Over the next few weeks, besides many meetings with constituents, I will hold at least two telephone town halls so that I can reach the maximum number of people who have questions or concerns about health care reform legislation. The first event was on August 20th at 7:00 p.m. to talk with people from Monroe and Orleans Counties. I will do a second telephone town hall on September 1st to talk with people from Niagara and Erie Counties, at 7:10 p.m.

If you want to be sure to be included, please call the Buffalo office at (716) 853-5813, the Niagara Falls office at (716) 282-1274, or the Rochester office at (585) 232-4850, and they’ll take down your name, number, and which town hall you want to be called for. I look forward to hearing from you about this important issue.

I have also put up a recording of the first telephone town hall for those who missed it and want to listen in.

America’s Affordable Health Choices Act would provide significant benefits in the 28th Congressional District of New York (NY28): up to 12,700 small businesses could receive tax credits to provide coverage to their employees; 9,000 seniors would avoid the donut hole in Medicare Part D; 960 families could escape bankruptcy each year due to unaffordable health care costs; health care providers would receive payment for $270 million in uncompensated care each year; and 55,000 uninsured individuals would gain access to high-quality, affordable health insurance.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, applauded the award of a 25,000 dollar grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities to the Buffalo & Erie County public library. This grant will fund the development of an open-source, digital collection of materials to educate the public about the experiences of the Great Depression and New Deal in Western New York.

“It’s important that we remember our past, and learn from our common experiences,” Slaughter said. “In today’s digital age, this project will remind Western New Yorkers both about our rich history and that we have persevered through hard times before.”

Rep. Louise M. Slaughter said that the announcement of hundreds of new jobs created in Western New York by GEICO and FMC is a positive sign for the economy and will generate benefits across the region. Slaughter made her comments after participating in a ribbon cutting at a research and development facility in Tonawanda.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, joined Governor David Paterson at the Avenue D Community Center to announce $3.26 million from the stimulus package for the development of El Camino Estates, an affordable housing project in Rochester.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, applauded a statement released by Americans for the Arts in support of comprehensive health care reform. Because so many artists are self-employed or work at non-profits or other small organizations, they are especially sensitive to fluctuations in price and availability of health insurance. Many artists do without insurance altogether.

Slaughter, the co-chair of the Congressional Arts caucus and one of the leading arts supporters in Congress, said the broad national support from arts groups would help with ongoing efforts to build consensus around legislation.

“Some of the best creative minds in the country lack insurance and are therefore vulnerable,” said Slaughter. “Being a painter, a sculptor, or photographer, a dancer or a musician shouldn’t keep you from accessing affordable health coverage. I’m grateful for this showing of support from arts groups and the message it sends to Washington.”

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, today signed a letter to President Barack Obama and FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate urging funds for the severe flooding that struck Western New York last week.

“Our neighbors have watched the foundations of their homes wash away and I am committed to doing everything I can to help,” said Rep. Slaughter. “I am proud to work with my colleagues in Western New York to obtain necessary funding to help our neighbors clean up, rebuild and restore their homes and communities.”

A full text of the letter is included below.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28) spent the day discussing health care with groups across Western New York, including the Doris Jones Resource Center, which provides medical services to patients regardless of whether or not they have insurance.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter, Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, met with Wendell Potter, former CIGNA Vice President, to discuss health care reform and the efforts by insurance companies to undercut proposed legislation. The meeting came about after Slaughter said she wanted to share Potter’s insight on the industry with other members of the Democratic caucus.

Health insurance reform continues to be the issue I’m hearing about most from my constituents. This Wednesday, at 2:00 p.m., I’ll be taking advantage of an opportunity to talk with a man who has seen firsthand how health insurance companies operate.