Honoring our Fallen Heroes and Supporting their Families

Last week, I introduced H.R. 5148, the Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act. This is a companion bill to S. 2550 introduced by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX). This legislation would forgive the debt owed to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs from members of our armed forces who have lost their lives in combat. Additionally, it is retroactive to September 11, 2001. It ensures that America honors our fallen heroes by treating the families they left behind honorably and recognizes their tremendous sacrifice on behalf of a nation that is indebted to them.

Current law states that if a member of the armed services is killed in the line of duty and owes the Veterans Administration any outstanding debts, the Secretary of Veterans Affairs must contact the family for collection. While currently the law does allow the Veterans Affairs Secretary flexibility to waive the requirement in certain cases, this legislation would eliminate the VA’s requirement to pursue this debt.

The Combat Veterans Debt Elimination Act would correct this injustice to our men and women in uniform who have made the ultimate sacrifice for their nation by eliminating all debts owed to the VA. The fact that the VA is required to collect debts from grieving parents and spouses is unacceptable. With a growing number of cosponsors from both sides of the aisle, I hope that we can remedy this egregious situation quickly in a bipartisan manner and repair this inequity in the law.

Identity Theft Scams

Since the announcement of the economic stimulus package, there has been a spike in the number of identity theft scams. The most common have been e-mails falsely claiming to be from the IRS. These are FAKE – the IRS does not contact taxpayers though e-mail, and these e-mails should be deleted immediately. You can also contact the IRS to help catch these criminals by forwarding questionable e-mails claiming to come from the IRS to a mailbox the IRS has set up at phishing@irs.gov.

Additionally, the IRS has reported increased activity by scammers using methods such as: rebate phone calls, refund e-mails, audit e-mails, changes to tax law e-mails and paper check phone calls. Please contact the IRS at phishing@irs.gov if you experience any of these scams. Always be vigilant to protect your identity and assets, and if you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact my toll free number in the 19th District at (888) 763-1611 or my DC office at (202) 225-4005.

Digital Television Transition at Midnight on February 17, 2009

While the transition from analog to digital television is a little more than one year away, it is important to ensure that information is readily accessible so you can prepare, if needed, for this upcoming change.

TV sets that currently receive programming through cable or satellite are not likely to be affected by the transition to digital. However, TV sets that rely on "over the air" broadcasting with an antenna (set-top or rooftop) to receive a signal will be affected by the cutoff of analog broadcasts in 2009. You will need to consider one of the following options:

 

1. Purchase a digital-to-analog converter box that plugs into an existing television. Congress established a coupon program to help offset the cost of acquiring a DTV converter box, which is expected to cost between $50 and $75. ALL households are eligible to apply for two $40 coupons, each of which may be used to purchase a converter box.  This will allow you to continue watching FREE "over-the-air" television on an analog set

    

    

2. Subscribe to a cable, satellite or telecommunications service provider if all desired local broadcast stations are carried by that service

    

    

3. Purchase a new television set with a built in digital tuner.

 

Any of these steps will ensure that "over-the-air" television consumers will continue to receive programming. For more information about requesting your coupons, please call (888) 225-5322 or visit http://www.dtv.gov/.  I hope you find this information useful in preparing for the transition. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have additional questions.

 

Upcoming Mobile Office Hours for Counties Surrounding Lubbock

I invite all of my constituents seeking federal assistance or experiencing problems involving federal agencies to stop by and visit with one of my staff members. Since the 19th Congressional District is very large, I periodically send staff to your community, so you don’t have to travel a long distance to one of my three district offices. Constituent service is among my highest priorities and my dedicated and professional staff is standing by to assist you regarding federal assistance. Below are the dates, time and place of each mobile office. Please stay tuned as mobile office hours in other parts of District 19 will be announced soon.

 

Tuesday, February 12
10-11:30AM Dimmitt
First United Bank
Community Room – Boardroom
201 N. Broadway
Dimmitt, TX 79027


2-3:30PM Hereford
Deaf Smith County Courthouse
County Court Room, RM 200
235 E. 3rd St
Hereford, TX 79045
  
Wednesday, February 13
10-11:30AM Muleshoe
Five Area Telephone Co-op
Boardroom
302 Uvalde
Muleshoe, TX  79437
  
  
2-3:30PM Farwell
Parmer County Courthouse
County Court Room, 1st Floor
401 3rd St.
Farwell, TX 79325
  
Thursday, February 14
10-11:30AM Plainview
Hale County Courthouse 
County Commissioners Court Room
500 Broadway
Plainview, TX  79072

2-3:30PM Lockney 
City Hall
City Council Chambers
218 E Locust St
Lockney, TX 79241
  
Tuesday, February 19
10-11:30AM Littlefield 
Lamb County Courthouse
County Commissioner’s Court Room. East End of 2nd Floor
100 6th Drive
Littlefield, TX  79339

2-3:30PM Levelland
Hockley County Courthouse
Jury Room, 3rd Floor
802 Houston Street, Suite 101
Levelland, TX 79336
  
Wednesday, February 20
10-11:30AM Morton
Cochran County Courthouse
Commissioner’s Court Room
100 North Main
Morton, TX 79346-2500  

2-3:30PM Plains 
City Hall, Council Chambers
1015 Avenue F
Plains, TX  79355-0550


Thursday, February 21
10-11:30AM Brownfield
Brownfield Chamber of Commerce
Board Room
221 Lubbock Road
Brownfield, TX 79316
  
2-3:30PM Seagraves  
First United Bank - Gaines Room
106 Main 
Seagraves, TX 79359

 

--Randy