''Current Co-Sponsors: Steve Cohen (TN-09), John Conyers (MI-13), Brenda Lawrence (MI-14) Dear Colleague, I am inviting you to become a co-sponsor to H.R. 1810, the Collection and Analysis of Data to Educate and Train Law Enforcement Officers or the “CADET Act”. The bill serves to address the important social question of whether the recent deaths of unarmed black men at the hands of police officers a new trend or merely a reflection of a long-standing status quo. The hard truth is, as FBI Director James Comey pointed out in a remarkably candid and thoughtful speech earlier this month at Georgetown University, we really do not know. This means we do not know for certain, for example,  whether in the seven years between 2005 and 2012, a police officer used deadly force against an African American person almost two times every week, as reported by the FBI. We do not know for certain if it is really the case that of those African American persons killed, 18 percent, or nearly one in every five, was under 21 years of age, a rate more than double the 8.7 percent of white persons younger than 21 killed by police officers were. FBI Director Comey is right: we cannot effectively address concerns about “use of force” policies and officer-involved shootings if we do not have a firm grasp on the demographics and circumstances of such incidents. And I agree with him that “we simply must improve the way we collect and analyze data to see the true nature of what’s happening in all of our communities.” Not only do I agree with the Director Comey, I join him in urging all state and local law enforcement departments “to give us the facts we all need for informed discussion and to make sound policy.” The purpose of the CADET Act is to enhance the collection and inclusion in the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) and the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) of data relating to law-enforcement officer incidents involving the following uses of lethal force. What makes the CADET Act particularly significant is that calls for collection and reporting of statistics relating to both the use of force by law enforcement officers, including both justified and unjustified uses of force resulting in death or injury; and the use of force against law enforcement officers. The CADET Act requires law enforcement agencies to report not just the incidents of officer-involved use of lethal force, but also information relating to the facts and circumstances of each death, specifically including: the age, race, gender, religion, criminal history, if any, of the victim; the age, race, gender of the officer involved in the homicide. Additional other relevant information relating to the officer involved will be reported such as the number of prior officer involved shootings and uses of lethal force; the number and disposition of citizen complaints (formal and informal) filed against the officer; and the nature and description of any disciplinary actions taken against the officer. We hope you will join us in co-sponsoring H.R. 1810. To co-sponsor the resolution or for additional information, please have your staff contact Greg Butchello with Rep. Jackson Lee at gregory.butchello@mail.house.gov or 202-225-3816. Sincerely, Sheila Jackson Lee Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, We are writing to invite you to join the International Religious Freedom Caucus.  The religious dimension of conflict is something we cannot afford to ignore.  Nearly two-thirds of the world’s population lives in countries that severely restrict this freedom and the situation grows worse each year.  As co-chairs of the Caucus, we are committed to upholding and defending the fundamental human right to religious freedom.  We hope you will join us. The Caucus was established in 2006 to ensure that this freedom, which was so foundational to America’s own democratic history, remains a priority in U.S. foreign policy, international development, and refugee law.  With nearly 60 members, the Caucus demonstrates broad bipartisan and multi-faith support as it highlights ways to ensure greater respect for freedom of religious belief throughout the world.  In doing so, the Caucus utilizes international standards as a basis for defining an individual’s right to freedom of religious belief, including Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which states: “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.” Widespread and egregious violence against religious minorities at the hands of ISIS is just one example of the pervasive attacks against religious freedom around the world. Radical ideologies and religious intolerance are manifested in violent attacks, oppressive laws, restriction of movement, and other discriminatory acts against people of different faiths – or no faith – worldwide. The Caucus recognizes that all other human rights can be negatively impacted when religious freedom is restricted. Countries that actively ensure the freedom of religion benefit from greater political stability, economic prosperity, social harmony, and, in turn, create greater international peace.  Indeed, religious freedom is the manifestation of all the other rights operating in concert with one another. The Caucus has served as an important vehicle for the coordination of religious freedom advocacy in Congress, enabling Members to engage on this important issue. Over the coming months, we will continue to host congressional briefings, raise individual cases of religious persecution, coordinate member of Congress sign-on letters to the U.S. Department of State, and discuss strategies for influencing greater respect for religious freedom in U.S. foreign policy. In the past, the Caucus has held several public hearings and briefings on the religious freedom situation in countries such as Bahrain, Bangladesh, Burma, China, Egypt, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, North Korea, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkey, and Vietnam.  In addition, the Caucus has raised dozens of specific cases of persecution in urgent need of attention with foreign governments.  Most recently, the Caucus coordinated efforts to secure the release of individuals imprisoned for their faith or human rights activities, including Meriam Ibrahim in Sudan, Sayed Mossa in Afghanistan and Kareem Abdul Soleiman Amer in Egypt, the safety and asylum of persecuted individuals, and the defeat of the “defamation of religions” resolution at the United Nations. As Co-Chairs of the International Religious Freedom Caucus, we sincerely hope you will join us to protect this foundational human right. For more information or to join the Caucus, please contact Lena Smith in Congressman Trent Franks’ office at 202.225.4576 or lena.smith@mail.house.gov or Aaron Allen in Congressman Juan Vargas’ office at 202.225.8045 or aaron.allen@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, TRENT FRANKS                                      JUAN VARGAS IRF Caucus Co-Chair                               IRF Caucus Co-Chair''
''Co-sponsor the Inspector General Access Act of 2015 Dear Colleague, I write today to invite you to join me as an original co-sponsor of the Inspector General Access Act of 2015. The bill grants the Office of the Inspector General for the Department of Justice (OIG) the authority to investigate alleged misconduct committed by Department of Justice (DOJ) attorneys when they act in their capacity as lawyers.  While the OIG has jurisdiction to review alleged misconduct by non-lawyers in the DOJ, under Section 8E of the Inspector General Act, it does not have the same jurisdiction over alleged misconduct committed by DOJ attorneys when they are litigating, investigating, or providing legal advice. This role is exclusively reserved for DOJ’s own Office of Professional Responsibility (OPR).  This jurisdictional limitation is a vestige of the fact that OPR pre-existed the creation of the OIG by Congress in 1988, resulting in the statutory carve-out on its jurisdiction. From fiscal year 2002 through fiscal year 2013, OPR documented more than 650 infractions, including allegations that federal attorneys intentionally misled courts and alleged abuses of the grand jury or indictment process.  In the majority of the matters—more than 400—OPR categorized the violations as being at the more severe end of the scale: recklessness or intentional misconduct, as distinct from error or poor judgment.  However, DOJ does not make public the names of attorneys who acted improperly or the defendants whose cases were affected. As a result, DOJ, its lawyers, and the internal watchdog office itself are insulated from meaningful public scrutiny and accountability The potential stakes in these cases are high, ranging from whether people facing federal charges get a fair day in court to whether the U.S. government is properly represented in disputes with corporations where taxpayer money is on the line. It’s not only that innocent people could be wrongly convicted and sent to prison; it’s also that, where the legal process has been tainted, convictions of guilty parties can be thrown out.  With stakes as high as these, it is essential that DOJ attorneys be held to highest possible standards of accountability.  While OPR’s investigations and actions are often shrouded in secrecy, the OIG’s independence and transparency enhance the public’s confidence in DOJ’s operations. I invite you to join me as an original co-sponsor of the Inspector General Access Act of 2015 so that we can bring the necessary level of accountability to DOJ’s operations and restore public faith in the Department’s actions.  Please contact my staffer at reginald.babin@mail.house.gov to co-sponsor the bill or to ask any questions.  Thank you very much for considering this request, and I hope you join me in this important fight! Sincerely, Cedric L. Richmond Member of Congress''
''Join the House Hunger Caucus Dear Colleague, We invite you to join us as members of the newly re-established House Hunger Caucus.  The House Hunger Caucus is a bi-partisan forum for Members and staff to discuss, advance and engage the House’s work on national and international hunger and food insecurity issues. Ending hunger at home and around the world is a popular idea, but it is a goal that, for a variety of reasons, has yet to be accomplished. There are many programs, plans, and organizations dedicated to ending hunger, just as there are governmental programs that are successful but underutilized in some cases.  In addition, corporations and small businesses are active in fighting hunger, as are churches, faith-based organizations, and other non-profit organizations. Specific functions of the House Hunger Caucus include: Bring awareness to national and international hunger and food insecurity issues Serve as a forum for Members and staffs to receive information through briefings, hearings and meetings about hunger and food insecurity issues Create a coalition of Members to support legislative initiatives and funding requests that help address hunger and food insecurity Serve as a vehicle for local, state and national hunger non-profits to communicate to Congress about hunger and food insecurity issues Enhance public and private partnerships to support hunger and food insecurity initiatives Create a forum for academic discussion of long term solutions to hunger and food insecurity issues We are concerned about the number of people who go hungry every day and this Caucus was re-established to address this important issue. We are committed to working together in a bi-partisan way and we hope you will join us in addressing these serious matters as a member of the House Hunger Caucus.  To join the caucus, please contact Jennifer Chandler (McGovern) at jennifer.chandler@mail.house.gov or Ginger Harper (Jenkins) at ginger.harper@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, James P. McGovern                                                    Lynn Jenkins, CPA Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Support the Polis Amendment Giving our Navy the Flexibility it Deserves to Make Strategic Decisions Polis amendment to H.R. 1960 Does Not eliminate any aircraft carriers.  It simply establishes a floor of 10 instead 11 statutorily required carriers. Supported by: American Friends Service Committee, Arms Control Association, Center for Foreign and Defense Policy, Center for International Policy, Center to Reduce  Spending, Council for a Livable World, Friends Committee on National Legislation, National Taxpayers Union, NETWORK- A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby, Physicians for Social Responsibility, Peace Action, Project On Government Oversight, R Street Institute, Republican Liberty Caucus, Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Institute Justice Team, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Tri-Valley CAREs (Communities Against a Radioactive Environment), Livermore, CA, Union of Concerned Scientists, Win Without War, Women’s Action for New Directions Dear Colleague: My amendment gives the Navy the flexibility it needs to make strategic choices in a challenging budget climate. In the midst of a shrinking defense budget, our Navy needs to be able to make hard decisions – without a directive from Congress that it must, by law, keep 11 aircraft carriers in perpetuity. Especially with the costs reaching over $14 billion per carrier, this requirement is onerous and detrimental. My amendment does not mandate the elimination of any aircraft carriers. Arbitrary floors set by Congress do not help the Navy fight and win wars. Remember, until the Ford-class carrier is complete and with the USS George Washington being refueled, we are currently at 10 active carriers, and have been for some for a majority of the last five years. This amendment is about giving the Navy the flexibility to plan for the future. Carriers are a vital tool, but they are not our only tool. As former Secretary Gates has said: “To be sure, the need to project power across the oceans will never go away. But, consider the massive over-match the U.S. already enjoys. Consider, too, the growing anti-ship capabilities of adversaries. Do we really need eleven carrier strike groups for another 30 years when no other country has more than one?” Many leading military experts have said that the US could safely drop to as few as eight carriers.  In an exercise to develop a strong defense in a reduced budget environment, organizations from across the political spectrum (the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, the American Enterprise Institute, Center for a New American Security, and Center for Strategic and International Studies)*, found that, when forced to make difficult budgetary choices, the Navy would be well served by reducing its operational fleet of carriers by between two and four, versus allowing for the potential cut of 1 in this amendment. I by no means want to eliminate carriers – they are essential to force projection and ongoing operations. Carriers helped establish the naval dominance we enjoy today. But, so did the battleships of decades past. We haven’t let ourselves be mired in our past successes though- we no longer have a single battleship in the naval force. We continue to evolve and adapt, that is how we maintain maritime supremacy. Maintaining a two-ocean Navy with the current budget will be hard. This places the Navy in dire need of budgetary flexibility. We should not require the Navy to maintain an 11 carrier fleet at a cost of over $14 billion a piece.  Instead of walling off defense spending for political reasons, we should be enabling our defense experts to make strategic decisions based on the national interest.  We urge your support for the Polis amendment. If you have any questions, please contact Michael Berman in my office at 5-2475. Sincerely, Jared Polis Member of Congress''
''Current Co-Sponsors include: Blackburn, Buchanan, Frelinghuysen, Israel Dear Colleague: Please join me in cosponsoring urgent legislation for cancer patients.  The Cancer Patient Protection Act (H.R. 1416) stops the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from inappropriately applying the sequester cut specifically to the underlying cost of cancer drugs and other Medicare Part B therapies.  H.R. 1416 is budget neutral – it stops CMS from applying the cut while the Government Accountability Office (GAO) conducts a study on the impact the cut is having on cancer care across the country. As you may know, cancer care has been rapidly consolidating in this country from community cancer clinics to large health systems.  Numerous studies, including those by Milliman and The Moran Company, have documented the higher cost to Medicare and seniors when cancer care is delivered in the hospital setting.  Additionally, I was alarmed to read a recent report by the IMS Institute. that provided data showing a 71% increase from 2012-2013 in cancer patients’ out-of-pocket costs for chemotherapy and other IV-delivered cancer drugs.  This was attributed in part to “the consolidation of smaller group practices into larger hospital systems.” Unfortunately, the inappropriate application of the sequester cut to the underlying costs of cancer drugs is putting enormous pressure on community cancer clinics and accelerating consolidation into large health systems.  This hit home first-hand last year as the large community oncology practice in the heart of my district closed in large part due to the adverse impact of this cut by CMS.  Over the past eight years, 313 clinic sites have closed and 544 practices (typically accounting for multiple clinic sites) have merged/affiliated with a hospital. CMS’ inappropriate decision to apply the sequester cut to cancer drug costs has accelerated that trend. We are all touched by cancer.  Preserving the nation’s cancer care delivery system is a priority for me as a nurse and member of Congress.  Please join me in cosponsoring this critical legislation that I am committed to getting signed into law.  Please contact Kristi Thompson in my office (202-225-4531) to cosponsor H.R. 1416 or with any questions. Thank you on behalf of cancer patients. Sincerely, Renee Ellmers Member of Congress''
''Oppose Blumenauer Amendment #32 to NDAA Dear Colleague, We write to urge you to vote “NO” on amendment #32 offered by Rep. Blumenauer on H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. Although the sponsors of this amendment would like you to believe this is simply about budget process disagreements, this amendment is actually part of a long-running effort to reduce funding for our already chronically underfunded nuclear deterrent. Advocates of unilateral U.S. disarmament try—unsuccessfully—each year to cut nuclear weapons funding. We see it on the NDAA, we see it on appropriations bills, and we see it in standalone bills. For instance, in March, Rep. Blumenauer and 14 of our most liberal colleagues introduced H.R. 1534. This bill would devastate our nuclear deterrent by: Delaying all funding for the long-range strike bomber until 2025, regardless of the bomber’s conventional role) Prohibiting the F-35 from being nuclear-capable, despite U.S. obligations to allies Prohibiting funding for B61-12 life extension program until the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of Energy certify total cost of program has been reduced to $4 billion Terminating the W78 life extension program Reducing the number of ballistic missile submarines from 14 to 8 by 2021 while also delaying all procurement funding for OHIO-class Replacement submarines until 2025 Prohibiting any funding for follow-on intercontinental ballistic missile until 2025 Terminating the Uranium Processing Facility project in Tennessee Prohibiting any funding for the long-range standoff cruise missile or the accompanying W80-4 warhead life extension program Amendment #32 to the NDAA that is currently before the House is part of the broader effort that you see more clearly reflected in H.R. 1534. It is part of a Disarm America agenda that is dangerous to U.S. national security and international stability. I hope you will join me in opposing this amendment. If you have any questions, please contact me or the staff of the Armed Services Committee. Sincerely, Mike Rogers (AL) Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: We ask for your support of the Hunter-Delaney Amendment to H.R. 1735, The National Defense Authorization Act of 2016. Our amendment will improve our hostage recovery efforts by better aligning the formidable resources of the Federal Government. We need to break the silos of our government that make it difficult for agencies to coordinate their resources to find Americans that are held hostage abroad. This bipartisan amendment improves the chain of command to create a single hostage recovery coordinator who will utilize assets and coordinate hostage rescue efforts across all government agencies. Having a single individual responsible for hostage rescue efforts will limit intergovernmental turf wars and ensure resources across the government are used most effectively. This hostage coordinator will also stay in close communication with the families of hostages, keeping them informed without compromising national security.  Importantly, this amendment explicitly states that no portion of this amendment should be construed as authorizing the Federal Government to negotiate with terrorists. A few weeks ago, President Obama announced that Warren Weinstein, a U.S. aid worker held captive by al-Qaeda, was mistakenly killed in a U.S. Drone strike. Warren Weinstein was Congressman Delaney’s constituent.  This is a heartbreaking tragedy for the Weinstein family and for those who knew and loved Warren. We owe American families, and the Weinstein family, a comprehensive solution. This tragedy should be Congress’ impetus to act. We hope that you will support the Hunter-Delaney amendment.  Please contact Peter Davidson in Rep. Hunter’s office at Peter.Davidson@mail.house.gov or McKenzie Haynes in Rep. Delaney’s office at McKenzie.Haynes@mail.house.gov if you have any questions. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Duncan Hunter                                                                        John K. Delaney Member of Congress                                                               Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Please join us in ensuring that veteran’s organizations across the nation have the ability to upgrade their existing facilities and technology by cosponsoring the Renovate and Enhance Veterans’ Meeting Halls and Posts (REVAMP) Act. Veteran organizations like the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) and the American Legion are able to fund themselves by offering their facilities for special events such as birthdays and weddings. Their facilities serve as community centers, bringing neighbors and families together for special events. These organizations should have the ability to repair their existing facilities and further ensure the safety of those using them for special occasions and gatherings. The REVAMP Act allows organizations who are classified by the IRS as 501(c)(19) non-profit organizations, those comprised primarily of past or present members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their family members, to be eligible for funding through Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). These grants, given in awards of up to $200,000 can be used for repairs and improvements to existing facilities. Any recipient of this funding would not be eligible for another award for at least five years, ensuring that a maximum number of veteran organizations can benefit from this program. This legislation was previously introduced in the 111th, 112th, and most recently the 113th congress as H.R. 2142, by Representative Tim Bishop of New York. We are re-introducing this legislation to further ensure we do everything we can to support and help our nations’ veterans. In the 114th version of the REVAMP Act we have included the technology upgrades in 501(c)(19) owned facilities as eligible expenditure for CDBG funding. As the Department of Veterans Affairs moves forward in transferring all records and claims into electronic form, there are millions of hard copy records that need to be processed. Often, the VFW has to send out hard copy files for scanning, extending the filing and processing of claims by months. This legislation would alleviate wait times for veterans by allowing veteran organizations to upgrade technology, granting them the ability to scan and electronically file hard copy claims within their own facilities. It is important to note that this legislation does not add to the deficit. The REVAMP Act uses existing CDBG funding and simply makes veteran organizations eligible for that funding. We urge you to co-sponsor this legislation and join me in supporting veteran organizations by making sure they are able to exist and thrive for future veteran generations. Please contact Erynn Hook at Erynn.Hook@Mail.House.Gov in Chris Collin’s office, Ryan Woodward at Ryan.Woodward@Mail.House.Gov in Peter King’s office, or Brian Ryckman at Brian.Ryckman@mail.house.gov in Keith Rothfus’ office to co-sponsor this legislation or for any additional information. Sincerely, CHRIS COLLINS                   PETER KING                          KEITH ROTHFUS Member of Congress             Member of Congress            Member of Congress''
''COSPONSOR THE FATTAH-FITZPATRICK FOCUS ACT Supported by: National League of Cities, National Association of Counties, National Urban League, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Girls Scouts of the USA, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, MENTOR, The First Tee, U.S. Dream Academy, United Way, American Brain Coalition, National Council for Community and Education Partnerships, Amachi, MANY, and YMCA. Dear Colleague: The United States is in direct competition with heavily populated countries whose billion-plus inhabitants contribute to their rapid economic growth.  If we are to retain our global leadership position, the United States, which accounts for only 4.44 percent of the world’s population, must see that every American realizes their full potential, that every American is able to participate in this global competition. This must be our aim. This must be our focus. That is why we are reintroducing the America’s FOCUS (Fund for Future Opportunities and Outcomes in the United States) Act of 2015. Specifically, this legislation: Authorizes the Secretary of the Treasury to deposit all corporate fines, penalties, and settlements into a special fund called the America’s FOCUS Fund; Reserves 33% of revenue in the America’s FOCUS Fund for investments in STEM education and youth mentoring; Reserves 33% of revenue for justice reinvestment efforts and programs authorized by the Second Chance Act; Reserves 33% of revenue for innovations in medical research; and Uses the remaining revenue to reduce the national debt. Through these investments, the United States will ensure that our young people receive the skills and mentoring they need to compete on the international stage and succeed in American public life, that our citizens live longer, more productive lives, and that our communities are safer through cost-effective, evidence-based criminal justice reform efforts. As the revenue deposited in the Fund is from corporate wrongdoing, there is no additional cost to the American taxpayer for these investments. In addition, revenue designated for the Crimes Victims Fund would not be deposited into the America’s FOCUS Fund. To become a cosponsor, please contact Jared Bass in Congressman Fattah’s office (jared.bass@mail.house.gov, 202-225-4001) or Justin Rusk in Congressman Fitzpatrick’s office (justin.rusk@mail.house.gov, 202-225-4276). Sincerely, Chaka Fattah                                                               Michael G. Fitzpatrick Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Ferguson. Staten Island. Cleveland. North Charleston. Baltimore. The need for reform is as clear as it is urgent. Please join us in cosponsoring H.R. 2302, the Police Training and Independent Review Act of 2015.  This legislation would require that, as a condition of receipt of full federal Byrne-JAG funding: Enrollees at law enforcement academies receive sensitivity training on ethnic and racial bias, cultural diversity, and police interaction with the disabled, mentally ill, and new immigrants. States adopt laws requiring independent investigations and prosecutions of law enforcement officers in cases where one or more of the alleged offenses involves an officer’s use of deadly force in the course of carrying out his or her official duties. If you have any questions, or to cosponsor, please contact Yvette Cravins in Rep. Clay’s office (yvette.cravins@mail.house.gov) or Matt Weisman in Rep. Cohen’s office (matthew.weisman@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, Wm. Lacy Clay                              Steve Cohen Member of Congress                      Member of Congress''
''Don’t Choke off Revenue for Broadcasters, Print Media, and the Internet Join a Bipartisan Letter to Leadership Opposing Arbitrary New Taxes on Advertising Backed by the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable and Telecommuinications Association, the Newspaper Association of America, the National Newspaper Association, and the Association of Magazine Media Letter Closing: Tomorrow, Friday, May 15, COB Current Signers (23): Allen, Beatty, Cárdenas, Buddy Carter, Chris Collins, DelBene, DeFazio, Engel, Farenthold, Gene Green, Griffith, Hastings, Higgins, Hudson, Israel, Kilmer, Lieu, Luetkemeyer, Carolyn Maloney, Perry, Schiff, Walden, Yoder Dear Colleague: Advertising is the principal source of revenue for print media, broadcasters, cable television stations and the majority of the websites on the internet. An IHS Global Insight study found that for every dollar of advertising purchased in the U.S. economy, twenty-two dollars of economic activity is generated. Changing the tax code to impose a tax on advertising will have significant negative consequences for the U.S. economy. Under current law, advertising receives the same tax treatment as any other business expense – it is deductible in the year it is incurred, just like salaries or office supplies. However, members of Ways & Means have put forward a proposal as part of the negotiations around comprehensive tax reform that would change the way that advertising is deducted and, in effect, levy an arbitrary new tax on advertisers. This new tax would reduce substantially the primary source of revenue for broadcasters, print, and the internet. Without that revenue, we would lose many of the jobs and much of the economic activity generated by these companies. Tax reform is an important goal, but the changes Congress makes should be smart ones. We invite you to join us in a bipartisan letter to leadership opposing an arbitrary new tax on advertising. The text of the letter is below. To cosign the letter, please contact Lewis Kaminski with Rep. Engel’s office (lewis.kaminski@mail.house.gov) or Joe Eannello with Rep. Yoder’s office (joe.eannello@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, ELIOT L. ENGEL                                            KEVIN YODER Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress ******* The Honorable John Boehner                          The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House                                    Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives                       U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515                                  Washington, DC 20515 Dear Mr. Speaker and Madame Leader: As we begin the 114th Congress, one of our highest priorities should be to streamline the corporate tax code – to eliminate loopholes and special benefits while lowering the overall tax rate. As we investigate different proposals, we should keep in mind the goals of these reforms: to increase opportunity, allow for employers to pay strong wages, and bolster job creation and business growth. We ask you to be mindful that the positive benefits of these reforms could be greatly diminished if Congress repeals certain long-standing provisions of tax law that have demonstrated the ability to create jobs and promote economic expansion. One reform proposal would modify the tax deduction for the cost of business advertising, arbitrarily imposing a new tax on advertising and effectively making advertising more costly. For more than 100 years, advertising expenditures have received the same tax treatment as any other ordinary and necessary business expense, much the same as employee wages, rent, utilities, and office supplies. In the last Congress, a proposal to single out and tax advertising expenses appeared as a revenue offset in tax reform drafts by the Chairmen of both the House Ways and Means Committee and the Senate Finance Committee. Changes that will make advertising more expensive cannot be justified as a matter of tax or economic policy. Such changes would be severely detrimental to local advertisers, broadcasters, print media, online service providers, national media companies, news-gathering organizations, and other businesses that rely on advertising as their primary source of income. Imposing this cost on advertising would threaten the ability of these businesses to continue to support jobs and offer the high quality news, information, and entertainment on which our constituents rely. In 2013, advertising supported 21.7 million U.S. jobs and $5.8 trillion in U.S. sales, according to a study by economic consulting firm IHS Global Insight, Inc. Further, the study showed that the indirect economic impact of advertising spending is significant: every dollar of advertising spending generates $22 of economic activity. Fixing our country’s tax code is a challenge that we welcome. As this Congress delves deeper into these issues over the coming weeks and months, we ask that any changes contemplated are meaningful and based in sound economic principles. Sincerely,''
''The Congressional Western Caucus invites you to a briefing: “Trade Promotion Authority – Perspectives From American Agriculture” WEDNESDAY, MAY 20TH, 1:00-2:00 PM – 2203 RHOB WHAT:        .Chairman Lummis invites Congressional Western Caucus Members and staff to hear the perspectives of the American Farm Bureau and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association on pending Trade Promotion Authority legislation. Guest speakers will discuss the importance of Trade Promotion Authority, trade agreements and barrier-free trade to the farming and ranching communities. WHO:            Speakers:                       David Salmonsen, Senior Director, Congressional Relations – American Farm Bureau Federation                       Colin Woodall, Vice President of Government Affairs – National Cattlemen’s Beef Association WHEN:          Wednesday, May 20th at 1:00-2:00 PM WHERE:        2203 Rayburn House Office Building Please RSVP to Landon Stropko (landon.stropko@mail.house.gov).''
''Girls Count Act (H.R. 2100) Current Co-Sponsors include McCollum, Smith (NJ), Sherman, Royce, Engel, Lieu, Dold, Frankel, Pittenger, Lowenthal, Pitts, Honda, Weber, Costello, Ros-Lehtinen, Kinzinger, Nugent, Crenshaw, Delaney,Clark, and Lipinski Dear Colleague, Fifty-one million children are born each year who don’t exist on paper. These children—a majority of whom are girls—are not registered at birth, which is a critical first step in ensuring their rights. Recognition by their respective countries is necessary for determining identity, citizenship, proof of parentage and age, as well as gaining access to services such as education and health care. Without this recognition, it will be difficult, if not impossible, for women to own, inherit land or start their own business. She will not be able to vote, and she will likely be confined to the home and left unpaid—essentially an invisible member of society. The lack of documentation is especially detrimental to women as it may keep them from fully participating in society, increasing the risk of early marriage, forced labor, recruitment into militant groups, or human trafficking. That is why we have introduced the Girls Count Act (H.R. 2100).  This bill would authorize the Secretary of State and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Administrator to work with countries; international organizations, such as the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and the World Bank; non-government organizations (NGOs) representing children and families; and faith-based organizations to support efforts to issue birth certificates and national registries for children in developing countries. We hope you will join us in cosponsoring this important legislation.  For more information, or to cosponsor this this bill, please contact Katie Moore with Congressman Chabot at katie.moore@mail.house.gov or Jenn Holcomb with Congresswoman McCollum at jenn.holcomb@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Steve Chabot                                                              Betty McCollum Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Support Lucas Amendment #119 to NDAA Cosponsors: Cole, Mullin, Bridenstine, Russell, Huelskamp, Jenkins, Pompeo, Yoder, Pearce Colleagues, You may or may not have heard about the Lesser Prairie Chicken over the course of this week and its possible inclusion in the NDAA. Regardless, I wanted to pass along some information regarding our amendment that may answer some of your questions. Please don’t hesitate to be in touch if you have more. We would appreciate your support! Summary The Lucas Amendment does the following:          immediately de-lists the Lesser Prairie Chicken (LPC) from the “threatened species” list;          prevents the LPC from being listed as threatened or endangered for a period of five years;          requires the Secretary of the Interior to publish a determination that state conservation efforts have not worked after the five year period;          requires the Secretary to monitor these conservation efforts and submit an annual report to Congress; and          permanently de-lists the American Burying Beetle (ABB) as an endangered species. Background and Justification During its consideration of the NDAA, the Armed Services Committee inserted language into the bill regarding the sage grouse and the effect of sage grouse regulations on military installations.  Fish and Wildlife’s (FWS) arbitrary listing of the LPC and the ABB has similar effects on military installations. Under current law, those bases in the LPC’s and ABB’s range must ensure any new development or expansion of facilities does not infringe on habitat for these endangered species.  The same is true for any training exercises that are planned on what FWS deems critical habitat.  Thus, base officials must go through a consultation with FWS prior to any new activity on this land.  This is highly inappropriate, as matters of national defense and readiness should not be subject to the schedule of an agency bureaucrat. This doubly true when one considers the two species in question and the unnecessary federal regulation surrounding them.  The ABB has been listed since the early 1980s, despite the fact that the observed populations today are well above what FWS had set as its conservation goals in a 1991 plan.   The states, meanwhile, had set aside 15.6 million acres and $69.2 million for LPC conservation before March 2014.  This effort was summarily ignored by FWS, who listed the LPC anyway while also ignoring the LPC’s population increase in 2014 due to increased rainfall. It is wholly unnecessary to be listing these species as threatened or endangered, and passage of this amendment is critical to ensuring our military installations do not put the needs of animal species above those of national readiness. *The amendment is supported by the National Rural Electric Co-operatives Association (NRECA) and the Permian Basin Petroleum Association. Sincerely, Markwayne Mullin Member of Congress''
''Support the Bost/Connolly Amendment to H.R. 1735 – FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act Supported By: National Small Business Association, National Defense Industrial Association, American Institute of Architects, American Council of Engineering Companies Dear Colleague: We are writing to encourage your support for the Bost/Connolly Amendment to H.R. 1735, the FY 2016 National Defense Authorization Act.  The Amendment permits job creators to directly appeal to the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) Office of Hearings and Appeals when challenging an inappropriate SBA size standard, a change that would save small businesses from a costly and time consuming litigation process. SBA size standards determine how large a company can become while still being considered a small business.  This designation has a major impact on a job creator’s ability to apply for lending or financial assistance programs, as well receiving preference in the sale of goods and services to the Federal Government. Too often, the SBA’s size standard methodology fails to account for the unique characteristics of certain industries, leading to an improper size standard.  As a consequence, thousands of small businesses are put at risk of losing the opportunities to fairly bid on government contracts or qualify for SBA assistance programs. The Bost/Connolly Amendment eliminates the need for small businesses to engage in costly and time consuming litigation to protest improper size standards.  Instead, it allows the small business to make their case directly to the SBA’s Office of Hearings and Appeals. If you have any questions regarding this Amendment, please contact Mark Ratto with the Office of Representative Mike Bost at mark.ratto@mail.house.gov or Dominic Bonaiuto with the Office of Representative Connolly at dominic.bonaiuto@mail.house.gov.''
''**Deadline: COB Monday, May 18, 2015** Dear Colleague: I hope that you will join me as an original cosponsor of the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, the first federal bill aimed at preventing so-called “conversion therapy”. This bill rightfully establishes under the law that practices which falsely claim to change sexual orientation or gender identity are fraud. When James G. was 16 years old, he confessed to his parents that he had feelings of attraction towards men. James, who was raised in a devoutly religious home where he was taught that these feelings were corrupt and sinful, was so desperate that he asked his parents for help with this internal struggle. They helped James find Dr. Wilder, a “conversion therapist” who took advantage of James’s parents’ lack of knowledge and their confusion and fear about their son’s future. James’s family was charged $100 for each hour-long therapy session, and they estimate that they paid at least $5,000 to this practitioner alone. In exchange, Dr. Wilder claimed to be able to “cure” James of his same-sex attractions, but in reality James found that conversion therapy only deepened his depression, shame, and feelings of isolation, rejection, and failure. Conversion therapists shouldn’t be able to sell their services by claiming they’re effective and harmless. And they shouldn’t be able to hide the fact that conversion efforts have serious side effects such as depression, self-harm, and suicide – especially when forced upon minors. The national community of professionals in education, social work, health, mental health, and counseling has recognized universally that conversion therapy is a wholly useless and risky pseudoscience. It’s time for federal law to recognize this as well. The Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act codifies these truths by classifying for-profit conversion therapy as fraudulent under the Federal Trade Commission Act. I was very lucky to work with brilliant and tireless advocates from the Human Rights Campaign, the National Center for Lesbian Rights, the Southern Poverty Law Center, and the American Civil Liberties Union to develop this legislation. The bill also prohibits advertising that claims a conversion practitioner can change a person’s sexual orientation or gender identity. It does not infringe upon First Amendment liberties or religious freedom, because it only applies to those who charge for these practices. At the same time, it’s an incredibly effective way to combat conversion therapy, because the vast majority of these providers are for-profit. Nobody needs to be “cured” of who they love or how they express their gender or sexuality. Congress must act now to protect the LBGT community and their loved ones from being victimized and defrauded by practitioners of conversion therapy. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this bill and helping to ensure that LGBT Americans are celebrated, not shamed, for who they are. If you are interested in supporting the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act as an original cosponsor or would like more information about the bill, please contact Caroline Paris-Behr in my office at Caroline.Paris-Behr@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, TED W. LIEU Member of Congress''
''By now you should have received an invitation from the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands for the: 2015 HOLLAND ON THE HILL HEINEKEN AWARD & LECTURE May 15, 2015 8:30 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Cannon Caucus Room Cannon House Office Building The Holland on the Hill Heineken Award embodies the spirit of Freddy Heineken, who as a young man was sent to the United States in 1946 to develop his business skills. It was during that period that he learned the innovative marketing techniques he used to transform Heineken into one of the world’s most recognized global brands today. We are pleased to present the 2015 Heineken Award to Mr. Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever, for his entrepreneurial endeavors in both the Netherlands and the United States. Under his leadership Unilever has set out an ambitious vision to fully decouple its growth from overall environmental footprint and increasing its positive social impact through the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan. Moderator: *     Diane Brady, award-winning journalist, author and interviewer, formerly at Bloomberg Businessweek and Wall Street Journal. Awardee: *    Paul Polman, CEO of Unilever Introductory, Opening, and Closing Remarks: *    Representative Bill Huizenga (R-MI), Co-Chair of the Congressional Dutch Caucus *    Ambassador Rudolf Bekink, Ambassador of the Netherlands to the United States *    Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer of Unilever *    Representative Derek Kilmer (D-WA), Co-Chair of the Congressional Dutch Caucus Please RSVP to https://www.eventbrite.com/e/holland-on-the-hill-heineken-award-lecture-tickets-16698765457 Breakfast will be provided For additional information: Please contact Raaed Haddad in Representative Bill Huizenga’s office at (202) 225-4401 (raaed.haddad@mail.house.gov) or Aaron Wasserman in Representative Derek Kilmer’s office at (202) 225- 5916 (aaron.wasserman@mail.house.gov) Sincerely, _______________________                                      _______________________ Rep. Bill Huizenga                                                       Rep. Derek Kilmer Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress Second District of Michigan                                        Sixth District of Washington''
''Dear Colleague, I invite you to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 1834, the E-2 Visa Improvement Act.  This bill would allow E-2 Visa investors an opportunity to apply for permanent resident status. Those who enter the United States on a nonimmigrant E-2 Treaty Investor Visa come from all over the world to start a business in our country.  These entrepreneurs become fully integrated into our communities and improve our local economies by providing jobs, goods, and services.  However, without an opportunity for permanent residency, the E-2 visa holders cannot take the next step toward the American dream that initially attracted them to start a business here.  Additionally, many come here with children and educate them in American schools, but once they turn 21, their children are no longer able to stay in the United States under a parent’s visa. A full list of treaty countries can be found here. The E-2 Visa Improvement Act would establish guidelines for E-2 Treaty Investor Visa holders to obtain legal residency in the United States once they successfully fulfill the terms of their visa for ten years.  Further, children would be allowed to stay on their parent’s visa up to the age of 26, preventing parents from being separated from their children before they have completed the ten year requirement, and they would be able to apply for work authorization under their parent’s visa, allowing them to find work and contribute to their communities after the age of 18. For more information or to be a cosponsor, please contact Tim Medeiros in my office at tim.medeiros@mail.house.gov. With Much Respect, David W. Jolly''
''CBO: Enacting HR 308 could cost to the American taxpayer over $1 billion Dear Colleague, As Ranking Member of the House Natural Resources Committee, I write to ask that you oppose H.R 308, the cynically titled “Keep the Promise Act of 2015.” H.R. 308 is not just job-killing legislation that will harm local economies – it would also significantly burden the American taxpayer. CBO has found that enactment of this legislation could subject the United States to $1 billion or more in liability for breach of contract and taking of private property. According to CBO, “any such payment would increase direct spending, and the amount could exceed $1 billion. The federal government also would incur discretionary costs, which are subject to appropriation, to defend itself in the expected litigation. The amount of such costs would depend on the length and extent of the legal challenges.” As I’ve stated before, HR 308 is not just bad Indian policy – it’s bad fiscal policy. I urge you to stand with me in opposition when the bill comes to the floor. Should you have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further, please do not hesitate to contact me. Sincerly,  Raúl M. Grijalva Ranking Member House Natural Resources Committee''
''Water Resources in the United States: Science Briefing on Proposed Clean Water Act Rule Thursday May 21, 2015 10:30am – 1:00pm HVC-201A&B You are invited to attend a panel on the science behind the proposed Clean Water Act rule, hosted by the Consortium of Aquatic Science Societies and the Environmental Law Institute. The panel will supplement the findings of the U.S. EPA document Connectivity of Streams & Wetlands to Downstream Waters: A Review & Synthesis of the Scientific Evidence, with basic information on watershed science and the hydrologic cycle, as well as, evidence for the essential physical, chemical, and biological connections between the upper watershed and the coast. Food and drinks will be provided! Please RSVP here or contact Kathryn Campbell at (202)929-3806 or campbell@eli.org. [You are also invited to join us later that evening at the beautiful U.S. Botanic Garden for the 2015 National Wetlands Awards ceremony, our annual celebration and recognition of our nation’s wetlands protectors and conservators. This event is free and open to the public; refreshments and beverages will be provided. RSVP required, please visit www.nationalwetlandsawards.org for more details.] Agenda: 10:30am – Meet the recipients of the 2015 National Wetlands Awards 10:45am – Opening Remarks, Jane Rowan, Normendeau Associates, Inc. Speakers: 11:00am – Dr. Robert Brooks, Professor of Geography and Ecology, and Founder/Director of Riparia at Pennsylvania State University Overview of the Physical, Chemical, and Biological Connections of Water Dr. Brooks is a practicing wetland scientist, and wildlife biologist certified by the Society of Wetland Scientists and The Wildlife Society. For over 30 years, he has built and directed research and education programs that span the ecology, management, policy, and conservation of wetlands, streams, and riparian areas. He recently served on EPA Science Advisory Board’s panel to review the science report on the connectivity of wetlands and streams. He was the 2013 National Wetlands Award recipient for Science Research. 11:30am – Dr. Stuart E.G. Findlay, Aquatic Scientists at the Cary Institute Managing Connectivity and Ecosystem Services Dr. Findlay’s research encompass characterization and microbial assimilation of dissolved organic carbon in aquatic ecosystems, delivery of carbon from terrestrial to aquatic ecosystems, carbon and nutrient processing in tidal wetlands and ecosystem functions mediated by submerged aquatic vegetation. He has been conducting research on the Hudson River ecosystem for over 18 years, and is interested in watershed restoration issues as well as a variety of approaches to making scientific information more useful for ecosystem management. He is the 2015 National Wetlands Awards Science Research recipient. 12:00pm – Dr. Denise Breitburg, Senior Scientist at the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center Estuaries: Connecting Freshwater, Land, and the Sea For the past 30 years, Dr. Breitburg has studied effects of human activities on fish, jellyfish, oysters, and food webs in coastal waters, especially in the Chesapeake Bay. She has done extensive research on the ways that low oxygen zones influence individual animals and ecosystems. She has served on the governing boards of the Coastal and Estuarine Research Federation and the Association for the Science of Limnology and Oceanography, the executive board of the Chesapeake Bay Program Scientific and Technical Committee, and on National Research Council panels.''
