Congressional Briefs: Butterfield, Lewis, Norton, Scott

 By Robert "Rob" Redding Jr.

Publisher

June 29, 2007, 6:20 p.m. - Congressman G. K. Butterfield today helped designate $50 million to fuel renewable energy research at minority colleges and universities.

"Without question, minority institutions are usually overlooked when it comes to research funding," Butterfield said. "As a nation, we are ready to go full-throttle in developing renewable energy and minority institutions must have an opportunity to be a part of this effort." 

During consideration of the Energy Independence bill by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, $50 million was designated to establish 10 "Centers of Excellence" at 10 1890 Land Grant institutions, Hispanic serving institutions or Tribal schools.  The recipients, chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy, would each receive $5 million for research in bio-fuels and cellulosic ethanol as renewable transportation fuels.  

The centers would collaborate with the three recently announced DOE's Bioenergy Research Centers. This week, DOE announced it will invest $375 million in three centers intended to accelerate basic research in the development of cellulosic ethanol and other biofuels from switchgrass, poplar trees and corn stalks, among other things.

During subcommittee mark-up last week, Butterfield succeeded in designating funding for the minority institutions but debate arose today during full committee mark-up over designating specific institutions. After more than an hour of debate, the funding was boosted from $30 million to $50 million but the names of the specific institutions were removed. The measure passed by voice vote with bipartisan support.

North Carolina A&T State University was among the schools originally designated for funding, but Butterfield said that he is confident the school will merit funding. 

"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. "North Carolina A&T has a tremendous reputation in agricultural research and this would only enhance the work already being done there.

Butterfield said that the funding is especially important because of how often minority institutions are left out when it comes to federal research funding. As an example, Butterfield pointed to a Government Accountability Office study conducted d in 2003 that indicated that 1890 Land Grant institutions received less than 2 percent the competitive funding available from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Butterfield also said the research into cellulosic fuels is increasingly critical due to the increasing reliance on corn in producing ethanol.  More than 100 ethanol plants have sprung up across the country as investments in alternative fuel increase, according to the Renewable Fuels Association, a trade group for ethanol producers.

The increased demand for corn, Butterfield explained, has driven up prices for other commodities as farmers dedicate fewer acres to crops such as beans and grain. On Friday, USDA is expected to release estimates how many acres of corn farmers will plant for the coming season.

"Farmers are seeing higher costs for feed and everyone is seeing higher prices at the grocery store," Butterfield said. "From milk to hamburgers to pizza to ice cream, there's just such a huge variety of foods that rely on corn in some way. Rising corn prices would affect everyone."

Successful research into alternatives to corn ethanol, Butterfield said, would relieve some of the demand.

The Energy Independence bill was approved by a 33 to 22 vote. The bill will now go to the full House for consideration. 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.

Rep. John Lewis hosts black health empowerment tour

Rep. John Lewis will welcome the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation's (CBCF) Black Health Empowerment Project (BHEP) tour to Atlanta on Saturday, June 30, 2007, as part of Black Health Magazine's "Exploring Your Health in 2007" expo.  The Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Inc. was established in 1976 by African American members of the U.S. Congress as a nonpartisan, nonprofit, public policy, research and education institute intended to help improve the socio-economic circumstances of African Americans and other underserved communities.

The Black Health Empowerment Project will take place at the Georgia World Congress Center from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is free and open to the public. A continental breakfast will be provided.  BHEP is a national health initiative created and produced to educate African Americans about the relationship between obesity and chronic diseases. Its purpose is to bring civic leaders, health experts and community together to discuss practical strategies for reversing this public health crisis affecting adults and youth. The tour's theme is "Eat, Move and Test for Health."

The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta reports that 62 percent of Georgia adults are overweight or obese and 30 percent of low-income children between ages 2 and 5 are overweight or at risk of becoming so.

"African-American adults and children now face serious health problems such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease at rates that threaten our vitality and our survival as a community," said Lewis.  "The Black Health Empowerment Tour offers families a great opportunity to learn how to make proper nutrition, physical activity and routine health care commonplace - so they can increase their longevity and their ability to contribute to our society."

