2 emissions from burning coal, was part of H.R. 2701, the Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007, passed yesterday by the T&I Committee, on which Norton serves.  H.R. 2701 is a broad-ranging bill that will promote environmentally sound practices and energy conservation in programs in nearly every area of the committee's jurisdiction, especially surface transportation, aviation, public buildings, and water resources.

 Norton's amendment defeated a provision to return the Capitol Power Plant to 100 percent coal burning rather than the current mix of natural gas, fuel oil and coal.  This amendment, proposed by Rep. Charles Dent (R-PA), was opposed by the Sierra Club and other environmental watchdog groups, as well as Norton.  She said that burning more coal at the power plant "would inflame emissions of air pollutants here at the heart of the federal government."  She said that it would be turning around and marching backwards to convert a facility from cleaner burning fuels to coal use, particularly here, where burning coal would worsen seriously bad air quality problems in the region.  "Coal fired plants are the dirtiest way to generate electricity, something this region cannot handle when we already are being cited for failing to meet national air quality standards."    

 The Norton amendment directs the Architect of the Capitol to use technologies to reduce carbon emissions from the coal used at the facility.  Fuel selection is based on a combination of economics and available equipment.

Cummings Decries President Bush's Stem Cell Veto

U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings, a strong advocate for quality healthcare for all Americans, expressed disappointment that President Bush vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, S.5.

According to scientists, embryonic stem cells can become virtually any human tissue and renew and replicate themselves indefinitely, possibly offering a cure for conditions such as Alzheimer's and Multiple Sclerosis.

If President Bush had signed this bill into law, it would have lifted  restrictions that prohibit the use of embryonic stem cell lines in federally-funded research - restrictions that were imposed by the President in 2001.  Most of the stem cell lines authorized for federally-funded research under the President's policy are now no longer useful for research.  The bill only authorizes federal research funds for stem cell lines generated from embryos that would otherwise be discarded by fertility clinics. 

The bill also creates an ethical framework that must be followed in conducting this research under the guidance of the National Institutes of Health.

Congressman Cummings released the following statement:

"Today, I joined filmmaker Michael Moore to discuss the release of his latest film, 'Sicko,' and how our broken health care system hinders hope for 46 million Americans who do not have access to necessary health care.

"In an unfortunate coincidence, while this press conference was going on, President Bush vetoed the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which would offer hope to millions of Americans with devastating medical conditions or injuries.

"I am disappointed that President Bush refused to sign into law a bipartisan bill that would have guaranteed that the highest ethical standards would be applied to stem cell research.

"Just like diseases such as smallpox and polio have been eradicated or controlled by the invention of vaccines, stem cell research provides the possibility for more medical cures to be explored.

"When it comes to the health of our citizens, we must put partisanship aside and tear down the walls to medical well-being."

Congressman Cummings Commends New York Yankees Star for Cooperating with Steroid Investigation

Washington, DC-Today, U.S. Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-MD) applauded New York Yankees baseball player Jason Giambi for agreeing to cooperate with Major League Baseball's investigation into the use of illegal performance-enhancing drugs.  Mr. Giambi is the first player to agree to be questioned by investigators about his use of steroids.

In March 2006, Major League Baseball (MLB) Commissioner Bud Selig announced that the League would investigate players' alleged steroid abuse, and he hired former U.S. Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell to head the effort.

The investigation came following several high-profile congressional hearings in which professional athletes testified about the realities of steroid use in sports. As the then-Ranking Member of the Government Reform Subcommittee on Criminal Justice, Drug Policy and Human Resources, Congressman Cummings played a pivotal role in those hearings.

He also introduced legislation that would require professional sports organizations to establish a performance-enhancing drug policy that is at a minimum as robust as the Olympic policy.  Shortly after the legislation was introduced, MLB changed its guidelines to impose stricter penalties for players who tested positive for steroid use.

Congressman Cummings released the following statement:

"I applaud Jason Giambi for being the first player to step up and cooperate with Senator Mitchell's steroid investigation.  I hope that other players will follow Mr. Giambi's lead and work with investigators to uncover the truth about steroid abuse in baseball.

"I also commend Bud Selig for his efforts to remove the dark cloud that currently lingers above America's favorite pastime.  Following our Government Reform hearings, MLB took serious steps to send a message that cheating will not be tolerated, by implementing tougher steroid abuse policies and by creating the steroid investigation.

"I look forward to receiving the final report from Senator Mitchell, and I hope that cooperation by the players will help speed up the process.  The integrity of the game is at stake.  But more importantly, we must protect the health and safety of millions of children who emulate their sports heroes."

Congressman Cummings has also been working in his District to bring attention to the dangers of steroid use.  He has partnered with St. Joseph Medical Center in Baltimore and other health organizations to launch the Powered By ME! campaign, which is an awareness campaign to educate Maryland middle and high school students, parents, coaches and teachers about the side effects, dangers and alternatives to anabolic steroids and supplements.

"I understand the concern on Wall Street in some quarters that adjusting the tax scheme for these companies will somehow reduce their competitiveness and even encourage some of them to flee.  This is undoubtedly a concern for the industry, but it is important to bear in mind that many of these investment management companies have been beneficiaries of the business and capital infrastructure of the United States for many years.  Perhaps it would be imprudent to now hint that they are going to 'take their ball and go home.'"  

Tubbs Jones Releases Statement on Blackstone Tax

Today, Congresswoman Stephanie Tubbs Jones joined Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI), Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel, Rep. Barney Frank and 10 other Ways and Means Committee in introducing legislation that would ensure that investment fund managers who take a share of the funds' profits as compensation for investment management services, known as "carried interest" would be taxed at an appropriate ordinary income tax rate. Currently, the managers of private investment partnerships are able to receive compensation for these services at the much lower percent capital gains tax rate that the ordinary income tax rate by virtue of their fund's partnership structure. She released this statement: 

"Today, Blackstone Group Co-Founder and CEO Stephen Schwarzman stands to collect almost 1 billion dollars in the firm's IPO.  By all accounts he has worked very hard to grow and build Blackstone, along with co-founder and former Secretary of Commerce, The Honorable Pete G. Peterson.  As Americans we should stand and applaud their industry and investment excellence.  They set a standard in the world of private equity that many firms around the globe will strive to emulate.   

"However, I feel that it is important that we have a level playing field when dealing with our tax code. Today, I signed on as an original co-sponsor to the legislation introduced by my colleague, Rep. Sander Levin that would tax the compensation for services at ordinary income tax rates.  The managers of private investment partnerships are currently taxed at the much lower 15 percent capital gains rate. Fund manager's incomes should be taxed at the same rate as other hard working Americans, which can be as high as 35 percent."

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