''Today House Manufacturing Caucus Briefing on Export-Import Bank Thursday, May 14, 2015 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. B-318 Rayburn HOB Panelists: Congressman Tom Reed (NY-23), Co-Chair Congressman Tim Ryan (OH-13), Co-Chair Sean Mulvaney, a member of the board of directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States William Hutton is President, Chief Operating and Chief Financial Officer of Titan Steel Corporation, a steel processor and distributor headquartered in Baltimore, MD Shayerah Akhtar is a Congressional Research Service Specialist in International Trade and Finance. She focuses on a range of trade policy issues, including trade promotion agencies, such as the Export-Import Bank The House Manufacturing Caucus serves as an informal group of Members dedicated to issues facing American Manufacturers. The Caucus provides resources so that Members can learn about the opportunities and challenges facing America’s manufacturing sector.  The Caucus also aims to provide Members with information to help constituents and spur job creation in manufacturing and associated industries.  Briefings are open to Members and staff. To RSVP or become a member of the House Manufacturing Caucus, please contact Phillips Hinch in Rep. Reed’s office Phillips.Hinch@mail.house.gov or Felix Castro in Rep. Ryan’s office Felix.Castro@mail.house.gov.''
''Worst Foreign Human Rights Violations and Corruption Breed Threats to National Security Dear Colleague, H.R. 624 would block foreign persons who commit egregious human rights violations or major corruption abroad from U.S travel visas and U.S. property transactions. It extends targeted tools from the Sergei Magnitsky Rule of Law Accountability Act of 2012 that passed the House 365-43 and became law. H.R. 624 employs the same rigorous, inter-agency processes for designating and sanctioning individuals. 45 Co-Sponsors: McGovern (lead), Franks, Lewis, Ros-Lehtinen, Schiff, Pitts, Ellison, Barletta, Blumenauer, Brooks (Susan), Capuano, Emmer, Carson, Costello, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Cohen, Hultgren, DeSaulnier, Issa, Doggett, Jenkins, Grayson, Johnson (Bill), Lawrence, Kline, Levin, Marino, Meng, Miller (Candice), Moore, Rohrabacher, Norton, Schweikert, Pascrell, Trott, Pocan, Turner, Polis, Walorski, Rush, Schakowsky, Slaughter, Waters 43 Supportive Groups: International Christian Concern, Hudson Institute’s Kleptocracy Initiative, Human Rights Watch, Freedom House, Transparency International, International Campaign for Tibet, Reporters Without Borders, Union of Councils for Jews in the Former Soviet Union, Indian American Muslim Council, Christian (In Defense of Christians, Jubilee Campaign USA, Mission Eurasia), Muslim (Ahmadiyya Muslim Community USA), Human Rights/Anti-Corruption (Advancing Human Rights, Global Witness, Human Rights Foundation, Impunity Watch, Robert F Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights, Transparency International-USA, UN Watch), Europe (Platform of European Memory and Conscience, Belarusan-American Association, Estonian American National Council, American Latvian Association, World Federation of Free Latvians, United Macedonian Diaspora, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Central and Eastern European Coalition, Joint Baltic American National Committee, Open Dialog Foundation, We Remember), Africa (EG Justice [Equatorial Guinea], Free Africa Foundation, Partnership League for Africa’s Development), Asia (Boat People SOS, Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom in Vietnam, Initiatives for China, International Uyghur Human Rights and Democracy Foundation, Uyghur American Association, World Uyghur Congress), Middle East (Coptic Solidarity, Americans for Democracy and Human Rights in Bahrain, Bahá’ís of the United States) This bill: Requires the President to impose visa bans, revoke existing visas, and block U.S. property transactions for foreign persons the President determines are complicit in egregious, internationally recognized human rights violations and/or are complicit in significant corruption, in foreign countries. Directs the President to prioritize cases where victims were exercising basic freedoms and human rights, like those of religion, expression, association, assembly, access to a fair trial and democratic elections, and/or were exposing corruption. Requires the President to report to Congress annually on Human Rights Day (December 10) with a publicly available list of foreign persons the President has sanctioned or removed from sanctions over the previous year. Includes appropriate waivers for national security and access to U.N. headquarters. This bill would help counter the worst corruption and human rights abuses that undermine our national security and businesses abroad and set a standard for other countries to follow. Please join us by co-sponsoring this historic human rights and anti-corruption legislation. To co-sponsor H.R. 624, please contact Nathaniel Hurd at nathaniel.hurd@mail.house.gov (Helsinki Commission) Sincerely, Christopher H. Smith                                                                       James P. McGovern Member of Congress                                                                       Member of Congress''
''Endorsements: National Ski Areas Association, American Farm Bureau, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, Public Lands Council, Family Farm Alliance, American Sheep Industry Association, Alaska Farm Bureau, Arizona Farm Bureau, California Farm Bureau, Colorado Farm Bureau, Idaho Farm Bureau, Montana Farm Bureau, New Mexico Farm and Livestock Bureau, Nevada Farm Bureau, Oregon Farm Bureau, Utah Farm Bureau, Washington Farm Bureau, Wyoming  Farm Bureau, CLUB 20, Colorado Wool Growers Association, Gunnison County Commissioners, Hinsdale County Commissioners, Montrose County Commissioners, Colorado River Water Conservation District and Rio Grande Watershed Association of Conservation Districts. Cosponsors (22):  Mark Amodei, Ken Buck, Jason Chaffetz, Mike Coffman, Trent Franks, Paul Gosar, Mike Kelly, Raul Labrador, Doug LaMalfa, Doug Lamborn, Mia Love, Cynthia Lummis, Tom McClintock, Stevan Pearce, Tom Reed, Reid Ribble, Mike Simpson, Lamar Smith, Chris Stewart, Glenn Thompson, Bruce Westerman, Ryan Zinke. Dear Colleague, I urge you to become an original cosponsor of the H.R. 1830, the Water Rights Protection Act (WRPA). In recent years the federal government has repeatedly attempted to circumvent long-established state water law in order to hijack water rights. These efforts constitute a gross federal overreach and a violation of private property rights.  On multiple fronts, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and other federal land management agencies are currently attempting to ignore state law and take private water rights, despite objections from elected officials, business owners and private property advocates. For example, the USFS attempted to implement a permit condition that requires the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government as a permit condition on National Forest System lands while offering no compensation for the transfer of these privately held rights – despite the fact that many stakeholders have invested millions of their own capital in developing the rights. The same nefarious tactics have been used in attempts to hijack privately held water rights associated with agricultural production in the heart of rural America, where farmers and ranchers rely on these rights to secure loans, as well as irrigate crops and livestock. This federal water grab has broad implications that have begun to extend beyond recreation and the farming and ranching community, and are now threatening municipalities and other businesses. Furthermore, the USFS’s recently proposed Groundwater Directive would have expanded the agency’s reach over groundwater and established new bureaucratic hurdles to interfere with private water users’ ability to access their water.  Make no mistake, the USFS seeks to further federalize water resources, erode state authority, and pave the way for unilateral mandates on state water resources while overriding decades of long standing law and policy that states, and States alone, hold jurisdiction over their groundwater.  Despite statements by USFS Chief Tom Tidwell that the agency is, for the time being, backing off of its controversial Groundwater Directive, Chief Tidwell offered no guarantees that the Directive, or something similar, won’t be back in the future.  In fact, Chief Tidwell noted that the agency still intends to move forward with it in some form after gathering more input. The need for a permanent legislative solution to protect private water rights from federal takings and interference cannot be overstated. For these reasons, I am reintroducing the Water Right Protection Act which passed through the House of Representatives with bipartisan support in the 113th Congress.  This legislation will prevent the USFS from taking actions that would adversely affect these historic State water rights and mute the chilling effect this Directive would have on future development while providing certainty for Western landowners. The Water Rights Protection Act would protect communities, businesses, recreation opportunities, farmers and ranchers as well as other individuals that rely on privately held water rights for their livelihood from federal takings. It would do so by prohibiting federal agencies from extorting water rights through the use of permits, leases, and other land management arrangements, for which it would otherwise have to pay just compensation under the 5th Amendment of the Constitution.  The bill also prohibits the implementation of the Groundwater Resource Management Directive recently promulgated by the USFS, as well as any similar directives or regulations they may consider in the future. Specifically, the Water Rights Protection Act would: Prohibit agencies from implementing a permit condition that requires the transfer of privately held water rights to the federal government in order to receive or renew a permit for the use of land. Uphold longstanding federal deference to state water law. Prohibit the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Agriculture from asserting jurisdiction over groundwater historically controlled by the states. Recognize the states’ long standing authority related to evaluating, protecting and allocating groundwater resources. If you would like to be an original cosponsor of this bill or have additional questions, please contact Tim Martin attim.martin@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-4761. Sincerely, Scott R. Tipton Member of Congress''
''Supported by Israel Allies Foundation and AIPAC Dear Colleague, In 2002, the American Service members Protection Act (ASPA) was signed into law to protect America and specific allies from being attacked at the International Criminal Court (ICC).  The Palestinian Authority’s current effort to seek war crimes charges against Israel at the ICC is exactly what ASPA is designed to prevent: a nightmare scenario of a politically and militarily-motivated enemy using the ICC to legally cripple a sovereign democratic state’s right to make national security decisions for itself. The Palestinian Authority is attempting to achieve this against Israel right now. This critical moment requires that Congress send the message that America opposes the Palestinian Authority’s use of the ICC to weaken Israel’s right to self-defense, and that is the sole purpose of H RES 209. On January 15, 2015, the Palestinian Authority lodged a declaration under the Rome Statute, the founding document of the ICC, over allegations of war crimes committed by Israel during its defensive operations in 2014 against Hamas, a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. The prosecutor of the ICC then began a preliminary examination. On April 1, 2015, the Palestinian Authority officially joined the ICC and has threatened to bring two additional charges against Israel. This abuse of the law to put political pressure on Israel outside of accepted diplomatic processes weakens Israel’s sovereignty and its right to self-defense, and puts in jeopardy the long-standing policy of the United States to insist that Israel and the Palestinian Authority negotiate their differences through direct talks. ASPA extends its protections of American Service members to allied nations and includes Israel by name because the use of legal mechanisms to weaken national sovereignty and the right to self-defense is a serious national security threat to all democracies and our allies. The current Palestinian Authority effort to attack Israel at the ICC sets a dangerous precedent that, if successful, could serve as a template for America’s enemies to attack the US at the ICC. Please support this resolution and send a clear message that the United States Congress will not condone the use of the ICC to take away the rights of nations.  Should you have any questions, or wish to cosponsor, please email Stephen Davis with Rep. Jackie Walorski’s office at Stephen.Davis@mail.house.gov or Chris Kelley with Rep. Marc Veasey office at Chris.Kelley@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Rep. Jackie Walorski and Rep. Marc Veasey''
''SCREENING SAVES LIVES: HELP PREVENT COLORECTAL CANCER Dear Colleague: We ask that you to join us in cosponsoring the Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2015 (H.R. 1220), legislation that would eliminate an unintended cost barrier for Medicare beneficiaries to life-saving colorectal cancer screenings. Colorectal cancer impacts one in 20 Americans and is the second leading cause of cancer death in the United States. In 2015, more than 130,000 Americans will be diagnosed with colorectal cancer, and approximately 50,000 Americans will die from the disease. Providers have the tools to both prevent colorectal cancer and detect it during early stages, when treatment is most successful. The most effective preventive action for this disease is a screening colonoscopy, which allows for the early detection and removal of tissue that could become cancerous. Under current law, seniors covered by Medicare are eligible for colorectal cancer screenings without cost sharing. However, if a physician takes a further preventive action – like removing a polyp – during the screening, the procedure is billed as a “treatment” rather than a “screening,” and the cost is passed on to the patient. Because it is impossible to know in advance if a polyp will be removed during a screening colonoscopy, Medicare beneficiaries do not know whether or not their screening will be fully covered until the procedure is over. This policy is counter to the intent of the law and is confusing to providers and patients. The financial barrier that coinsurance creates (approximately $100-300 depending on site of service) may lead to Medicare beneficiaries not choosing this highly effective method of colorectal cancer prevention. The Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act corrects this discrepancy by waiving Medicare’s cost-sharing requirement for preventive colonoscopies, even if a polyp or tissue is removed. Medicare-aged individuals account for two-thirds of colorectal cancer diagnoses. Reducing disincentives for screenings will improve health outcomes and save money for both seniors and taxpayers. By making this commonsense fix to current law, we can continue the progress our country has made in the fight against colorectal cancer. For more information or to cosponsor this common-sense bipartisan legislation, please contact Andrea Uckele in Congressman Dent’s office at Andrea.Uckele@mail.house.gov or Tom Saunders in Congressman Payne, Jr.’s office at Thomas.Saunders@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, CHARLES W. DENT              DONALD M. PAYNE, JR. Member of Congress                Member of Congress                       JOE COURTNEY                    MICHAEL G. FITZPATRICK Member of Congress                Member of Congress''
''Co-Sponsor H.Res. 56, a resolution affirming support for Macedonia’s accession to NATO Current Co-Sponsors: Bordallo, Connolly, Cook, Hastings (FL), E.B. Johnson, Kinzinger, Long, Pascrell, Poe, Smith (NJ), Stivers, B. Thompson, Turner, Aderholt, Bishop (MI), Chabot, Clawson, Cleaver, Conyers, Franks, Kline, Marino, Scott (GA), Pierluisi, Stewart, Trott, Walz May 13, 2015 Dear Colleague: I would like to bring to your attention H.Res. 56, a resolution affirming the support of the United States for Macedonia’s accession to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In 1991, Macedonia peacefully asserted and achieved independent statehood from Yugoslavia.  Since then, the U.S. has provided over $1 billion in aid to help Macedonia in its journey to becoming a prosperous democracy.  Part of this process has been fulfilling the reforms of joining international organizations such as the UN, NATO, and EU.  Macedonia entered the UN in 1993, and it is long past time for its accession into NATO. Macedonia is a strong U.S. ally and a net security contributor to NATO. During the Bosnia war, Macedonia welcomed 50,000 refugees, and 400,000 refugees in the Kosovo war. Further, Macedonia was the fourth and fifth largest contributor per capita to the missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The late Macedonian President, Boris Trajkovski, was among the first to offer support to the U.S. after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks saying “an attack on the United States is an attack on Macedonia.”  Currently, Macedonia is one of the 43 nations offering support for the U.S.-led Operation Inherent Resolve to combat ISIS in Iraq and Syria. However, while Macedonia provides security for the NATO tent in Afghanistan and elsewhere, it cannot enter it as a participant.  Additionally, Macedonia faces increasing external pressure from Russia, as well as domestic political unrest, due in part to the delay of Macedonia’s entry into NATO. Current events only further highlight the critical need to reaffirm the United States’ support for a prosperous and democratic Macedonia.  By co-sponsoring H.Res. 56, you will send a powerful message to our allies and adversaries alike, as well as the 500,000 Macedonian-Americans who call America home, that the U.S. strongly supports our regional allies. You can also show your support by developing a relationship with the Macedonian-American community in your district and joining the Congressional Caucus on Macedonia and Macedonian-Americans.  Your support will make a difference. To cosponsor this resolution or join the Caucus, please contact Jeff Orzechowski at jeff.orzechowski@mail.house.gov or  x52106. Sincerely, Candice S. Miller MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''JOIN YOUR COLLEAGUES AND BECOME A MEMBER OF THE IP CAUCUS May 12, 2015 Dear Colleague: We write to invite you to join the Congressional Caucus on Intellectual Property Promotion and Piracy Prevention (the IP Caucus) in the 114th Congress. A 2012 study by the U.S. Department of Commerce found that IP-intensive industries account for about $5.06 trillion in value added, which is 34.8 percent of total U.S. gross domestic product.  This means that IP-intensive industries directly account for 27.1 million American jobs – 18.8 percent of all employment in the U.S. economy.  As our economy evolves and is driven ever more by innovation, creativity, and technology-based sectors, IP will continue to play a critical role in sustained job creation and growth. The IP Caucus aims to educate Members and staff about the value and function of intellectual property issues .  The Caucus works with experts from the executive branch, IP holders, consumer groups, and other stakeholders in order to facilitate more informed debate and legislative action on IP protection, technology, and anti-piracy issues.  The Caucus also provides a forum for discussion on domestic and international patent, trademark, copyright, and trade secret issues. As you know, American innovation is a catalyst for economic growth and it depends on a robust system of intellectual property protections.  Fortunately, IP protection in America still sets the standard for other countries around the world.  If we intend to protect our economic innovation engine, we must understand the intricacies of our often complicated IP systems and enact policies that will further American success.  For these reasons, we require a strong and active caucus and urge you to join dozens of your colleagues by becoming a member of the IP Caucus. To join, contact any of the following:  Aaron Ringel (Pompeo), Jonathan Pawlow (Smith), Kris Denzel (Holding) or Kirsten Donaldson (Jeffries). Sincerely,    Rep. Mike Pompeo    Rep. Adam Smith    Rep. George Holding    Rep. Hakeem Jeffries''
''Supported by the Major County Sheriff’s Association, Florida Sheriffs Association, and the National Association of Police Organizations Dear Colleague, In honor of National Police Week I invite you to sign on as a cosponsor of H.R. 814 the Thin Blue Line Act to ensure that those convicted of murdering our law enforcement officers, firefighters, and first responders face the harshest penalty available. I introduced a bill this week that would designate the murder of a first responder as an aggravating factor in capital punishment determinations, whether the first responder was murdered on duty, because of the performance of their duty, or because of their status as a public official.  Federal statutes already considers the murder of high public officials, such as heads of government, political leaders, and federal judges, to be an aggravating factor justifying capital punishment.  This bill would extend the same treatment to those who intentionally kill our local police officers, firefighters, or first responders in the execution of a federal crime. According to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund’s 2014 Law Enforcement Officer Fatalities Report, 126 police officers died in the line of duty, a 24 percent increase from 2013.  Death by gunfire was the leading cause of death, with 50 officers killed in the line of duty, an increase from 32 gunfire related deaths in 2013.  The spike in fatalities this year coincides with an increase in ambush style homicides.  A stronger deterrent is necessary to protect those who serve our communities. I urge you to join me in this effort and to stand with those who risk their lives daily for our safety. For more information or to be a cosponsor, please contact Tim Medeiros in my office at tim.medeiros@mail.house.gov. With Much Respect, v''
''Preserve a Pathway to Asylum for Iranian Refugees Deadline to Sign On: COB TOMORROW – Thursday, 5/14 Signers (48): Vargas, Blumenauer, Delaney, Rangel, Lieu, Dold, Engel, Esty, Deutch, McDermott, Swalwell, McGovern, Wasserman Schultz, Pallone, Larson, Cicilline, Keating, Costello, Yarmuth, Wilson (FL), Welch, Hultgren, Lewis, Edwards, Chu, Honda, Sherman, Higgins, Graves (MO), Scott (GA-13), Lowenthal, Rush, Ellison, Cohen, Quigley, Brownley, Lofgren, Lipinski, Weber, Sires, Fortenberry, Lawrence, Ros-Lehtinen, Peterson, Cárdenas, Sánchez (CA-38) Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee Chair Rogers, Ranking Member Lowey, and SFOPS Subcommittee Chairwoman Granger to support reauthorization of the “Lautenberg Amendment,” which has served as a lifeline for over two decades to Jewish, Christian, and other religious minorities escaping persecution. The Lautenberg Amendment was first enacted in 1990 to provide expedited refugee processing and a presumption of eligibility for historically persecuted religious minority groups from the former Soviet Union and Southeast Asia. It was then expanded in 2004 to include minority groups from Iran and has since been reauthorized every year.  The program does not provide access to the U.S. refugee resettlement program, but rather eases the burden of proof for the applicant only after the State Department has invited a particular group to apply for refugee status for “reasons of humanitarian concern.” The amendment is necessary because there is no U.S. embassy in Tehran where religious minorities can apply for refugee status.  The Lautenberg Amendment makes it possible for these minorities to obtain transit visas to Austria where they can safely undergo processing for protection.  Without enactment of this provision, the Austrian government can refuse to grant transit visas for Iranians seeking refugee status, thus eliminating a safe way for these refugees to escape perilous conditions. Today, the program’s beneficiaries are predominantly Iranian Christians, Baha’is and Jews.   Enactment of the Lautenberg Amendment does not require any appropriated funds because all individuals who are admitted under the program enter the U.S. as refugees and are, therefore, subject to the annual numerical cap on refugee admissions.  Entrants must also undergo the same criminal and security background checks as all others entering the United States. The Lautenberg Amendment safeguards a pathway to asylum that is a beacon of hope for Iranian refugees at a time when the Iranian regime perpetuates campaigns of anti-Zionism and Holocaust denial that vilify Jews, and incarcerates Baha’i leaders who are put on trial for their beliefs. To sign the letter or for more information, please contact Dao Nguyen with Rep. Schiff (x54176) or David Daoud with Rep. Franks (x54576). Sincerely, /s                                                                                                      /s ADAM B. SCHIFF                                                                            TRENT FRANKS Member of Congress                                                                         Member of Congress —– Dear Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Lowey, and Chairwoman Granger: As you work on the Appropriations proposals for Fiscal Year 2016, we urge you to once again extend the “Lautenberg Amendment,” a critical lifeline for threatened religious minorities trapped in Iran.  If the program is not renewed, Iranian religious minorities will be stranded in Iran, unable to access the protection of the United States.  We appreciate the hard work and leadership that the committee has shown on this issue, including the committee’s inclusion of the Lautenberg Amendment in the Fiscal Year 2015 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill, and we urge that the extension be included in the FY2016 spending bill to prevent a lapse that would place these persecuted religious minorities at great risk. Congress first enacted the Lautenberg Amendment as part of the 1990 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.  It established a presumption of refugee eligibility for historically persecuted groups in the former Soviet Union and Southeast Asia, and it has served as a critical lifeline for those affected.  The Lautenberg Amendment has been repeatedly extended, and since 2004 it has been expanded to cover Iranian religious minorities facing persecution.  Most recently, Congress included this provision in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015. Today, the provision is more necessary than ever.  Iranian Jews, Christians, and Baha’is continue to suffer systematic persecution and discrimination by the Iranian government.  The State Department International Religious Freedom Report and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have consistently designated Iran as a “country of Particular Concern” for egregious ongoing and systematic violations of religious freedom.  The most recent reports state that “despite the June 2013 election of a new and purportedly moderate president, the already-poor religious freedom conditions in Iran continued to deteriorate, particularly for religious minorities” and that “the government of Iran continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”  At a time when the Iranian regime continues its campaigns to demonize Jews and jail Baha’i leaders for their beliefs, the Lautenberg Amendment preserves a pathway to freedom that is a beacon of hope. Without the safeguards provided by the Lautenberg Amendment, safe transit countries like Austria may no longer be willing to provide visas to allow religious minorities to be processed on their soil.  With no U.S. Embassy in Tehran, persecuted individuals would be forced to flee to dangerous neighboring countries where conditions for asylum seekers are extremely unsafe and access to resettlement is uncertain. We urge your continued support to include the Lautenberg Amendment in the FY2016 funding bill and thus preserve a safe and reliable mechanism for vulnerable religious minorities to escape harm’s way.  Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Support Improved Data Collection to Better Help LGBTQ Youth Homelessness Dear Colleague: We are concerned by the terrible reality of youth homelessness in our nation. On any single night in 2014 there were approximately 194,302 homeless youth and children on the streets, however most people are unaware that an estimated 40 percent of homeless youth identify as  LGBTQ. While homeless, LGBTQ youth face high rates of victimization and criminalization, life-threatening health disparities, and difficulties finding employment or returning to school. Efforts to address LGBTQ youth homelessness are hampered by a lack of accurate and detailed data. We do not actually know how many LGBTQ youth are homeless, and we do not have an in-depth understanding of the causes and course of their experiences of homelessness. This makes services less effective and efficient in supporting these young people to move into housing stability. That is why we are writing to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to request that they include new questions in their existing surveys of homelessness in order to capture demographic data about LGBT homeless youth. No youth should be homeless in our nation. Please join us in sending a letter to HUD, so that we can finally collect this vital information and work to end LGBTQ youth homelessness once and for all. To sign the letter or for more information, please contact Georgina Rannard (Rep. Alcee Hastings) at Georgina.rannard@mail.house.gov (51313). Sincerely, Alcee L. Hastings                                                          Eddie Bernice Johnson Member of Congress                                                      Member of Congress Co-Chair of Homelessness Caucus                                  Co-Chair of Homelessness Caucus                Dear Secretary Castro, Youth homelessness is an unfortunate reality across our nation. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress, on any single night in 2014 there were 194, 302 homeless children and youth on the streets across the nation. However most people are unaware that an estimated 40% of homeless youth identify as LGBTQ. These young people often have faced family rejection or prejudice which has led them to seeking a safer or more accepting environment to live in, and as a consequence some end up homeless. While homeless, LGBTQ youth face high rates of victimization and criminalization, life-threatening health disparities, and difficulties finding employment or returning to school. They are also at high risk of trafficking and many engage in survival sex to secure shelter. The long-term consequences of homelessness on youth are not well-understood, but likely include reduced health and education outcomes, difficulties finding long-term employment, and lower overall well-being. LGBTQ youth need appropriate services to enable them to move into stable housing and in cases where it is appropriate, reunite with their families. The Administration has pledged to end family, youth and individual homelessness by 2020, and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and Department of Health and Human Services manage numerous programs to address this issue. However, these efforts are hampered by a lack of accurate and detailed demographic data about LGBTQ homeless youth. We do not actually know how many LGBTQ youth are homeless, and we do not have an in-depth understanding of the causes and course of their experiences of homelessness. As a result, this makes policy and services less effective and less efficient in serving these young people and in ending youth homelessness. This is partly due to a lack of inclusion of questions regarding sexual orientation in the annual point-in-time count conducted by HUD and in longitudinal data collected through the Homeless Management Information System (HMIS) about individuals who access the homeless services system through a Continuum of Care Program. We commend HUD in adapting their data collection to match changing environments. In 2013-14, following the Youth Count! initiative, HUD began to collect demographic data about the age of homeless individuals in order to better understand the extent of youth homelessness in our nation. This resulted in the first national picture of the scale of youth homelessness. In 2014 HUD also released notice that data on gender identity should be collected. These changes have allowed elected officials, legislators, policymakers and service providers to better advocate and provide solutions for this vulnerable population. It is our sincere belief that collecting data on LGBTQ youth homeless in the annual point-in-time count and asking users of HMIS to include information about LGBTQ youth homelessness will deliver the same benefits for this population. Data is only useful if it is accurate. Adopting sensitive and appropriate data collection methods vastly improves the quality of information collected. This is particularly important when asking youth about their sexual orientation and gender identities. There are several examples across the nation of good practice in the collection of sensitive localized demographic data about LGBTQ homelessness. A 2013 Process Study of the Youth Count! initiative in the United States Interagency Council to End Homelessness published by the Urban Institute analyzed nine cases of data collection of unaccompanied homeless youth. Some of the practices this report recommended include involving youth and LGBTQ service partners in survey design and execution, measuring housing instability as well as homelessness, and using social media to reach young people. Furthermore, in September 2014, a group of academics at the Williams Institute in University of California published new research about best practices in asking questions related to gender identity. HUD could also consider aligning its question/response format with that of the Runaway and Homeless Youth Management Information System, which already collects data on sexual orientation and gender identity. Utilizing research from these and similar studies will help ensure that methods used by HUD to collect and solicit demographic data about LGBTQ youth homelessness result in accurate and appropriate information. Data collection is vital in the fight to end LGBTQ youth homelessness and to the President’s plan to end individual and family homelessness by 2020. We sincerely hope that the Department of Housing will take the necessary steps to include questions regarding sexual orientation in their national data collection efforts in the point-in-time survey and through the HMIS. Sincerely, Alcee L. Hastings                                                          Eddie Bernice Johnson Member of Congress                                                      Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleagues: I invite you to become an original cosponsor of the Student Loan Debt Relief Act. The bill will be introduced Friday, May 15. This bill helps student loan borrowers who repay their loans using the income-based repayment or the income-contingent repayment programs. These programs make loan repayments more affordable for student loan borrowers by reducing the monthly payment owed. Under these programs, once a certain number of payments are made, the remaining debt is discharged. However, there is a catch.  Under current law, student debt discharged through the income-based repayment or the income-contingent repayment programs is treated as income and is taxable. The taxes must be paid in full, immediately. For a professional or graduate student that has six figures in debt, the tax bill could reach well into the five figure range. This is a growing problem that needs to be addressed now. Since 2013, the number of student borrowers using income-based repayment doubled. Nearly 3 million borrowers now use income-contingent and income-based repayment plans. Some individuals might not take advantage of these two programs knowing this looming tax obligation awaits them. Others, having dutifully paid down their student debt for years, will likely not have the savings to pay the resulting lump sum tax when their remaining debt is discharged. It is important that we fix this problem so that more students can take advantage of this program without having to worry that they will be stuck with a massive tax bill. To learn more about the legislation or to cosponsor the legislation, please contact Michael Gleeson at michael.gleeson@mail.house.gov.''
