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Dr. King once said, “Let us rise up tonight with a greater readiness. Let us stand with a greater determination. And let us move on in these powerful days, these days of challenge, to make America what it ought to be. We have an opportunity to make America a better nation.”
This Monday, January, 19, 2009, I encourage all of you to get involved in the National Day of Service. I’m working with the University of Akron to promote a very positive service event. Here are the details:
Where: Volunteers will check in at Schrank Hall South Room 145 Date: January 19, 2009
Itinerary: 9:30 am. Check-In 10:00-10:30 Travel to Sites 10:30-1:30 Service 1:30-2:00 pm. Travel back to U of A
Parking: Volunteers can park in the Schrank Deck, the Exchange Lot, or the Student Union Visitors Parking. Dress: Dress casually in older clothes and shoes. You may encounter dirt or paint or both. Weather: Service projects will be available “rain, snow, or shine.” Important: Transportation to and from project sites will be provided. A FREE Pizza lunch will also be provided at the work sites. “Furnish Some Food”: We will be collecting canned vegetables or fruit for the Haven of Rest. Tasks: There are a variety of projects with a variety of organizations: sorting and organizing food/clothes, cleaning, working with people with mental/physical disabilities, and more.
Today in Congress, we will be considering H.R. 2, the Children’s Health Insurance Reauthorization Act of 2009. The Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 is an updated version of the first bipartisan reauthorization bill vetoed by President Bush (H.R. 976). This new bill would reauthorize the CHIP program through Fiscal Year 2013, providing sufficient federal funds to enable states to maintain their current programs and extend them to 4 million additional uninsured low-income children.
The main provisions of this bill would include:
• Investing in New Funding for CHIP. The bill provides a four and a half year reauthorization (through FY 2013) of the Children’s Health Insurance Program to strengthen the program’s financing, increase health insurance coverage for low-income children, and improve the quality of health care children receive. • Lowering the Number of Uninsured Low-Income Children. The legislation will provide health coverage to an additional 4 million low-income children who are currently uninsured and will ensure that the 7 million children currently covered by CHIP continue to receive health coverage. • Improving Access to Benefits for Children (Dental Coverage/Mental Health Parity). Quality dental coverage will be provided to all children enrolled in CHIP. Coverage under CHIP will include mental health services to be provided on par with medical and surgical benefits covered under CHIP. • Prioritizing children’s coverage. The legislation makes several improvements in eligibility for CHIP. The Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) currently provides health insurance for 7 million children. The initial ten-year authorization of the program expired in September 2007. Two bipartisan reauthorization bills to extend and improve the program were presented to the President, who vetoed them both. We were able to pass a short-term extension of program, until April of 2009, but this funding was only enough to maintain current coverage and was insufficient to allow states to reach the six million low-income children who today are uninsured but eligible for coverage. According to today’s Washington Post, at least 43 states were facing budget deficits totaling about $140 billion (As of November 2008).
I strongly encourage my colleagues in joining my support for this legislation. Children’s health care is undoubtedly a priority for every American, and any support we can give to ensure that each child is covered is a necessity in the 111th Congress.
This week, Congress will consider H.R. 384, the TARP (Troubled Asset Recovery Program) Reform and Recovery Act. This legislation will make significant changes to the financial rescue package by requiring strengthened oversight and transparency to additional foreclosure relief. It will:
• require that $40 billion of the remaining TARP money be spent to help homeowners, • force banks to report how government funds are being spent, • limit executive bonuses for firms participating in TARP, • assist cities and other tax-exempt issuers in finding investors for their bonds; and • give explicit authority for TARP funds to be used for automobile company restructuring.
It goes without saying that the Bush Administration’s Treasury Department had mismanaged the funds that were approved in the last Congress, and has not satisfactorily explained how $350 billion dollars was spent. It’s important that we enforce strong oversight to ensure that the second half will be spent responsibly in a time where the American people cannot afford to see their tax dollars wasted. I look forward to seeing the developments on this legislation, and I plan on reporting back as we move ahead.
This week, the House will consider H. Res. 40, amending the Rules of the House of Representatives to require each standing committee to hold periodic hearings on the topic of waste, fraud, abuse, or mismanagement in Government programs which that committee may authorize, and for other purposes. I commend Rep. Tanner (D-TN) for drafting this bill, which serves to increase oversight and restore confidence in our programs.
This bill is a great addition to the rules package and Presidential Records Amendment Act of 2009, which were both passed in our first week of the new session. The 111th Congress is determined to turn the page on the old practices of Washington by passing measures to penalize those who wish to use our government for personal gain. In only our second week of the new session, my colleagues and I are determined to work to pass bills that encourage the most ethical use of the powers of each governing body in our country. The American people deserve representation with integrity and oversight.
