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Largest Veterans' Health Care Funding Increase in History
The House and Senate have passed the largest single increase in funding for veterans' health care in the 77-year history of the Veterans Administration. The historic investment exceeded the President's request and adds to the $5.2 billion for veterans added by the new Congress earlier this year to strengthen health care for more than five million veterans. The Wounded Warriors Act sets forth a series of improvements in care as well.
The legislation is strongly supported by the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Disabled Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, AMVETS and other groups, who have labeled the effort 'a major victory' and an 'impressive commitment' to our veterans:
- making critical investments for our wounded troops coming home from Iraq and Afghanistan, improving conditions such as those uncovered at Walter Reed and in other Congressional oversight;
- focusing on those veterans returning with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Traumatic Brain Injury;
- reducing the huge backlog of veterans' claims for benefits;
- providing needed maintenance of VA health care facilities; and
- preventing the President's proposed fee increases from hitting veterans.
Rep. Lewis Speaks Out Against Violence Against Women in Africa
The Following is a Statement of Rep. John Lewis in Support of H. Res. 726, Calling on the President and International Community to Take Immediate Steps to Respond and Prevent Rape and Sexual Violence against Women and Girls in Darfur, Sudan, Eastern Chad, and the Central African Republic
October 29, 2007
Madam Speaker, I am a proud cosponsor of this resolution, and I applaud the gentlewoman from Connecticut (Ms. DELAURO) for her leadership on this important issue.
Every day in Darfur men are tortured and massacred as women and little girls seeking solace and refuge are raped, abused, and murdered. This is a systematic effort to destroy an entire race of people.
Where is the humanity, Mr. Speaker? Where are our souls? How can we stand by when hundreds and thousands are suffering every day at the hands of their own government?
CLICK HERE to read Rep. Lewis’ complete statement in the Congressional Record
House of Representatives Passes Broad Tax Relief for Workers, Military Families, and Veterans
Congressman Lewis votes to prevent tax increases
On November 1, 2007, the Committee on Ways and Means sent two bills to the House floor that provide broad tax relief to middle-class Americans, military families, and veterans. Both of these bills passed the House last week.
The Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 will free 23 million Americans from paying higher taxes under the inappropriately named Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) – a tax originally assessed so a few very wealthy individuals could not use a complicated scheme of tax rules to avoid owing any tax. The AMT has failed and it is bad policy. While some Georgians may not know about the Alternative Minimum Tax, I can assure you that without action this year, you might – and you would never forget the havoc it can create. Georgia ranks 14th among states affected by higher taxes under the AMT and more than 45,000 taxpayers in the 5th District are spared additional taxes from the AMT under this bill.
Taxes for families with children will also be lowered under the Temporary Tax Relief Act by expanding eligibility for. More than 100,000 additional kids in Georgia would benefit from the increased refundable child tax credit. In total, this means parents of more than 400,000 children in Georgia are able to defray more of the costs of raising their kids.
I believe the Temporary Tax Relief Act gives us a lot to be pleased about. It extends tax rules that allow taxpayers to:
- Deduct their property taxes
- Deduct State and Local sales taxes
- Deduct tuition expenses to help pay for college
Another important bill, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act of 2007, includes more than a dozen changes to both eliminate unnecessary confusion and oversight of current policies and expands tax relief and benefits for members of the military, those who have put their lives on the line, and their families.
For example, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act allows combat pay to be included as earned income for purposes of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Soldiers’ families should not be denied tax relief simply because combat pay is not counted for purposes of receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit. We not only made this change, but we made it permanent. The bill makes thousands of veterans eligible for low-interest loans so it is easier for them to become homeowners.
The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act permanently relieves economic hardship for military families by:
- Permitting active duty reservists to make penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans
- Permitting employers to make contributions to a qualified retirement plan on behalf of an employee killed or disabled in combat
- Counting extra pay for active duty military personnel from their previous civilian employer for retirement purposes
- Permits recipients of military death benefit gratuities to roll over the amounts received, tax-free, to a Roth IRA or an Education Savings Account
As of November 9, 2007, both of these important pieces of legislation passed the House of Representatives. They await action by the Senate. As a senior Member of the Ways and Means Committee, I will be working hard for their quick passage.
Protecting Airline Worker Retirement Savings
As many of you know, our airline industry employees have suffered considerable hardship over the past few years as the companies they work for struggled to remain afloat. Knowing how factors like rising oil prices and international competition have affected U.S. jobs, I have tried every step of the way to support workers who have endured hardships that were not within their control.
Last week I introduced legislation that will help people who worked long hours, went to work everyday to support their families, and thought they were earning a retirement package that would be there at the end of their careers. Many people in the airline industry have felt the sting of lost jobs, reduced benefits, and bankrupt employers. As a result, some of their retirement savings were lost.
My legislation, the Lost Retirement Savings Act of 2007, will allow airline workers to recover some of their benefits that were erased when their employers went bankrupt. This bill creates an opportunity for airline workers to rollover specified bankruptcy payments into a traditional or Roth individual retirement account (IRA). By creating a retirement savings option for airline workers whose defined benefit plans were terminated or frozen in bankruptcy proceedings, I believe workers can get some additional help they need and deserve.
Chronic Coughing. Shortness of Breath. Smoking.
Learn the Symptoms and Risk Factors for COPD during COPD Awareness Month
Did you know that Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is the 4th leading cause of death in the United States? Surprising but true.
November is COPD Awareness Month. As Co-Chairman of the Congressional COPD caucus, I wanted to take this opportunity to make you aware of some information that may help you prevent COPD or to help you or someone you love seek treatment for this terrible, progressive disease.
The National Institutes of Health estimated that there are currently 12 million people in the United States diagnosed with COPD, 12 million symptomatic or developing COPD, and an estimated 24 million additional people who are undiagnosed. That means 24 million Americans do not know that they have a life threatening disease.
Symptoms of COPD include:
- chronic coughing,
- shortness of breath,
- increased effort to breath,
- increased mucus production, and
- frequent clearing of the throat.
Risk factors for COPD include:
- long-term smoking,
- a family history of COPD,
- exposure to air-pollution or second-hand smoke, and
- a history of frequent childhood respiratory infections.
COPD is progressive and is not fully reversible, but it can be treated and prevented. Prevention, early detection, proper treatment and increased research efforts are essential if we are to address the rise in COPD.
COPD kills 120,000 in the United States each year, which is one death every four minutes due to COPD. In 2001 it was responsible for approximately 726,000 hospitalizations. Furthermore, its devastating effects drained the U.S. economy of an estimated $37.2 billion in 2004. COPD is the 4th leading cause of death and is and projected to be the third leading cause by 2020.
While COPD cannot be cured, it can be treated. Feel free to pass this information on During COPD Awareness Month.
Upcoming Events
12/01/07 – A Conversation with John Lewis: Georgia’s 5th District Congressman John Lewis will be at the Hapeville City Hall hosting “A Conversation with Congressman John Lewis”. This event will be an opportunity for the area residents to express their issues and concerns with Congressman John Lewis and his staff.
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