Jim In Congress

Congressman Matheson serves on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, an exclusive committee with the broadest jurisdiction of any Congressional committee, and the House Science and Technology Committee. The Energy and Commerce Committee deals with energy policy, consumer protection, food and drug safety, health care, air quality and environmental health, telecommunications and interstate and foreign commerce.

Utah Priorities and the Energy and Commerce Committee

Energy Subcommittee
Jurisdiction: National energy policy, including climate change; fossil energy, renewable energy resources and synthetic fuels; energy conservation; energy information; energy regulation and utilization; utility issues and regulation of nuclear facilities; interstate energy compacts; nuclear energy and waste; the Clean Air Act; and, homeland security-related issues.

• Matheson takes Energy Secretary Bodman to task regarding the delayed timeline for the clean up of the Moab tailings pile
• Matheson questions federal highway officials about fuel efficiency standards

Health Subcommittee
Jurisdiction: Public health and quarantine; hospital construction; mental health and research; biomedical programs and health protection in general, including Medicaid and national health insurance; food and drugs; drug abuse; and, homeland security-related issues.

• Matheson raises concerns about inadequate Medicare reimbursements for Utah doctors

Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection Subcommittee
Jurisdiction: Interstate and foreign commerce, including all trade matters within the jurisdiction of the full committee; regulation of commercial practices (Federal Trade Commission), including sports-related matters; consumer affairs and consumer protection, including privacy matters generally; consumer product safety; product liability; motor vehicle safety; regulation of travel, tourism, and time; and, homeland security-related issues, including cyber security.

Current Issues

Byrne Grants Fight Drug Crime
One of the most important tools for combating drug trafficking and drug crime in local communities is the Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Program.  Byrne JAG funds go directly to those on the crime-fighting front lines-for law enforcement, prosecution, prevention and education, drug treatment and technology improvement.  Congressman Matheson cosponsored an amendment to a federal spending bill in June to increase the Byrne grant program by $50 million. The amendment passed overwhelmingly, bringing next year's total for the Byrne grant program to $426 million.

Protecting Kids from Video Game Violence
Matheson participated in a recent House subcommittee hearing to outline his bipartisan legislation to enforce the age-appropriate ratings assigned to video games.  Parents are the first line of defense when it comes to their children. However, ratings assigned to the popular pastime are only as good as their enforcement. A recent Federal Trade Commission report found 69% of unaccompanied children age 13 to 16 successfully purchased M-rated video games.  The "M" rating is supposed to be for ages 17 and older. 

Net Neutrality
During debate on a telecommunications bill in the House, Congressman Matheson supported the so-called "net neutrality" amendment to ensure that similar types of Internet content will be treated alike. Matheson noted that a great aspect of the Internet is that it is open to everybody, regardless of the size of an individual or an organization's bankroll.  A free and open playing field for any content provider from across the economic, political and information spectrum is good for the economy and for democracy.  A Supreme Court ruling and a related decision last year by the Federal Communications Commission to eliminate the rules that kept cable and phone companies from discriminating against content providers prompted the amendment

Voting Rights Act
The landmark Voting Rights Act-enacted in 1965 to help eliminate discriminatory voting practices in this country-was recently reauthorized and extended for 25 years.  Matheson helped defeat a series of four amendments that were designed to weaken protections afforded by the civil-rights ear measure.  Congressman Matheson said the foundation of our democracy relies on the right of every American to vote and for those votes to be counted.

PILT Funding
A key source of income to Utah counties has been renewed in an annual appropriations bill. Matheson said the recently approved measure includes $244 million for Payments in Lieu of Taxes. That sum includes passage of an amendment adding $16 million to what was in the bill. That is $46 million more than requested in the president's budget. The PILT program compensates local governments for federal land within their jurisdictions because federal land is not taxed. Rural counties in particular need the funds to provide services to residents and visitors, such as law enforcement and search and rescue. Last year, the total received by Utah counties was more than $19.6 million.

Protecting the Troops
Matheson said more protective gear for troops is authorized in an annual defense bill that passed the House in May 2006.  More than $100 million is authorized for radio signal jamming devices that can interfere with detonation of roadside bombs.  The legislation also requires 100% of military vehicles in Iraq and Afghanistan-outside of military compounds-to be equipped with Improvised Explosive Device (IED) jammers by fall of 2007 and it provides for a 2.7% basic pay raise.

Ending the Automatic Congressional Pay Raise
Congressman Todd Platts (R-Penn.) and Congressman Matheson have introduced a bill that would cancel the most recent congressional pay raise and delete the law that allows for future automatic pay increases. "For five years I have asked for an up-or-down vote on whether we should increase our salaries and this bill would provide for that," said Matheson. "I'm not saying Congress should never get a pay raise. But the question should be addressed in an open way, not hidden in some obscure technicality. I'm proud to work with Congressman Platts on this issue."

Pension Reform
Congressman Matheson supports legislation that will bring peace of mind to thousands of Utahns worried about their pension plans. The Pension Protection Act (HR 2830) increases the premiums companies pay to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC), which picks up obligations of companies that terminate or default on their employee pensions. The bill also prevents a possible taxpayer bailout of the PBGC, fixes the flawed system that allowed pension underfunding, and requires companies to meet 100% of their pension plan's funding target.

Cleaning Up Meth Labs
Methamphetamine labs, often found in residential neighborhoods, produce toxic residues that can threaten the health of neighbors. Congressman Matheson applauded the passage of a bill that will help keep Utah neighborhoods free of this dangerous chemical contamination. The methamphetamine abuse bill (HR 798) directs the Environmental Protection Agency to define what constitutes a "safe environment" after a cleanup of a lab.

Editorials:

• 1-28-07: Holding the Government Accountable on the Big Blast
• 2-06-2005: Reasons to move the Moab mill tailings
• 2004: Federal Rules Leave Too Many Schools Behind
• 11-11-2004: Congress should provide for America's vets
• 8-24-2004: Why I Fight Against New Nuclear Weapons Testing