''CO-SPONSOR THE FRANK WOLF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT H.R. 1150 will help the Administration counter violent extremism without putting more ‘boots on the ground’ in the Middle East and elswhere. Co-sponsors (92): Robert Pittenger, Barbara Comstock, Sheila Jackson Lee, Charles Rangel, Robert Aderholt, Juan Vargas, Susan Brooks, John Delaney, Bill Flores, Grace Napolitano, Randy Forbes, Brenda Lawrence, Chuck Fleischmann, Dan Lipinski, David Trott, Elizabeth Etsy, Vicky Hartzler, Derek Kilmer, John Carter, Joseph Pitts, Doug Lamborn, Marsha Blackburn, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, George Holding, Paul Woodall, Joe Wilson, Tim Wahlberg, Daniel Webster, Michael Burgess, Steve Pearce, Austin Scott, Dave Reichert, Jeff Fortenberry, Dana Rohrabacher, Mike Pompeo, Steve King, David Rouzer, Rich Nugent, Tom Cole, Randy Hultgren, Bob Gibbs, Pete Sessions, Marlin Stutzman, Richard Hudson, Chris Stewart, Steve Stivers, Roger Williams, Jackie Walorski, David Joyce, Mark Walker, Mark Meadows, Glen Thompson, Mike Bost, John Fleming, Louie Gohmert, Randy Weber, Ted Yoho, Mike Conaway, Phil Roe, John Shimkus, David McKinley, Joe Barton, Mike Turner, Mick Mulvaney, Dennis Ross, Andy Barr, Earl Carter, John Mica, Trent Franks, Jeff Duncan, Luke Messer, Peter King, Trey Gowdy, French Hill, Randy Neugebauer, Diane Black, John Culbertson, Tom Marino, Robert Latta, Brian Babin, Ted Poe, Bill Johnson, Robert Goodlatte, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Dan Benishek, Jared Polis, Ryan Costello, Lynn Jenkins, Adam Schiff, Gus Bilirakis, Bobby Rush Every week the headlines are filled with stories of beheadings, kidnappings, arrests, and other horrific violence and discrimination targeting religious minorities, including a growing anti-Semitism globally.  In the Middle East, we are seeing attempts to brutalize and systematically exterminate ancient religious communities. In Burma and Pakistan, Muslim and Christian minorities alike face systematic violence and discrimination. In Africa, terrorist organizations kill thousands in societal violence. In China, Vietnam, and North Korea, any independent religious practice is viewed as an unwanted competitor to the Communist state, leading to severe restrictions, arrests, and torture. According to the Pew Research Foundation, government sponsored attacks on the international right to the freedom of religion are at a seven year high. Yet, also according to Pew, countries with the highest religious freedom protections have the lowest levels of religiously-related violence and terrorism. President Obama and the State Department have asked for ideas to address the roots causes of  “violent extremism” without a investing in a larger U.S. military presence.  We believe that more robust efforts to advance religious freedom diplomatically will enhance U.S. security interests around the world and help protect vulnerable religious minorities and address a growing anti-Semitism as well. To accomplish this goal, our bill will amend the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, to better address the religious persecution and violent extremism problems of the 21st century. The bill is named after former Congressman Frank Wolf, a tireless champion for the rights of the poor and the persecuted globally. It is largely because of his efforts that religious freedom is taken seriously as a foreign policy issue. The Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act will improve U.S. religious freedom diplomacy efforts globally; better train and equip diplomats to counter extremism; address anti-Semitism and religious persecution, and mitigate sectarian conflict. The bill will help the Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom coordinate diplomatic efforts worldwide and within the U.S. government and will also reauthorize the independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom with same language that passed unanimously in the House of Representatives last year. To cosponsor or receive more information about the bill, your staff can contact Scott Flipse at 6-3777 or by email at Scott.Flipse@mail.house.gov, or Hannah Murphy with Rep. Eshoo at 5-8104 or by email at Hannah.Murphy@mail.house.gov Most gratefully, Christopher H. Smith                               Anna G. Eshoo Member of Congress                               Member of Congress''
''Deadline to be an original is 6pm on Thursday, May 14. Original Cosponsors so far: Ann Kirkpatrick, Ken Buck, Trent Franks and Doug LaMalfa Dear Colleague, We invite you to become an original cosponsor of the No Welfare for Weed Act. Last July, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell clarified in a letter to Senator Sessions that the federal government does not have the authority to prevent states from allowing welfare recipients to purchase marijuana with welfare benefits. The No Welfare for Weed Act closes this loophole and contains three commonsense provisions: I.  Current federal law prohibits TANF benefits from being used for purchases or withdrawals at ATMs in strip clubs, liquor stores, and casinos.  Our commonsense bill will add all marijuana dispensaries to this list of prohibited locations.  II. The law also prohibits SNAP benefits from being used to purchase alcohol, tobacco, and lottery tickets.  Our bill will add marijuana products—including edible marijuana products—to this list of prohibited items that can be purchased with SNAP benefits. III. Includes an enforcement provision that gives the federal government the authority to withhold 5% of welfare funds until States that passed marijuana initiatives adopt policies and practices that prevent this abuse. The federal government already has the authority to reduce funding for the non-cannabis items mentioned in provisions I & II. Colorado recently passed legislation into law requiring the implementation of policies and practices to prevent welfare cash from being used to buy pot. This third provision of our bill ensures others States that pass marijuana initiatives take similar steps to prevent this kind of abuse.  It should go without saying that hard-earned taxpayer money should not be used for people to get high.  But some unscrupulous people will always be there to game the system, and that is why this revision to federal law is necessary. A Fox31 Denver investigation from February of this year revealed tens of thousands of dollars have been pulled out of ATM’s using welfare EBT cards and been used to purchase marijuana. The government is full of waste, fraud, and abuse, and many of its programs are exploited.  It is Congress’ duty to engage in proper oversight and make corrections when necessary. Regardless of one’s feelings on medical marijuana or recreational marijuana, federal welfare dollars should not be expended to purchase pot. The sole purpose of this bill is to prohibit marijuana from being purchased with SNAP and TANF welfare benefits. These programs provide food and other basic living essentials for the neediest families. Our legislation prohibits beneficiaries from purchasing marijuana with federal tax dollars that should be used by recipients to feed and care for their families. We ask you to become a cosponsor of this important and commonsense legislation.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Jeff Small at 5-2315 or at Jeff.Small@mail.house.gov.  We thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request. Deadline to be an original is 6pm on Thursday, May 14.                                                                           Sincerely,  Paul A. Gosar                                                                                            Ann Kirkpatrick Member of Congress                                                                                 Member of Congress''
''Join as an Original Cosponsor of The Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2015 Deadline is COB, Monday, May 18th Endorsed by:  Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW), American Telemedicine Association Dear Colleague, I invite you to join us as an original cosponsor of the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2015 (formerly H.R. 2001 in the 113th Congress).  The deadline for original cosponsors is COB on Monday, May 18th. Veterans deserve to receive proper health treatment and first-class care.  They have made immeasurable sacrifices to protect our nation and now many suffer from a variety of health conditions.  It is our collective responsibility to provide the most efficient and effective medical care.  One way to achieve this important goal is through national access to telemedicine. The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is already changing the way it delivers healthcare to more than 8 million veterans.  It is leveraging technology to improve access, care and outcomes. In October 2014, the VA announced that its national telemedicine programs provided remote care to more than 690,000 veterans during fiscal year 2014.  Of that number, approximately 55 percent were veterans that lived in rural areas with limited access to VA healthcare facilities.  From 2009 to 2012, the annual costs of telemedicine patients dropped about 4 percent after a year using VA telemedicine programs, compared with a one-year spike of 48 percent in cost for those veterans outside telemedicine.  Nevertheless, the advantages of telemedicine are poorly accommodated by licensing schemes that were developed to regulate primarily face-to-face encounters between healthcare professionals and patients. For these reasons, we are reintroducing the Veterans E-Health & Telemedicine Support Act of 2015, which will permit healthcare professionals and contractors, employed by the VA, to practice telemedicine across state borders if they are qualified and practice within the scope of their authorized federal duties.  Further, veterans would be able to receive telemedicine treatment anywhere, including their residences and community centers. This no-cost, common sense fix will be an important improvement for this country’s veterans and their ability to access the care they need, have earned, and rightfully deserve. If you would like more information or want to be an original cosponsor of this bipartisan bill, please contact Richard Aviles (richard.aviles@mail.house.gov, 5-4365) in Rep. Charles Rangel’s (D-NY) office, or Andrew Griffin (andrew.griffin@mail.house.gov, 5-5121) in Rep. Glenn Thompson’s (R-PA) office. Sincerely, Charles Rangel                                                      Glenn ‘GT’ Thompson Member of Congress                                             Member of Congress''
''Cosponsor the Reducing the Barriers to Learning Act Endorsements: National Association of School Psychologists, School Social Work Association of America, National Association of College Admissions Counselors, American Dance Therapy Association, American Music Therapy Association, American Art Therapy Association, National Association of Specialized Instructional Support Personnel Dear Colleague: Recent tragedies have reinforced the need to strengthen access to mental health and other non-academic support services for young people in our schools.  In order to address these needs, I would like to invite you to become an original cosponsor of the Reducing Barriers to Learning Act of 2013. Many important services are provided by specialized instructional support personnel, including school counselors, nurses, psychologists, social workers, specialized teachers, and community partners such as mental and physical health providers.  Unfortunately, very little attention is paid to these personnel and the services they provide for struggling students. Knowing who is available to help struggling learners and those in need of more specialized supports is essential.  Connecting students in need with a professional who can assist them and be accountable to them is critical to ensuring the safety and success of our children. The Reducing Barriers to Learning Act will take necessary steps toward increasing student access to critical services so that we can better address the non-academic needs of students and reduce barriers to learning, such as depression, low self-esteem, and speech and language disorders.  These steps include establishing an Office of Specialized Instructional Support within the U.S. Department of Education to administer, coordinate, and carry out programs and activities concerned with providing specialized instructional support services in schools, as well as building on the capacity of Local Education Agencies to develop programs and personnel dedicated to removing barriers to learning. For more information or to become an original cosponsor of the Reducing Barriers to Learning Act, please contact Vonnie Hampel in my office at 5-6576 or Vonnie.Hampel@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, DAVE LOEBSACK Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: In partnership with the Congressional HIV/AIDS Caucus, the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI) is hosting a lunch briefing to recognize HIV Vaccine Awareness Day. Although the development of an effective vaccine to prevent HIV infection has proved enormously challenging, researchers have made remarkable progress toward that goal in recent years. The ongoing design of new tools and technologies for vaccine delivery has also boosted optimism in the field about the prospects for the development of a safe and effective AIDS vaccine. When:  12:00pm to 1:00pm, May 18, 2015; (lunch available at 11:45am) Where: CVC 217 South Congressional Meeting Room Opening Remarks:                   Margaret Lidstone, IAVI Panelists:                                 Michelle Dees, Executive Director R&D Portfolio Management and Operations, IAVI Dr. Yegor Veronin, Senior Science Officer, Global HIV Vaccine Enterprise Dr. Gaudensia Mutua, Principal Investigator and Medical Manager, Kenya AIDS Vaccine Initiative – Institute of Clinical Research The panel discussion will include Ms. Dees giving a brief overview of the need for an AIDS vaccine and the challenges in developing it, Dr. Veronin talking about recent developments in AIDS vaccine research, and Dr. Mutua touching on the AIDS vaccine research being conducted in Kenya and elsewhere in Africa, and the importance of developing scientific capacity in those communities hardest hit by the pandemic. Please RSVP to mlidstone@iavi.org. To join the bipartisan HIV/AIDS Caucus, please contact Monica Pham at Rep. Barbara Lee’s office at Monica.pham@mail.house.gov or 5-2661 or Wes Brooks at Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen’s office at wes.brooks@mail.house.gov or 5-3931. Members of the Caucus will receive advance notification of HIV/AIDS related activities and developments, including Member roundtables, staff roundtables, briefings and events.  For more information please see: http://hivaidscaucus-lee.house.gov/. Please note: there are no dues to join.                                           Sincerely, Rep. Barbara Lee                 Rep. Jim McDermott                Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen                                           Co-Chairs of HIV/AIDS Caucus''
''Preserve a Pathway to Asylum for Iranian Refugees Deadline to Sign On: COB Thursday, 5/14 Past Signers (2011-2014): Bass, Bilirakis, Blumenauer, Bordallo, Brady (PA), Bridenstine, Buchanan, Capuano, Capps, Carter (TX), Chabot, Chu, Cicilline, Clarke, Cohen, Conyers, Crowley, Cuellar, Cummings, Davis (CA), Deutch, Diaz-Balart, Doggett, Dold, Forbes, Fortenberry, Fudge, Ellison, Engel, Eshoo, Graves (MO), Green (TX-09), Green (TX-29), Griffith, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hastings, Higgins, Holt, Honda, Hultgren, Israel, Johnson (GA), Keating, King (NY-02), Lamborn, Lance, Langevin, Lee, Levin, Lewis, Lipinski, LoBiondo, Lofgren, Lowey, Lynch, Maloney (NY-12), McCollum, McDermott, McGovern, McMorris Rodgers, Meeks, Meng, Moran, Nadler, Pallone, Pascrell, Paulsen, Peters, Pitts, Poe, Polis, Pompeo, Quigley, Rangel, Ros-Lehtinen, Rush, Sanchez (CA-38), Schakowsky, Sherman, Sires, Slaughter, Smith (NJ), Speier, Stivers, Swalwell, Tiberi, Wasserman Schultz, Waters, Waxman, Weber, Welch, Wilson (FL), Wolf, Yarmuth Signers: Vargas, Blumenauer, Delaney, Rangel, Lieu, Dold, Engel, Esty, Deutch, McDermott, Swalwell, McGovern, Wasserman Schultz, Pallone, Larson, Cicilline, Keating, Costello, Yarmuth, Wilson, Welch, Hultgren Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee Chair Rogers, Ranking Member Lowey, and SFOPS Subcommittee Chairwoman Granger to support reauthorization of the “Lautenberg Amendment,” which has served as a lifeline for over two decades to Jewish, Christian, and other religious minorities escaping persecution. The Lautenberg Amendment was first enacted in 1990 to provide expedited refugee processing and a presumption of eligibility for historically persecuted religious minority groups from the former Soviet Union and Southeast Asia. It was then expanded in 2004 to include minority groups from Iran and has since been reauthorized every year.  The program does not provide access to the U.S. refugee resettlement program, but rather eases the burden of proof for the applicant only after the State Department has invited a particular group to apply for refugee status for “reasons of humanitarian concern.” The amendment is necessary because there is no U.S. embassy in Tehran where religious minorities can apply for refugee status.  The Lautenberg Amendment makes it possible for these minorities to obtain transit visas to Austria where they can safely undergo processing for protection.  Without enactment of this provision, the Austrian government can refuse to grant transit visas for Iranians seeking refugee status, thus eliminating a safe way for these refugees to escape perilous conditions. Today, the program’s beneficiaries are predominantly Iranian Christians, Baha’is and Jews.   Enactment of the Lautenberg Amendment does not require any appropriated funds because all individuals who are admitted under the program enter the U.S. as refugees and are, therefore, subject to the annual numerical cap on refugee admissions.  Entrants must also undergo the same criminal and security background checks as all others entering the United States. The Lautenberg Amendment safeguards a pathway to asylum that is a beacon of hope for Iranian refugees at a time when the Iranian regime perpetuates campaigns of anti-Zionism and Holocaust denial that vilify Jews, and incarcerates Baha’i leaders who are put on trial for their beliefs. To sign the letter or for more information, please contact Dao Nguyen with Rep. Schiff (x54176) or David Daoud with Rep. Franks (x54576). Sincerely, /s                                                                                                      /s ADAM B. SCHIFF                                                                            TRENT FRANKS Member of Congress                                                                         Member of Congress —– Dear Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Lowey, and Chairwoman Granger: As you work on the Appropriations proposals for Fiscal Year 2016, we urge you to once again extend the “Lautenberg Amendment,” a critical lifeline for threatened religious minorities trapped in Iran.  If the program is not renewed, Iranian religious minorities will be stranded in Iran, unable to access the protection of the United States.  We appreciate the hard work and leadership that the committee has shown on this issue, including the committee’s inclusion of the Lautenberg Amendment in the Fiscal Year 2015 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill, and we urge that the extension be included in the FY2016 spending bill to prevent a lapse that would place these persecuted religious minorities at great risk. Congress first enacted the Lautenberg Amendment as part of the 1990 Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill.  It established a presumption of refugee eligibility for historically persecuted groups in the former Soviet Union and Southeast Asia, and it has served as a critical lifeline for those affected.  The Lautenberg Amendment has been repeatedly extended, and since 2004 it has been expanded to cover Iranian religious minorities facing persecution.  Most recently, Congress included this provision in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2015. Today, the provision is more necessary than ever.  Iranian Jews, Christians, and Baha’is continue to suffer systematic persecution and discrimination by the Iranian government.  The State Department International Religious Freedom Report and the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom have consistently designated Iran as a “country of Particular Concern” for egregious ongoing and systematic violations of religious freedom.  The most recent reports state that “despite the June 2013 election of a new and purportedly moderate president, the already-poor religious freedom conditions in Iran continued to deteriorate, particularly for religious minorities” and that “the government of Iran continues to engage in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”  At a time when the Iranian regime continues its campaigns to demonize Jews and jail Baha’i leaders for their beliefs, the Lautenberg Amendment preserves a pathway to freedom that is a beacon of hope. Without the safeguards provided by the Lautenberg Amendment, safe transit countries like Austria may no longer be willing to provide visas to allow religious minorities to be processed on their soil.  With no U.S. Embassy in Tehran, persecuted individuals would be forced to flee to dangerous neighboring countries where conditions for asylum seekers are extremely unsafe and access to resettlement is uncertain. We urge your continued support to include the Lautenberg Amendment in the FY2016 funding bill and thus preserve a safe and reliable mechanism for vulnerable religious minorities to escape harm’s way.  Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''May is National Lacrosse Month Join me by “squaring up” and “scooping” this opportunity to recognize and “support” the fastest-growing sport in the country To be an original co-sponsor, please contact my office by 12pm Friday, May 15 *original co-sponsors: Heck, Watson Coleman Dear Colleague, As a former member of the men’s national lacrosse “Team USA,” I am writing to ask you to join me in recognizing the fastest-growing sport in the country by cosponsoring a resolution recognizing May as National Lacrosse Month. More than 750,000 Americans play lacrosse on an organized team, including 420,000 in youth leagues and nearly 290,000 on high school teams. Countless more enjoy it as a casual hobby! This year marks the 17th anniversary of US Lacrosse, the national governing body of lacrosse, which enjoys a membership of more than 450,000 members served by more than 80 full-time employees.  Last year alone, US Lacrosse conducted 127 training clinics for coaches in 35 states. More than 5,000 coaches participated, and those coaches interacted with more than 100,000 players. Last year, the men’s world championship was held on U.S. soil for first time since 1998. The largest international lacrosse event in history attracted 38 nations from six continents, more than 200 festival teams and more than 100,000 fans to Denver, Colorado.   Event media partner ESPN broadcast more than 40 games across its family of networks, with the balance of 100 available domestically and internationally via live stream. The competition ended with a historic rivalry match between Team Canada and Team USA with Team USA taking home the gold. So please join me in recognition of lacrosse.  To co-sponsor the resolution, please contact Deborah Haynie at Deborah.Haynie@mail.house.gov or 5-3061. Sincerely, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger Member of Congress BILL TEXT: Expressing support for designation of May as National Lacrosse Month. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES May XX, 2015 ____ submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on ___ RESOLUTION Expressing support for the designation of May as “National Lacrosse Month”. Whereas lacrosse is the fastest-growing sport in the United States, with every segment of the games showing growth and more than half of the players competing at the youth level, for individuals who are 15 years of age or younger; Whereas since 2010, the number of high schools sponsoring boys’ and girls’ lacrosse has increased by 34 percent and 36 percent, respectively, and the number of colleges sponsoring men’s and women’s National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) lacrosse has increased by 34 percent and 38 percent, respectively; Whereas there are increasing opportunities to participate in professional lacrosse for men and for post-collegiate club and international play for both men and women; Whereas lacrosse is a unique team sport with physiological demands including endurance, speed, strength, agility, and sport-specific skills; Whereas US Lacrosse is the national governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse; Whereas US Lacrosse is a nonprofit corporation and has more than 430,000 members in 67 regional chapters in 45 states across the United States; Whereas through responsive and effective leadership, US Lacrosse provides programs and services to inspire participation while protecting the integrity of the sport; Whereas US Lacrosse is actively engaged in numerous interventions focused on reducing the risk of injury in both men’s and women’s lacrosse, and has been recognized among the national sports medicine community for its collaboration and proactivity in this regard; Whereas the board of US Lacrosse established the Sports Science & Safety Committee in 1999 to serve as a source of lacrosse sport safety education for the entire lacrosse community; Whereas the Sports Science and Safety Committee, using existing sports medicine literature and new research initiatives, seeks to grow the body of lacrosse safety knowledge in order to objectively advise US Lacrosse and the lacrosse community on factors that may enhance the safety and quality of experience in the sport of lacrosse at all levels; Whereas led by the Sports Science and Safety Committee, US Lacrosse has committed significant resources toward the study, understanding and analysis of injuries in men’s and women’s lacrosse throughout its 16-year history of the Committee; Whereas from video analysis studies to head acceleration research, US Lacrosse has funded and sought greater understanding of concussion injury mechanisms; Whereas given the incidence and importance of head injury in the sport of lacrosse, US Lacrosse has developed a Concussion Management Plan that contains guidelines for teams, clubs, and leagues to consider and requires all US Lacrosse Gold Stick organizations to have a concussion management plan; Whereas US Lacrosse and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have partnered to develop a number of educational resources regarding concussions that contain practical, easy-to-use information designed to help reduce the numbers of this type of injury; Whereas US Lacrosse believes that a safe and positive playing experience starts by knowing the rules and how to appropriately and effectively coach, officiate and play the game; Whereas through its certified training programs to ensure athlete safety, US Lacrosse commits significant resources to the proper training of officials and coaches for both the men’s and women’s lacrosse; Whereas US Lacrosse, in concert with safety and medical experts, constantly evaluates its game rules and equipment requirements to ensure athlete safety, including through actions such as revising its rules to increase the limitation on body contact in youth boys’ lacrosse; Whereas in January of 2012, US Lacrosse established a task force with ASTM International’s Committee F-8 on Sports Equipment and Facilities to create a standard for women’s lacrosse headgear that provides an appropriate level of protection, does not increase the risk of injuries to other players, and maintains the rules, culture and traditions of this unique women’s sport; Whereas, there have been no reported catastrophic or severe brain injuries in women’s lacrosse as of the end of April 2015, and although stick and ball impacts are the most common mechanism of concussive injury in women’s lacrosse, head injuries and concussions in women’s lacrosse occur less frequently than in women’s soccer or ice hockey; Whereas although body-to-body impacts are the most prevalent mechanism of head injury in men’s lacrosse, head injuries and concussions in men’s lacrosse occur less frequently than in football or ice hockey; and Whereas US Lacrosse continues to fund and lead research, develop programs, and work to educate its membership to ensure the safety of all participants in both men’s and women’s lacrosse: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives– Supports the designation of May as “National Lacrosse Month”; and Commends the leadership and programming efforts of US Lacrosse to raise awareness, prevent injuries, and increase overall safety across all levels of the game of lacrosse.''
''Date: TODAY, May 12th Time: 2:00 PM – 3:00 PM Location: 2261 Rayburn HOB (House Education and the Workforce Committee Room) Dear Colleague: The Older Americans Act (OAA) was passed in 1965, the same year as Medicare and Medicaid, and was established to address the lack of community social services for the elderly.  OAA provides funding for critical services that allow elderly Americans to age at home and avoid expensive institutional care. Services provided by OAA include nutrition, transportation, elder abuse prevention, and family caregiver supports. Currently, one in five older adults — 11 million people — receive services from an Older Americans Act program. July will mark the 50th Anniversary of the OAA and will also coincide with the White House Summit on Aging.  This informative briefing will provide an overview of the Older Americans Act and how these programs serve our constituents. The briefing will feature: Moderator Amy Gotwals, National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a) Panelists Erika Kelly, Meals on Wheels Jennifer Dexter, Easter Seals KJ Hertz, AARP Sincerely,              /s/              /s/              /s/ Robert C. “Bobby” Scott Rubén Hinojosa Suzanne Bonamici Ranking Member Ranking Member Member Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training Committee on Education and the Workforce''
''Endorsed By: Native American Rights Fund, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, National Indian Gaming Association Current Cosponsors:  Cardenas, Clarke, Coffman, Cole, Conyers, DeGette, Ellison, Garamendi, Grijalva, Hastings, Hinojosa, Honda, Jones, Kirkpatrick, Larson, Lawrence, Lujan Grisham, Luján, McCollum, Moore, Mullin, Nolan, Perlmutter, Polis, Ruiz, Takai, Takano, Young Dear Colleague, I invite you to cosponsor H.R. 1089, the Native American Indian Education Act. The purpose of this act is to ensure that Federal funding is provided to support and sustain the long-standing Federal mandate requiring certain colleges and states, to waive in certain circumstances, tuition charges for Native American Indian students they admit to an undergraduate college program, including the waiver of tuition charges for Indian students who are not residents of the State in which the college is located. The formal U.S. Congressional mandate is found in the Congressional Record, Vol. 43, p. 1412 (Senate) and 1490 (House) for 1909, as well as the report of the Secretary of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the 1909 fiscal year. These contain the mandate language: “that Indian pupils shall at all times be admitted to such school free of charge for tuition.” The funding paragraph makes this a discretionary, rather than a mandatory program. The bill has a CBO approved offset and does not increase federal spending. The offset does not terminate any other existing education or tribal program. If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor, please email Dustin Sherer or call x51429. Sincerely, Scott Tipton Member of Congress''
''Support the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act – HR 2050 Cosponsors (81): Adams, Aguilar, Beatty, Bishop, Bonamici, Boyle, Robert Brady, Bustos, Capuano, Carson, Cartwright, Chu, Cicilline, Clark, Conyers, DeFazio, DeLauro, DeSaulnier, Duckworth, Edwards, Ellison, Esty, Fattah, Frankel, Fudge, Gallego, Garamendi, Gibson, Grayson, Gene Green,  Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hastings, Higgins, Honda, Jackson-Lee, Jeffries, Hank Johnson, Kaptur, Kildee, Kilmer, Kuster, Lance, Langevin, Larson, Lawrence, Lee, Lipinski, LoBiondo, Loebstack, Lofgren, Lowey, Lujan, Lynch, Sean Patrick Maloney, McCollum, McGovern, Patrick Murphy, Nadler, Nolan, Napolitano, Norcross, Norton, Pascrell, Perlmutter, Peters, Pocan, Quigley, Tim Ryan, Linda Sanchez, Schakowsky, Sinema, Sires, Bennie Thompson, Titus, Tonko, VanHollen, Vargas, Walz, Welch. Supporting Organizations: AFL-CIO; Alliance for Retired Americans; America’s Health Insurance Plans; American Benefits Council; AFSCME; American Federation of Teachers; ASSA, The School Superintendents Association; CWA; Corporate Health Care Corporation; Food Marketing Institute; International Association of Fire Fighters; Machinists; Boilermakers; International Brotherhood of Teamsters; Operating Engineers; IBEW; UAW; Laborers’; National Association of Counties; National Association of Police Organizations, Inc.; National Education Association; National Retail Federation; Retail Industry Leaders Association; IAM; UNITE HERE; United States Chamber of Commerce; among others. Dear Colleague: Since its enactment, the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has enrolled millions of Americans in high quality and affordable health care and worked to slow rising trends in health care costs. As a strong supporter of the ACA, I believe that it is time to move away from the unproductive, redundant debates over repeal and shift our focus to areas of bipartisan consensus and opportunities to improve the law. One such area is the excise tax on high cost health plans. Beginning in 2018, a 40 percent excise tax on the cost of employer-based health insurance that exceeds certain amounts – generally $10,200 for individual coverage and $27,500 for family coverage – will go into effect. Like many of you, I have heard form a broad range of stakeholders – from local towns and cities in my district to large employers and employees – about their concerns about the looming impact of this policy. This provision is often referred to as a “Cadillac Tax,” implying that the policy would touch only high-end and overly-generous health plans. In reality, however, it will fall squarely on those driving to work every day in a Ford Focus. This tax will have an indiscriminate impact on a broad range of individuals and families who, for reasons they cannot control, have health plans that already or soon will reach the policy’s cost thresholds. For example, a recently released analysis by Milliman, an independent actuarial firm, found that “although the excise tax is often referred to as a tax on overgenerous health benefits, it is likely to be a tax based on factors other than benefit richness and beyond the control of health plan members.” Instead, factors such as age, gender, geography, occupational industry, and plan size have a much greater influence on the cost of a plan than any perceived generosity in the plan’s benefit structure. Although the tax does not go into effect until 2018, employers are already grappling with its consequences today. Uncertainty over how the tax will be implemented, as well as shortcomings in the law with regards to adjustments for inflation, age, gender and other factors, are leading employers to consider a range of options to avoid the tax. Some of these options include reducing the value of the health care coverage they offer their employees, which will likely manifest in the form of increasing deductibles, copays, coinsurance and out-of-pocket limits. Much has been made about the cost of repealing this section of the law. Most recently, the Congressional Budget Office estimated that the tax would generate $87 billion of revenue over ten years. Notably, however, it estimates that only one-fourth of this total – $22 billion – comes directly from excise tax receipts. Part of the remaining three-quarters of the projected revenue would be generated from the theoretical increase in taxable wages that some economists predict that employers would pay to compensate workers for reductions in their health care benefits. Given recent trends in wages, I am skeptical that those wage gains would be realized as these assumptions are based on general economic models and fail to take into account real world dynamics between employers and their workers.  Even if workers realize an increase in wages as a result of reduced benefits, the result will be a net shift of the burden of this tax to the employee. Lastly, when the excise tax was first suggested as part of the Senate’s health reform package, I led 191 members of the House in sending a letter expressing our serious concern about the provision and its impact on plans beyond those considered to be overly-generous “Cadillac” plans. Notably, the House passed its version of health reform without the excise tax, showing that alternatives exist and should be considered. While our advocacy led to constructive changes in the structure of the tax and delayed implementation for five years to provide time to address the issue later, the concerns we had in 2010 remain today – this policy will penalize workers and result in reduced health benefits for families. To this end, I hope you will consider signing on to my bipartisan legislation, HR 2050, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act. This legislation would repeal the excise tax by eliminating Section 4980I of Chapter 43 of the Internal Revenue Code, the excise tax on high-cost health plan and making conforming and clerical changes in tax code to reflect repeal of this section. For more information, or to cosponsor, please contact Michelle Greenhalgh, my health Legislative Assistant at michelle.greenhalgh@mail.house.gov or at 202-225-2076.                                                                         Sincerely,                                                                         /s/                                                                                             JOE COURTNEY                                                                                       Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Please join me as an original co-sponsor of the Stop Birth Tourism Act to stem the flow of foreign expecting mothers using tourist visas to enter the U.S. and intentionally give birth on American soil in order to ensure citizenship rights for their newborn child.  While different proposals have been introduced to solve this problem, my approach does not require a change to the Constitution or risk the possibility of the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional. Currently, U.S. consular officers already have the authority to deny tourist visas to applicants for a variety of reasons, including the likelihood that the applicant is an intending immigrant.  However, they do not have the ability to refuse a tourist visa if a pregnant foreigner is likely to come to the United States solely for the purpose of giving birth. My proposal would correct this problem by giving consular officers the authority to deem an alien as ineligible to enter the U.S. on a tourist visa if the officer determines she is likely to give birth in the U.S. if admitted. It is well known that many expecting foreigners come to the United States and stay at what have come to be known as ‘maternity hotels’. These maternity hotels are normally single-family homes in our neighborhoods that host numerous pregnant foreigners for months at a time, violating local zoning laws and putting an undue burden on our neighborhoods, hospitals and local governments. Rarely do these maternity hotels have the ability to care for ill mothers and/or their babies, resulting in hospital visits that unfairly come at the cost of the American taxpayers. Please join me in implementing this common sense, constitutional solution that will immediately help solve a growing problem in our country. Contact Brian Alesi at extension 5-2415, or via standard House email, with any questions or to become a co-sponsor of the Stop Birth Tourism Act. Deadline for Original Sponsors is THIS THURSDAY (5/14). For further information regarding birth tourism, please view the recent news articles below. ·Birth tourism: An Irvine company makes $2 million in 2013 enticing foreign women to give birth to hundreds of babies in O.C., feds say ·The booming business of U.S. birth tourism ·Birth tourism raids spark debate about citizenship, the 14th Amendment''
''Protect Children from Liquid Nicotine Poisonings Bipartisan Cosponsors: Reps. Brady, Beyer, Brown, Clark, DeLauro, Deutch, Fortenberry, Hahn, Honda, Huffman, Lowenthal, Matsui, McGovern, Norton, Pocan, Quigley, Rangel, Slaughter, and Wasserman Schultz Dear Colleague, Please join me in the effort to protect children from liquid nicotine poisonings by cosponsoring the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act of 2015, H.R. 1375. This legislation is a common-sense measure to prevent unnecessary deaths and illnesses in children.  Specifically, this bill gives the U.S. regulatory authority to require that liquid nicotine products have child-proof safety caps. Last December, a one-year old child from Fort Plain, New York died after drinking just a small amount of liquid nicotine. This incident is tragic and could have been prevented if the liquid nicotine container had a childproof cap. What’s also frustrating is that the American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC) reported receiving 1,543 calls related to liquid nicotine exposure from local poison control centers in 2014. This is unacceptable. Even one death is too many, especially when that death is preventable. We all recognize the danger that many hazardous chemicals and drugs pose to children. That’s why we require child-resistant packaging on many of these substances to prevent accidental child poisonings that could result in serious injury or death. Unfortunately, there is no child-resistant packaging requirement for concentrated liquid nicotine – which can be toxic if ingested or even absorbed through skin. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), some small (15 mL) bottles of liquid nicotine contain as much as 540 mg of nicotine. At the estimated lethal dose range of nicotine, AAP notes that this small bottle contains enough nicotine to kill 4 small children. And even a very small amount of the liquid splashed on a child’s skin can make the child very ill. Child-resistant packaging is already required for many hazardous household products, including over-the-counter medicines and cleaning agents. These regulations have prevented countless injuries and deaths – and there is no reason why bottles of liquid nicotine should not have similar child-resistant packaging requirements. This legislation was also introduced in the Senate by Senator Nelson and was co-sponsored by a bipartisan slate of senators including Senators Ayotte, Bennet, Blumenthal, Boxer, Brown, Cardin, Casey, Durbin, Gillibrand, Grassley, Klobuchar, Markey, Merkley, Murray, Reed, Schatz, Schumer, and Udall.  Please join with us today to support the Child Nicotine Poisoning Prevention Act. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this bill in the 114th Congress. For more information about the bill or to cosponsor the legislation, please have your staff contact Danielle Most at Danielle.Most@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, __________________ Elizabeth H. Esty Member of Congress Endorsed by: American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Association of Poison Control Centers, American Association for Respiratory Care, American College of Cardiology, American College of Physicians, American College of Preventive Medicine, American Public Health Association, Arizona Consumers Council, Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs, Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Boston Public Health Commission, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, Cancer Prevention and Treatment Fund, Chicago Consumer Coalition, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Federation of California, Consumer Federation of the Southeast, Consumers Union, EverThrive Illinois, First Focus Campaign for Children, Kids in Danger, March of Dimes, Minnesota Department of Health, National Association of County and City Health Officials Ohio Public Health Association, Partnership for Prevention, Public Citizen, U.S. PIRG, Virginia Citizens Consumer Council''
''Dear Colleague: By now you should have received an invitation from the Embassy of the Philippines for a meeting with the Honorable Albert F. del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, in cooperation with the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus on Tuesday, 12 May from 6:00 to 7:00pm in H-107, Majority Leader McCarthy’s suite. This will be a members-only event, with one staff member invited to accompany the member. RSVP required with the Embassy’s political office at legislative@philippinesusa.org or 202-467-9379. The invitation can be accessed here. Best regards, Darrell Issa Member of Congress''
''Current cosigners: Conyers, Davis, Scott, Norton, Blumenauer, Hastings, C. Brown, Grijalava, Watson Coleman Dear Colleague: Over 70 million Americans with criminal histories face significant and unreasonable barriers that prevent them from securing gainful employment. This denies millions of Americans a second chance and limits their ability to provide for themselves and their families. Communities of color, who already face significant obstacles to economic independence, are disproportionately affected by these barriers. As we continue to look for ways to reform our broken criminal justice system, now is the time for executive action to open employment opportunities for many Americans who are being unfairly locked out because of a previous criminal record. In 2012, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued enforcement guidance encouraging employers to consider “targeted screening” and individualized assessment in order to prevent the exclusion of qualified applicants or employees with criminal backgrounds. Sixteen states, the District of Columbia, and over 100 cities and counties across the country have adopted “ban the box” reforms. Even a number of the nation’s largest companies, such as Walmart, Koch Industries, and Target, have adopted fair chance hiring measures as well. That is why we encourage you to join us in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to issue an Executive Order requiring federal contractors and agencies to refrain from asking job applicants about prior convictions until later in the hiring process. This would eliminate a significant obstacle to re-entry for many who want to fully participate in the labor market. Nearly 200 organizations recently wrote to the President endorsing a similar effort. If you have any questions or would like to cosign, please contact Andrew Goodwin in Congresswoman Barbara Lee’s office at andrew.goodwin@mail.house.gov or 5-2661, or Veronique Pluviose in Congressman Bobby Scott’s office at veronique.pluviose@mail.house.gov or 5-3725, or Lavell Brown in Congressman Danny Davis’ office at lavell.brown@mail.house.gov or 5-5006. Sincerely, Barbara Lee Member of Congress John Conyers, Jr. Member of Congress Robert C. “Bobby” Scott Member of Congress Danny K. Davis Member of Congress May XX, 2015 President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: We write to address the urgent need for the adoption of a fair chance hiring policy at the federal level. Over 70 million Americans with criminal histories face significant and unreasonable barriers to securing gainful employment. These barriers prevent millions of Americans from having the second chance to succeed that they deserve, and prevents them from being able to earn a fair wage to support themselves and their families. Communities of color, which already face significant obstacles to economic independence, are disproportionately affected by barriers erected by the criminal justice system – one in three black men will be arrested in his lifetime. The lack of economic opportunity combined with criminal histories ensures the continuing cycle of mass incarceration, as unemployment is directly tied to recidivism. We applaud your Administration for taking steps to expand Federal employment opportunities for people with criminal histories.  The establishment of the Federal Interagency Reentry Council in 2011, with the intent of making the federal government a “model employer” of people with criminal records, sends a signal that employment opportunity is key to ending the cycle of recidivism.  Similarly, the White House’s My Brother’s Keeper Task Force strongly endorsed these “fair chance” reforms because they “give applicants a fair chance and allow employers the opportunity to judge individual job candidates on their merits as they reenter the workforce.” As to evolving Federal standards, it is also important to note that in 2012, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) issued enforcement guidance encouraging employers to consider “targeted screening” and individualized assessment in order to prevent the exclusion of qualified applicants or employees with criminal backgrounds. We urge you to build on these efforts by requiring that federal contractors implement “fair chance” hiring practices and that federal agencies take additional steps to create a more fair and transparent hiring process for people with criminal histories. Accordingly, we ask you to require that federal contractors and agencies refrain from asking job applicants to report their criminal history at the initial stages of the hiring process. Employers would retain the ability to inquire about past convictions or conduct background checks regarding a potential employee before making an employment decision. Throughout the country, many jurisdictions have already moved to address this issue. Sixteen states, the District of Columbia, and over 100 cities and counties have adopted “fair chance hiring” reforms. Many states have done so with strong bipartisan support including from Governor Nathan Deal of Georgia, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, and Governor Terry McAuliffe of Virginia. Six states have extended their policy to both public and private sector employers. In the private sector, Walmart, Koch Industries, Home Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, and Target have adopted fair chance hiring measures as well. These reforms open critical opportunities to qualified job-seekers who have an arrest or conviction in their past. Now is the time to build on this momentum and take executive action to open employment opportunities for Americans who are unfairly locked out of our economy because of a criminal history. We urge you to build on your administration’s commitment to adopting fair chance hiring reforms by committing the federal government to do its part to eliminate unnecessary barriers to employment for people with criminal records. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Cosponsor H.R. 2230, the Disaster Savings Accounts Act: Protect Homeowners and Taxpayers Against Future Unforeseen Disasters Dear Colleague: We must take steps to ensure our nation’s future prosperity, and this means less reliance on government funding and more personal accountability in protecting ourselves and our families against future unforeseen expenses, from health care to our homes and businesses. For the period FY2000-FY2013, a total of 844 major disasters were declared, resulting in $123.2 billion in total obligations from the Disaster Relief Fund. By affording Americans a tax-preferred savings account that may be used to pay for pre- and post-disaster related expenses, the Disaster Savings Accounts Act (H.R. 2230) will facilitate less reliance on federally-funded post-disaster rebuilding efforts. I invite all of my colleagues to cosponsor the Disaster Savings Accounts (DSA) Act. How is the DSA handled for tax purposes? Provides an annual tax deduction for homeowners AND renters equivalent to the amount of funds deposited into a DSA, up to $5,000 per year, to be used only for qualified DSA expenses Allows unused funds to roll over from one year to the next, accumulating over time. Will the DSA Act really save federal dollars? Yes!  An independent study by the National Institute of Building Sciences and the Multi-hazard Mitigation Council showed that for every $1 of pre-disaster mitigation expenditures, the federal government saves up to $4 in future disaster-related expenses. What expenses are allowed from a DSA? Fortification AND recovery expenses are qualified before and after a natural disaster event; for example, storm/shatter-proof shutters or windows, home generators, and reinforced walls, to name a few. Account funds are also qualified for use toward personal property losses in and around the home, resulting from a natural disaster, not otherwise covered by insurance; this includes natural disaster damage caused by floods and sinkholes. Who is eligible to have a DSA? Any homeowner or renter residing within the U.S. has the opportunity to have a DSA. Supporting Organizations: Nat’l Assn. of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC); American Insurance Assn. (AIA), Lowe’s, Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), National Assn. of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC), Reinsurance Assn. of America (RAA), Farmer’s Insurance SmarterSafer.Org – encompasses more than 30 organizations and companies For questions or to cosponsor the DSA Act, please contact Tim Cummings in my office at 5-1252 or Timothy.Cummings@mail.house.gov Signed, Rep. Dennis A. Ross (FL-15)''
