In The News
Election will determine fiscal cliff solution, say lawmakers
Though Democrats and Republicans remain far apart on how to solve the fiscal cliff, lawmakers from both parties said Tuesday the results of the fall elections will determine the direction the solution takes. Democratic Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Pennsylvania joined Republican Rep. Peter Roskam of Illinois for a debate at the Newseum about the fiscal cliff, a combination of automatic spending cuts and the expiration of Bush-era tax cuts and some tax breaks for businesses that could happen at the end of the year unless Congress acts. The two differed sharply on how the government should...
Kerry, Schwartz propose better care coordination for seniors
New legislation from Rep. Allyson Schwartz (D-Pa.) and Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.) would promote better coordination between medical and social services for the elderly. The bill builds on the Older Americans Act, which established a variety of services for seniors such as home-delivered meals, transportation and legal assistance. Dubbed the Care Coordination for Older Americans Act, the new measure would ensure that an elderly diabetic, for example, is provided meals in collaboration with a doctor.
A Looming U.S. Doctor Shortage
When the Affordable Care Act’s insurance mandate takes effect in 2014, some 30 million newly covered patients—people generally treated in emergency rooms now—will be shopping for doctors. That’s a problem because the U.S. has 15,230 fewer primary-care physicians than it needs, according to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
Jews angry Iranian leader to speak at U.N. on holiest day
Jewish advocates criticized the United Nations on Monday for allowing Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to speak before the U.N. General Assembly on Wednesday, the most sacred day on the Jewish calendar.
Congress' unfinished business: a rundown
Local Impact: Philly and MontCo Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz, a former health care executive with close ties to the medical community, has proposed a permanent SGR repeal to stop the annual fight over the cuts. Expect the local Dem to make a push for her plan, especially if there is a grand bargain to be struck on fiscal issues, but with so many other big decisions left to be made, it might be too heavy of a lift to add this bill onto the pile of work waiting once Congress’ recess ends.
Local Lawmakers Home in on Health
And on Sept. 14, U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz of Montgomery County received the Claude Pepper Award from the Alliance for Aging Research at the group's Annual Bipartisan Congressional Awards Gala. The honor was presented for health care policy leadership on behalf of seniors, according to the organization's leadership
Lawmakers decry murder of American diplomat, others
Lawmakers in Washington and closer to home were struggling Wednesday to make sense of the growing international political unrest resulting from a YouTube video, which portrays the Muslim prophet Muhammad as an incompetent philanderer leading a band of goons. President Barack Obama has vowed to bring to justice the murderers of U.S. ambassador to Libya J. Christopher Stevens, who was killed during protests against the film “Innocence of Muslims.”
Schwartz: Libya killings a 'despicable attack'
U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a member of the House Committee Foreign Affairs, and a Montgomery County resident, issued a statement today in response to the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that killed Ambassador Chris Stevens, and three others U.S. officials. She said: "The despicable attack on America's Consulate in Benghazi, Libya is a direct affront to America and the values of freedom and democracy that we hold true. "My thoughts and prayers are with the families and colleagues of Ambassador Christopher Stevens, Foreign Service Information Management...
We can solve our fiscal woes if we rise above partisanship
PARTISANSHIP in Washington is threatening to put the economy in recession at year's end, or else leave us with damaging levels of debt. Those are the options facing Washington if the two parties remain unwilling to come together and replace the so-called fiscal cliff with a thoughtful and gradual plan to put the debt on a more sustainable path.
Jenkintown Social Security Office Closing; Congresswoman Appeals Decision
NORRISTOWN, Pa. (CBS) – The Social Security Administration says it will close its Jenkintown field office at the end of this month (September 28th), leaving residents of Eastern Montgomery County without a local office, but at least one local lawmaker is hoping to get the decision reversed. Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz fired off a letter to the Social Security Commissioner in June, asking him to reconsider the decision. The response was not a positive one, but her office is still working to remedy the situation. The administration says closing the office will result in a savings of $2.5...