Rep. Lewis will speak during the event. WAOK-AM (1380) personality Jean Ross will serve as mistress of ceremonies. The interactive community health event consists of two components: a healthy living forum and a health and fitness expo. Medical, nutrition and fitness experts will share information and advice during the forum from 10 a.m. to noon. During the expo, participants will enjoy cooking and fitness demonstrations and obtain free health screenings from noon to 6 p.m.       

Exhibitors will also provide information on topics ranging from diabetes and hypertension to stress reduction and weight management. AstraZeneca's Asthma Action Zone will provide parents with educational information on asthma and offer children face painting, fun activities and fun times with mascot Pulmi. The SkyHawk Mascot is also scheduled to appear.       

 The BHEP initiative signals a partnership between the public and private sectors - a collaboration that is crucial to fighting the obesity epidemic. BlackWomensHealth.com is a program partner and WVEE-FM (V-103) is the event media partner. Community partners include the American Stroke Association, the American Kidney Fund and Check It Today, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing prostate cancer awareness among men and their families.

Atlanta is the 2007 BHEP tour's third stop; the first was in Brooklyn, N.Y., in February and the second was in Detroit on June 16. The obesity awareness tour is also set to visit St. Thomas, V.I., on July 21, as well as Dallas and New Orleans later this year. To pre-register for an upcoming BHEP event, call (888) 353-BHEP (2437). Visit www.cbcfinc.org or www.bheptour.org for additional information about the Black Health Empowerment Project.

Norton Files Another UDC Bill to Assure Equal Treatment with Like Institutions

As Congress packed up last evening, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced a bill to put the University of the District of Columbia (UDC) on par with all of the other land grant universities in the country.  Since 1974, UDC has been the only all urban land grant institution in the country.  However, the University's related community outreach and education activities were not included in the 1974 UDC land grant authorization.  Instead, the extension services at the University were awkwardly authorized in the District of Columbia Higher Education and Post Secondary Act of 1974, rather than the Smith - Lever Act which is used to fund extension services at all other land grant institutions.  UDC also lacks the same waiver and reduction of matching requirements for agricultural experiment station programs authorized by the Hatch Act that other land grant institutions enjoy.  As a result, the University "has been treated unequally, and this bill means change," Norton said.  For example, funds are disseminated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) for the Education Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), designed to provide predominantly minority low-income youth and families with nutrition education that leads to sustainable behavior changes, without any nonfederal matching requirement to the various land grant institutions in the states and territories, except for UDC, which is required to have a 100 percent match if it receives the money.  "The language requiring the 100 percent match for District of Columbia EFNEP programs is clearly a relic of the political climate that existed at the time the EFNEP provision was enacted for the District of Columbia in 1974," Norton said.

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The Norton bill would eliminate barriers to UDC's participation in the agricultural research and extension programs, and provides the authority needed for the university to participate in capacity building and facilities programs now being administered at the USDA.

This is the second bill Norton has introduced this Congress to strengthen UDC.

Scott to Host 3rd Annual Health Fair

Congressman David Scott will host the 13th Congressional District’s Third Annual Health Fair on Saturday, August 18, 2007 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  This event will take place at Mundy’s Mill High School in Clayton County.  

Leading hospitals, government agencies, and members of the health care industry that have agreed to participate include: Pfizer, Inc., the American Heart Association, Southern Regional Health System, Emory Healthcare, Grady Health System, Wellstar Health Center, AARP, American Red Cross, Social Security Administration, Nanston Dental, Resurgens Orthopedics, Food and Drug Administration, and many others!

            WHAT:           Congressman David Scott’s Third Annual

                                    13th Congressional District Health Fair                                                                   

            WHEN:           Saturday, August 18, 2007

                                    10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

            WHERE:        Mundy’s Mill High School

                                  9652 Fayetteville Road (Hwy. 54)

                          Jonesboro, G A 30238

At the Fair:

¯     Free health screenings including: HIV, vision, dental, blood pressure, cholesterol & many more!

¯     Blood Drive

¯     Fitness, cooking and CPR demonstrations

¯     Hear directly from Congressman Scott and special guest speakers

¯     Learn about health assistance programs like Medicare, Medicaid, PeachCare, prescription drug assistance, and others for the uninsured

All persons who plan to attend the Health Fair may call 770-210-5073 for more information or visit www.house.gov/davidscott for a complete list of participants.

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