''Support Gold Star Fathers Cosponsor H.R. 1222, the Gold Star Fathers Act Dear Colleague, I invite you to become a cosponsor of the Gold Star Fathers Act of 2015. Our military families make incredible sacrifices for our country, particularly parents of a son or daughter killed or seriously injured while serving in uniform. It is time to establish equality in our nation’s treatment of the parents of deceased or disabled veterans. Currently, qualifying mothers of certain disabled or deceased veterans are considered “preference eligible” when applying for federal civil service jobs. Congress has already recognized that mothers who have lost a child or are caring for their permanently disabled child deserve a hand in seeking federal employment. The Gold Star Fathers Act would simply extend this preference eligibility to the fathers of permanently disabled or deceased veterans as well. The loss of a child is felt just as strongly by our veteran’s fathers as by their mothers. Let’s correct this inequity by extending preference eligibility for federal jobs to both parents of our fallen heroes. To cosponsor H.R. 1222 or request further information, please contact Michael Carlo in my office at Michael.Carlo@mail.house.gov or 5-4476. Sincerely, Elizabeth H. Esty Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: I write to urge you to vote against an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that will be offered by my colleague from Alabama, Representative Mo Brooks.  Rep. Brooks’ amendment will strip an amendment offered by Rep. Ruben Gallego from the House Armed Services Committee’s final markup of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act. Rep. Gallego’s amendment, now a provision of the NDAA, is a straightforward bipartisan measure that expresses the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense should determine if undocumented individuals, who have received work authorization under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, may be admitted to the U.S. military when doing so is “vital to the national interest.” These are people who came to this country at a young age, through no fault of their own, grew up here, went to school here, and now want to serve their country in uniform. I urge you to support keeping Rep. Gallego’s amendment in the NDAA for three reasons: It will provide the military a new, though limited, pool of willing, capable and skilled applicants. Last month the military more than tripled its pool of immigrant applicants, demonstrating the need for an expanded pool.  By expanding the pool of eligible recruits further we will be able to maintain, or even increase, the rigorous standards required to enlist in our military today. These young people believe in this country enough to want to serve in the military and are willing to make tremendous sacrifices in defense of our freedom. Currently these young people can work legally in the United States and they should also be able to serve in the military. For these reasons, I ask you to vote against any amendment offered on the floor that would remove this provision, and instead support the NDAA provision intended to expand military enlistment opportunities for these young people who want to serve their country. Sincerely, Mike Coffman Member of Congress''
''114th Congress Cosponsors (112): Reps Luke Messer, Ralph Abraham, Brad Ashford, Joyce Beatty, Donald Beyer, Rod Blum, Madeleine Bordallo, Brendan Boyle, Julia Brownley, Cheri Bustos, Bradley Byrne, Tony Cardenas, Andre Carson, Matt Cartwright, Judy Chu, David Cicilline, Curt Clawson, Steve Cohen, Barbara Comstock, Gerry Connolly, John Conyers, Kevin Cramer, John Delaney, Ron DeSantis, Scott DesJarlais, Ted Deutch, Mario Diaz-Balart, Keith Ellison, Eliot Engel, Chaka Fattah, Lois Frankel, John Garamendi, Chris Gibson, Raúl Grijalva, Alcee Hastings, Denny Heck, Brian Higgins, Mike Honda, Steve Israel, Sheila Jackson-Lee, Hank Johnson, David Jolly, Walter Jones, Dave Joyce, Marcy Kaptur, John Katko, Robin Kelly, Derek Kilmer, Peter King, Ann Kirkpatrick, Ann Kuster, James Langevin, Robert Latta, Brenda Lawrence, Barbara Lee, Ted Lieu, Daniel Lipinski, Frank LoBiondo, Alan Lowenthal, Bob Gibbs, Doug LaMalfa, Nita Lowey, Michelle Lujan Grisham, Stephen Lynch, Tom Marino, Doris Matsui, Tom McClintock, Betty McCollum, Jim McDermott, Jim McGovern, Jerry McNerney, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Steven Palazzo, Ed Perlmutter, Scott Peters, Robert Pittenger, Mark Pocan, Bruce Poliquin, Jared Polis, Mike Quigley, Charles Rangel, Kathleen Rice, Lucille Roybal-Allard, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Bobby Rush, Tim Ryan, Aaron Schock, Adam Schiff, Austin Scott, David Scott, James Sensenbrenner, José Serrano, Kyrsten Sinema, Albio Sires, Jason Smith, Eric Swalwell, Mark Takano, Mike Thompson, David G. Valadao, Marc Veasey, Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, Maxine Waters, Bruce Westerman, Frederica Wilson, Rob Wittman, John Yarmuth, Ted Yoho, David Young, and Ryan Zinke. Supporters: The American Legion, Student Veterans of America, Military Officers Association of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Association of the United States Navy. Dear Colleague: The cost of college applications often stands between veterans and their ability to access their Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits. That is why I ask you to join in cosponsoring the Reducing Barriers for Veterans Education Act, bipartisan legislation that would allow veterans to use the educational benefits they have earned towards college application fees. While the Post 9/11 GI Bill provides an important earned educational benefit for service members, it does not cover the cost of applications to colleges, graduate schools, and technical and vocational schools. According to National Association for College Admission Counseling, the average college application cost is almost $40, with some undergraduate applications running as high as $90.  Graduate school applications are even more expensive, with some costing as much as $275. These costs have been steadily rising — imposing a real burden on some veterans wishing to attend school. For a service member returning from overseas combat who hopes to attend school, these unexpected costs pose an unnecessary barrier to education. This bill would cover the cost of applications to colleges, universities, graduate schools, as well as technical and vocational schools under the Post 9/11 GI Bill.  It would cover fees up to $750 by offsetting Post 9/11 GI Bill eligibility by the amount used. Making application fees part of eligible Post 9/11 GI Bill expenses would remedy a significant financial burden standing between our heroes and their education without increasing the cost of the Post 9/11 GI Bill. Our veterans have tremendous discipline, responsibility, and leadership ability to offer businesses. By having better access to educational opportunities, veterans will have the means to keep their job skills up to date and stay competitive in today’s evolving job market. To cosponsor or for more information, please contact Jordan Blumenthal at Jordan.Blumenthal@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Patrick E. Murphy MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''Become an Original Cosponsor of the Password Protection Act of 2015 Dear Colleague: In recent years there have been news stories highlighting a disturbing increase in the number of employers asking prospective employees to hand over usernames and passwords to their personal accounts on sites like Facebook. Some job applicants are even being asked – during interviews – to log into these websites and allow interviewers to browse applicants’ profile, acquaintances, and other information.  Others are being asked as a condition of new or continued employment to provide passwords on job applications or to “friend” the employer so the employer can view applicants’ private information. No one should have to give up their passwords in order to secure or keep a job.  A handful of states already outlaw the practice. It’s time for the federal government to protect the privacy of employees. Requiring access to prospective or current employees’ password-protected accounts as a condition of employment is an unreasonable violation of an employee’s privacy.  Furthermore, requiring prospective or current employees to provide login credentials to employers compromises the security of the employees’ personal data. The Password Protection Act would end this abuse by prohibiting employers from forcing employees into releasing their private online user information stored on the internet. In doing so, the Act builds upon existing law by focusing on where an employee’s information is shared rather than how it is stored, similar to how federal anti-hacking statutes currently work. This protects the privacy rights of employees but also clearly preserves employers’ rights to control access to their own company hardware and software. If you are interested in joining our effort to protect your constituents’ online privacy, please join us as a cosponsor of the Password Protection Act of 2015. This legislation is identical to last Congress’ Password Protection Act, which garnered bipartisan support from 40 members. If you have any questions or would like to become an original cosponsor, please contact Ryan Collins in my office at ryan.collins@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Ed Perlmutter Member of Congress''
''Wednesday, May 13th Lunch Briefing: 1:00 to 2:00 pm Cannon House office Building 122 **Lunch will be provided** Dear Colleague: As we continue to recognize May as Mental Health Awareness Month, we cordially invite you and your staff to attend a briefing focusing on survivors of suicide attempts and ideation, also known as lived experience. This panel will feature chapter leaders from the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) that have lived experience of suicide.  The panel will define lived experience and provide information regarding what we know about those who have gone through the experience of suicide.  Panel members will also share their stories of recovery and discuss ways to engage persons who may have lived experience in order to reduce stigma. We encourage you or a member of your staff to attend this important lunch briefing on May 13th so that you can share this important information with your constituency and help us recognize and support May Mental Health Awareness Month. We are confident you will find this briefing timely and informative. We look forward to your participation. Warm regards, Grace F. Napolitano''
''Supported by GOA, NSSF, NRA Current Cosponsors : Franks (R-AZ), Brooks (R-AL), Wilson (R-SC), Huelskamp (R-KS), Gosar (R-AZ), Jones (R-NC), Loudermilk (R-GA), Babin (R-TX), Conaway (R-TX), Zinke( R-MT), Johnson (R-OH), LaMalfa (R-CA), Cramer (R-ND), Westerman (R-AR), Crawford (R-AR), Duncan (R-SC), Forbes (R-VA), Hurt (R-VA), Emmer (R-MN), Poe (R-TX), Latta (R-OH), Rouzer (R-NC), Barr (R-KY), Stutzman (R-IN) Dear Colleagues: Please join me in protecting our Second Amendment right by prohibiting President Obama from using Operation Choke Point or similar program to target the firearm industry. Under Operation Choke Point the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) and Department of Justice permitted Attorney General Eric Holder the means to cripple firearms and ammunition manufacturers by placing immense regulatory pressure on the financial institutions they do business with. While the FDIC has claimed that it has ceased its targeting of firearms manufacturers under Operation Choke Point, more must be done to ensure that the Second Amendment isn’t threatened. We must cement into law a prohibition from regulators using Operation Choke Point, or any future similar program from going after a lawful industry. The Firearm Manufacturers and Dealers Protection Act would entirely defund any activities associated with Operation Choke Point and forbid the U.S. Attorney General from restarting a similar program. If you have any questions or wish to cosponsor, please contact Ryan White at Ryan.white@mail.house.gov or at 5-2190 Sincerely, David Schweikert Member of Congress''
''Learn How Chinese Direct Investment Impacts Your Congressional District Dear Colleague: How much Chinese direct investment has your district received, and how does it compare with your neighbors? What has been the local impact of this investment, especially in terms of job creation? What districts are benefiting the most – and the least – from China’s commercial investments? Why and how would your district – and the United States as a whole – position itself to be competitive for future Chinese investment? Join the U.S.-China Working Group for a briefing to preview New Neighbors: Chinese Investment in the United States by Congressional District, a report by the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and Rhodium Group that contributes to a more balanced debate about the risks and benefits of Chinese investment. New Neighbors offers for the first time a comprehensive estimate of the local investment, operations, and employment effects of Chinese FDI. The briefing will be held on May 19 At 3:30 pm-4:30 pm in Room 2167 Rayburn In attendance will be the following: Stephen Orlins (president, National Committee on U.S.-China Relations) Daniel Rosen (founding partner, Rhodium Group) Thilo Hanemann (director of research, Rhodium Group) National media are expected to run pieces about this report in the days following our preview. Attend the preview to ensure that your office is prepared to answer media questions that will follow. If you would like to RSVP for this briefing, please contact Terra Sabag of Congressman Larsen’s staff at terra.sabag@mail.house.gov or at 202-225-2605 or Kim Malooly of Congressman Boustany’s staff at kim.malooly@mail.house.gov or at 202-225-2031.                                         Sincerely,  /s                                                                                             /s Rick Larsen                                                                          Charles Boustany Jr., MD Member of Congress                                                             Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Editorial boards across the United States have come out in support of the USA Freedom Act (H.R. 2048), a strong, bipartisan bill that reforms our nation’s intelligence-gathering programs operated under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. This bill ends bulk collection of data, strengthens protections for civil liberties, increases transparency, and prevents government overreach, while also protecting national security. The House of Representatives will vote on the USA Freedom Act this week. Here’s some of what the editorial boards are saying: USA Today: “[A] compromise has emerged in Congress that would go a long way toward rebalancing security and liberty … Choosing between privacy and security in these dangerous times is difficult. But, despite what supporters of bulk collection insist, lawmakers don’t have to choose. A carefully built compromise allows access to phone records, but with genuine privacy safeguards. The nation would be no less secure. And the civil liberties on which the nation was built would be better protected.” Washington Post: “There is, fortunately, a promising reform proposal readily available: the USA Freedom bill, which enjoys bipartisan support in both chambers as well as broad endorsement from President Obama — and the affected private industries as well. In a nutshell, it would abandon the bulk collection of the NSA’s metadata, and warrantless searches of it, in favor of a system under which telecommunications firms retained the information, subject to specific requests from the government.” The News & Advance (Lynchburg, VA): “The intelligence reforms [Bob Goodlatte] and his Democratic and Republican colleagues have crafted strike a good balance between the need to protect the nation and the need to protect the individual from the nation’s government. We expect the full House to concur and hope the U.S. Senate sides with him in the fight over the Patriot Act, a needed weapon in the war on terrorism but one in need of reform.” Tampa Bay Times: “The National Security Agency should not be collecting mountains of data on Americans who have done nothing wrong, and there are more productive ways to fight terrorism. The House should approve a bipartisan compromise supported by the Obama administration that is a small step toward better balancing national defense and constitutional protections, and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell should drop his objection to any changes.” The Des Moines Register: “There is bipartisan support … in the form of the USA Freedom Act. It should pass.” Los Angeles Times: “Under [the USA Freedom Act], the government can continue to search telephone records when there is a reasonable suspicion of a connection to terrorism. But it will no longer be able to warehouse those records, and it will have to satisfy a court that it isn’t on a fishing expedition. Those are eminently reasonable restrictions — unless you believe that the war against Islamic State and similar groups means that Americans must sacrifice their right to privacy in perpetuity.” Learn more about the USA Freedom Act by clicking here or by calling the Crime Subcommittee at 5-5727. Sincerely, Bob Goodlatte Chairman, House Judiciary Committee''
''Current Signers: Connolly, Grayson, Gabbard, Lee, McGovern, Meng, Slaughter **Language Updated** Deadline Extended to 3:00pm, Tuesday May 12th Letter endorsed by Mercy Corps and Global Communities Dear Colleagues, Please join me in sending a letter to Secretary Kerry thanking him for taking a lead in brokering a temporary ceasefire in Yemen, and expressing Congress’s ongoing concerns about the growing humanitarian crisis there. As you may have seen, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia announced that a temporary “humanitarian pause” will begin on Tuesday, May 12th. Since fighting began in Yemen last fall the UN estimates that 300,000 people have been displaced, and as many as 1,000 civilians have been killed. Access to food, water, medical supplies, and fuel has been limited, and the people of Yemen are in crisis. Yemen is one of the world’s poorest countries, with 80% of its food imported. It is a moral imperative that the U.S. do everything we can to ensure that innocent civilians receive assistance. The New York Times ran an alarming report on the quickly deteriorating situation.Please join me in the letter below, asking the Administration to coordinate with regional partners and aid groups to ensure that assistance is reaching the people of Yemen. To sign on please contact Sarah Trister, Sarah.Trister@mail.house.gov, or 54911. Deadline is 3:00pm Tuesday, May 12th. Sincerely, David N. Cicilline The Honorable John F. Kerry May XX, 2015 Dear Secretary Kerry: We are writing to voice grave concerns about the humanitarian situation in Yemen, and ask that the United States continue to do everything it can to mobilize support to ensure that Yemeni civilians have access to food, water, medical supplies, and fuel. We applaud your efforts to broker a temporary cease-fire and humanitarian pause and welcome the announcement of US $68 million in emergency humanitarian aid. However, careful attention to the implementation of these plans and continued coordination with Saudi Arabia will be necessary for them to be successful. As you know, the humanitarian crisis has continued to escalate due to the political and military violence taking place in Yemen.  The United Nations estimates that hundreds of civilians have died as a result of fighting since Shia Houthi rebels began their assault last year, and that 550 civilians have died since Saudi Arabia began air strikes on March 26. Thousands more have been injured and many of Yemen’s already under-staffed and under-resourced hospitals have been damaged. As of today, the civilian population in 18 out of 22 governorates has been affected by fighting, airstrikes, and life-threatening shortages of supplies, most importantly fuel. Before the current conflict began, the Yemeni population was already extremely vulnerable. Humanitarian needs were most acute among the 330,000 internally displaced Yemenis and 250,000 refugees inside the country. Additionally, 10.6 million people were already food insecure, 13.4 million people lacked access to clean water and chronic malnutrition rates among children were one of the highest in the world. Oxfam estimates that 80 percent of Yemen’s national food consumption is imported, and this supply has been interrupted by the closing of air, water, and land entry-routes to the country since the bombing campaign began. The current fighting and airstrikes have severely hampered efforts to deliver services to those already in need in Yemen, and has caused additional 300,000 people to be displaced according to new UN estimates. Some of the most intense violence is taking place in Aden, a strategic import point and infrastructure hub for fuel, causing severe shortages of fuel throughout the country. This has caused paralysis of all critical systems including transportation, power plants, heath care, schools, water, sanitation and hygiene, and education. Hospitals are being disproportionately affected by the lack of fuel as they cannot access adequate medicine, run generators, pump water, or feed patients. Additionally, they are treating higher volumes of patients due to the violence. Urgent attention to the fuel crisis is required to alleviate the suffering of millions of civilians. Despite severe challenges, humanitarian organizations are continuing to respond as best as possible, but without fuel, options are limited. While the $274 million in humanitarian assistance from Saudi Arabia and the $68 million in emergency funding from the US are extremely welcome, it is vitally important that supply lines reopen for humanitarian assistance if this aid is to have an impact. Again, thank you for your efforts to broker a much-needed temporary ceasefire to allow for humanitarian access. We respectfully ask that the United States continue to work with the international community to ensure that the humanitarian crisis does not worsen and that the people of Yemen receive the assistance they so desperately need. We also ask that the United States ensures that humanitarian assistance is objectively distributed to the most vulnerable individuals based on need, regardless of ethnic or political affiliation. Please let us know what the State Department is doing to coordinate with Saudi Arabia and other regional partners, as well as with assistance providers, to ensure that humanitarian assistance reaches its intended recipients. Sincerely,''
''Support Lung Cancer Screening Deadline to sign-on COB May 21st Dear Colleague: Please sign a letter to Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Burwell requesting that HHS integrate recently approved cost-effective and life-saving lung cancer screening into public health services. Lung cancer is the leading cause of all cancer deaths and causes more deaths than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. More importantly, more than 70 percent of lung cancers are not detected until late stage.  Patients who receive a late stage diagnosis have a 15 percent five year survival rate. Recent approvals of Low Dose Computed Tomography (LDCT) annual screening by both the US Preventative Services Task Force (USPSTF) and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) have given patients and health care providers another tool to help prevent and diagnose lung cancer at early stage, when it can be more successfully treated and even cured. USPSTF recommends annual LDCT screenings for individuals 55 to 80 years of age who are at high risk for lung cancer. However, HHS has not provided the much needed guidance to successfully implement these recommendations. This letter requests information from HHS regarding their efforts to enhance awareness of the approval of LDCT annual screening, and urges HHS to develop a coordinated implementation and public education plan of action to ensure that high risk populations are screened. To sign on to this letter, please contact Devin McBrayer in Representative Capps office at Devin.McBrayer@mail.house.gov, or Francis Brooke in Representative Barr’s office at Francis.Brooke@mail.house.gov. The deadline to sign on is COB May 21st.  _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Dear Secretary Burwell: After twenty years of research and testing, and three years of evidence reviews by the U.S. Preventive Services Task (USPSTF) and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), low dose computed tomography (LDCT) screening for lung cancer has joined mammography and colonoscopy as a covered preventive service proven to detect cancer at an early stage and reduce mortality.  We commend the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) for recognizing the value of this technology and urge HHS to integrate this cost-effective, life-saving benefit into public health expeditiously. Given that lung cancer causes more deaths each year than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined, detecting lung cancer at an early, treatable, and even curable stage has the potential to save many thousands of lives a year. Exactly how many will depend on steps taken by HHS to promote public education, access, and adherence. We are also hopeful that the implementation of screening will lead to refinements in risk assessment and increased knowledge of other factors in the development of lung cancer. Therefore, we respectfully pose the following questions to HHS in order to provide us with information on your efforts to enhance awareness of this change: 1.       What is the process for disseminating information to patients, physicians, and insurance companies? 2.       When will providers have the information needed to bill Medicare for the screening? 3.       Which agency within HHS will take the lead on promoting public awareness of this screening benefit? We appreciate your attention to this important matter and look forward to your response.  LOIS CAPPS                                 ANDY BARR Member of Congress                     Member of Congress''
''Join the Bipartisan Costello-Duckworth Letter Calling on HHS to Address Policies Harming Amputees and Their Providers Current Cosigners: Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-MI), Rep. Peter King (R-NY), Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA), Rep. Steve Chabot (R-OH), Rep. Mike Quigley (D-IL), Rep. Dave Loebsack (D-IA) Supported by: O&P Alliance; American Academy of Orthotists and Prosthetists (AAOP); American Board for Certification in Orthotics, Prosthetics; and Pedorthics, Inc. (ABC); American Orthotic & Prosthetic Association (AOPA); Board of Certification/Accreditation, International (BOC); National Association for the Advancement of Orthotics and Prosthetics (NAAOP)  Dear Colleague, Please join us in urging Secretary Sylvia Burwell to remedy two deviations from clear statutory instructions that are jeopardizing amputee access to proper treatments and trained providers. In order to reduce fraudulent Medicare payments and ensure proper care is provided to amputees, the 2000 Benefits Improvement and Protection Act of (BIPA) mandated that a “practitioner” or “supplier” orthotic and prosthetic services under Medicare had to be certified in order to be paid. Unfortunately, 15 years later, CMS has still not promulgated regulations related to BIPA payment requirements for practitioner and supplier qualifications for prosthetics and custom-fabricated orthotics. As a result, CMS is forced to assume that all O&P billing claims are suspect, which has led to a dramatic increase in CMS audits (like RACs).  If Medicare’s appeal system were functioning properly, and adjudicating cases within the 90 day statutory requirement, these audits would be less of burden.  However, the current appeal backlog is near 1 million claims, with wait times extending years after the appeal was requested.  As a result, orthotic and prosthetic providers, many of which are small businesses, have been forced to close their doors due to the restrictions these audits and appeals placed on cash flow. Making matters worse for O&P professionals, CMS has unilaterally altered a carefully crafted statutory definition that dictates which orthotic devices will be subject to competitive bidding.  “Minimal Self-Adjustment” is the litmus test Congress applied whether an orthotic device should be considered “off-the-shelf” when it created the competitive bidding program.  Accordingly, if a device requires adjustment by a third party, it does not meet the standard by which a device should be considered universal, one-size-fits all, or commoditized, enough to benefit from bidding.  In interpreting “minimal SELF-adjustment” to mean adjustments made by a third party (so long as that third party does not rise to the level of Certified Orthotist), CMS threatens to expand competitive bidding beyond those simple devices, for which bidding makes sense, to items that require attention by semi-medical personal, and are inherently not suited for bidding.  Experts know equipping disabled patients with poor, or ill-fitted devices, due to a competitive bidding process that fails to take into account specific patient attributes, would lead to poor patient outcomes and higher costs. Taken together, these items threaten to squeeze reputable O&P professionals, and consequently the critical care they provide to patients, out of existence.  Please join us in this bipartisan effort to align HHS regulations with Congressional intent, and in doing so, provide much needed relief to small business O&P providers, limb loss and limb-impaired Medicare beneficiaries, as well as American taxpayers. If you have any questions, or would like to become a co-signer, please contact Dante Cutrona (Rep. Costello) at Dante.Cutrona@mail.house.gov or Tony DeMarino (Rep. Duckworth) at Tony.DeMarino@mail.house.gov Sincerely, Ryan Costello                                                             Tammy Duckworth Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress  April XX, 2015 The Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, S.W. Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Burwell: We are writing to express our concerns regarding activities being conducted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) in relation to Medicare’s policies related to orthotics and prosthetics (O&P).  Specifically, we’re concerned that examples of deviation from clear statutory instructions from Congress to the Administration may jeopardize patient access to   proper treatments and access to appropriately trained providers for Medicare’s limb loss and limb-impaired beneficiaries.  Given the drastic positive impact these devices can have on a beneficiary’s ability to conduct activities of everyday life, and the associated contribution potential for this at-risk population, it is our hope that appropriate remedies can be identified and implemented. Congress has already defined “Minimal Self-Adjustment” in Off-the-Shelf Orthotics Last year, Senators Grassley and Harkin wrote to you expressing concern about the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ (CMS) attempt to negate Congress’ narrow definition of the type of orthotics for which it made sense to competitively bid. We agree that CMS  is blurring the distinctions Congress made in section  Section 302 of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement, and Modernization Act of 2003 (MMA) and is attempting to go beyond the definition contained in the legislation.  That section, established both authority and requirements for a competitive bidding program for certain durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics, and supplies (DMEPOS).  Only off-the shelf (OTS) orthotics are authorized for possible competitive bidding.  Congress unambiguously defined OTS orthotics as orthotic devices that can be used by the Medicare beneficiary/patient with only “minimal self-adjustment for appropriate use and do not require expertise in trimming, bending, molding, assembling, or customizing to fit to the individual.” Unfortunately, CMS has ventured beyond both the language and intent of MMA Section 302 when on April 10, 2007, CMS published a final rule that, inter alia, defines “minimal self-adjustment” to mean “an adjustment that the beneficiary, caretaker for the beneficiary, or supplier of the device can perform and does not require the services of a certified orthotist or an individual who has specialized training.”  Compounding these errors, on August 15, the DME MAC Medical Directors announced the adoption of a medical policy providing guidance concerning who can furnish custom fitted orthotics taken from a proposed rule for which the comment period had not been completed and was not part of the final rule. On February 18, 2015, the DME MAC medical directors stated that although the regulation was not updated to reflect the new guidance, it remains in effect. We want to stress our concern that any expansion from the statutory definition carefully crafted by Congress in MMA will negatively impact the quality of care that beneficiaries will receive.  Under CMS’ definition, beneficiaries are at risk of receiving orthotic devices without the services, adjustment and fitting to the patient’s unique anatomical characteristics that are necessary to ensure that these devices provide proper bracing, “minimal self-adjustment” means adjustment that can be done by the patient himself or herself, and without the need for involvement of any other person.  In essence, as CMS has sought persistently to expand Congress’ statutory definition, you have placed Medicare beneficiaries at risk for serious harm. A Fifteen Year Delay in  Promulgating Rules Under Section 427 of the Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 Must be Remedied with a Timely, Thoughtful Regulation that Closely Tracks the Statute The Beneficiary Improvement and Protection Act of 2000 (BIPA) instructed  Medicare to not  pay for prosthetic or orthotic services unless the provider is either licensed in accordance with any existing state statute, or if there is none, then no payment unless the provider has met accreditation standards established in the statute.  As we approach the 15th year after enactment of that statute, patients are still waiting while Medicare’s fraud and abuse efforts seem to have overlooked this basic step. Medicare beneficiaries, disabled by virtue of limb loss or chronic limb impairment deserve the assurance of quality controls on the providers Medicare pays to serve their needs.  We encourage you to act with urgency and address this egregious failure by (CMS) by issuing both a proposed and final rule as soon as possible.  CMS’ failure to act on this common sense step as mandated by BIPA 427 is a blemish on both the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS.   When Congress acts, it is the responsibility of CMS to act within a reasonable time frame.  Fifteen years is an unreasonably long period to wait for a rule to be promulgated.  We are requesting a response outlining how you plan to publish at least a proposed rule on this within 30-60 days of this letter. Actions HHS/Medicare Needs to Take on Both Matters The undersigned Members of the House urge you to ensure that Congress’ intent in both these matters is carried out.  Congress defined minimal self-adjustment and CMS should not unilaterally decide to define what was meant.  It is our belief that Congress acted to define minimal self-adjustment and CMS should not create its own definition.  Specifically, in order to ensure that beneficiaries receive quality orthotics and related services and avoid beneficiary harm, CMS needs to: (1) revise the regulatory definition of off-the-shelf orthotics in 42 C.F.R. § 414.402 to conform with the statutory definition, recognizing the clear meaning and limitation of “minimal self-adjustment” and clarifying that this does not include adjustments either by a caretaker or by unregulated suppliers; and (2) modify the OTS list and codes to eliminate from that list any device which does not meet fully and unambiguously the statutory definition of OTS orthotics including “minimal self-adjustment”(Emphasis added.), and ensure that the rulemaking process is followed and reverse those DME MAC policies (August 15, 2014 and February 18, 2015)  that were not included in the final rule. Furthermore, I encourage you to work with the American Orthotic and Prosthetic Association (AOPA) and the Orthotic and Prosthetic Alliance when establishing the new list of OTS devices that meet standards set by regulatory definition. In addition, CMS must promptly issue a rule with respect to orthotics and prosthetics licensure and certification requirements established under BIPA, Section 427.  Limb loss and limb-impaired Medicare beneficiaries, as well as American taxpayers, deserve to know that CMS is taking sufficient measures to block unqualified providers from accessing Medicare patients and payments. Thank you for your consideration of this request.  We look forward to working with you to implement solutions to ensure patients are able to access the care they need.  If you have any questions, please contact Dante Cutrona (dante.cutrona@mail.house.gov) or Kalina Bakalov (kalina.bakalov@mail.house.gov).  Sincerely, ________________________                                                ________________________ Ryan Costello (PA-06)                                                 Tammy Duckworth (IL-08) MEMBER OF CONGRESS                                          MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''This letter is supported by the American Public Gas Association, which represents the interests of approximately 1,000 public gas systems in 37 states.  An Energy & Water appropriations amendment on this issue passed by voice vote last week.  Please see this list of state/regional municipal gas associations in your state/district. Dear Colleague: As you may be aware, on March 12, 2015, the Department of Energy (DOE) released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPRM) that proposes to establish a nationwide standard of 92% Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency (AFUE) for natural gas furnaces. If this NPRM goes into effect, non-condensing natural gas furnaces would be eliminated from the marketplace since the only furnace that can attain the 92% standard would be a condensing furnace.  Condensing natural gas furnaces require additional venting reconfigurations that will impose significant additional costs to their installation.  This will force many residential customers—particularly those in warmer climates—to forego the use of natural gas-fired furnaces and instead install less expensive and less efficient home heating alternatives. By DOE’s own numbers, over 20% of the homes nationwide will experience a net cost (versus a net saving) by being required to install 92% AFUE furnaces.  This percentage skyrockets to 31% experiencing a net cost in the South on average and to 39% for low-income households in the South. I urge you to join me in expressing concern to Secretary Moniz by adding your name to the attached letter which communicates concerns regarding the impact of this NPRM.  For more information or to cosign this letter, please contact Peter J. White at peter.white@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Mo Brooks Dear Secretary Moniz, We are writing to express strong concern over the Department of Energy’s recent notice of proposed rulemaking for residential furnaces.  While we support energy efficiency, we are extremely concerned that the nationwide 92% standard proposed in this rule will significantly increase costs to natural gas consumers, force them to switch to less efficient alternatives, and ultimately undermine the efficiency goals that underlie the Energy Policy and Conservation Act.  The DOE’s own data shows that at the proposed 92% efficiency standard (replacing the current 80% standard), over 20% of consumers nationwide and 31% of consumers in the South seeking to replace an existing non-condensing furnace would experience a “net cost” (versus a net benefit) over the life of the furnace.  As a result, DOE assumes that over 10% of such consumers in the North and 20% of such consumers in the South would switch from natural gas to electric heat.  The fuel switching numbers are even more staggering in the new construction market. By setting a nationwide energy efficiency standard that precludes a consumer from choosing to install a non-condensing furnace, DOE will be forcing many homeowners either to abandon the use of natural gas to heat their homes or to pay substantially more for the installation of a furnace that meets the new standard.  Each of these options will cost residents, regardless of in what part of the country they reside, thousands of dollars.  This will have a major impact on the ability of low and fixed income families to replace an aging furnace with the fuel of their choice.  Many families will be faced with the difficult choice of having to replace their non-condensing furnace with either a condensing furnace with higher installation costs or electric heat and accompanying higher monthly energy bills. We strongly encourage DOE to avoid such an “either-or” approach to furnace efficiency, by establishing separate product classes for condensing and non-condensing furnaces, each with its own efficiency standard.   We are extremely concerned that requiring the elimination of the economical and efficient non-condensing furnace will place an unnecessary burden on already struggling homeowners in our states. We thank you in advance for your consideration of our concerns. Sincerely,''
''H.R. 1568—Protecting Religious Minorities Persecuted by ISIS Act Endorsed by: Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) Refugee & Immigration Ministries; Church of the Brethren, Office of Public Witness; Church World Service; Daughters of Charity, Province of St. Louise; The Episcopal Church; Franciscan Action Network; Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society; Iraqi Refugee Assistance Project; Jubilee Campaign; Law and Liberty Trust; Leadership Conference of Women Religious; Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service; The Missionary Servants of the Most Holy Trinity; National Justice for Our Neighbors; Religious of the Sacred Heart of Mary, Western American Provincel; Sisters of Mercy of the Americas – Institute Justice Team; Union for Reform Judaism; U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops Migration and Refugee Services; U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants; and World Relief Current Cosponsors: Carson, Clawson, Crenshaw, Denham, Dold, Eshoo, Honda, Hultgren, Grayson, McDermott, McGovern, Poe, Sensenbrenner, Valadao, and Veasey Dear Colleague: Please join us by cosponsoring legislation to provide a special refugee designation to religious minorities in Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS)-held territories. As you may know, ISIS is a Sunni insurgency who declared the establishment of a caliphate on June 29th, 2014 in areas under its control. Since then, religious minorities—including Christians, Yezidis, and Shabaks— have faced targeted persecution such as forced exile, kidnappings, and the seizing and demolition of churches and shrines. The campaign of sectarian intimidation became so unbearable that thousands of Christians fled Mosul and towns in the Nineveh Plains region for the safety of Kurdish-held areas. In early August, the United States helped protect Yezidis who had been trapped on the Sinjar Mountain and were surrounded by armed ISIS forces. The humanitarian relief efforts included dropping aid packages and striking ISIS targets as its forces were advancing to the strategically important city of Erbil. According to numerous reports, approximately 1.2 million people have been displaced by the fighting in and around Mosul and more than 300,000 of those displaced have moved to Kurdish Regional Government held areas. The United States, in conjunction with an international coalition, has continued to provide conflict and humanitarian protection to religious minorities in Iraq. However, the US has a strategic and moral imperative to reaffirm our commitment to protecting religious freedom around the world, and should be doing more to provide relief to minority groups under siege by ISIS. Several countries have already made commitments to help Iraqi refugees that were able to flee, including Australia, Canada, France, Ireland, and others. The UN recognizes individuals as refugees only after they cross an international border. However, a central concern for many of those who fled or were expelled from Mosul during the ISIS assault is that they were forced to leave without their personal effects. Since they no longer have any of their official documents, it has become impossible for them to gain access to any neighboring country. It is imperative that the US consider plans to facilitate the movement of these internally displaced persons and refugees, as many are trapped in unsafe locations and are unable to leave. As we look to improve the situation for religious minorities in Iraq and Syria, the legislation we  have sponsored would: • Authorize the Secretary of State, in conjunction with the Security of Homeland Security, to provide members of religious and ethnic minority communities and those facing gendered-based violence in ISIS controlled territories Priority 2 processing to allow them to apply directly to the United States Admission Program. • Set the threshold for admission at a well-founded fear of persecution and asserting a credible basis for that concern. • Provide the Administration the authority to use existing in-country processing in Iraq (and surrounding countries) and identify other vulnerable populations who may face persecution. For more information about the bill or to become a cosponsor of the legislation, please have your staff contact either Aaron Allen at aaron.allen@mail.house.gov (202-225-8045) or Jessica Moore at jessica.moore@mail.house.gov (202- 225-5792). Sincerely, JUAN VARGAS                                     TOM ROONEY Member of Congress                              Member of Congress JOHN CONYERS, JR                               DUNCAN HUNTER   Member of Congress                              Member of Congress''
''Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus Briefing: How to Grow a New Limb Wednesday, May 13 Gold Room, 2168 Rayburn Noon – 1pm Dear Colleague, We want to draw your attention to an invitation you should have already received from the Coalition for the Life Sciences (CLS). On Wednesday, May 13, at 12:00 noon – 1:00 pm CLS cordially invites you to attend a briefing entitled How to Grow a New Limb in Rayburn House Office Building Room 2168.  Bag lunches will be provided. The distinguished speaker will be Dr. Alejandro Sanchez Alvarado from the Stowers Institute for Medical Research. Every day, the human body replaces an estimated 10 billion cells lost to injury or ordinary cellular housekeeping. More dramatically, cut a worm into two fragments and each fragment regenerates a complete organism. Cut it into eight fragments and each individual fragment will go on to regenerate a complete animal. How does this regeneration occur? Dr. Sanchez Alvarado will discuss the system he and his team developed to study animal regeneration. He will explain how his research is shedding light on the way adult animals replace body parts lost to injury and how this has an impact on human health. The Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus provides a forum where Members and staff can interact directly with preeminent researchers responsible for important scientific discoveries. Many of the stunning advances, made possible by NIH funding, highlighted in these presentations have led to improved understanding of the cause, treatment, and prevention of human disease. As Co-Chairs of the Congressional Biomedical Research Caucus, we hope you will be able to attend this important briefing. Please RSVP to Lynn Marquis, Director of the Coalition for the Life Sciences, at cls@coalitionforlifesciences.org. If you would like to join the Biomedical Research Caucus, please contact Craig Dulniak (Craig.Dulniak@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Cohen’s office or Taryn Dorfman (Taryn.Dorfman@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Stivers’s office. All the best,                      Steve Cohen                  Joe Barton                Jackie Speier                 Steve Stivers                Member of Congress     Member of Congress     Member of Congress     Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: As co-chairs of the Congressional Buy American Caucus, we write to you today to invite you to sign on as an original cosponsor of the Buy America Update Act. With numerous pieces of important transportation legislation expected to be passed this Congress, it is critical that we strengthen Buy America laws in order to fully invest in our nation. The Buy America Act, which sets domestic content standards for the indirect purchases by Department of Transportation grantees, ensures that tax dollars spent on aviation, highway, transit, and rail infrastructure will support U.S. manufacturing and mining jobs, instead of jobs overseas. Unfortunately, there are loopholes to get around our Buy America laws, meaning that funds can end up supporting foreign jobs and not American jobs. The Buy America Update Act will close these loopholes and modernize portions of the Buy America statutes that pertain to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), Federal Transit Administration (FTA), Amtrak, and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Specifically, this bill will make the following modifications: FHWA: The Buy America Update Act would close the CMAQ loophole to ensure that rolling stock and vehicles purchased by grantees are manufactured to meet a 60% domestic content requirement. Presently, 60% is mandated for rolling stock purchased with FTA dollars, but no corresponding requirement pertains to FHWA requirements due to the fact that the CMAQ program was created after the FHWA Buy America statute was enacted. Additionally, it would direct the FHWA to examine whether it should reevaluate its decision to exclude manufactured products other than those made from steel and iron from domestic content process. FTA: In order to ensure that American materials are used in bus and rail procurements funded by FTA grants, the Buy America Update Act would direct FTA to develop new auditing guidelines and conduct a rulemaking to develop its auditing procedures in order to verify that American components are in fact being used. Amtrak: The Buy America Update Act would ensure that Amtrak examines every possible supplier before seeking a Buy America Act waiver by requiring it to enter into an agreement with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) to conduct supplier scouting processes. Numerous other transportation agencies currently use NIST’s Manufacturing Extension Partnership for supplier scouting, so this requirement would establish parity and help grow a supplier base for rail components. FAA: While the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC) and the Airport Improvement Program (AIP) are the major sources of funding for airport projects across the country, Buy America requirements only pertain to AIP funded projects. In order to correct these differences, the Buy America Update Act would establish corresponding requirements for PFC-funded projects to ensure parity across federally-administered infrastructure projects. Finally, the Buy America Update Act would require the FAA to consult with NIST before seeking a Buy America Act waiver. If you would like to cosponsor or if you have questions, please contact Andrew Davis (Andrew.Davis@mail.house.gov) in the office of Congressman Lipinski.             Sincerely,              DAN LIPINSKI                                                                     DAVID JOYCE''
''NEPA 101 Tuesday, May 5, 2015 (TODAY) 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. 1324 Longworth House Office Building  Dear Colleague: Please join the Democratic staff of the House Committee on Natural Resources and the White House Council on Environmental Quality for a briefing on the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA, one of the first environmental laws, is our country’s basic national charter for environmental responsibility. By requiring that each federal agency analyze the economic, environmental, social, cultural, public health and safety impacts of federal actions, including effects on minority communities and low-income communities, NEPA speaks broadly to the goals of environmental justice. In requiring agencies to involve the public throughout the NEPA process, the statute provides a voice to diverse stakeholders, including local and underrepresented communities, citizens, local officials, landowners, business owners, industry, and field experts, on federal actions that affect their health, communities and environment. For more than forty years, NEPA has ensure that federally funded projects are carried out in a transparent and cost-effective manner, while fostering public participation in the decision-making processes and minimizing impacts to the environment. Joining us from the White House Council on Environmental Quality will be: Horst Greczmiel Associate Director of NEPA Oversight White House Council on Environmental Quality For any questions, please contact Bertha Alisia Guerrero at Bertha.Guerrero@mail.house.gov or Matt Strickler at Matt.Strickler@mail.house.gov.''
