February 2009

Economic Recovery Package

In the News: Sens. Kerry and Conrad make the case for the recovery package in the Wall Street Journal. Congressman Rangel offers his support in The Hill.

The Low Down: The American economy needs help, and it needs it fast. The current groundbreaking bill provides critical tax, health, and job-training benefits for families, and it creates incentives for job creation. The bill helps state and local governments fund critical infrastructure projects, so that our roads, schools, bridges, and airports are up to snuff.

For a full listing of the bill's content, the Ways and Means press release can be found here.
In a New York press release, Congressman Rangel describes how the bill helps New Yorkers.

Update, 1/28, 6:30 PM: H.R. 1 Passes 244 to 188. Here are a few of Congressman Rangel's words:

"Across this great nation, families are struggling to make ends meet during the worst economic downturn in decades. Millions have lost their jobs and remain unemployed, millions have lost or may lose their homes, and millions are watching their American dream slip from their grasp. This is not a Democrat or Republican problem, but an American problem.

Congress has acted swiftly to develop economic recovery legislation with President Obama and his advisers. We have crafted a comprehensive package that will provide benefits to every sector of our economy, targeting tax relief to middle America, poor America and businesses that can create new jobs. Our economic recovery efforts will go directly to help families struggling during this downturn, providing benefits to the millions who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.

Once this bill becomes law, families will be able to pick up the pieces, find new jobs, keep a roof over their heads, put food on their table and find it easier to send their children to college.  This bill provides resources to businesses, large and small, so that they can invest capital now to grow and create new jobs, particularly in the high-tech sectors such as health information technology. 

Today we make a down payment on America’s future, with investments in infrastructure to improve our roads, schools and bridges, and help our workers compete in the global economy.  We are also continuing our investment in renewable energy to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create new 21st Century, green jobs. 

I truly believe that history will record this as one of our bravest moments, when we met the challenge of a sour economy and worked together to build a brighter future.” 

Children's Health Insurance

The Lowdown: The House passed H.R. 2, the Children’s Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act, by a vote of 290-135. This landmark, bipartisan legislation reauthorizes the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, which currently provides health insurance for more than seven million children.  Today’s legislation protects coverage for those children, and expands it to include an additional four million children who would otherwise be uninsured.

Update, 2/4, 4:00 PM: Our endearingly called S-CHIP bill has been signed by President Obama, after vetoes of it by former President Bush last year. Here is Congressman Rangel's reaction, who attended the signing at the White House Feb. 4:

"What a difference a President makes. President Obama and Congress are demonstrating that change has come to Washington, and we are moving forward to improve the quality of life for American families struggling during these hard times. I cannot think of a better investment than the health of our children. Extending the Children’s Health Insurance Program is not only good policy; it is the right thing to do.”

Digital Transition

In the News: The Senate responds to President Obama's call to delay the switch from analog to digital, previously scheduled for mid-February.

The Lowdown: Making the switch from analog to digital-only television might represent illuminating progress for the industry, but let's not leave our seniors and low-income viewers in the dark.

Come later this year, traditional analog broadcasts will be shut off so that the airwaves can be used for wireless telephone services and enhancing the communication capacity of this country's first responders. Viewers will have to rely on digital television instead, already the norm in households across the country. But for those constituencies most reliant on older TV sets, unequipped to deal with this conversion, the switch may come as a costly burden – and as a surprise. That's because these communities, namely the elderly and the poor, are harder to reach and educate about technological change.

Purchasing a brand new television set would be too costly for many American families, and the cheaper option of purchasing a $60 to $120 converter is also a hefty expense. So, the federal government has invested $1.5 billion to provide $40 coupons – two per household – to help pay for these special converter boxes. But 73 percent of elderly consumers, the very demographic the government is targeting, haven't a clue about the program. The Federal Communications Commission is leading the education campaign, sponsoring more than 4,000 workshops, 3,000 of which were held at senior centers, and other efforts have drawn considerable funds from both broadcasters and the cable industry. These efforts – and more like them  – deserve our attention and support.

This is no small matter. The groups most vulnerable to the switch are the very ones who rely on television reports for information, late-breaking news, and public service announcements. Residents at nursing homes and retirement communities are particularly dependent on the television as a window to the outside world. These populations, as well, have little access to the Internet, a fount of information for families unsure of how best to deal with the conversion.

It is our responsibility – as a community, as a country – to look after our fellow citizens and to not allow harm or expense when preparation, education, and care might have spared it. Let's roll up our sleeves and continue to look out for our own. ■