''Air Force and General Aviation Caucus trip to Manassas Airfield on May 7 Tour the “Arsenal of Democracy” WWII aircraft Open to the first 35 that RSVP to Kathy.r.reece.civ@mail.mil or 202.685.4530 (14 Spots left as of today) THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015 0830  Bus departs Senate First and C St NE 0840  Bus departs Rayburn horseshoe Colleagues, The AF Caucus invites you to participate in a trip to Manassas to visit the “Arsenals of Democracy” on Thursday, May 7. A bus will pick-up on the Senate side at 0830 and House side at 0840. The itinerary is detailed below. This is a unique opportunity to learn more about the history of the B-17, B-24, and B-29s and see them up close. You will be met by the Mayor of Manassas and other distinguished leaders. There will be a press conference featuring a WWII Veteran, Bud Anderson, and then you will be able to observe the practice runs for the fly-over scheduled for May 8 over the Capitol. Seating is limited so please RSVP as soon as you know you are available. We will create a waiting list for those that don’t make the first 35. Itinerary 8:30 – Bus departs Senate (First and C St NE). 8:40 – Bus departs Rayburn Horseshoe for Manassas Airport. The Air Force will provide a historian to give participants a history of the B-17, B-24, and B-29’s they will see in Manassas.  Snacks and drinks will be provided for the bus ride. 9:45 (approximately) – Arrive at Manassas Airport.  Greeted by Mayor, Vice Mayor, City Council and Airport Leaders.  Possible brief overview of the airport and its services 9:58 – Congressional staff and assembled leaders move to area for press conference 10:00 – Congressional Staff attend press conference featuring AOD Steering Committee Leaders and WWII Veteran Bud Anderson, others tbd 10:30 – Congressional Staff depart press conference. Staff will likely split into two different groups and view aircraft.  Visits to the aircraft will be facilitated by the press/information officers with the aircraft 11:15/20 – Congressional Staff move to location to watch aircraft taxi/takeoff for practice runs 11:40-  Congressional Staff depart Manassas 12:45 – Congressional Staff arrive back to Capitol RSVP to Kathy.r.reece.civ@mail.mil or 202.685.4530''
''Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Cosponsor H.R. 1384, the Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act Endorsed by The Military Coalition Cosponsors: Ashford, Rob Bishop, Sanford Bishop, Bordallo, Susan Brooks, Corrine Brown, Bustos, Cleaver, Cole, Collins, Connolly, Courtney, Cramer, Denham, Ellison, Emmer, Esty, Franks, Gabbard, Harper, Hunter, Bill Johnson, Jones, Kaptur, Kline, Larson, Latta, Lawrence, Lieu, Loebsack, Lofgren, MacArthur, Sean Patrick Maloney, McDermott, McGovern, Messer, Norcross, Nugent, Peters, Peterson, Pocan, Rangel, Rice, Rooney, Ruiz, Sarbanes, Chris Smith, Stewart, Stivers, Takai, Takano, Mike Thompson, Veasey, Welch, Zinke Dear Colleague, I write to encourage you to become a co-sponsor of the Honor America’s Guard-Reserve Retirees Act of 2015. This bill grants full veteran status to members of the guard and reserve components who have served at least 20 years, but have not been called up for active duty. As of now, these brave men and women cannot legally call themselves veterans. This legislation corrects this injustice, at no cost to taxpayers. The men and women of the reserve components take the same oath to serve and protect our country as the active component; they sacrifice their time and energy and stand ready if called upon, to serve in combat in time of war. For those who have completed 20 years or more in the reserve component but have not served a qualifying period of federal active duty, we honor their service with similar benefits given to active duty military retirees – with one notable exception: they are denied the title “Veteran”. As it currently exists in the U.S. Code, a reservist can successfully complete a Guard or Reserve career but not earn the title of, “Veteran of the Armed Forces of the United States,” unless the member has served on Title 10 active duty for other than training purposes. Title 38 excludes from the definition of “Veteran career,” those reservists who have not served on Title 10 active duty for other than training purposes.  Drill training, annual training, active duty for training, and Title 32 duty are not deemed qualifying service to qualify for “Veteran” status. This issue is a question of honor for those who have served our nation faithfully for 20 years in the Guard or Reserve. There are over 280,000 former Reservist and Guardsman across the country who served dutifully for 20 years that this will benefit. I believe that these men and women have earned the respect and recognition that comes with the designation of “Veteran,” and encourage you to join me in correcting this injustice. If you would like to co-sponsor this legislation or need more information, please contact Carina Marquez-Barrientos at carina.marquez@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tim Walz MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''Help Improve the Claims Process for Disabled Veterans Co-sponsor H.R. 1331, the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act Co-sponsors: Abraham, Ashford, Curbelo, Denham, Higgins, Bill Johnson, Jolly, McCollum, Lawrence, O’Rourke, Ribble Endorsed by DAV, IAVA, PVA Dear Colleague: We invite you to co-sponsor the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, H.R. 1331. In the last decade, Americans have developed a renewed understanding of the need to support our service members in battle. Unfortunately, our warriors’ battles don’t always end when they return home. With the end of the war in Iraq and the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan, the number of disabled veterans who need care has dramatically increased. Despite improvements in claims processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans are still waiting too long to receive their earned benefits, creating financial hardship for these veterans and their families. The VA reports hundreds of thousands of veterans have been waiting longer than 125 days to have their claim adjudicated. While the VA as made progress in the last year, we believe there are common sense measures Congress can undertake to ensure our veterans are getting the care they need in a more-timely fashion. This is why we introduced Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, H.R. 1331, to help speed up the process. The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act will allow local doctors to conduct disability medical examinations for veterans. This conserves VA resources, cuts back on long wait times at VA hospitals, enables quicker diagnoses of disabilities and eliminates unnecessary trips to the VA or contracted compensation and pension exams for veterans in rural communities. Specifically, to further encourage the use of private medical evidence, we are amending title 38, United States Code, section 5125 to provide that, when a claimant submits private medical evidence, including a private medical opinion, that is competent, credible, probative, and otherwise adequate for rating purposes, the Secretary shall not request a VA medical examination. This legislative change would require Veteran Service Representatives and Rating Veterans Service Representatives to document that private medical evidence was inadequate for rating purposes before ordering examinations, which are often unnecessary. Additionally, the legislation requires the VA to complete two reports, one 180 days after passage of the bill that tracks the bill’s implementation and an annual report that tracks the most common reasons and disabilities for which claims with evidence submitted by non-VA medical professionals were denied by VBA. Our goal with this legislation is simple: to uphold the promises we’ve made to our veterans by ending the backlog and getting them the benefits they have earned and deserve.  This is a common sense solution that will aid in adding efficiency to a complicated process in order to better serve our nation’s heroes. For more information or to co-sponsor H.R. 1331, please contact Carina Marquez-Barrientos with Rep. Walz at carina.marquez@mail.house.gov or Chris Del Beccaro with Rep. Denham at Chris.DelBeccaro@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tim Walz                                 Jeff Denham Member of Congress               Member of Congress''
''Ensure access to mammograms for women who need them Deadline: May 1 Current signers: Wasserman Schultz, Ellmers, McMorris Rodgers, DeLauro, Blackburn, Alcee Hastings, Conyers, Noem, Grayson, Cicilline, Matsui, Frankel, Wagner, Frederica Wilson, Lieu, Speier, Rush, DeGette, Patrick Murphy, Clark, Fudge We are writing to ask for your consideration in signing a bipartisan, bicameral letter to Secretary Burwell, HHS Secretary, regarding a draft recommendation recently released by the United States Preventive Services Task Force pertaining to coverage of mammograms. As Members of Congress committed to fighting against breast cancer, we are writing with one voice to request that the Secretary ensure that these new draft guidelines will not jeopardize access to mammograms for women who need them. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Sarah Arkin (sarah.arkin@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Wasserman Schultz or Andrew Neill (andrew.neill@mail.house.gov) with Rep. McMorris Rodgers. May X, 2015 The Honorable Sylvia Matthews Burwell Secretary U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20201 Dear Secretary Burwell: As strong supporters of women’s health, we are committed to protecting access to breast cancer screening to minimize the impact of this deadly disease. According to National Cancer Institute data, the U.S. breast cancer death rate has dropped 35 percent since mammography screening became widespread in the mid-1980s. On April 20, 2015 the United States Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) released draft recommendations proposing a major change in the approach to breast cancer screening. The USPSTF essentially re-stated their 2009 recommendation by assigning a “C” grade for biennial screening mammography for women ages 40 to 49, which can be interpreted as advising against screening in this age group and limit life-saving early detection. Additionally, the USPSTF proposed a “B” grade to only biennial screening mammography for women ages 50 to 74 years. The 2009 recommendations received widespread criticism from patient advocates and medical experts, and organizations including the American Cancer Society (ACS), the American College of Radiology, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists went as far as to advise physicians and patients to ignore the recommendation. Subsequently, a provision was signed into law that was meant to prevent the 2009 USPSTF recommendation from going into effect. If the draft recommendations which were released on April 20th  are finalized, women ages 40 to 49 who choose routine screening, and those 50 to 74 who want to be screened annually may encounter issues finding an insurance plan which provides this level of coverage, or at the very least be forced to pay more for this added benefit.  The impact of impaired access to breast cancer screening would affect all U.S. women, particularly those in underserved communities who are hardest hit by the disease. In its explanation, the USPSTF concluded that “some women in their 40s will benefit from mammography… while others will be harmed.” The panel said those hurt include the effect of exposure to radiation from multiple tests and the stress of over-diagnosis on the patient.  This highlights the importance of individualized assessment of risk factors, and what a woman and her physician decide is the best screening option for her. Lack of coverage for mammograms as a screening tool could take away this choice from some patients for accessing the care they need. As Members of Congress concerned about the impact of breast cancer, we believe (and many experts agree) that delayed detection and treatment have a far worse outcome than the harm USPTSTF has laid out. While we acknowledge these are draft, not final, recommendations, years of science and medicine have shown that appropriate screening can lead to early detection and save lives. We urge the USPSTF to take into consideration the benefits of prevention, keep in mind the thousands of women who are diagnosed with breast cancer in their 40s, and not jeopardize access to these screenings. Sincerely, David Vitter                                                                            Heidi Heitkamp U.S. Senate                                                                            U.S. Senate Cathy McMorris Rodgers                                                       Debbie Wasserman-Schultz U.S. House of Representatives                                               U.S. House of Representatives Renee Ellmers                                                                         Rosa DeLauro U.S. House of Representatives                                               U.S. House of Representatives''
''Cosponsors (47): Reps. Connolly, Norton, Hoyer, Cummings, Comstock, DeLauro, Hastings, Pocan, Rangel, Clarke, McGovern, Van Hollen, Bobby Scott, DeGette, Beyer, Bordallo, Takano, Langevin, Conyers, Quigley, Delaney, Fattah, Roybal-Allard, McCollum, Welch, Polis, Swalwell, Speier, Grijalva, Lowenthal, Duckworth, Adams, Foster, Payne, Blumenauer, Lynch, Watson Coleman, Sarbanes, Frankel, Norcross, Adam Smith, Moore, Lofgren, Clark, Frederica Wilson, Sean Patrick Maloney, Kilmer Supporting Organizations: The American Federation of State, County and Local Employees (AFSCME), The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE), the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU), National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association (NARFE), American Foreign Service Association (AFSA), The National Partnership for Women & Families, Federally Employed Women (FEW), Human Rights Campaign, National Council of Jewish Women, Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP), A Better Balance, Family Values @ Work, 9to5, National Association of Working Women, 9to5 Atlanta, 9to5 California, 9to5 Colorado, 9to5 Wisconsin, Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR), WA State Labor Council, AFL-CIO, BreastfeedLA Dear Colleague: We invite you to join us in advancing family-friendly workplace policies for our nation’s largest employer, the federal government. In order to support these working families even further we will soon reintroduce the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act. First introduced in 2000, and passed with bipartisan support in both the 110th and 111th Congresses, this legislation would provide federal employees with six weeks of paid leave following the birth, adoption, or fostering of a child. According to the 2009 Congressional Budget Office score the bill is deficit-neutral and would not affect direct spending or receipts. Currently, federal employees are entitled to take up to twelve weeks of Family and Medical Leave but as this is unpaid leave it makes parents choose between foregoing a paycheck and caring for a new child during the critical first weeks. Extending paid parental leave to federal workers helps diminish the risk of real economic hardship for the almost 2 million federal employees following the birth, fostering, or adoption of a child. Paid leave helps to recruit and retain a talented workforce to provide outstanding service to American taxpayers. It also helps to ensure a healthy and productive workforce, boost productivity, and improve employee morale. Paid leave is an economic lifeline for working families and the federal government should be a leader in 21st Century family-friendly workplace policies. As it stands, the U.S. is the only industrialized nation (and only one of two in the world) that does not offer some form of maternity leave. If you would like to join us in cosponsoring the Federal Employees Paid Parental Leave Act please have your staff contact Elizabeth Darnall in Rep. Maloney’s office at 5-7944. Sincerely, CAROLYN B. MALONEY                ELEANOR HOLMES NORTON     GERALD CONNOLLY Member of Congress                        Member of Congress                          Member of Congress''
''Cosponsors: Newhouse (R-WA), Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), Ribble (R-WI), Benishek (R-MI), Poliquin (R-ME), Labrador (R-ID), Reichert (R-WA) Dear Colleague, I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 2178, the bipartisan Fostering Opportunities for Resources and Education Spending through Timber Sales (FORESTS) Act of 2015. Over a century ago, the federal government made a promise to actively manage our forests for the benefit of rural schools and communities. The federal government has not upheld this commitment, allowing burdensome regulations and frivolous lawsuits to block active forest management. As such, failure to implement responsible management has cost tens of thousands jobs, deprived rural counties of much needed revenue, and made our national forests increasingly susceptible to devastating wildfires and invasive species. In fact, timber harvests in our National Forests have fallen 80% over the last 30 years. These figures underscore the need for Congress to move quickly in passing comprehensive forest management legislation. My proposal incorporates several key provisions from the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, which twice passed the House with bipartisan support. The FORESTS Act contains important reforms to incentivize the Forest Service to work with local stakeholders, Resource Advisory Committees, and forest collaboratives when developing projects. By engaging communities in an open and collaborative way, the Forest Service will be better positioned to effectively manage our nation’s forests while reducing the frequency of costly and disruptive lawsuits. Furthermore, the bill establishes a streamlined arbitration process to resolve challenges to projects that are developed through the collaborative process. The FORESTS Act also authorizes initiatives similar to the innovative “A to Z” project currently underway in the Colville National Forest in Northeast Washington. Specifically, the language codifies the government’s ability to engage private contractors to ensure environmental compliance for forest management projects. As part of the agreement, contractors may be compensated with receipts generated by the project’s completion. This provision offers the Forest Service added flexibility and resources to tackle its significant backlog of critical projects. Finally, the FORESTS Act provides rural communities with the certainty they deserve by reauthorizing the Secure Rural Schools (SRS) program through Fiscal Year 2018 at FY2010 levels. For counties participating in the SRS program, receipts from local projects are applied to their payments, staying in the counties that generated them. As comprehensive reform leads to larger receipts, SRS payments will be gradually offset until, ultimately, they are replaced by sustainable timber revenue – just how Congress originally intended. The act further empowers rural counties by allowing them to retain 25% of stewardship receipts in a manner similar to timber sales. Among several other reforms, the FORESTS Act: Requires the Forest Service to establish one or more “Forest Active Management Areas” in each national forest. Requires the Forest Service to produce at least half of the sustainable timber yield in each management area each year. Allows the government to work with local collaborative groups in modifying these requirements when necessary infrastructure (e.g. saw mills) is lacking or other legitimate causes arise. Provides the Secretary the option of developing a programmatic EIS for all or a portion of an active management area using the collaborative process. Expedites compliance with the Endangered Species Act. Provides categorical NEPA exclusions to certain projects if they are developed using a collaborative process. If you would like to be an original cosponsor of this bill or have additional questions, please contact Mike Lanza at Mike.Lanza@mail.house.gov or (202) 225-2006. Sincerely, Cathy McMorris Rodgers Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: To help those experiencing health care sticker shock, the Care for All Act (H.R. 371) allows anyone — with no restrictions — to buy an affordable catastrophic health care policy. Under the Affordable Care Act, catastrophic coverage is limited to people under age 30 and hardship cases. A 2015 New York Times/CBS poll found that 46 percent of Americans said they had trouble affording health care, up 10 percentage points in just one year. Unlike many current health care plans with high premiums, a catastrophic policy protects families and individuals in case of an unlikely, but expensive, health care problem. It offers major coverage when needed with lower monthly premiums. Please join me in offering everyone the option of a more affordable catastrophic policy by co-sponsoring the Care for All Act.  For more information or to co-sponsor this legislation, please contact Patty Sheetz at 202-225-4806 or patty.sheetz@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Jeff Fortenberry Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: To make health care more affordable, I recently introduced the Health Savings Account Act (H.R. 1169). This important legislation nearly doubles the tax-advantaged contribution to a Health Savings Account (HSA) to pay for qualified medical services. Individuals currently may contribute up to $3,350 per year to a HSA and families may contribute up to $6,650. The Health Savings Account Act will greatly increase the annual contribution limit to $6,600 for an individual and $13,200 for a family in 2015. HSAs are personal savings accounts tied to the use of a high deductible health plan.  HSAs lower the cost of health care in two ways. First, the high deductible reduces premiums to help those struggling with costly monthly payments. Secondly, setting aside tax-advantaged money to pay for qualified medical expenses increases the amount a person can spend on health care as taxes are not deducted.  Most importantly, persons tend to more readily take control over their first dollar costs for ordinary care. I invite you to join me in offering everyone more affordable health care by co-sponsoring the Health Savings Account Act. For more information or to co-sponsor this legislation, please contact Patty Sheetz in my office at 202-225-4806 or patty.sheetz@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Jeff Fortenberry Member of Congress''
''A Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan Briefing: ON THE GROUND: A DETAILED LOOK INTO THE HUMANITARIAN SITUATIONS IN SUDAN AND SOUTH SUDAN Thursday, May 7, 2015 12:30PM-1:30PM 441 CHOB Please join the Congressional Caucus on Sudan and South Sudan for a staff briefing on the humanitarian crises plaguing Sudan and South Sudan. Since South Sudan’s succession from Sudan in 2011, civilians in both countries continue to face dire living conditions. The conflicts in Sudan, most notably in Darfur, have caused mass displacement and have put millions in need of humanitarian assistance. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) is currently attempting to provide assistance to 5.4 million people, 4.2 million of which are in need of food. The situation in South Sudan is just as bleak. The United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) most recent report indicates that over 1.5 million people have been displaced and forced from their homes due to the two-year long civil war between President Salva Kiir and former Vice President Riek Machar. Furthermore, aid workers face increasing threats to their lives and limited access to the area’s most affected by the violence. This restriction in movement on aid workers is contributing to the rapidly deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the country. This briefing is an opportunity to hear directly from aid workers who have spent time on the ground in Sudan and South Sudan, and who have seen the humanitarian crisis first hand. Speakers: Lucia Goldsmith, Secretariat Coordinator, South Sudan NGO Secretariat/NGO Forum Douwe Dijkstra, Country Director for Tearfund, Sudan This briefing is off the record. Staff and interns must present IDs at the door. For any questions, and/or to RSVP, please contact Juliet Albin (for Mr. Capuano) at 202-225-5111 or juliet.albin@mail.house.gov Sincerely, Michael E. Capuano Member of Congress Co-Chair Michael McCaul Member of Congress Co-Chair Barbara Lee Member of Congress Co-Chair Jeff Fortenberry Member of Congress Co-Chair''
''Dear Colleague: By now you should have received an invitation from the Embassy of the Philippines for a meeting with the Honorable Albert F. del Rosario, Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of the Philippines, in cooperation with the U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus on Tuesday, 12 May from 6:00 to 7:00pm in H-107. This will be a members-only event, with one staff member invited to accompany the member. Please RSVP with the Embassy’s political office at legislative@philippinesusa.org or 202-467-9379. The invitation can be accessed here. Best regards, Darrell Issa Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: We write to invite you to join the Congressional U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus for the 114th Congress to celebrate and reinforce the strong bilateral relationship the United States and the Philippines have enjoyed for over a hundred years. The U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus will serve as an informal, bipartisan group of Members dedicated to maintaining and strengthening U.S-Philippine cooperation on political, economic, and security issues, as well as addressing the domestic needs and concerns of over three million Filipino Americans residing throughout the United States. As one of the Philippines’ top trading partners and a major source of foreign investment, the American people benefit greatly from our robust relationship with the Philippines. Preserving this strong ally is vital to a stable Pacific Region and we should therefore do all we can to maintain our mutual partnership and expand it whenever possible. For more information on the Congressional U.S.-Philippines Friendship Caucus, please contact Matt Goulding in Rep. Darrell Issa’s office at Matthew.Goulding@mail.house.gov, or Amanda Armstrong in Rep. Bobby Scott’s office at Amanda.Armstrong@mail.house.gov. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, ROBERT C. “BOBBY” SCOTT	DARRELL ISSA Member of Congress  	Member of Congress''
''Support the DeFazio/Napolitano Amendment to H.R. 2028, the Energy & Water Appropriations Bill Dear Colleague:             Please join us in ensuring that expenditures from the United States Army Corps of Engineers’ (Corps) Operation & Maintenance (O&M) account comply with the Water Resources Development Act of 2014 (Public Law 113-121). The DeFazio/Napolitano amendment to H.R. 2028, the Energy & Water Appropriations bill, would simply ensure that expenditures from the Corps’ O&M account comply with Sections 2101 and 2102 of the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014. These sections established targets for Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund (HMTF) expenditures, and established a formula for the allocation of funds from the O&M account.  More specifically, section 2101 of WRRDA 2014 call for 100 percent utilization of the Harbor Maintenance Trust Fund for harbor maintenance and dredging by 2025.  Currently only about one-half of the funds collected through the HMTF are used for harbor maintenance. This section of WRRDA puts us on the path toward recapturing that funding and using it to address the Corps’ backlog of projects, rather than as an offset for general government spending.  In addition, section 2102 established specific O&M funding allocations for our nation’s ports that are equitable to both small and large ports, and will help to ensure the needs of those ports are addressed in future funding allocations. WRRDA 2014 passed the House of Representatives with overwhelming, bipartisan support on May 20, 2014, by a vote of 412-4. By supporting this amendment you are ensuring that the reforms made in WRRDA 2014 are implemented, and that our nation’s ports and harbors receive funding to undertake much-needed infrastructure improvements. This amendment is supported by the American Association of Port Authorities (AAPA). If you have any questions, please contact the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment at (202) 225-0060. Peter A. DeFazio, M.C.                                               Grace F. Napolitano, M.C. Ranking Member                                                         Ranking Member Committee on Transportation                                     Subcommittee on Water Resources   and Infrastructure                                                        and Environment''
''OPPOSE THE VAN HOLLEN AND MULVANEY AMENDMENTS Dear Colleague: We urge you to oppose the Van Hollen and Mulvaney amendments to the Fiscal Year 16 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act which would gut $532 million in funding for overseas military infrastructure critical to our national security strategy. The military construction projects funded in this bill will directly impact our warfighters’ ability to operate in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and the Pacific.  These are long-term investments that will bolster our efforts to help ensure regional stability and global security.  Coincidently, these are parts of the world where we face our greatest risks.  For example: The Russian Federation seeks to destabilize much of Europe in a desperate attempt to reignite the fallen Soviet Empire; Terrorist groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIS) continue to sweep across much of the Middle East and Africa; and An emerging China continues to develop its military strength in order to counter the United States and its allies in the region. With global threats reaching its highest levels in recent years, now is not the time to abandon our allies.  The United States must continue working with our strategic partners to counter threats and enhance security. As Members of Congress, our principal duty is to provide for the common defense of the nation. At this moment in time, it is undeniable that we face some of the greatest risks and most complex security challenges in recent history.  We urge you to oppose the Van Hollen and Mulvaney amendments. Sincerely, Michael R. Turner                                                       Adam Kinzinger''
''Deadline: C.O.B. April 30, 2015 Dear Colleague, A little-known office in the US Department of Agriculture, the Wildlife Services Program, is responsible for intervening when an animal becomes a threat or serious nuisance to humans.  On many occasions, the Wildlife Services personnel ultimately respond by killing the animal. Tragically, some animals may become so dangerous to humans or the local ecosystem that killing them is the only option.  The killing of animals should not be a routine or reflexive government response.  It should only be undertaken after careful deliberation and under strict supervision.  For that reason, the public and Congress need to have the opportunity for vigorous oversight to ensure that the USDA is acting appropriately and considering all less expensive and more humane alternatives. Unfortunately, efforts to gather adequate information regarding Wildlife Services operations have been difficult.   The USDA has not made data available on where, why, how, and which animals have been killed – making public oversight impossible.  The USDA could be acting inappropriately or recklessly – without this data, we just do not know.  That is why I am introducing this bill, which would require the USDA to publish clear and accessible information on animal killings. Please join me to improve public oversight and ensure that the USDA is using tax dollars efficiently and appropriately.  Let’s work together to make sure that the United States is treating its wildlife humanely.  Please contact Annika Parks on my staff at annika.parks@mail.house.gov if you are interested in being an original cosponsor of the Transparency for Lethal Control (TLC) Act or if you have any questions. Sincerely, Susan A. Davis Member of Congress''
''Leading Small Business, Taxpayer Organizations Endorse the FAIR Act Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tim Walberg’s (MI-07) bipartisan legislation to dramatically reform our nation’s civil asset forfeiture laws to protect against unlawful seizures has been backed by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and Americans for Tax Reform (ATR). The Fifth Amendment Integrity Restoration Act (FAIR Act) was introduced on January 27 in both the House and Senate by Congressman Walberg and Senator Rand Paul. In a letter to Walberg and Paul, NFIB’s Vice President for Public Policy Amanda Austin wrote: “Too many small business owners have been unreasonably targeted by authorities using the civil forfeiture program. The FAIR Act would make the civil forfeiture program more transparent, reduce the law enforcement’s profit incentives and make for greater oversight.” In a NFIB survey of small business owners finalized this month, 92 percent agree that clear and convincing evidence of a crime must be presented before law enforcement seizes a small business’ assets. “This proposal would be a monumental leap in the effort to reform the nation’s broken civil asset forfeiture system,” ATR President Grover Norquist wrote in a separate letter to Walberg and Paul. “This fundamental change to the status quo would bolster public faith in the rule of law and assure Americans that criminals, not law-abiding civilians, pay the price for broken laws.” “I’m encouraged to see a growing momentum for much-needed civil asset forfeiture reform,” said Congressman Walberg. “The principles of due process and property rights are central to America’s founding, and the FAIR Act protects those constitutional rights and returns the balance of power back to the American people and away from an overreaching federal government.” The FAIR Act is supported by more organizations across the ideological spectrum, including the ACLU, Institute for Justice, National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, FreedomWorks, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council. The lead co-sponsors in the House are Reps. Tony Cardenas (D-CA), Keith Ellison (D-MN), and Scott Garrett (R-NJ).''
''Dear Colleague: There is a hybrid system developing in our country regarding how Congressional district lines are drawn. In many states, these lines are drawn by a state legislature, although this partisan method is under increasing scrutiny as many voters believe it will allow the party in power to manipulate the drawing of district lines and guarantee re-election for incumbents, lead to less competitive races and deprive citizens of fair representation. As a result, states including Arizona and California, have implemented independent redistricting commissions. The power of these commissions to draw district lines is currently being challenged before the U.S. Supreme Court. The Redistricting Reform Act of 2015 reforms this hodgepodge redistricting system. By requiring all states to form independent citizen redistricting commissions to draw its Congressional district lines, our bill creates a redistricting effort that respects and represents all communities. It ensures that the process is as open, fair, and depoliticized as possible. Under the Redistricting Reform Act of 2015: Each state would be required to establish an independent, multi-party redistricting commission to draw that state’s Congressional district map one time after each decennial census Certain requirements for the makeup of an independent redistricting commission must be met to safeguard the independence and impartiality of the commission, ensure that it reflects the diversity of the state and works transparently A non-partisan agency established or designated by a state must develop and submit a selection pool to a Select Committee on Redistricting which is composed of 36 individuals from the majority and minority as well as individuals non-affiliated with either major party The selection pool must reflect diversity: representative demographic groups (races, ethnicities, and genders) and geographic regions of the state; analytical skills of the individuals and a person’s ability to work impartially The final pool must represent diversity and can be accepted or rejected by a Select Committee of the legislature (the legislative committee) The legislative committee would be made up of members appointed by the majority and minority leader in both houses, or in a unicameral legislature, by two individuals appointed by the minority and two by the majority If the legislature rejects the pool: the nonpartisan agency established or designated by a state has two more chances to submit a diverse pool to the legislative committee for approval The legislative committee cannot reject individual candidates, but only the pool, and must give a report as to why a pool is rejected (to ensure fair representation and guard against a skewed selection pool) The criteria for a redistricting plan developed by the independent commission provides that districts must: have equal population per representative, in accordance with US Constitution; comply with the Voting Rights Act of 1965; be geographically contiguous; have boundaries that minimize the division of any community of interest, municipality, county, or neighborhood; and be geographically compact The independent redistricting commission must provide notice and an opportunity to the public to engage in the process Maps automatically take effect if a majority of the commission (including at least one commissioner from each group) approves; if the commission fails to approve after multiple attempts, a D.C. District court will create the maps The commission gets several attempts to reach a majority for an agreement on a redistricting map before a court can intervene Please join us in our effort to bring true redistricting reform to our federal elections. Current Cosponsors (19): Boyle, Brownley, Capps, S. Davis, Edwards, Eshoo, Larson, Lieu, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Norton, Pelosi, D. Price, Sarbanes, Schiff, Swalwell, M. Thompson, Van Hollen, Yarmuth Supporting Organizations: Common Cause and National Council of La Raza For more information or to become an original cosponsor, please contact Antigona Kukaj with Rep. Lofgren at antigona.kukaj@mail.house.gov by COB Wednesday, April 29. Sincerely,  ZOE LOFGREN                      JULIA BROWNELY             ALAN LOWENTHAL Member of Congress               Member of Congress           Member of Congress DONNA F. EDWARDS         JOHN B. LARSON                JOHN YARMUTH Member of Congress             Member of Congress          Member of Congress CHRIS VAN HOLLEN Member of Congress''
''April 30, 2015 Dear Colleagues: As Vice Chair of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission, I wanted to be sure you saw the Op-Ed from former Senator Robert J. Dold in support of a monument for President Dwight D. Eisenhower.  President Eisenhower was a giant on the international stage and his story, as told by the memorial, is a truly important project – for our nation and for the world. I look forward to working with the members of the commission as we finish our work and break ground. Sincerely, MIKE THOMPSON Member of Congress Ike’s final battle By Robert J. Dole April 24 One of the greatest honors of my life was serving, as a young second lieutenant assigned to the 10th Mountain Division on the Italian front in 1945, under the leadership of a fellow Kansan, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower. While I was recovering from wounds I sustained in April 1945, one of my fellow patients at what was then the Percy Jones Army Hospital in Battle Creek, Mich., was Lt. Daniel Inouye, who was also seriously wounded in Italy. As we supported each other through recovery and shared our hopes and dreams, little did Danny and I know that we would both be elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and later, to the U.S. Senate. I came to Washington just as Ike was leaving after eight years as president. Danny and I, like nearly every other World War II veteran, viewed Eisenhower as a historic figure who should be honored appropriately. Many years later, he and I proudly served, respectively, as commissioner and advisory committee member of the Eisenhower Memorial Commission. In 1999, legislation to create the National Eisenhower Memorial was co-sponsored by Sens. Inouye (D-Hawaii) and Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) and passed by Congress as part of the fiscal 2000 defense appropriations bill. They intended the presidential memorial honoring Ike to be funded by Congress and gifts from grateful U.S. citizens. Surprisingly, as Ike’s memorial has moved toward construction, it has been the subject of controversy, with a small but well-funded minority focused on trying to change the design and delay construction. One of the first projects I took on when I left politics was the National World War II Memorial. I worked to raise funds for that worthy project and had the privilege of engaging with many World War II veterans along the way. The Greatest Generation is dwindling with the passing of each day. And yet, those who remain move heaven and earth to travel to Washington on “Honor Flights” so they can experience the magnificent memorial dedicated to their service and sacrifice. I have met with thousands of these veterans when they come to Washington to see their memorial. And I know firsthand that they have strong feelings about honoring the great general who led them to victory and, in doing so, saved millions of lives and ended a brutal war. They want to see Ike’s memorial completed in their lifetimes. During my service in the Senate we passed the Commemorative Works Act of 1986 (CWA) to ensure that memorials were designed appropriately, adequately funded and built to stand the test of time. I’ve seen a lot of projects put through the processes CWA established, and I know they always come out right. Ike’s memorial is right. In fact, two significant elements of the federal process established under the CWA — preliminary approvals by the National Capital Planning Commission and by the U.S. Commission of Fine Arts — have already been granted. Ike’s memorial is moving forward in all the right ways. It was recently announced that the Eisenhower Memorial Commission will soon have a new chairman, Sen. Pat Roberts from my home state of Kansas. Roberts, a longtime member of the commission, is the right man to lead the memorial toward completion. The time to deliberate is over. All we need now is for Congress to fund the National Eisenhower Memorial. The writer, a Republican, represented Kansas in the Senate from 1969 to 1996.''
''Raise the Wage for America’s Workers Become an Original Cosponsor of The Raise the Wage Act Current Co-sponsors (145): Representatives Pelosi, Hoyer, Clyburn, Becerra, Van Hollen, DeLauro, Brady,  Brown, Conyers, Cummings, DeFazio, Engel, Grijalva, E. Johnson, Levin, Lowey, Pallone, Sánchez, Schiff, Slaughter, Smith, B. Thompson, Waters, Hinojosa, S. Davis, Courtney, Fudge,  Sablan, Wilson, Bonamici, Pocan, Takano, Jeffries, Clark, Adams,  DeSaulnier, Aguilar, Bass, Beatty, Bera, Bustos, Beyer, Bishop, Blumenauer, Boyle, Brownley, Bustos, Butterfield, Capps, Capuano, Cárdenas, Carson, Castor, Castro, Chu, Clarke, Clay, Cleaver, Cohen, Crowley, D. Davis, Delaney,  DelBene, Dingell, Doggett, Edwards, Ellison, Engel, Eshoo, Esty, Farr, Fattah, Frankel, Gabbard, Gallego, A. Green, G. Green, Gutiérrez , Hahn, Hastings, Himes, Honda, Huffman, Israel, Jackson Lee, H. Johnson, Kaptur, Keating, Kennedy, Kildee, Kilmer, Kind, Langevin, Larsen, Larson, Lawrence, Lee, J. Lewis, Loebsack, Lowenthal, Luján, Lujan Grisham, C. Maloney, S. Maloney, Matsui, McCollum, McDermott, McGovern, NcNerney, Meeks, Moulton, Murphy, Nadler, Nolan, Norcross, Norton, Pascrell, Payne, Pingree, Plaskett, Price, Rangel, K. Rice, Roybal-Allard, Ruiz, Ruppersberger, Rush, Sanchez, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Serrano, Sewell, Sherman, Speier, Swalwell, Takai, M. Thompson, Tonko, Torres, Tsongas, Vargas, Veasey, Wasserman Schultz, Watson Coleman, Welch Deadline to become Original Co-sponsor: TODAY. April 30th, COB Dear Colleague: Economic inequality is one of the defining challenges facing our economy and our country.  Increasing the minimum wage would help close the gap between low-wage and high-wage workers, and most importantly, it would ensure that workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. The Raise the Wage Act would: Increase the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $12.00 by the year 2020; Index the minimum wage to the median wage starting in 2021; Eliminate the tipped minimum wage gradually by raising the cash wage from the current $2.13 per hour to match the regular minimum wage. No one who works full time should have to live in poverty.  As estimated in a forthcoming paper from the Economic Policy Institute, raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $12.00 in 2020 would give almost 38 million hard-working Americans a raise, including the parents of nearly 18.7 million children.  A $12.00 per hour minimum wage would give workers almost $110 billion in raises.  Putting more money in to the pockets of low-wage workers stimulates consumer demand and strengthens the economy for all Americans. Please join me in standing up for workers and their families by increasing the minimum wage. Senator Murray is introducing companion legislation in the Senate.  To become an original cosponsor, please contact Melissa Greenberg with the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Minority Staff, at ext. 6-2068 (or Melissa.Greenberg@mail.house.gov) by April 30, 2015. Sincerely, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott Ranking Member Committee on Education & the Workforce''
''Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission Hearing North Korea’s Forced Labor Enterprise: A State-Sponsored Marketplace in Human Trafficking TOMORROW!! Wednesday, April 29, 2015 2:30 – 4:30 pm 2123 Rayburn House Office Building Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission for a hearing on the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)’s provision of forced labor to foreign governments through bilateral contracts. Credible reports indicate that the DPRK’s “contract workers” are sent to countries in East Asia, Central Asia, Africa and Central Europe and are forced to work while their movements are surveilled by DPRK “minders.” Workers’ salaries are deposited into accounts controlled by the North Korean government, which keeps most of the money, claiming various “voluntary” contributions to government endeavors.  Workers receive only a fraction of the money paid to the North Korean government for their work. In recent years, international condemnation of North Korea’s government has been growing, including accusations within the United Nations of potential crimes against humanity by the regime in Pyongyang.  However, the use of forced labor by the DPRK in fulfilling its international contracts may offer a new entry point for combatting the government’s ever-growing list of human rights violations. This hearing will bring together experts to discuss the causes and consequences of North Korea’s use of forced labor abroad and provide recommendations on what the United States can do to protect these victims of state-sponsored human trafficking. Panel I: Mr. Robert King, Special Envoy for North Korea Human Rights Issues, U.S. Department of State Panel II: Mr. Greg Scarlatou, Executive Director, Committee for Human Rights in North Korea Mr. Lim Il, Co-director, International Network for the Human Rights of North Korean Overseas Labor Mr. John Sifton, Asia Advocacy Director, Human Rights Watch This hearing will be streaming live at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/hclive22. For any questions, please contact Carson Middleton (for Mr. Pitts) at 202-225-2411 or carson.middleton@mail.house.gov or Soo Choi (for Mr. McGovern) at 202-225-3599 or soohyun.choi@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Joseph R. Pitts                                              James P. McGovern Co-Chair, TLHRC                                           Co-Chair, TLHRC''
''CO-SPONSOR THE FRANK WOLF INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM ACT H.R. 1150 will help the Administration fight violent extremism without putting more ‘boots on the ground’ in the Middle East and elswhere. Co-sponsors (86): Robert Pittenger, Barbara Comstock, Sheila Jackson Lee, Charles Rangel, Robert Aderholt, Juan Vargas, Susan Brooks, John Delaney, Bill Flores, Grace Napolitano, Randy Forbes, Brenda Lawrence, Chuck Fleischmann, Dan Lipinksi, David Trott, Elizabeth Etsy, Vicky Hartzler, Derek Kilmer, John Carter, Joseph Pitts, Doug Lamborn, Marsha Blackburn, Cathy McMorris Rodgers, George Holding, Paul Woodall, Joe Wilson, Tim Wahlberg, Daniel Webster, Michael Burgess, Steve Pearce, Austin Scott, Dave Reichert, Jeff Fortenberry, Dana Rohrabacher, Mike Pompeo, Steve King, David Rouzer, Rich Nugent, Tom Cole, Randy Hultgren, Bob Gibbs, Pete Sessions, Marlin Stutzman, Richard Hudson, Chris Stewart, Steve Stivers, Roger Williams, Jackie Walorski, David Joyce, Mark Walker, Mark Meadows, Glen Thompson, Mike Bost, John Fleming, Louie Gohmert, Randy Weber, Ted Yoho, Mike Conaway, Phil Roe, John Shimkus, David McKinley, Joe Barton, Mike Turner, Mick Mulvaney, Dennis Ross, Andy Barr, Earl Carter, John Mica, Trent Franks, Jeff Duncan, Luke Messer, Peter King, Trey Gowdy, French Hill, Randy Neugebauer, Diane Black, John Culbertson,Tom Marino, Robert Latta, Brian Babin,Ted Poe, Bill Johnson, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Dan Benishek, Jared Polis Every week the headlines are filled with stories about beheadings, kidnappings, arrests, and other horrific violence and discrimination targetnig religious minorities.  In the Middle East we are seeing attempts to systematically exterminate religious minorities. In Burma and Pakistan, Muslim and Christian minorities alike face systematic violence and discrimination. In Africa, terrorist organizations kill thousands in societal violence. In China, Vietnam, and North Korea, any independent religious belief is viewed as an unwanted competitor to the Communist state, leading to severe restrictions, arrests, and torture. According to the Pew Research Foundation, government sponsored attacks on religious freedom are at a seven year high. Yet, also according to Pew, countries with the highest religious freedom protections have the lowest levels of religious violence and terrorism. President Obama and the State Department have asked for new ideas to address the roots causes of  “violent extremism” without “putting more boots on the ground.”   We believe that more robust efforts to advance religious freedom diplomatically will enhance U.S. security interests around the world and help protect vulnerable religious minorities and a growing anti-Semitism as well. The Frank Wolf International Religious Freedom Act will improve U.S. religious freedom diplomacy efforts globally; better train and equip diplomats to counter extremism; address anti-Semitism and religious persecution, and mitigate sectarian conflict. The bill will help the Ambassador at Large for Religious Freedom coordinate diplomatic efforts globally and within the U.S. government and will also reauthorize the independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom with same language that passed unanimously in the House of Representatives last year. Our bill is named after former Congressman Frank Wolf, a tireless champion for the rights of the poor and the persecuted globally. It is largely because of his efforts that religious freedom is taken seriously as a foreign policy issue. Our bill will upgrade his landmark legislation, the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, to better address the religious freedom and violent extremism problems of the 21st century. To cosponsor or receive more information about the bill, your staff can contact Scott Flipse at 6-3777 or by email at Scott.Flipse@mail.house.gov, or Hannah Murphy with Rep. Eshoo at 5-8104 or by email at Hannah.Murphy@mail.house.gov Most gratefully, Christopher H. Smith                               Anna G. Eshoo Member of Congress                               Member of Congress''
''Support Military Families and Foster Children Co-Sponsor H.R. 2008, the GI Education Benefits Fairness Act Supported by: Military Officers Association of America, Student Veterans of America Co-sponsors: McMorris Rodgers Dear Colleague: The Post-9/11 GI Bill provides education benefits to veterans and servicemembers who serve on active duty after September 10, 2001. Depending on force retention needs, active duty service members may be allowed to transfer their GI education benefits to their children. However, according to the Department of Defense, 100 students who were initially approved for these benefits later had them revoked due to a discrepancy in in the law. Under current law, Title 10 (Department of Defense) includes wards and foster children in the definition of an eligible child, while Title 38 (Veterans Administration) does not. This has led to a bureaucratic nightmare for some members of the armed services and their families. These 100 students now face unexpected amounts of crippling debt. Regrettably, these students were initially approved for their benefits by the agencies, and money was paid out to the schools. It was only mid-semester that the error was caught and students and their families were notified that they would have to pay back the money. This situation is patently unfair to the military families that have been affected. That is why we have introduced the GI Education Benefits Fairness Act. The bill would resolve this uncertainty by aligning VA’s definition with part of DoD’s definition of an “eligible child” for the purposes of transferring GI education benefits, allowing military families to receive the benefits they were promised. This change would be retroactive and also apply to others who were approved and later denied due to this bureaucratic discrepancy. In addition to protecting our nation in hope of a better and brighter future for generations to come, these military families have shown great compassion by opening their homes to children not related by blood, but are still every bit a son or daughter. We can all be a part of fulfilling that dream by giving children these important education benefits. Please join us in fixing this injustice by co-sponsoring H.R. 2008, the GI Education Benefits Fairness Act. To be added as a cosponsor or for any questions please contact Jim Callaghan (Foster) at Jim.Callaghan@mail.house.gov or x53515. Sincerely, BILL FOSTER                                        CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS Member of Congress                                Member of Congress''
''Inspire a Generation of Inventors and Entrepreneurs Co-Sponsor H.R. 1622, the National Fab Lab Network Act of 2015 Groups in Support: Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, Technology Manufacturing Association, Praxair Current Co-sponsors: Hultgren, Massie, Holmes Norton, Pocan, Honda, Delaney, Takano, Esty, Tim Ryan, Rangel, Slaughter Dear Colleague: In each of our districts, there are creative, ambitious people who, if given access to the proper resources, have the potential to create an innovative product. While incubators that foster this type of activity have emerged in the larger cities and around major research universities, access to these facilities remains limited for much of America. That is why I plan to reintroduce, and ask you to co-sponsor, legislation to support the proliferation of Fab Labs. Fab Labs are facilities equipped with a set of tools that enable anyone to create just about anything. These tools include laser cutters, 3D printers, and other digitally controlled machine tools. This set of equipment enables people who have an idea for a new product to rapidly create a prototype. Fab Labs have been used to produce solar and wind-powered turbines, thin-client computers, wireless data networks, and analytical instrumentation for agriculture and healthcare. They can also be used to create simple, customizable items. Just this year, the Navy and DARPA entered into an agreement to set up a Fab Lab at the Navy’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Maintenance Center in Norfolk, VA to teach sailors how to fabricate parts while at sea. So far, eighty Fab Labs have popped up in cities throughout American and many more across the globe. Fab Labs are also an excellent way to get kids of all ages interested in the STEM fields and provide them with the skills to turn what they can imagine into something they can hold in their hands. Creating a generation of “makers” will be indispensable to the economic health of the United States in the 21st Century. Currently, each Fab Lab must raise approximately $100,000 for the basic equipment to get up and running. The National Fab Lab Network Act would create a federally-chartered non-profit organization, known as the National Fab Lab Network (NFLN), to serve as a central seed funding source for Fab Labs across the country. This chartered status is similar to the status enjoyed by Little League Baseball and many veterans groups. The NFLN will raise its own funds and not be reliant on taxpayer dollars. Providing aspiring inventors and entrepreneurs with access to Fab Labs will help lower the barrier to entry for small businesses and facilitate manufacturing in America. I appreciate your consideration of this important legislation.  To become an original co-sponsor of the National Fab Lab Network Act or to learn more about Fab Labs, please contact my Legislative Assistant Jim Callaghan at Jim.Callaghan@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, BILL FOSTER Member of Congress''
''Support Gosar-Carter Amendment to MilCon/VA Appropriations Prohibit funds from being used to adjust or falsify claims data Dear Colleague, Please consider supporting the Gosar-Carter Amendment to H.R. 2029, the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which would prohibit VA personnel from adjusting or falsifying claims data. The American people are still reeling from the shocking revelations that VA employees—most notably in Phoenix—were intentionally adjusting filing dates and other data in an effort to report quicker processing times for benefit claims. More recently, a VA Inspector General report showed that a 2013 memo (known as Fast Letter 13-10) from the Veterans Benefits Administration was sent to “all VBA Regional Offices and Centers” providing new guidance for “establishing dates of claim”.  The Inspector General’s report found that management at the Philadelphia Regional Office, using that notice as justification, instructed workers to adjust the dates on benefits claims in order to mitigate, at least on paper, the enormous backlog of claims made by veterans.  The IG determined that the fast letter was flawed “by design”. This is yet another example of mismanagement and malpractice within the VA that is hurting our nation’s veterans.  We have seen these sorts of practices not only lead to languishing claims, but other real consequences, including failing health and, in at least a few cases, death. We ask that you help us put an end to these abhorrent practices by voting in favor of the commonsense Gosar-Carter Amendment that will prohibit funds from being used to adjust or falsify claims data within VA.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Michael Mansour at Michael.Mansour@mail.house.gov (Gosar) or Chase Cannon at Chase.Cannon@mail.house.gov (Carter).  Thank you in advance for your consideration.                                                             Sincerely, /s/                                                                                                      /s/ Paul A. Gosar                                                                                     Earl L. ‘Buddy’ Carter Member of Congress                                                                           Member of Congress''
''Letter to Kyrgyz Parliament: Protect Human Rights for All Deadline EXTENDED: Friday, May 1 COB Cosigners: Esty, Hastings, Engel, Keating, McGovern, Lowenthal, Cicilline, Israel, Grijalva, Schiff, Nadler, Takano, Schakowsky, Pocan, Ros-Lehtinen, Gibson, Cartwright, Maloney (Sean Patrick), Polis Dear Colleague: I invite you to join me in sending a letter to the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan, which is considering discriminatory legislation that would affect the lives of LGBT people, and all citizens of Kyrgyzstan. The legislation under consideration would criminalize or sanction dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations,” including in print media, radio, television, public assemblies, and on the internet. This proposed legislation runs counter to the protection of fundamental human rights, which is a cornerstone of American democracy and our relations with the global community. European nations and partners, including the European Parliament, and the United Nations Office of the High Commission for Human Rights have already called on Kyrgyzstan to withdraw the draft law. I hope you will join me in urging the Parliament of Kyrgyzstan to prevent further advancement of the “anti-LGBT propaganda” legislation, and to stand for equality, justice, democracy, and safety for all of its citizens and residents. To sign onto this letter, or for more information, please contact my staff Helen Beaudreau at helen.beaudreau@mail.house.gov or x52631. Sincerely, /s Michael M. Honda Member of Congress ***** May xx, 2015 Dear Speaker Asylbek Sharipovich: We write to express our deep concern about the advancement in the Jogorku Kenesh of anti-lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) legislation that threatens human rights and Kyrgyzstan’s democratic values. If this bill becomes law, it would target marginalized communities, limit civil society, and erode freedom of expressions. The proposed legislation under consideration by the Kyrgyz Parliament would criminalize or sanction dissemination of information “aimed at forming positive attitudes toward non-traditional sexual relations,” including in print media, radio, television, public assemblies, and on the internet. In addition, the legislation would violate Kyrgyzstan’s own constitution, which in Article 31 states that “Everyone shall have the right to free expression of opinion, freedom of speech and press” and that “The propagation of national, ethnic, racial and religious hatred, gender as well as other social supremacy which calls to discrimination, hostility and violence shall be prohibited.” The United States values its relationship with Kyrgyzstan and hopes to continue strengthening this relationship. Kyrgyzstan has already made great democratic, constitutional, and economic advancements. The proposed legislation, however, runs counter to the protection of fundamental human rights, which is the cornerstone of American democracy and our relations with foreign countries. We are not alone in this concern – European nations and partners, including the European Parliament, and the United Nations Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights have already called on Kyrgyzstan to withdraw the draft law. We believe laws that discriminate and violate human rights threaten the fabric of our global community. We respectfully urge you to prevent further advancement of the “anti-LGBT propaganda” legislation, and to stand for equality, justice, and democracy for all citizens. Sincerely,''
''Support National Small Business Week Deadline: COB May 1st Dear Colleague: Please join us in honoring the achievements and entrepreneurial spirit of small businesses in the United States by cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution recognizing the 52nd anniversary of National Small Business Week, which begins on May 4, 2015. The 28,000,000 small businesses in the United States are a driving force behind the nation’s economy and economic recovery, creating 7 out of every 10 new jobs.  These small businesses represent 99.7 percent of employer firms in the United States and generate close to 50 percent of the nation’s non-farm gross domestic product, while representing 98 percent of all exporters and producing 33 percent of exported goods.  Their owners and employees are the nation’s innovators, serving to advance technology and productivity, and taking risks to achieve the American dream of owning a small business.  The efforts and achievements of these self-starters deserve our commendation for their work ethic and commitment to excellence in furthering the economic vitality of the United States. Please join us as a cosponsor of this bipartisan resolution to recognize the milestone achievements of small businesses and their importance to the nation’s economy. For more information or to become a cosponsor, please contact Jacqueline Eufrausino with Rep. Tony Cárdenas at 5-6131 or Jacqueline.eufrausino@mail.house.gov or Jeff Small with Rep. Paul Gosar at 5-2315 or Jeff.Small@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tony Cárdenas	Paul A. Gosar Member of Congress	Member of Congress''
''Recognize the 40th Anniversary of the Vietnamese American Community and the Fall of Saigon Current Cosponsors: Chu, Connolly, Susan Davis, Lofgren, McDermott, Scott Peters, Loretta Sanchez, Takano Dear Colleague, Please join me as a cosponsor of a resolution recognizing the 40th anniversary of the Fall of Saigon, an event commemorated in Vietnamese American communities across the United States.  This event marks the beginning of the Vietnamese American community and is a watershed moment for that community. Since 1975, hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese have resettled in the United States and the Vietnamese American community now numbers over 1,600,000 according to the Census Bureau. This resolution also honors the service of United States veterans and their Vietnamese allies, as well as the many contributions the Vietnamese American community have made to the United States, including continuing efforts to call for an end to human rights abuses by the Vietnamese government. If you would like to become a cosponsor or receive more information on this resolution, please contact Ben Kane in my office at 202-225-7924 or at ben.kane@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, ALAN LOWENTHAL Member of Congress''
''Raise the Wage for America’s Workers Become an Original Cosponsor of The Raise the Wage Act Current Co-sponsors: Representatives Hoyer, Van Hollen, Adams, Aguilar, Brown, Beyer, Bishop, Cárdenas, Carson, Chu, Clark, Cohen, Conyers, Courtney, Crowley, S. Davis, DelBene, DeSaulnier, Edwards, Ellison, Engel, Fudge, G. Green, Gutiérrez , Hahn, Hastings, Kaptur, Lawrence, J. Lewis, S. Maloney, Matsui, McDermott, Norton, Payne, Pocan, Rangel, Rush, Sanchez, Schakowsky, Slaughter, Takano, Vargas, Wilson Number of Current Co-sponsors: 43 Deadline to become Original Co-sponsor: Wed. April 29th, 12:00pm Dear Colleague: Economic inequality is one of the defining challenges facing our economy and our country.  Increasing the minimum wage would help close the gap between low-wage and high-wage workers, and most importantly, it would ensure that workers receive a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work. The Raise the Wage Act would: Increase the national minimum wage from $7.25 to $12.00 by the year 2020; Index the minimum wage to the median wage starting in 2021; Eliminate the tipped minimum wage gradually by raising the cash wage from the current $2.13 per hour to match the regular minimum wage. No one who works full time should have to live in poverty.  As estimated in a forthcoming paper from the Economic Policy Institute, raising the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $12.00 in 2020 would give almost 38 million hard-working Americans a raise, including the parents of nearly 18.7 million children.  A $12.00 per hour minimum wage would give workers almost $110 billion in raises.  Putting more money in to the pockets of low-wage workers stimulates consumer demand and strengthens the economy for all Americans. Please join me in standing up for workers and their families by increasing the minimum wage. Senator Murray is introducing companion legislation in the Senate.  To become an original cosponsor, please contact Melissa Greenberg with the Committee on Education and the Workforce, Minority Staff, at ext. 6-2068 (or Melissa.Greenberg@mail.house.gov) by April 28, 2015. Sincerely, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott Ranking Member Committee on Education & the Workforce''
''As a Member of Congress, you are a communicator.  You persuade with words; you write and edit; you even revise and extend. That is why I formed the Congressional Writers Caucus.  The purpose is to help enhance your writing skills; to understand rapidly changing policies confronting the publishing industry; and to learn from authors, publishers, and other experts. The first meeting of the Congressional Writers Caucus will be at 8:30am on Wednesday May 20th, in the Members Room of the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress. This meeting is open to Members, staffer members, and interns. At this meeting we will discuss what it is like to be a communicator and we will also learn more about the publishing industry and current and future trends.   Speakers will include: Nelson Demille, Author Marysue Rucci, VP and Editor-in-Chief, Simon & Schuster Ben Loehnen, Senior Editor, Simon & Schuster To RSVP or join the caucus, please contact Kyle Hill in my office. He can be reached at kyle.hill@mail.house.gov or by phone at 202-225-3335''
''Thursday, April 30th Briefing: 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. Location: Rayburn Gold Room, RHOB 2168 **Lunch will be provided** Dear Colleague: In celebration of May as Mental Health Awareness Month, we cordially invite you and your staff to attend a Capitol Hill briefing focusing on The Importance of School Based Mental Health Programs. This event will honor National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week and will be held on Thursday, April 30th from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2168. This briefing will focus on proven services and supports that can help with the early identification of mental illness and the benefits of early intervention in a school-based setting.   We have seen first-hand through a pilot program in California’s 32nd Congressional District that school-based mental health services can provide an array of services and support for students and families while educating school personnel and the community at large. These innovative projects can help students lead a fulfilling life while stamping out mental health stigma. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), half of all mental illnesses begin by age 14 and 75% by age 24. Yet, there are long delays from the onset of symptoms to intervention. There are also many children, youth and young adults who are unable to access effective services and support. It is time to get as serious about early identification and intervention for mental health conditions as we are about other health conditions. This critical briefing will highlight the positive outcomes that have been achieved for youth and young adults when we focus on early identification and early intervention. Confirmed speakers for the April 30th briefing include: Dr. Dana Cunningham-Coordinator at Prince George’s School Mental Health Initiative Kana Enomoto, M.A.- SAMSHA Principal Deputy Administrator  Michelle Scott-Parent and Vice President of Loud Voices Together Educational Advocacy Group, Inc.  Jill Diamond, World Boxing Council Cares We encourage you or a member of your staff to attend this important lunch briefing on April 30th so that you can share this important information with your constituency and help us recognize and support National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week. We are confident you will find this briefing timely and informative. We look forward to your participation. Warm regards, Grace F. Napolitano''
''Dear Colleague, Today’s mindfulness meditation session will take place in the Rayburn House Office Building room 2103 from 1:30pm- 2:00pm. Host: Aparna Sain Aparna Sain was recently appointed as a Senior Advisor on Innovation and Entrepreneurship in the U.S. Department of State focusing on President Obama’s global economic growth initiative from Silicon Valley.  At State, she became a public voice for creating Entrepreneurial Ecosystems around the World and building public private partnerships bringing together policy makers, governments, entrepreneurs and businesses.  Aparna is the founder of Be Corporate Yogi bringing traditional Yogic wisdom to inspire transformation in the business community.  Aparna is a Yoga Alliance Certified Yoga and Meditation teacher trained in Rishikesh, India the birthplace of yoga.  Growing up in India, Aparna began her spiritual journey at a young age with a deep understanding of traditional yogic wisdom.  Aparna inspires professionals to live a life of purpose and passion. To RSVP, please contact Crystal Price in Congressman Tim Ryan’s Office at 202-225-5261 or Crystal.Price@mail.house.gov. Hope to see you all there! Sincerely, Tim Ryan''
''SUPPORT REAL NSA REFORM: REPEAL THE PATRIOT ACT Cosponsor the Bipartisan Surveillance State Repeal Act, H.R. 1466 Cosponsors: Capuano, DeFazio, DeSaulnier, Doggett, Grayson, Jones, Lee, Massie, McCollum, McGovern, and Neal. Organizational Support (national): CREDO Action, Freedom Works, Campaign For Liberty, Daily Kos, Progressive Change Campaign Committee, Friends Committee on National Legislation, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC), Calyx Institute, Bill of Rights Defense Committee, Fight for the Future, Constitutional Alliance, Demand Progress, Dream Defenders, Coalition for Peace Action, Defending Dissent Foundation, Restore the Fourth, National Libertarian Party, Media Alliance, Rights Working Group, Government Accountability Project, Republican Liberty Caucus, Code Pink, X-Lab, U.S. Labor Against the War, National Lawyers Guild, United for Peace and Justice. Organizational Support (regional): Montgomery County Civil Rights Coalition (MD), OMNI Center for Peace, Justice and Ecology (AR), Bay Area Civil Liberties Coalition (CA), Stop NYPD Spying Coaltion (NY), Stop LAPD Spying Coalition, Neighborhood UU Church of Pasadena (CA), Friends of the Constitution (WA), Dallas Peace Center (TX), Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights (IL), Cleveland Immigrant Support Network (OH), OneAmerica (WA), Libertas Institute (UT) Dear Colleague, My colleague, Representative Massie (R-KY), and I introduced the Surveillance State Repeal Act. This bill would end warrantless surveillance on American citizens. We wanted to share a piece which recently appeared in The Hill about our legislation. Revelations regarding our government’s overreaching surveillance activities have alarmed Americans everywhere. One of those provisions – Section 215 – has been used for years by the National Security Agency to collect the domestic phone records of millions of innocent, law-abiding Americans. On June 1, 2015 three provisions of the USA PATRIOT Act are set to expire and Congress will likely consider related legislation, making this issue even timelier. When Congress approved the PATRIOT Act, and later, the FISA Amendments Act, each contained key sunset provisions to allow for the review of those sweeping laws to see if they were truly working and whether or not the civil liberties of Americans were being properly protected. Each time these laws came up for renewal, House members were assured the programs were working and the rights of Americans were not being violated. As we’ve learned since June 2013, those assurances were not only false, but key information on unconstitutional abuses of these powers was withheld from virtually all House members, including during the debates on extending the sunset dates of these laws. It is time for Congress to act to end these abuses. We need a full scale repeal of both of these laws to allow for a truly thoughtful reconsideration of how we responsibly protect our nation from real threats while ensuring that the constitutional rights of all Americans remain in tact. The Surveillance State Repeal Act would: Repeal the PATRIOT Act (which contains the telephone metadata harvesting provision) Repeal the FISA Amendments Act (which contains the email harvesting provision), with the exception of the provisions regarding FISA court reporting and WMD intelligence collection. Makes retaliation against federal national security whistleblowers illegal and provides for the termination of individuals who engage in such retaliation. Ensure that any FISA collection against a US Person takes place only pursuant to a valid warrant based on probable cause (which was the original FISA standard from 1978 to 2001). Retain the ability for government surveillance capabilities to be targeted against a specific natural person, regardless of the type of communications method(s) or device(s) being used by the subject of the surveillance. Retain provisions in current law dealing with the acquisition of intelligence information involving weapons of mass destruction from entities not composed primarily of U.S. Persons. Prohibit the government from mandating that electronic device or software manufacturers build in so-called “back doors” to allow the government to bypass encryption or other privacy technology built into said hardware and/or software. Increase the terms of judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) from seven to ten years and allows their reappointment. Mandate that the FISC utilize technologically competent Special Masters (technical and legal experts) to help determine the veracity of government claims about privacy, minimization and collection capabilities employed by the US government in FISA applications. Mandate that the Government Accountability Office (GAO) regularly monitor such domestic surveillance programs for compliance with the law, including responding to Member requests for investigations and whistleblower complaints of wrongdoing.  Explicitly ban the use of Executive Order 12333 as a way of collecting bulk data Please contact Alicia Molt (Alicia.Molt@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Pocan’s office to become a cosponsor of this bill. Sincerely, Rep. Pocan        Rep. Massie''
''Dear Colleague: When a child’s name and Social Security number are obtained through a cyber-breach or otherwise, they can be used by thieves to obtain credit in that child’s name. I invite you to read a recent article by Ron Lieber on the topic, which includes discussion of legislation I recently introduced to protect children’s identities. Please join me in curbing this threat by cosponsoring the Protect Children from Theft Act, which directs the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to write a rule that gives parents and guardians the ability to create a protected, frozen credit file for their children. Placing a freeze on a credit report will prevent lenders and others from accessing a credit report entirely, which will stop any extension of credit. Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Nebraska, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Delaware, Wisconsin and many other states have passed laws allowing parents and guardians to create frozen credit files for children. This legislation will expand that protection to all states and territories. The legislation is endorsed by Consumers Union and the National Consumer Law Center. For more information or to become a co-sponsor of this legislation, please contact Livia Shmavonian at livia.shmavonian@mail.house.gov or at 5-2735. Sincerely, Jim Langevin Member of Congress''
''Secure our Networks and our Privacy Dear Colleague: I join the Administration in urging you to support HR 1560, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act which will be voted on today. Cyber crime and cyber espionage have cost this country billions of dollars, thousands of jobs, and compromised our most private information.  We cannot afford to wait for the next Sony attack, the next Target attack, the next attack on our health records, or the next hack on the State Department. That’s why Chairman Devin Nunes and I have introduced HR 1560.  It does something no Executive Order can do—incentivize voluntary, private and public cyber threat information sharing through the provision of targeted liability protection for that sharing. We developed this bill in close consultation with privacy advocates and businesses, and it passed out of the Intelligence Committee on March 26, 2015 unanimously.  It now moves to the House Floor today.  The Administration issued its Statement of Administration Policy urging the House to pass this bill.  While some reforms still need to be made as the process continues, I agree that we should pass this critical piece of legislation. This bill is different from previous cyber bills, and it makes vast privacy improvements.  In fact, the major privacy concerns raised over prior cyber bills by stakeholder groups and the White House — concerns that I shared — have all been favorably addressed in HR 1560. In particular, the Protecting Cyber Networks Act: Requires two privacy filters.  First, the private sector must remove personal information unrelated to the cyber threat prior to sharing that threat information.  Then, the government has to do a second scrub to ensure there is no residual personal information. Mandates a civilian, federal government portal.  Under the bill, the President is required to designate the points of entry for private sector cyber threat information, but expressly prohibits those entry points to be DOD, or any of its subcomponents, including NSA. Only authorizes defensive measures.  The bill only authorizes the private sector to take defensive measures in response to a cyber attack—it does not permit any type of offensive countermeasures or “hacking back.” Only authorizes very narrow government use provisions.  While the private sector can only share information with the federal government for cybersecurity purposes, the bill tightens the permissible federal government uses of that shared information over what would have been permissible under previous cyber bills.  Gone is a broad national security use provision, for example. Prohibits any type of surveillance authority under the Act.  As the bill says numerous times in black and white: this is not in any way, shape or form a surveillance bill. The Protecting Cyber Networks Act will help enable the government and private sector to work together to stop cyber attacks before they hit, while providing strong privacy and civil liberty protections.  I urge you to support this bill. Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff''
''Co-sponsor Bipartisan H.R. 1399: Veteran Education Empowerment Act to Reauthorize Grants for Veteran Student Centers Cosponsors: Lois Frankel (D-FL), Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), Mark Takano (D-CA), Joe Wilson (R-SC), Jared Polis (D-CO), Ryan Zinke, (R-MT), Matt Cartwright (D-PA), Charles Boustany (R-LA), Charles Rangel (D-NY), David Jolly (R-FL),  Alcee Hastings (D-FL), Peter King (R-NY), Patrick Murphey (D-FL), Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Robert Dold (R-IL), Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ), David McKinley (R-WV), Raul Ruiz (D-CA), Chris Stewart (R-UT), John Conyers (D-MI), Robin Kelly (D-IL), Thomas Rooney (R-FL) Endorsed by: Student Veterans of America, American Council on Education, American Legion, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Air Force Sergeants Association, American Association of Community Colleges, American Association of State Colleges and Universities, Association of American Universities, Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities, Association of the United States Army, Association of the United States Navy, Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Marine Corps League, Marine Corps Reserve Association, Military Officers Association of America, Military Order of the Purple Heart, Mission United, National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, National Guard Association of the United States, National Military Family Association, Reserve Officers Association, The Veterans Trust, U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association, U.S. Coast Guard Enlisted Association, Vietnam Veterans of America, Wounded Warrior Project Dear Colleague, Over one million veterans and active duty servicemembers in the United States attend college every year, and many face unique hardships in tra­nsitioning from the battlefield to the classroom. Some student veterans have been away from school for long periods, are older than their peers, have families to support, or struggle with service-related disabilities. These hurdles often lead talented veterans to drop out of school before graduating and limit potential job opportunities. In response to these challenges, colleges and universities have begun creating Veteran Student Centers to provide a one-stop-shop for student veterans to find academic support, networking opportunities, peer mentorship, financial assistance, counseling, and career services. Veteran service organizations and higher education associations agree that these Veteran Student Centers create a sense of camaraderie and support among the student veteran community that can increase graduation rates and improve job prospects. The Veteran Education Empowerment Act builds on this successful model by reauthorizing grants for colleges and universities across the country to establish new Veteran Student Centers and to improve existing ones. Our men and women of the armed forces have stood up for us, and this bill is one way that we can stand up for them. For more information or to become a co-sponsor, please contact Josh Cohen with Congresswoman Frankel at Josh.D.Cohen@mail.house.gov (5-9890) or  Joe Millado with Congressman Bilirakis at Joe.Millado@mail.house.gov (5-5755). Sincerely, LOIS FRANKEL           GUS BILIRAKIS              MARK TAKANO Member of Congress        Member of Congress        Member of Congress''
''BECOME AN ORIGINAL COSPONSOR OF THE HOME ENERGY UTILITY ASSISTANCE ACT April 22, 2015 Dear Colleague: According to the U.S. Census report in 2013, the national poverty rate was 14.5 percent and 45.3 million Americans lived in poverty.  Though the economy is improving, the aforementioned statistic highlights the need for programs such as the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).  LIHEAP provides critical home heating and cooling help to millions of vulnerable American families.  Between FY 2009 and FY 2015, LIHEAP’s appropriation was cut by more than one-third.   Because of these cuts, states have been forced to reduce the number of households served, cut benefits, or both.  If you would like to fully restore LIHEAP funding, then become an original co-sponsor of the Home Energy Utility Assistance Act of 2015. The Home Energy Utility Assistance Act will fund LIHEAP at $5.1 billion annually from FY 2016 through FY 2025.  Furthermore, the Act will ensure that households seeking assistance provided under the program are not required to file more than one application per year.  Unfortunately when families must apply multiple times a year, they oftentimes miss filing deadlines. LIHEAP assists the most vulnerable constituents, including the elderly – many of whom are on fixed incomes – the unemployed, families with young children, and the disabled.  Additionally, it has been noted that LIHEAP recipient households containing a veteran increased from an estimated 700,000 in FY 2008 to 1.78 million in FY 2011. If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor of the Home Energy Utility Assistance Act, please contact Charles Makings at 202-225-3436 or Charles.Makings@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Donald M. Payne, Jr. Member of Congress''
''DEADLINE: Today COB Support Law Enforcement in Investigating Child Exploitation Crimes Endorsements: PROTECT, the National Association to Protect Children, Rights4Girls Cosponsors: Bass, Chabot, Clay, Cramer, Hastings, Lawrence, Meng, Murphy (FL), Pierluisi, Rush, Weber Dear Colleague: In the coming days, we will introduce legislation aimed at training and hiring wounded veterans for the H.E.R.O. (Human Exploitation Rescue Operative) Child-Rescue Corps, an elite group of cyber warriors trained to assist law enforcement in rescuing children from sexual exploitation and identifying the perpetrators of these crimes. We hope that you will join us in this endeavor by being an original cosponsor of the HERO Act. Globally, there are millions of child predators online, actively seeking and trading images of very young children being tortured, raped, and sexually exploited. The demand for new images is met by the sexual exploitation of additional children.  In order to save children from this abuse, bring perpetrators to justice, and prevent the abuse of more children, we must effectively analyze these images as the crime scene evidence that they are. The H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue Corps is specially trained and certified by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to forensically analyze these crime scene images and to search for unknown children in these images who wait for rescue.  These veterans are trained by a partnership between ICE, U.S. Special Operations Command, and the National Association to Protect Children. Since the 1970’s, ICE’s child exploitation investigations and forensic units have been leaders in the global fight against child exploitation. Since 2003, ICE’s Operation Predator has initiated over 35,000 child exploitation investigations and arrested over 13,000 child predators. ICE identified 1,036 child victims in 2014 alone. Our legislation, the HERO Act, supports these efforts by authorizing an already Congressionally-appropriated HERO Corps program, and provides permanency for ICE’s Computer Crimes Center (C3). C3 and its three units, the Computer Crimes Unit, the Child Exploitation Investigations Unit, and the Computer Forensics Unit, all work in a coordinated fashion on cyber crime and child exploitation crimes. The Computer Crimes Unit coordinates and provides training for all ICE investigators around the world working any cyber-related crime within its jurisdiction, half of which are crimes against children. The Child Exploitation Investigations Unit coordinates investigations for technology-facilitated crimes against children including child pornography crimes, child victim identification, child sex tourism, and child trafficking.  The Computer Forensics Unit provides forensic support to all of ICEs regional investigative offices and provides training to the HERO Corps. This crucial legislation will provide permanency and certainty to already Congressionally-appropriated programs within ICE that have a proven track record in the fight against child exploitation worldwide. This legislation will also provide permanency for the H.E.R.O. Child-Rescue Corps program, which puts wounded veterans on a new battlefield, keeping children safe. If you have any questions about this legislation, or if you would like to sign-on as a cosponsor, please contact Seth Extein in the office of Congresswoman Wasserman Schultz at seth.extein@mail.house.gov or Blair Bjellos in the office of Congressman Poe at blair.bjellos@mail.house.gov.    Sincerely, Debbie Wasserman Schultz                                        Ted Poe Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: I write today regarding important legislation to continue our efforts combatting waste, fraud, and abuse at the General Services Administration (GSA), and I urge you to cosponsor this bill. GSA has a long history of mismanaging taxpayer funds, from elaborate kickback schemes arranged with contractors to extravagant spending on 2000 square foot Las Vegas suites for senior employees. Last September, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Northern California chose to indict one such employee for fraud, citing his use of agency funds for personal travel and subsequent choice to lie about his activities to investigators. The Government Spending Accountability (GSA) Act of 2015, which passed the House by voice vote last Congress, would bring much needed transparency and place limitations on spending to this long-troubled agency. Specifically, it would limit GSA spending to $500,000 per conference, prohibit the agency from sending more than 50 employees to any one conference, and limit total agency travel expenses to 70% of FY 2010 levels. Additionally, the bill would require GSA to publicly post online detailed quarterly reports on any conference that costs more than $10,000. If you would like to cosponsor this legislation, please contact Jon Toomey Jon.Toomey@mail.house.gov in Congressman Black’s office. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Diane Black Member of Congress''
''Help Improve the Claims Process for Disabled Veterans Co-sponsor H.R. 1331, the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act Co-sponsors: Abraham, Ashford, Denham, Higgins, Jolly, McCollum, Lawrence, Ribble Endorsed by DAV, IAVA, PVA Dear Colleague: We invite you to co-sponsor the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, H.R. 1331. In the last decade, Americans have developed a renewed understanding of the need to support our service members in battle. Unfortunately, our warriors’ battles don’t always end when they return home. With the end of the war in Iraq and the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan, the number of disabled veterans who need care has dramatically increased. Despite improvements in claims processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans are still waiting too long to receive their earned benefits, creating financial hardship for these veterans and their families. The VA reports hundreds of thousands of veterans have been waiting longer than 125 days to have their claim adjudicated. While the VA as made progress in the last year, we believe there are common sense measures Congress can undertake to ensure our veterans are getting the care they need in a more-timely fashion. This is why we introduced Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, H.R. 1331, to help speed up the process. The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act will allow local doctors to conduct disability medical examinations for veterans. This conserves VA resources, cuts back on long wait times at VA hospitals, enables quicker diagnoses of disabilities and eliminates unnecessary trips to the VA or contracted compensation and pension exams for veterans in rural communities. Specifically, to further encourage the use of private medical evidence, we are amending title 38, United States Code, section 5125 to provide that, when a claimant submits private medical evidence, including a private medical opinion, that is competent, credible, probative, and otherwise adequate for rating purposes, the Secretary shall not request a VA medical examination. This legislative change would require Veteran Service Representatives and Rating Veterans Service Representatives to document that private medical evidence was inadequate for rating purposes before ordering examinations, which are often unnecessary. Additionally, the legislation requires the VA to complete two reports, one 180 days after passage of the bill that tracks the bill’s implementation and an annual report that tracks the most common reasons and disabilities for which claims with evidence submitted by non-VA medical professionals were denied by VBA. Our goal with this legislation is simple: to uphold the promises we’ve made to our veterans by ending the backlog and getting them the benefits they have earned and deserve.  This is a common sense solution that will aid in adding efficiency to a complicated process in order to better serve our nation’s heroes. For more information or to co-sponsor H.R. 1331, please contact Carina Marquez-Barrientos with Rep. Walz at carina.marquez@mail.house.gov or Chris Del Beccaro with Rep. Denham at Chris.DelBeccaro@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tim Walz                                 Jeff Denham Member of Congress               Member of Congress''
''Co-sponsor H.R. 1743 to Award the Congressional Gold Medal to Harriet Tubman, in recognition of her contributions and lifelong commitment in the fight for freedom of enslaved men, women, and children in the United States. Current co-sponsors: Rangel, Grijalva, Van Hollen Dear Colleague, I invite you to co-sponsor H.R. 1743, a bill to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Harriet Tubman, an abolitionist, civil rights and women’s rights activist and military hero. She was a woman who lived in almost mythological proportions achieving much to free and save the lives of hundreds of slaves. Following her escape from slavery in 1849, Tubman chose to compromise her own freedom by returning home to free her family and other enslaved blacks earning her the nickname “Moses”.  She redirected the Underground Railroad to reach Canada following the passing of the Fugitive Slave Law of 1850 by U.S. Congress, which required law enforcement officials, even in freed states, to report runaway slaves for capture. In 1859, Republican abolitionist William H. Seward sold Tubman a piece of land on the outskirts of Auburn, New York which she would use as a haven for family and friends and later donate a portion to the African Methodist Episcopal Church where the Harriet Tubman Home for the Aged opened in 1908. During the Civil War, Tubman held many roles which included being an armed scout and spy for the Union army.  She would go on to be the first woman in the Civil War to lead an armed expedition which resulted in the liberation of 700+ slaves during the Combahee River Raid in South Carolina earning her the moniker “General Tubman”. The Civil War was not the end of Tubman’s fight as she would go on to tour the states to speak in promotion of women’s suffrage.  Tubman’s legacy was honored most recently through a provision in the National Defense Authorization Act for 2015 establishing a Harriet Tubman National Historical Park, signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2014. Through her unyielding devotion to those oppressed in the United States, Harriet Tubman serves as an example of leadership, resilience and self-sacrifice for generations of Americans.  The Congressional Gold Medal is a fitting commemoration of her life and work.  Please join me in recognizing one of our nation’s most famous 20th century pre Civil War icons. To co-sponsor H.R. 1743, please contact me or Eric Bolden on my staff at 5-6231 or eric.bolden@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Yvette D. Clarke Member of Congress''
''Deadline: CoB Monday April 27 Current Cosponsors: Langevin, Wittman, Johnson, Norton, Cárdenas Dear Colleague: Last year, an investigative series from Reuters, “The Child Exchange,” drew attention to the many disturbing dangers and problems associated with “re-homing” adoptive children. Families involved in this unregulated and underground practice are connecting online through internet groups, making dubious or outright illegal arrangements to give away their children to strangers, often across state lines, with little or no legal documentation and in some cases with forged or fake documents.  In some situations, the custody of children has been transferred to individuals with a criminal history or who have lost custody of other children due to abuse or neglect. To help provide states with the resources to aid adoptive families, we have introduced the bipartisan Protecting Adopted Children Act. This bill will help provide a more stable home environment and prevent children from entering the foster care system or other less-regulated networks. PACA provides for pre- and post-adoptive counseling assistance to ease the transition for children and families. The bill also helps to fund treatments specialized for adopted children, including psychiatric residential services, outpatient mental health services, social skills training, intensive in-home supervision services, recreational therapy, suicide prevention and substance abuse treatment. Additionally, the bill expands the scope of the existing Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force, which operates under the Department of Justice, to include combating the illegal transfer of a child. The ICAC Task Force was created to help law enforcement investigate child exploitation on the federal, state, and local level. Including re-homing in the scope of the ICAC Task Force will give law enforcement additional tools to combat this illegal practice. This bill is budget-neutral and will not add to the deficit. If you have any questions or would like to become an original cosponsor, please contact Sam Morgante (Langevin) at 202-225-2735 or Sam.Morgante@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Jim Langevin                                                                                       Rob Wittman Member of Congress                                                                           Member of Congress Eddie Bernice Johnson Member of Congress''
''Honor the History of the United States Coast Guard Cosponsor the bipartisan United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act Dear Colleague: We write today to ask for your support of the United States Coast Guard Commemorative Coin Act, a bill that would honor the men and women of the Coast Guard and support the establishment of the National Coast Guard Museum. The United States Coast Guard has stayed true to their motto, Semper Paratus or ‘‘Always Ready,’’ for 225 years. Although the smallest of the armed services, today the United States Coast Guard conducts a wide variety of missions to protect the public, the environment, and the United States economic and security interests in any maritime region, including international waters and America’s coasts, ports, and inland waterways. Every day, the United States Coast Guard plays a broad and important role in homeland security, law enforcement, search and rescue, marine environmental pollution response, and the maintenance of river, intra-coastal and offshore aids to navigation (ATON). For example, in 2013 the Coast Guard responded to 17,000 search and rescue cases saving 7,400 lives, conducted over 21,000 waterborne patrols of maritime infrastructure and resources, performed 32,500 maritime security response activities, removed $3 billion worth of illegal drugs, patrolled 4.5 million miles of maritime borders for immigration enforcement, and maintained 49,000 navigation aids ensuring the smooth transit of $1.8 trillion worth of goods over 25,000 miles of our nation’s waterways. Our bipartisan bill would honor all those who have served in the Coast Guard through the minting of a commemorative coin in 2018. Proceeds from the sale of the coin would be used to support the development and operation of the National Coast Guard Museum, the first national museum dedicated to improving public understanding of the history, service and missions of the Coast Guard, which is currently under development in New London, Connecticut. We hope you will support our efforts to honor all those who have served in our Coast Guard by cosponsoring this bipartisan legislation. For more information or to cosponsor, please contact Pat Chapman (Courtney) or George Riccardo (Hunter) on our staffs. Sincerely, /s/ JOE COURTNEY Member of Congress                           /s/ DUNCAN HUNTER Member of Congress''
''CLOSING TODAY: Support STEM Education for Hispanic Students Supported by the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU) Original Co-Sponsors: Crowley, Luján, Meeks, Lawrence, Vargas, Gallego, Brown, Hahn, Conyers, Vela, Takano, Grijalva, Pierluisi, Hastings, Matsui, Rangel, Napolitano, Jackson Lee, Cárdenas, Lee Dear Colleague, In a globalized economy, encouraging young people to pursue degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) is crucial for the United States in order to maintain the lead in cutting-edge technology and competitiveness, create well-paid jobs, and enhance economic growth. In order to foster STEM education and prepare the scientists and entrepreneurs of tomorrow, we need to make sure that every student in the U.S. has a real chance at succeeding in this field.  Unfortunately, Hispanics are underrepresented in these promising career areas.  This fact is one of the reasons why Congress authorized the National Science Foundation to implement a STEM Education grant program for Hispanic Serving Institutions in the America COMPETES Act of 2007 (P.L. 110-69).[1] Although the National Science Foundation (NSF) has recognized the importance of increasing minority participation, it has failed to create a program for HSIs despite repeated direction from Congress to use the authority granted to do so under the America COMPETES Act.  The absence of such a program reduces the likelihood of Hispanic students seeking a STEM education and perpetuates the underrepresentation of Hispanics in this field. More than 50 percent of Hispanics attend colleges and universities designated as HSIs.[2]  If we are truly committed to improving Hispanic participation in STEM education, Congress must require NSF to implement—and not merely authorize—an HSI program. We will soon be introducing legislation to require NSF to implement this important program. Please join us as an original co-sponsor to demonstrate your support for Hispanic students.  If you have any questions or would like to co-sponsor this legislation, please contact Angel Nigaglioni with Congressman Serrano’s office at Angel.Nigaglioni@mail.house.gov; Todd Sloves with Congressman Crowley’s office at Todd.Sloves@mail.house.gov; or Monica Sanchez with Congressman Luján’s office at Monica.Sanchez@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s/                                             /s/                                             /s/ José E. Serrano                        Joe Crowley                            Ben Ray Luján Member of Congress               Member of Congress               Member of Congress [1] See section 7033, P.L. 110-69. [2] HSIs are non-profit institutions of higher education with a Hispanic student enrollment of 25 percent or more.''
''Supported by the National Chiropractic Leadership Conference(NCLC), American Chiropractic Association (ACA), Vietnam Veterans of America, the American Legion, the Paralyzed Veterans of America, and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Current Co-sponsors: Alan Grayson, Alcee Hastings, David Loebsack, Chellie Pingree, Ron Kind, Keith Ellison, Mark Pocan, Rodney Frelinghuysen, Walter Jones, Gerald Connolly, Thomas Massie, Steve Israel Dear Colleague: The men and women who have sacrificed for our country deserve the best health care possible. Unfortunately, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) process of integrating chiropractic care into its health care delivery system has been slow and incomplete. According to VA statistics, nearly 52 percent of veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan are seeking care because of musculoskeletal ailments, including back and joint pain, commonly caused by injuries from combat, heavy gear, motor vehicle accidents, and blast injuries. However, an overwhelming majority of veterans still do not have access to chiropractic care because the VA does not provide chiropractic care at more than 100 of its major medical facilities and referrals to outside chiropractors are rarely provided. Our veterans deserve better. This bill would build upon previous Congressional action to expand VA chiropractic care. It requires chiropractic care and services at all VA medical centers by December 31, 2016. In addition, the legislation codifies chiropractic care as a standard benefit for veterans using VA health care. Our veterans should not have to wait for the care they deserve while suffering through chronic, serious pain. Congressional action is needed to further expand VA chiropractic care so that these veterans can receive timely, dependable care. I urge you to co-sponsor this bill. Please contact Shilpa Finnerty of my office at (202) 225-9889 or shilpa.finnerty@mail.house.gov if you have any questions or would like to join me in this effort.                                                                              Sincerely,                                                                                                                                __/S/_______________________________                                                                                 Alan Grayson                                                                                           Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleagues, By now you should have received the invitation from Lutheran World Relief and the Malaria Roundtable to Capitol Hill’s World Malaria Day reception to celebrate 10 Years of U.S. leadership against malaria on Tuesday, April 21st in Cannon 340 (Veteran’s Affairs) from 5-6:30pm. In attendance will be the House Malaria Caucus co-chairs Congressman Gregory W. Meeks and Congressman Ander Crenshaw, U.S. Global Malaria Coordinator Admiral Tim Ziemer, and Executive Director of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance Joy Phumaphi. The groups look forward to having you join them for this special occasion to highlight the achievements made in addressing this preventable and treatable disease. Please send your RSVP to WorldMalariaDay2015@lwr.org. Sincerely, GREGORY W. MEEKS                                                      ANDER CRENSHAW Member of Congress                                                          Member of Congress''
''Cosponsor H.R. 1401, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act Dear Colleague: Join us in advancing America’s economic competitiveness and improving the security of our homeland by becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 1401, the Jobs Originated through Launching Travel (JOLT) Act. According to the U.S. Travel Association, direct travel spending in the United States totaled $888 billion in 2013 generating $2.1 trillion in economic output and $134 billion in tax revenue. Additionally, travel employed 7.9 million Americans and was among the top 10 employers in 49 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. Overseas travelers represent the largest segment of this sector, averaging 17.5 nights and nearly $4,700 per trip.  The largest source of inbound overseas travel to the United States is the Visa Waiver Program (VWP), providing reciprocal 90-day, visa-free travel with the 38 partner countries. In 2013, the VWP was responsible for more than 19.5 million travelers, 61 percent of all overseas visitors to the United States. While visiting the U.S., these travelers generated $190 billion in total economic output for the U.S. economy and supported nearly one million good American jobs. Because of the VWP’s success, travel is our nation’s number one services export, generating a trade surplus of $75.6 billion in 2014. In addition to the obvious economic benefit, the VWP also significantly enhances the security of our homeland by promoting security alliances and facilitating intelligence and information sharing with partner nations. VWP partner nations also receive regular audits to ensure they maintain security standards, law enforcement capabilities and counterterrorism practices. The VWP also provides layered security to identify and prevent individuals who pose a risk from boarding planes or gaining entry into the United States. International travelers seeking entry into the U.S. under the VWP are subjected to multiple screenings through law enforcement and security databases and are required to possess secure biometric passports meeting internationally recognized standards to preventing the use of fraudulent or forged documents. While the VWP certainly enhances security, it’s critical to continually reexamine the program to ensure its keeping pace with evolving threats and to identify opportunities to strengthen our security procedures.   However, we must also continue seeking opportunities to expand the VWP in order to maintain and improve the economic benefits of this program. It’s for these reasons that we invite you to cosponsor the JOLT Act. This bill adds several layers of security to protect our homeland against evolving threats, while providing the Secretary of Homeland Security the flexibility to expand the program to countries that meet the necessary security requirements. To sign on as a cosponsor or for more information, please contact Michael Lisowski with Congressman Heck (Michael.lisowski@mail.house.gov) or Joseph Bushong with Congressman Quigley (joseph.bushon@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, DR. JOE HECK                                                                                MIKE QUIGLEY Member of Congress                                                                       Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: I invite you to sign on as an original cosponsor of the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act, legislation to reward corporations for doing what’s best for their employees and their communities. The typical American worker hasn’t seen a raise in 15 years, but corporate profits are through the roof.  Many companies today keep the major returns they are generating for top executives and shareholders, while paying their workers wages that make it incredibly difficult to make ends meet.  More and more working families are forced to rely on safety net programs such as SNAP, Medicaid, child nutrition assistance, Head Start and LIHEAP just to survive.  Those same companies are also manipulating the tax code to dodge their fair share in U.S. taxes.  It’s a “heads I win, tails you lose” proposition for the few at the top – and American workers and U.S. taxpayers are left holding the bag. There are some companies, though, that are doing the right thing – hiring American workers, paying their employees a living wage, providing health coverage, and enabling their workers to save for retirement.  The tax code should reward those companies, and the Patriot Employer Tax Credit Act would do just that. Patriot Employers would receive a tax credit equal to 10% of the first $15,000 in qualified wages for U.S. workers, if the employer meets the following criteria: Invest in American Jobs:  Does not move its headquarters overseas or reduce the number or percentage of U.S.-based workers in comparison to workers overseas. Pay Fair Wages:  Pay 90% or more of U.S. workers an hourly wage of at least $15 per hour. Provide Quality Health Insurance:  Offer ACA-compliant healthcare to employees. Prepare Workers for Retirement:  Provide 90% of non-highly compensated U.S. employees a defined benefit plan OR a defined contribution plan and contribute at least 5% of worker compensation. Support Our Troops and Veterans:  Pay the difference between regular salary and military compensation for all National Guard and Reserve employees called for active duty and have a plan in place to recruit veterans. Create a Diverse Workforce:  Have a plan in place to recruit employees with disabilities. To help offset the cost of the Patriot Employer Tax Credit, the legislation would close a loophole that allows corporations to deduct interest expenses used to invest overseas – such as the interest costs of building a manufacturing plant overseas or shipping materials abroad – while allowing the company to defer paying taxes on income derived from those investments until it is repatriated. Our tax code should reward companies that are helping to build and strengthen this country, not the ones trying to avoid paying their fair share. If you would like to sign on as an original cosponsor of this legislation, please contact Brian Laughlin of my staff at brian.laughlin@mail.house.gov by close of business on Friday, April 24th.''
''Become an Original Cosponsor of the Supreme Court Ethics Act of 2015 Current cosponsors: Cartwright, Connolly, Costa, DeFazio, Ellison, Eshoo, Farr, Jeffries, Lujan Grisham, Carolyn Maloney, Nolan, Payne, Polis, Quigley, Swalwell, Takano, Titus, Tonko It may surprise you to learn that, unlike every other federal judge, Supreme Court justices are not subject to the Code of Conduct for United States Judges — a binding code of ethics that ensures neutrality and transparency in our courts. To correct this discrepency, Congresswoman Slaughter will be reintroducing the Supreme Court Ethics Act. The bill would simply require the Court to adopt a code of ethics, while giving the Justices the flexibility to draft their code as they see fit. A string of dubious ethical behavior has increased scrutiny of the Supreme Court and eroded public confidence in the institution, with Gallup reporting that Americans’ approval of the Court stands at just 44 percent – almost an all-time low – while 48 percent disapprove. These concerns include justices allowing their names to be used to promote political fundraisers, attending seminars sponsored by high-profile political donors, failing to report family income from politically active groups, and failing to recuse themselves when deciding cases where there exists a conflict of interest. Furthermore, the Court’s pattern of siding with powerful corporate interests more often than preceding courts has drawn additional scrutiny. In order to restore the people’s trust, the Supreme Court needs to adopt a Code of Conduct – just as every other federal judge is required by law. As the highest court in the land and the ultimate arbiter of justice in America, the integrity of our justices should be beyond reproach, and this law will ensure that we hold true to the standards on which this country was founded. Over 200 legal scholars jointly urged the Court to adopt the Code of Conduct for U.S. Judges. Please join in support of this commonsense measure that will help guarantee the integrity of our country’s highest court. The text will be identical to the bill from the 113th Congress (H.R. 2902) that had 105 cosponsors. If you would like to cosponsor the bill or have any questions, please contact Nick Semanko of my staff at 5-3615.''
''Cosponsor the Veterans Civilian Conservation Corps of 2015! ***Deadline to be an original: Wednesday April 22, 2015*** Supporting Organizations: Vets Voice, National Military Family Association, Sierra Club, Corporation for National Community Service (CNCS), National Parks Conservation Association Dear Colleague, Please join me in co-sponsoring the Veterans Civilian Conservation Corps of 2015 – a bill that would put veterans back to work restoring and protecting America’s public land and waters.  Studies have shown extensive benefits associated with employing veterans in public service and outdoor industries. We have a responsibility to ensure our veterans are fully supported through employment opportunities and assisted regeneration into life here at home. This bill would address each of those responsibilities. Currently, Veterans aged 18 to 24 are returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan to unemployment rates of 17 percent. The rate for veterans aged 25 and 29 has also risen to an appalling 11.2 percent.  Both of these rates are well above national average and completely unacceptable.  The Veterans Conservation Corps will provide transitional assistance to separating service members, employing them on projects designed to leverage skills developed in the military – in fields including but not limited to water safety, construction, GIS mapping, and as park rangers.  By training and employing veterans in these fields, the Veterans Conservation Corps will also address critical gaps in conservation and natural disaster assistance nationwide. That includes addressing the $11.4 billion maintenance backlog in our national parks, controlling and mitigating against the over 3,000 deaths and 17,000 injuries that result from wildfires annually, and protecting our national, state, and tribal forests, coastal areas, wildlife refuges, and cemeteries. If you are interested in cosponsoring this legislation or have any questions, please contact my staff member Jennifer George-Nichol (jennifer.george-nichol@mail.house.gov) or 202.225.2161. Sincerely, Jared Polis Member of Congress''
''Current Signers:  Pompeo, Babin, Mike Bishop, Collins, Ellmers, McKinley Dear Colleague – The recently announced framework for a nuclear deal between the P5+1 countries and Iran has led to calls for strong Congressional oversight of the negotiation process.  In order to properly conduct this oversight, Members must have access all relevant facts and analysis. While legislation appears to be moving through the Senate that will provide a verification assessment after a deal is agreed to, there is no guarantee that verification will be part of a final bill or that this legislation will become law.  Given Iran’s destabilizing role in the region for the past 40 years, any agreement that allows the Iranian government to keep its nuclear program must be subject to the highest level of scrutiny. To that end, federal law permits the Chairman or Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to request a report from the Secretary of State on the verifiability of any arms control, nonproliferation, or disarmament proposal.  This report would provide important and much needed detail to Members as they consider their response to this agreement. Please join me in sending the below letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee thanking them for their leadership and requesting that they exercise their authority under this statute. This letter will close on April 24th. If you have any questions or would like to sign this letter, please contact Blake Hollander at blake.hollander@mail.house.gov or call x56216. — Dear Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, In light of the recently agreed to framework between Iran and the P5+1 countries, we write to offer our support for robust Congressional oversight of the negotiation process.  In particular, it is vital for our nation to verify Iranian compliance with any agreement regarding their nuclear program. A clear understanding of America’s ability to verify whether or not Iran complies with the terms of a deal is absolutely essential for Congress to make an informed decision on whether to support this framework.  Given the destabilizing role Iran has played in the region for the past 40 years, an agreement that allows Iran’s nuclear program to continue deserves the highest level of scrutiny.  We urge you, as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to use all afforded legal authorities to ensure that Congress and the American people understand the nature and limitations of this agreement. Specifically, pursuant to 22 USC 2577, the Chairman or Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs may request a report from the Secretary of State on the verifiability of any arms control, nonproliferation, or disarmament proposal.  This report shall detail “the degree to which elements of the proposal are capable of being verified” and shall “assume that all measures of concealment, not expressly prohibited, could be employed and that standard practices could be altered so as to impede verification.”  Compliance, as well as America’s willingness to publicly identify and penalize non-compliance, represents the foundation of any successful agreement with the Iranian regime. We thank you for your strong leadership of the Committee and respectfully urge you to request this verification assessment from the Secretary of State and to make this report available to all relevant House Committees.  Sincerely,''
''Friday, April 17th, 2015 121 Cannon 1:00 – 2:00 PM Panelists: Isha Weerasinghe, Senior Policy Analyst, Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations Seth Holmes PhD, MD, Martin Sisters Assistant Professor, Health and Social Behavior at UC Berkeley Susie Saavedra, Senior Legislative Director, National Urban League Washington Bureau (NULWB) Moderator: Brian Smedley PhD, Executive Director, National Collaborative for Health Equity Dear Colleague, As we mark National Minority Health Awareness month, we invite you to join us for an important briefing on national efforts to eliminate health disparities and advance health equity. The Affordable Care Act has dramatically expanded access to healthcare for communities of color, and includes important provisions to address persistent health disparities and access to health care faced by these communities. Yet minority communities remain more likely to be uninsured than their white counterparts and face disproportionately negative health care outcomes as a result of their race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, and geographic location. Communities of color are also disproportionately affected by cancer, heart disease, hepatitis, diabetes, HIV/AIDS and other diseases. For example, African Americans are 30% more likely to die from heart disease than their white counterparts, while Asian Americans comprise half of the known population living with Hepatitis B and Latinos are 65% more likely to be diagnosed with diabetes than their white counterparts. That is why it is so important to continue efforts to reduce and eliminate disparities related to health status and outcomes, coverage, life expectancy for communities of color, and to ensure access to culturally and linguistically appropriate care. Please join the Congressional Healthcare Task Force Chairs of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC), the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), and the Congressional Hispanic Caucus (CHC) for an important discussion on national efforts to eliminate health disparities and advance health equity. For questions or to RSVP, please contact Andrew Goodwin (Lee) at andrew.goodwin@mail.house.gov, Courtney Kerster at courtney.kerster@mail.house.gov (Grisham), Brandon Webb at brandon.webb@mail.house.gov (Kelly), Erin O’Quinn at Erin.o’quinn@mail.house.gov (Bera), or Brian Payne at brian.payne@mail.house.gov (Ruiz). Sincerely, Barbara Lee Member of Congress Robin L. Kelly Member of Congress Michelle Lujan Grisham Member of Congress Ami Bera, M.D. Member of Congress Raul Ruiz, M.D. Member of Congress''
''Deadline: COB Tomorrow Current Signatories: Blum, Loebsack, Wagner, LaMalfa, Jenkins(KS), Zinke, Marino, Westerman, Harper, Boustany, Young(IA), Abraham, Davis (IL), Denham, Gosar, Ratcliffe, Bustos, Richmond Dear Colleague: On January 30, 2015, President Obama issued Executive Order 13690, “Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input.”   This Order amends a May 24, 1977 Executive Order 11988, “Floodplain Management,” in an effort to reduce the risk to federal building and construction projects from flood events. At a minimum to comply with E.O. 13690, federal agencies must implement the standard through one of three approaches to the construction of federal buildings in the floodplain: 1. Using a climate-informed science approach.  2.  Construction of a minimum of 2-3 feet above the current base flood elevation or 3.  Using the area subject to a 500-year Floodplain. The Order provided a 60 day comment period which was recently extended to May 6, 2015.  However, because of the complexity of this Executive Order and the potential for misinterpretation and unintended consequences, we feel it is important to allow Members, constituents, and stakeholders further time to examine and adequately comment on these newly proposed standards. We believe protecting American taxpayers from the risks associated with flooding and other natural disasters is an important policy objective, but are concerned that the guidelines provided in the Executive Order may impact more areas and property owners than intended and add to the regulatory burden already facing the construction and real estate sectors.  It is important to allow time for stakeholders to conduct a cost/benefit and economic analysis of these potential changes. We hope you will join us in signing the below letter requesting an extension of the comment period, as well as review the Executive Order and weigh in with FEMA with your own comments based on constituent feedback. To add your name to the letter, please contact Peter Mihalick with Representative Blum (peter.mihalick@mail.house.gov or 5-2911) or Vonnie Hampel with Representative Loebsack (vonnie.hampel@mail.house.gov or 5-6576), before COB April 17th, 2015. Sincerely, /s                                           /s Rod Blum                               Dave Loebsack Member of Congress             Member of Congress Mr. Roy Wright Deputy Associate Administrator for Mitigation Federal Emergency Management Agency 8 NE, 500 C Street SW Washington, DC 20472-3100 RE: FEMA-2015-0006 Dear Mr. Wright: We are writing to urge the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to further extend the public comment period for the proposed “Revised Guidelines for Implementing Executive Order 11988, Floodplain Management” (Guidelines), as published in the Federal Register on February 5, 2015, beyond the current deadline of May 6, 2015 for stakeholders, constituents, state and local officials, and Congress to have adequate time to respond to the Guidelines. Executive Order 13690, “Establishing a Federal Flood Risk Management Standard (Standard) and a Process for Further Soliciting and Considering Stakeholder Input,” issued by President Obama on January 30, 2015, amends Executive Order 11988, “Floodplain Management,” signed May 24, 1977, in an effort to improve the Nation’s resilience to current and future flood risk. To comply with E.O. 13690, at a minimum, federal agencies must implement the Standard through one of three approaches to the construction of federal buildings in the floodplain that include construction of a minimum of 2-3 feet above the current base flood elevation (BFE) or using the area subject to a 500-year Floodplain. The Guidelines also require agencies to use one of these approaches in determining whether a “federal action” is in the floodplain. The definition of a “federal action” includes any “federally undertaken, financed, or assisted construction and improvements.” It is not clear in the E.O. whether this includes the National Flood Insurance Program or mortgage loans insured or guaranteed by the federal government through programs such as Federal Housing Administration or Veterans’ Administration.  A delay would give FEMA more time to clarify the breadth of the impact of this Executive Order. Because of the potentially significant implications of the Guidelines and subsequent federal regulatory changes, it is imperative that they not be finalized until after careful scrutiny is given to all aspects of the Guidelines and their implementation. The current deadline fails to provide this opportunity. The Guidelines are lengthy, complex, and raise critical legal, policy, economic, and administrative issues that require additional review.  The Guidelines could potentially impact any home or business located in a floodplain.  Further, they could add regulatory confusion to federal projects if different agencies apply different standards for implementation. Finally, no scientific, cost/benefit or economic analysis was provided in the Federal Register notice, so Members and stakeholders will need additional time to determine potential implications of this oversight and provide meaningful input.  Again, an extended comment period would also give FEMA an opportunity to fully disclose the research, data, and findings that led to these Guidelines. We again urge you to further extend the public comment period so taxpayers and their representatives in Congress can more fully understand and comment on these proposed Guidelines. Respectfully, /s''
''Dear Colleague: Please join us in writing to the House leadership asking them to schedule a markup and vote on an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) against ISIL as soon as possible. It has been more than eight months since President Obama first ordered airstrikes against ISIL in Syria and Iraq, yet Congress has failed to consider a new AUMF. Regardless of your views on how an AUMF should be structured or even whether you support military action, Congress failure to debate and vote on an AUMF is troubling. This continued abdication of our duty in declaring war, threatens to permanently undermine Congress’s role as a check on the President’s power to make war.  We urge you to join us in calling on the House leadership to schedule a debate and vote on an AUMF by signing on to the letter below. To sign on, or if you have any questions, contact Jeff Lowenstein (jeff.lowenstein@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, Rep. Adam Schiff                                        Rep. Tom Cole Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi: More than 250 days have passed since the President ordered military action against the Islamic State in the Levant (ISIL). Since that time, the United States, along with our coalition allies, has undertaken thousands of strikes against ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq. Like you, we believe that the United States must confront and ultimately destroy the threat of ISIL, which has shown itself to be a barbaric terrorist group, destabilizing the region, killing thousands, and displacing millions more. However, we are deeply concerned that eight months into Operation Inherent Resolve, the House has taken no action on an Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) which would provide a clear legal justification for the actions against ISIL. While hearings have been held in the House Armed Services Committee and the Foreign Affairs Committee, no markup has taken place. The most recent Legislative Memo released by the Majority Leader contains no suggestion that consideration of an AUMF on the floor is imminent. This dereliction of our constitutional duty causes great injury to the Congress, and threatens our role as a check on the President’s power to make war. The President has claimed legal authority for the strikes under the AUMF passed in 2001 in response to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Whatever the legal merits of that argument, the 2001 AUMF is at best an inexact fit for the threat posed by ISIL. ISIL came into existence more than a decade after the passage of the 2001 AUMF, and it has at times come into direct conflict with al Qaeda. The far preferable course, which would send the message of unity and strength, is to pass a new AUMF, specific to ISIL and the threat it poses, rather than relying on an ill-fitting and outdated authorization. The Administration has repeatedly said that it would welcome a new AUMF, specific and tailored to the operations against ISIL. The President, during his State of the Union address, called for Congress to pass a new authority, and in February the Administration transmitted proposed legislative language. We recognize that Members, both Republicans and Democrats, have different views as to how an AUMF should be constructed. However, those differences are all the more reason to allow the House to work its will through the legislative process. Each additional day that passes without Congress taking up an AUMF for our operations against ISIL undermines our authority and role in matters of war and peace. If we refuse to debate a resolution on the weightiest question any nation faces – whether to take military action – we cede to the Executive Branch a power that the framers intentionally delegated to Congress. This shirking of our duty will have lasting effects, serving to expand the scope of executive power at the expense of the Congress. We urge you to instruct the appropriate committees to hold a mark-up and to set aside floor time at the earliest possible juncture for the House to debate and vote on an Authorization to Use Military Force against ISIL. Sincerely,''
''Deadline: Friday, April 17th at 4pm Current Cosigners: Reps. Emmer, Duncan, Costa, Jones, Cramer, Rice, Walz, Huizenga, Kind, Paulsen, Hartzler, Kline, R. Davis, Ribble Letter supported by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA) Dear Colleague, On March 26th, 2015, the Department of Energy made a startling decision to withdraw a waiver from an energy efficiency regulation and discarded an agreement made over a year ago with stakeholders in the water heater industry. Please join the letter below to Secretary of Energy Dr. Ernest Moniz asking the Department to immediately reinstate a waiver for this critical technology. In March 2010, the Department issued an energy efficiency standard requiring 200 percent efficiency for large capacity electric resistance water heaters. This regulation effectively prohibits the manufacture of waters heaters with more than 55 gallon capacity, which is a common appliance in homes across the United States. Large capacity water heaters use an energy-efficient method of storing hot water when energy demand is low and using the stored heat when energy demand is high. This relieves pressure off energy grids and lowers energy bills for constituents. Stakeholders from electric utility, environmental, manufacturing, and energy efficiency organizations have been working with the Department of Energy for years to find a solution to the unintended consequences of the regulation. As a product of this collaboration, the Department had proposed to grant a waiver to the rule over two years ago. However, three weeks before the rule was slated to take effect, the Department suddenly pulled the waiver without notice to stakeholders who have worked together since the efficiency standard was proposed in 2010. As Congress continues work on a legislative solution to this problem, we hope you will also sign onto the letter to Energy Secretary Moniz to provide needed administrative relief for constituents. If you would like to join the letter, please contact Zach Martin on the staff of Congressman Collin C. Peterson at Zach.Martin@mail.house.gov or 202.225.2165. Sincerely, Collin C. Peterson Member of Congress Dear Secretary Moniz: We are alarmed by the Department of Energy’s abrupt decision to reverse course and withdraw a proposed waiver from new energy efficiency standards for water heaters used as part of utility demand response programs which will adversely impact our constituents. We ask the Department of Energy to immediately grant an energy efficiency standard exemption in regards to large-volume water heaters that are used in demand response and electric thermal storage programs. In March 2010, the Department issued an energy efficiency standard requiring 200 percent efficiency for large capacity electric resistance water heaters. This regulation effectively prohibits the manufacture of electric resistance waters heaters with more than 55 gallon capacity, which is a common appliance in homes across the United States. Stakeholders from electric utility, environmental, manufacturing, and energy efficiency organizations have been working with the Department of Energy for years to find a solution to the unintended consequences of this regulation. As a product of this collaboration, the Department proposed a waiver to the rule over two years ago. However, three weeks before the rule was slated to take effect, the Department suddenly pulled the waiver without notice to stakeholders who have worked together since the efficiency standard was proposed in 2010. Furthermore, the Department cited a study and a small scale pilot project regarding the capabilities of heat pump water heaters to justify their action. The study was not peer reviewed or available for comment from stakeholders such as energy providers who are technological experts in the industry. The conclusions drawn by the Department from the study and pilot research are one-sided and fail to incorporate concerns about the technical and economic viability of heat pump water heaters as part of demand response systems at this time. This is unacceptable. Increased energy efficiency is a shared goal, but energy providers, manufacturers and consumers will be negatively impacted if the rule does not accommodate large capacity hot water heaters which provide a variety of other benefits like integrating higher levels of renewable energy resources and increasing grid reliability. Pulling the waiver instantly blocked all of the progress previously made by stakeholders, and most alarmingly, ignores an agreement that was reached in good faith. Finally, the Department recently created an exemption for two classes of solar water heaters and should expeditiously move to do the same for large-volume water heaters. Given the significant Congressional interest in the issue and the rule’s April 16, 2015 implementation date, we urge you to immediately grant a waiver regarding the Applicability of Energy Conservation Standards for large-volume water heaters. Sincerely,''
''DEADLINE EXTENDED JOIN OVER 100 MEMBERS OF CONGRESS Dear Colleague: We invite you to join a letter to President Obama sharing our strong support for the ongoing nuclear negotiations between the P5+1 countries and Iran. As members of Congress committed to preventing Iran from developing or fielding a nuclear weapon, we believe that the ongoing nuclear negotiations are our best chance of ensuring that result. This letter expresses our continued support for U.S. diplomatic efforts between the P5+1 countries and Iran as we build on the recently-announced framework and move towards the June 30th deadline for a final comprehensive agreement. If you would like to sign on this letter, and/or if you have any questions, please contact Andrew Goczkowski with Rep. Schakowsky at Andrew.Goczkowski@mail.house.gov or 5-2111, MaryEllen Veliz with Rep. Doggett at MaryEllen.Veliz@mail.house.gov or 5-4865, or Jackson Tufts with Rep. Price at Jackson.Tufts@mail.house.gov or 5-1784. Sincerely, /s                                           /s                                         /s Jan Schakowsky                  Lloyd Doggett                     David E. Price Member of Congress           Member of Congress           Member of Congress – April 17, 2015 The President The White House Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: As negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program continue, we urge you to stay on course, building on the recently announced political framework and continuing to work toward a strong and verifiable agreement between the P5+1 countries and Iran that will prevent Iran from having a nuclear weapon.  We commend you and your negotiating team, as well as our coalition partners, for the significant progress made thus far. This issue is above politics. The stakes are too great, and the alternatives are too dire. We must exhaust every avenue toward a verifiable, enforceable, diplomatic solution in order to prevent a nuclear-armed Iran.  If the United States were to abandon negotiations or cause their collapse, not only would we fail to peacefully prevent a nuclear-armed Iran, we would make that outcome more likely.  The multilateral sanctions regime that brought Iran to the table would likely collapse, and the Iranian regime would likely decide to accelerate its nuclear program, unrestricted and unmonitored.  Such developments could lead us to war. War itself will not make us safe.  A U.S. or Israeli military strike may set back Iranian nuclear development by two or three years at best – a significantly shorter timespan than that covered by a P5+1 negotiated agreement.  We must pursue diplomatic means to their fullest and allow the negotiations to run their course – especially now that the parties have announced a strong framework – and continue working to craft a robust and verifiable Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action by June 30. We must allow our negotiating team the space and time necessary to build on the progress made in the political framework and turn it into a long-term, verifiable agreement.  If we do not succeed, Congress will remain at-the-ready to act and present you with additional options to ensure that Iran is prevented from acquiring a nuclear weapon. Thank you for your resolve in preventing a nuclear-armed Iran.  We look forward to continuing our shared work on this important matter. Sincerely,''
''Stand Up to Bullying, Protect LGBT Kids, Support the National Day of Silence Cosponsor a Concurrent Resolution Supporting the National Day of Silence National Day of Silence Organized by the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network (GLSEN) Current Cosponsors (64): Blumenauer, Boyle, Capps, Carson, Cicilline, Conyers, Susan Davis, DeGette, DelBene, Deutch, Dingell, Doyle, Farr, Gallego, Grayson, Grijalva, Gutiérrez, Hastings, Heck, Higgins, Honda, Israel, Jackson Lee, Hank Johnson, Keating, Kilmer, Kuster, Lawrence, Lee, Lewis, Lieu, Loebsack, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Sean Patrick Maloney, McCollum, Patrick Murphy, Nadler, Neal, Norton, Peters, Pocan, Polis, David Price, Quigley, Rangel, Kathleen Rice, Linda Sánchez, Schackowsky, Schiff, Serrano, Sherman, Sinema, Sires, Speier, Takai, Takano, Titus, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen, Vargas, Wasserman Schultz, Watson Coleman Dear Colleague: Tomorrow, hundreds of thousands of kids at thousands of schools across the country and around the world will observe a day-long vow of silence to bring attention to the bullying, abuse, harassment, and discrimination aimed at their LGBT friends and classmates. This year, nearly one-in-five LGBT kids will be physically assaulted because of their sexual orientation. More than one-in-ten will be assaulted because of their gender identity. More than half of gay and lesbian kids feel unsafe in their own classrooms, and 30 percent will miss a day of school this month because of threats, harassment, or violence. The bullying – the emotional, verbal, and physical abuse – has to stop. It hurts kids’ performance in school, and it shocks the conscience. That’s why I am standing with GLSEN in support of their National Day of Silence. I invite you all to cosponsor a Concurrent Resolution supporting the National Day of Silence. To cosponsor, or if you have any questions, please contact Lewis Kaminski in my office (lewis.kaminski@mail.house.gov or 5-2464). Sincerely, ELIOT L. ENGEL Member of Congress''
''***Endorsed by NumbersUSA and Eagle Forum***                                                                                                   Deadline to sign has been extended to COB Thursday, April 23rd                                                                          Signers so far (29): Brian Babin, Lou Barletta, Diane Black, Rod Blum, Mo Brooks, Doug Collins, Scott DesJarlais, Jeff Duncan, John Duncan, Bill Flores, Trent Franks, Louie Gohmert, Paul Gosar, Tim Huelskamp, Lynn Jenkins, Sam Johnson, Walter Jones, Steve King, Cynthia Lummis, Kenny Marchant, John Mica, Pete Olson, Steve Palazzo, Scott Perry, Mike Rogers, Matt, Salmon, Pete Sessions, Lamar Smith and Randy Weber. Dear Colleague: I invite you to sign a letter calling for the immediate termination of the Central American amnesty flight program.   The Obama Administration has been operating an amnesty program since December 1, 2014 thatwill fly illegal immigrants from Central American Countries to the U.S. where they will be allowed to live and work. The Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program provides cash, loans, help with travel and medical assistance to refugees participating in the program. Media reports further indicate that parolees participating in the program could include felons and immigrants that were previously deported. It is the responsibility of Congress to make our immigration laws and authorize programs. The Obama Administration shouldn’t be creating and operating an amnesty programs that spends taxpayer money to fly illegal immigrants from Central America to the U.S. Equally disturbing, the CAM program’s costs are unknown to U.S. taxpayers and agency officials. Please join me in sending the below letter insisting that this program be terminated or, at minimum, immediately suspended until interested members of Congress are briefed with answers to the questions attached to the letter and it is determined that the CAM program is an authorized program. Should you have any questions or to sign on to the letter, please contact Jeff Small atjeff.small@mail.house.gov or at 5-2315.  Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request. The new deadline to sign is COB Thursday, April 23.                                                               Sincerely,                                                                Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.                                                                Member of Congress                                                               April ____, 2015 The Honorable Barack Obama                                              President of the United States                                               The White House                                                                   1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW                                           Washington, D.C. 20500                                                       Dear President Obama: We write to insist that your administration immediately terminate the Central American Minors (CAM) Refugee/Parole Program. We believe this program is, at best, contrary to the rule of law and, at worst, unconstitutional. Given our current national security threats and border crises, we are appalled that the administration would create and implement a new program meant to promote lawlessness and incentivize further illegal immigration. The memo announcing a March 31, 2015 conference call about this new program indicates that the “CAM program began accepting applications from qualifying parents in the U.S. for their children on December 1, 2014.” Media reports indicate the administration will send empty airplanes to these countries to implement this new program and will pick up non-U.S. citizens for the purposes of bringing them to America so they can work and live in our country.[1] DHS’ website further indicates the CAM program will provide cash, loans, help with travel and medical assistance to refugees participating in the program.[2] Media reports further indicate that parolees participating in the program could include felons and immigrants that were previously deported.[3] We are also seriously concerned that the CAM program appears to waive certain fees for participating illegal immigrants—fees that are required for potential legal immigrants who wish to enter this country in accordance with our laws. Such practices are an affront to the rule of law and promote lawlessness.   As some of us have previously stated, it seems as though the Department of Homeland Security and its subcomponents are in the business of facilitating illegal behavior rather than mitigating it. The implementation of this new program is deeply troubling. It is the responsibility of Congress to make our immigration laws and authorize programs.  We are unaware of any specific authorizations or appropriations for the CAM program. In closing, we would like to reiterate our insistence to have this program terminated or, at a minimum, immediately suspended until members of Congress are briefed with answers to the attached questions and it is determined that this is an authorized program. Should the administration wish to seek clarity regarding any of the below questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to your timely response. Sincerely,   cc: The Honorable John Kerry, Secretary, U.S. Department of State        The Honorable Jeh Johnson, Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security Mr. Ken Tota, Acting Director, U.S. Department of Health and Human Mr. Leon Rodriguez, Director, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Enclosure Attached questions to be answered by any and all relevant agencies, sub-agencies and personnel First and foremost, what statutory authority is used as a basis for this new CAM program and the processes involved? Further, what specific appropriations or collected fees are used to facilitate this program (meaning, from which specific accounts within DHS)? What specific authorization and subsequent appropriation from Congress is being used for this program?  Please provide an explanation as to the evolution of the CAM program including: Any earlier versions of the program; When the CAM program was instituted in its current form; How and when the CAM program was distributed to personnel as instruction, in addition to providing the exact document outlining such instructions, in unredacted form;  Any and all potential updates to the CAM program that are currently being considered. As noted in the agency memo, “the CAM program began accepting applications from qualifying parents in the U.S. for their children on December 1, 2014.” How many total applications for the CAM program have been received to date? How many individuals have entered the United States as a result of the CAM program to date? Please provide these figures in total and by date (e.g.: 100 entered on February 15, 2015). Media reports indicate “the State Department will be flying empty planes, at taxpayer expense, to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador.  They will then fly the children from these countries to America to be reunited with their parents, some of whom are here illegally.” DHS’ website about the new program indicates once qualifying illegal immigrants “are approved as a refugee, you will receive a medical exam, a cultural orientation, help with your travel plans, and a loan for your travel to the United States.” Please further define what “help with travel plans” entails and an estimated cost of these expenditures over the life of the CAM program. For the loans for their travel to the U.S., what percentage of these loans will be required to be repaid and what is the maximum loan to each individual? State Department spokesperson Marie Harf  recently responded during a press briefing that she did not know the price tag, but she “was happy to look” into these expenditures. What is the estimated cost to U.S. taxpayers from the new CAM program?   DHS’ website states that after arriving, illegal immigrants participating in this program “will be eligible for medical and cash assistance.” What is the estimated total cost of cash assistance for refugees over the life of the CAM program? What is the estimated total cost of the medical benefits for refugees over the life of the CAM program? DHS’ website also indicates there is “no fee to apply for refugee status.” and that the information provided “will not be shared with your home country.” Why is there not a fee? Why not share some relevant information with the country of origin to confirm important information about these potential CAM participants? DHS’ website also states with regard to the new CAM program and participating refugees, “You may include a same-sex spouse in your application provided that you and your spouse are legally married.  As a general matter, USCIS looks to the law of the place where the marriage took place when determining whether it is valid for immigration law purposes.” The website also indicates that “Same-sex partners who are not married but who are qualified” can access the program.   If DHS is not going to share information about the potential refugee participants applying for this program with their home countries, how will these same-sex marriages be confirmed? For qualifying “same-sex partners who are not married”, what will the process be for verifying these relationships? DHS’ website states, “If you are a refugee in the United States and want your family members who are abroad to join you, you may file Form I-730, Refugee/Asylee Relative Petition, Your case may include your spouse, child (unmarried and under 21years of age), and in some limited circumstances, other family members.” Please define “other family members” and any potential relationships that may qualify under this definition. How many spouses, children and other family members are estimated to participate in the CAM program over its lifetime? DHS’ website about the CAM program indicates, “If you are admitted as a refugee, you must apply for a green card one year after coming to the United States. To apply for permanent residency, file the Form I-485, Application to Register Permanent Residence or to Adjust Status. There is no fee for refugees to file the Form I-485. In addition, refugees do not have to pay for fingerprinting/biometrics fees.”  However, DHS’ website also indicates that those legally “immigrating to the United States” and seeking to be admitted “as a lawful permanent resident…must pay a $165 USCIS Immigrant Fee.” Who will pay for the fingerprinting/biometrics for CAM program participants? Why is there a fee for lawful immigrants seeking permanent green cards but not for refugees/parolees in the CAM program? DHS’ website states, “There is no fee to participate in this refugee/parole program and it is prohibited for anyone to charge a fee for completion of the form.” What statutory authority allows for this type of discrimination and prohibits charging a fee for completion of the form for the select qualifying individuals? DHS’ website further indicates, “The parent in the U.S. will pay the initial costs of DNA testing and will be reimbursed for testing costs only if all claimed and tested biological relationships are confirmed by DNA test results.” Why will the illegal immigrant parent in the U.S. be reimbursed with U.S. taxpayer money for DNA testing done at their request in order to bring their family members here? What is the process that will be used to confirm step-children and legally adopted children participating in the CAM program? DHS’ website states, “If the applicant doesn’t qualify for the more desirable refugee status he or she can be considered for parole. Parole allows individuals who may be otherwise inadmissible to come to the U.S. on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit.  DHS indicates the legal definition of refugee can be found in section 101(a)(42) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA).” Where can the legal definition of “parole” be found in United State Codes in relation to the CAM program? How many parolees that were previously deported or previously convicted of a felony have applied to participate in the program? Finally, DHS’ website indicates, “As a refugee, you may work immediately upon arrival to the United States.”  What statutory authority allows CAM refugees and parolees to work immediately upon entering the U.S.? [1] http://www.ijreview.com/2015/04/289129-govt-will-fly-children-illegal-immigrants-central-america-join-parents-us/ [2] http://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/refugees-asylum/refugees [3] http://www.nationalreview.com/article/416545/previously-deported-immigrants-can-now-enter-us-taxpayers-dime-ryan-lovelace''
''Dear colleague The Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions Movement (BDS Movement) is a global campaign to smear Israel as a violator of human rights and isolate it among the international community. The movement’s stated aims are: Create global boycotts of Israeli universities and industries, pressure governments, banks and industries to divest themselves of investments in Israel, and obtain international sanctions against Israel, its economy, and its people. This includes both entities within and without the 1967 borders. The past few years saw the BDS movement establish a foothold in America, mainly on university campuses and with NGOs. Recently the movement has increased its pressure on U.S. companies to join the movement and boycott Israel. As the only democracy in the Middle East and the closest ally of the U.S. in the region, Israel’s strength and stability is in America’s foreign and security policy interest. H.R. 1572 – Boycott Our Enemies Not Israel Act aims at protecting Israel from the BDS threat, and preventing tax payer money from supporting the movement by requiring potential contractors entering into business with the U.S. government to certify that they are not taking part in a boycott against Israel. View a one-page summary of the bill. If you have any questions or would like to co-sponsor please contact Meir Buchnick with Rep. Lamborn or Dustin Carmack with Rep. DeSantis. Sincerely Doug Lamborn                                    Ron DeSantis Member of Congress                        Member of Congress''
''Preserve Access to Complex Wheelchairs in Medicare Sign Letter to CMS Requesting Clarification on Reimbursement for Complex Wheelchair Accessories CLOSING COB TODAY April 15 Current Signers: B. Johnson, DeGette, Loebsack, M. Kelly, Larson, Nunes, Joyce, Langevin, G. Thompson, Hanna, Blackburn, Tonko, Yoder, Ruppersberger, Grayson, M. Thompson, Luetkemeyer, Higgins, Bost, Tiberi, T. Murphy, Beatty, R. Davis, Kind, DesJarlais, Price, Bucshon, Duckworth, John Duncan, Courtney, Fleischmann, Barletta, Neal, Lowenthal, Keating, Cooper, Harper, Ellmers, Slaughter, Westerman, Kuster, Guthrie, McGovern, Long, Flores, Cicilline, Pingree, Lynch, Reed, Doggett, Hank Johnson, Westmoreland, DeFazio, Rothfus, Polis, Renacci, Kildee, Cartwright, DeLauro, Lummis, Lance, Sánchez, Sensenbrenner, Paulsen, Veasey, Ros-Lehtinen, Crowley Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending the attached letter to Acting CMS Administrator Andy Slavitt requesting clarification on Medicare payment for accessories used with complex rehabilitative power and manual wheelchairs in order to ensure continued access for Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities. As part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA), Congress specifically excluded complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs, as well as the related accessories that beneficiaries used with those wheelchairs, from the Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) competitive bidding program.  As a result, complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and related accessories have continued to be paid at the established fee schedule amounts in bid and non-bid areas. However, CMS posted a frequently asked question (FAQ) document online in December, which indicated that the agency intends to apply pricing information obtained from bids for standard wheelchair accessories to complex rehabilitative wheelchair accessories starting in 2016. The application of competitive bidding pricing to these accessories is contrary to MIPPA and to subsequent CMS policies related to payment for complex rehabilitative manual wheelchair accessories.  Clear precedent affirms that these items should continue to be paid at the established fee schedule amounts, as they are today and have been for more than six years during the operation of the competitive bidding program. We are concerned about the potential negative impact on Medicare beneficiary access to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and the important accessories used with these devices.  A preliminary review of the affected codes suggests that a shift from the current fee schedule to bid program pricing could result in cuts to reimbursements to suppliers by 20 to 50 percent.  These accessories are used by people with serious disabilities who depend on individually configured products to meet their unique medical needs and maximize their function and independence. We invite you to join us in sending a letter urging CMS to review its decision to issue the December 2014 FAQ and request written clarification that these accessories will continue to be paid at Medicare established fee schedule amounts.  If you have any questions or would like to sign on to the letter, please contact Elise Conner in Rep. Johnson’s office at elise.conner@mail.house.gov (5-5705) or Elizabeth Farrar in Rep. DeGette’s office at elizabeth.farrar@mail.house.gov (5-4431). Sincerely, Bill Johnson                                                                Diana DeGette Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress Dave Loebsack                                                            Mike Kelly Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress John Larson                                                                Devin Nunes Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress ———– Dear Acting Administrator Slavitt: We are writing concerning a recent frequently asked questions (FAQ) document released by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that could prevent Medicare beneficiaries with disabilities from receiving medically necessary complex rehab technology (CRT) as prescribed by their physician. As part of the Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 (MIPPA 2008, Section 154), Congress specifically excluded complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs, as well as the related accessories that beneficiaries used with those wheelchairs (such as seat/back cushions, recline/tilt systems, or specialty controls) from the Medicare durable medical equipment (DME) competitive bidding program.  Accordingly, CMS did not include those items in Round 1 or Round 2 of the competitive bidding program.  In addition, consistent with the spirit of that law, CMS excluded complex rehabilitative manual wheelchairs from Round 2 and implemented a similar policy for accessories used with these wheelchairs.  As a result, complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and related accessories have continued to be paid at the established fee schedule amounts in bid and non-bid areas. In November 2014, CMS issued final rule CMS 1614-F (Medicare Program; End-Stage Renal Disease Prospective Payment System, Quality Incentive Program, and Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics and Supplies) to finalize changes to the Medicare DME competitive bidding program.  Specifically, the final rule details how CMS will use information obtained from the competitive bidding program to adjust the established fee schedule amounts for competitively bid items provided in non-bid areas. Following the issuance of that rule, CMS posted an FAQ document online in December. The FAQ document indicates that, starting in 2016, CMS intends to apply pricing information obtained from bids for standard wheelchair accessories to complex rehabilitative wheelchair accessories. Applying competitive bidding pricing to complex rehabilitative wheelchair accessories is inconsistent with the intent of MIPPA 2008, which specifically exempted wheelchair accessories used with complex rehabilitative power wheelchairs from the competitive bidding program.  The application of competitive bidding pricing to complex rehabilitative accessories is also contrary to CMS policies created following the legislation related to payment for complex rehab manual wheelchair accessories.  Clear precedent affirms that these items should continue to be paid at the established fee schedule amounts, as they are today and have been for more than six years during the operation of the competitive bidding program. We are concerned about the potential negative impact on Medicare beneficiary access to complex rehabilitative wheelchairs and the important accessories used with these devices.  A preliminary review of the affected codes indicates that a shift from the current fee schedule to bid program pricing could cut reimbursement to suppliers by 20 to 50 percent.  Complex rehabilitative power and manual wheelchairs and the related accessories described above are used by people with serious disabilities including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), cerebral palsy, multiple sclerosis, muscular dystrophy, spinal cord injury, and traumatic brain injury.  This small population of Medicare beneficiaries with significant disabilities depend on these individually configured products to meet their unique medical needs and maximize their function and independence. For the reasons discussed above, we urge CMS to review its decision to issue its December 2014 FAQ. We also request that CMS issue written clarification that accessories used with complex rehabilitative power and manual wheelchairs will continue to be paid at Medicare established fee schedule amounts and that such amounts will not be adjusted based on Medicare competitive bidding program pricing.''
''Supporting Organizations: Veterans Matter Give US Your Poor:  The Campaign to End Homelessness National Alliance to End Homelessness The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Major General William L. Nash (U.S. Army, Ret.) The National Coalition for the Homeless DEADLINE for originals today by COB Current Original Cosponors: Reps. Brown, Cohen, Chu, Green, Grijalva, Higgins, Holmes Norton, Honda, Jackson Lee, Jolly, Lawrence, Langevin, Norton, Payne, Jr. , Pocan, Rangel, and Schiff Dear Colleague: On any given night, nearly 50,000 military veterans sleep in homeless shelters or on the streets.  Furthermore, approximately 260,000 veterans use homeless shelters or other services during the course of a year. Homeless veterans have become a focal point in the broader fight to prevent and end homelessness in America.  We may all take pride and comfort in the recent finding that homelessness among veterans has begun to decrease.  One of the biggest contributors to the decreased number of homeless veterans has been the increased federal investment in efficient and effective programs.  In addition, there has been significant progress, but more must be done.  It is time that we recognize these unsung heroes who have returned from service to face hard times and homelessness. I am introducing this resolution to pay tribute to the vast numbers of men and women who have served our nation in uniform, yet return home from service homeless, some of whom survive war to die on the streets of this country. It is my sincere hope that will join me as an original co-sponsor of this critically important resolution. To become an original co-sponsor or for more information, please contact LaTasha Lee in my office at latasha.lee@mail.house.gov or 5-1313. Sincerely, /s/ Alcee L. Hastings Member of Congress''
''Help Recognize the Service of our WWII Filipino Veterans Become an original cosponsor of the Filipino Veterans Recognition Act Dear Colleague, Please join me in honoring and acknowledging the service of our nation’s WWII Filipino veterans by becoming an original cosponsor of the Filipino Veterans Recognition Act. Filipino veterans fought, and in many instances died, under the command of American troops in the Pacific theater during World War II. After helping the Allies win the war in the Pacific, many of these veterans began seeking the benefits promised to them by President Franklin Roosevelt. Unfortunately, on February 18, 1946, President Harry S. Truman signed the Rescission Act of 1946 into law, which denied more than two-hundred thousand Filipino World War II veterans the benefits promised to them just five years earlier by President Roosevelt. Several decades later, Congress finally acknowledged the dedicated service of many of these denied veterans when it established the Filipino Veterans Equity Compensation (FVEC) Fund in 2009. The FVEC provides a one-time lump sum payment to Filipino veterans who served alongside Americans in the Pacific during WWII. Yet because of bureaucratic hurdles and incomplete record keeping, numerous Filipino veterans, as many as 24,000, still have not received the compensation and recognition they have earned. The current requirements for validating service dictate that a Filipino veteran’s name must appear on the Approved Revised Reconstructed Guerilla Roster. In addition, they must possess certified documents issued by the United States Government indicating service in the Commonwealth Army of the Philippines, Recognized Guerrilla Forces, and New Philippine Scouts prior to July 1, 1946. However, due to the incomplete nature of the reconstructed roster, coupled with the difficulty of obtaining or producing certified documents issued decades ago, thousands of veterans with legitimate claims are being denied their recognition and benefits. In order to correct this grave injustice, I plan to introduce the Filipino Veterans Recognition Act to streamline the FVEC approval process. This bill significantly reduces the administrative burdens imposed on our aging Filipino veterans by requiring those claiming eligibility for the FVEC need only to provide a copy of their AGO Form 23  as proof of service. Additionally, while this legislation provides benefits to these denied veterans, it does so at no extra cost to the taxpayer by utilizing funds that have already been appropriated for this purpose. Simplifying and streamlining this burdensome process will ensure that brave WWII Filipino veterans will finally receive the recognition they deserve, while at the same time protecting the taxpayer at this fiscally constrained time. Please join me in recognizing the selfless service and honorable sacrifice of our WWII Filipino veterans by becoming a cosponsor of the Filipino Veterans Recognition Act. If you would like to cosponsor this legislation please contact my staff member James Langenderfer at 202-226-7438 or at james.langenderfer@mail.house.gov.                                                                                 Sincerely,                                                                                 DR. JOE HECK                                                                                 Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, In honor of Tax Day, please join us as an original cosponsor of the bipartisan Wireless Tax Fairness Act, which enjoyed the support of 221 cosponsors last Congress. An almost identical bill, H.R. 1002, passed the House on November 1, 2011 by voice vote. This bill has been endorsed by numerous organizations including: the American Consumer Institute, Americans for Tax Reform, Digital Liberty, Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council, National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislatures, National Black Caucus of State Legislatures, The National Grange, National Taxpayers Union, Citizens Against Government Waste, Competitive Enterprise Institute, 60 Plus Association, Tax Foundation, Tax Foundation, and the American Legislative Exchange Council. As the FCC explained in the National Broadband Plan, “wireless broadband is poised to become a key platform for innovation in the United States over the next decade.” Expanding investment and access to advanced wireless networks will be a major driver of economic growth and opportunity. Unfortunately, targeted state and local taxes continue to drive up the cost of wireless broadband and other mobile services. On average, wireless customers now pay 17.2% in taxes and fees, more than twice the average rate of 7.4% on other goods and services. In many localities, this cumulative tax burden is even worse: 26.8% in Baltimore, 19.9% in Omaha, 18.2% in Tallahassee, and 20.4% in New York City. It’s counter-productive to impose such a punitive tax rate on wireless networks, whose expansion is critical to economic growth. Furthermore, this disparity between the taxes on wireless versus other goods and services amounts to a regressive tax burden- it falls disproportionately on lower-income Americans, who tend to rely more exclusively on wireless devices for telephone and Internet access and who pay a greater percentage of their income in wireless taxes. It may also discourage seniors on fixed budgets from purchasing wireless service. The Wireless Tax Fairness Act would halt this trend by imposing a temporary, five-year freeze on new discriminatory taxes that are imposed only on wireless services. Importantly, it would not take away any existing revenue from state or local governments. Separate wireless taxes are a legacy of the days when telephone service was a regulated utility. This legislation would simply create a period of tax stability, encouraging state and local governments to modernize their communications tax structures. If you would like to sign on as cosponsor, please contact ZJ Hull in Rep. Lofgren’s office at zj.hull@mail.house.gov or 5-3072, or Bobby Cornett in my office at bobby.cornett@mail.house.gov or 5-4576.                                                                                              Most sincerely,                               Zoe Lofgren                                                                                                 Trent Franks                               United States Congress                                                                                United States Congress''
''Keep the U.N. out of the Israel-Palestinian Peace Process Dear Colleague, With the recent reelection of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, reports have surfaced that the Administration is “evaluating” its policy towards Israel, our closest ally in the Middle East.  This speculation comes amidst news that France will begin discussions in the coming weeks on a U.N. Security Council (UNSC) resolution that would call for the resumption of political talks to conclude a final peace settlement between Israel and the Palestinian Authority.  Rumors that the United States is moving closer to supporting such a UNSC resolution are disturbing. The UNSC has a poor track record of advancing peace between Israel and the Palestinians, and a more intensive role for the UN in the Peace Process is likely to cause more problems than it will solve. For decades, Democratic and Republican administrations have resisted giving support to United Nations efforts to dictate terms of an Israeli-Palestinian peace agreement. They have argued consistently that an enduring peace can only be achieved through direct negotiations between the parties.  Former Secretary of State Hilary Clinton herself was quoted as saying “The only way of getting a lasting solution is through direct negotiations between the parties, and the route to that lies in Jerusalem and Ramallah, not in New York.”  A change in American policy that supports terms of a peace agreement dictated by outside actors would make an acceptable and durable agreement more challenging to secure. There continues to be bipartisan agreement in the Congress that the U.N. should not meddle in negotiations.  That’s why we plan on introducing a resolution that simply reinforces the House’s support for this policy when the House comes back into session.  We hope you will join us in cosponsoring.  For more information or to be an original cosponsor, please contact Octavian Jordan (octavian.jordan@mail.house.gov) in Congressman McKinley’s office. Sincerely,   David B.  McKinley, P.E.                                           Doug Lamborn Member of Congress                                                 Member of Congress   ——————————————————————————————————————————————   H.Res. _: Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict should come from direct bilateral negotiations without preconditions and without interference from the United Nations. Whereas it has been longstanding policy of the United States under both Democratic and Republican Administrations and Congresses that a durable resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be achieved only through direct negotiations between the two parties without preconditions; Whereas it has been longstanding policy of the United States under both Democratic and Republican Administrations and Congresses to promote a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations between the two parties; Whereas both Democratic and Republican-led Congresses have long appropriated funds to promote a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through direct negotiations between the two parties; Whereas it has been the longstanding policy of the United States under both Democratic and Republican Administrations and Congresses that a United Nations mandate to force a final status agreement to the Israeli-Palestinian peace process is harmful and not appropriate; Whereas this Congress would view any support by the United States Government for a United Nations effort to dictate conditions, details or timelines for negotiations and a resolution between Israel and the Palestinian Authority as a violation of long-standing and sound U.S. policy; Resolved, That it is the sense of the United States House of Representatives that a resolution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict must come from direct bilateral negotiations without preconditions and without interference from the United Nations.''
''Tuesday, April 14, 2015 Join the Congressional Down Syndrome Caucus Dear Colleague, We are writing to invite you to join the bipartisan Down Syndrome Caucus. The goal of the caucus is to promote bipartisan policies which further the understanding of issues important to people with Down syndrome and their families. Down syndrome occurs when an individual is born with an extra copy of the 21st chromosome.  Because of this extra chromosome, people with Down syndrome can have an intellectual disability, autism, and a variety of other medical complications, such as diabetes, leukemia and Alzheimer’s. Improved medical care has contributed to increased life expectancy for people with Down syndrome. Just 30 years ago, the median age of death for an individual with Down syndrome was in their late 20s. Now, people with Down syndrome are routinely living into their 60s and 70s. Bipartisan leadership in Congress has resulted in significant achievements for the Down syndrome community and disability community at large. The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) all stand as evidence to what can be done when Members work with each other to enact legislation which seeks to empower individuals with disabilities. The most recent example of the power of bipartisan cooperation on behalf of those with Down syndrome and other disabilities is the ABLE Act, which was signed into law in December 2014. Because of these laws, a generation of people with Down syndrome have had more opportunities to succeed and be an active part of our society than the generation before them. The mission of the Down Syndrome Caucus is multifold and includes building awareness of the issues important to those with Down syndrome, such as medical care, education, job opportunities and independent living. The caucus also promotes medical research and bipartisan cooperation. We are committed to working to advance issues important to those with Down syndrome and hope you will join our efforts by becoming a Member of the Down Syndrome Caucus. For further information, please contact one of the staffers listed below. Sincerely,   Cathy McMorris Rodgers                                           Chris Van Hollen Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress Co-Chair                                                                     Co-Chair Ander Crenshaw                                                         Eleanor Holmes Norton Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress Co-Chair                                                                     Co-Chair Pete Sessions                                                               Cheri Bustos Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress Co-Chair                                                                     Co-Chair Staff Contacts: Rep. McMorris Rodgers: Andrew.Neill@mail.house.gov Rep. Holmes Norton: Jason.Spear@mail.house.gov Rep. Van Hollen: Erika.Appel@mail.house.gov Rep. Sessions: Elle.Ross@mail.house.gov Rep. Crenshaw: Jennifer.Debes@mail.house.gov Rep. Bustos: Steffanie.Bezruki@mail.house.gov''
''Dear Colleague,             We are pleased to pass along an invitation from the We Are Golf (WAG) coalition for you and your staff to visit on April 15 for National Golf Day (NGD). We hope you can join us in stopping by to visit a day-long exhibit in the Rayburn Foyer that will start at 9:30 AM and run through 3PM. If you want to attend the kick off, legendary pros Nick Price and Jay Haas will join golf industry leaders in Rayburn Foyer at 9:30 AM to get things started.             The NGD exhibit will include live lessons for Members of Congress and staff from 2012 PGA Teacher of the Year Michael Breed, host of “The Golf Fix” on Golf Channel and LPGA Professional Dana Rader. Special exhibits and activities include a “Closest to the Pin” contest utilizing an aboutGolf simulator, the exclusive on-air provider for the Golf Channel and official licensed product of the PGA TOUR; state-of-the-art swing analysis from GolfTEC; and a Republican vs. Democrat “Putting Challenge.” WAG partner organizations participating include the Club Managers Association of America (CMAA), Golf Course Superintendents Association of America (GCSAA), Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA), National Golf Course Owners Association (NGCOA), PGA of America, PGA TOUR, The First Tee, United States Golf Association (USGA), United States Golf Manufacturers Council (USGMC), the World Golf Foundation (WGF) and others.             The golf industry has made a huge commitment to youth sports and fitness through The First Tee program and other initiatives. We are very proud to have served as captains of the Republican and Democratic teams in the First Tee Congressional Challenge. Apart from talking about outdoor recreation and fitness benefits, golf’s leaders will be meeting with Members of Congress to discuss golf’s nearly $69 billion economy, $4 billion annual charitable impact and huge leaps forward in environmental stewardship of golf course properties. Sincerely, ANDER CRENSHAW                                                          JOHN YARMUTH Member of Congress                                                           Member of Congress''
''Co-sponsor H.R. 251- the Homes for Heroes Act of 2015 Current co-sponsors (20): Bordallo, Carson, Chu, Gene Green, Grijalva, Hahn, Hastings, Hinojosa, Honda, Kaptur, Lipinski, Lujan, McDermott, McGovern, Moore, Norton, Pingree, Rangel, Rush, Serrano Dear Colleague: While we have made significant progress towards eliminating homelessness among veterans, the problems still exists. According a recent report issued by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD), there were approximately 57,489 homeless veterans on a single night in 2013. Compounding matters further, there are even more low-income veterans and veteran families without permanent housing solutions. Approximately 1.4 million veterans live below the federal poverty level, making them high risks for becoming homeless in the near future. H.R. 251 would help to prevent low-income veteran families from falling into homelessness. Specifically, the Homes for Heroes Act of 2015 would establish the position of Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs within the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to coordinate services to homeless veterans and serve as a liaison to the Department of Veterans Affairs. Additionally, the bill would require HUD to submit a comprehensive annual report to Congress on the housing needs of homeless veterans. The Homes for Heroes Act is an important piece of bipartisan legislation which the U.S House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed in the 113th Congress with a vote of 420 to 3. This legislation also passed by a large majority in the 112th, 111th and 110th Congresses. Please join me in continuing to fight homelessness amongst our nation’s veterans. To co-sponsor the Homes for Heroes Act of 2015, or for additional information, please contact Katherine Suzuki in Rep. Al Green’s office at katherine.suzuki@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Al Green Member of Congress''
''Co-sponsor H.R. 372- the Veterans, Women, Families with Children, Race, and Persons with Disabilities Housing Fairness Act of 2015 Current co-sponsors (19): Chu, Danny K. Davis, Ellison, Grijalva, Hahn, Hastings, Hinojosa, Honda, Huffman, Barbara Lee, Meeks, Moore, Norton, Payne, Rangel, Rush, Schakowsky, Serrano, Takano Dear Colleague: Despite the passage of the Fair Housing Act more than 45 years ago, approximately 4 million instances of housing discrimination occur each and every year. However, the majority of these fair housing violations go unreported. In 2013, according to the National Fair Housing Alliance, only 27,352 housing discrimination complaints were reported to federal, state and local fair housing authorities. As a result, only a handful of these violations were investigated and resulted in charges. Clearly, more work needs to be done to enforce the Fair Housing Act. The Housing Fairness Act of 2015 would protect hardworking Americans from housing discrimination by: Requiring HUD to administer a competitive matching grant program for private non-profit organizations to review the incidences, causes and effects of housing discrimination and segregation on veterans and military personnel. $5 million would be authorized annually through FY 2019 for this program, and the recipient organization would have to provide a non-federal match of 50 percent. Authorizing $15 million annually over five years for HUD to administer a nationwide testing program to measure patterns of adverse treatment based on disability, color, religion, sex, familial status, race or national origin in rentals, real estate sales and lending practices.  HUD would be required to report to Congress the results of the testing program every two years. Increasing annual funding for the Fair Housing Initiatives Program from the $26 million level authorized in 1994 to the current appropriated level of $42.5 million through FY 2019.  This funding would support enforcement, education and outreach by private, non-profit fair housing centers. Join me in the fight against housing discrimination. To co-sponsor the Housing Fairness Act of 2015, please contact Katherine Suzuki in my office at katherine.suzuki@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Al Green Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague – The recently announced framework for a nuclear deal between the P5+1 countries and Iran has led to calls for strong Congressional oversight of the negotiation process.  In order to properly conduct this oversight, Members must have access all relevant facts and analysis. Given Iran’s destabilizing role in the region for the past 40 years, any agreement that allows the Iranian government to keep its nuclear program must be subject to the highest level of scrutiny. To that end, federal law permits the Chairman or Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs to request a report from the Secretary of State on the verifiability of any arms control, nonproliferation, or disarmament proposal.  This report would provide much needed and important detail to Members as they consider their response to this agreement. Please join me in sending the below letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee thanking them for their leadership and requesting that they exercise their authority under this statute. This letter will close on April 16th. If you have any questions or would like to sign this letter, please contact Blake Hollander at blake.hollander@mail.house.gov or call x56216. — Dear Chairman Royce and Ranking Member Engel, In light of the recently agreed upon framework between Iran and the P5+1 countries, we write to offer our support for robust Congressional oversight of the negotiation process.  In particular, it is vital for our nation to verify Iranian compliance with any agreement regarding their nuclear program. A clear understanding of America’s ability to verify whether or not Iran complies with the terms of a deal is absolutely essential for Congress to make an informed decision on whether to support this framework.  Given the destabilizing role Iran has played in the region for the past 40 years, an agreement that allows Iran’s nuclear program to continue deserves the highest level of scrutiny.  We urge you, as the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, to use all afforded legal authorities to ensure that Congress and the American people understand the nature and limitations of this agreement. Specifically, pursuant to 22 USC 2577, the Chairman or Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs may request a report from the Secretary of State on the verifiability of any arms control, nonproliferation, or disarmament proposal.  This report shall detail “the degree to which elements of the proposal are capable of being verified” and shall “assume that all measures of concealment, not expressly prohibited, could be employed and that standard practices could be altered so as to impede verification.”  Compliance, as well as America’s willingness to publicly identify and penalize non-compliance, represents the foundation of any successful agreement with the Iranian regime. We thank you for your strong leadership of the Committee and respectfully urge you to request this verification assessment from the Secretary of State and to make this report available to all relevant House Committees.  Sincerely,''
''Help Improve the Claims Process for Disabled Veterans Co-sponsor H.R. 1331, the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act Co-sponsors: Abraham, Ashford, Denham, Higgins, Jolly Dear Colleague: We invite you to co-sponsor the Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, H.R. 1331. In the last decade, Americans have developed a renewed understanding of the need to support our service members in battle. Unfortunately, our warriors’ battles don’t always end when they return home. With the end of the war in Iraq and the drawdown of troops in Afghanistan, the number of disabled veterans who need care has dramatically increased. Despite improvements in claims processing by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), veterans are still waiting too long to receive their earned benefits, creating financial hardship for these veterans and their families. The VA reports hundreds of thousands of veterans have been waiting longer than 125 days to have their claim adjudicated. While the VA as made progress in the last year, we believe there are common sense measures Congress can undertake to ensure our veterans are getting the care they need in a more-timely fashion. This is why we introduced Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act, H.R. 1331, to help speed up the process. The Quicker Veterans Benefits Delivery Act will allow local doctors to conduct disability medical examinations for veterans. This conserves VA resources, cuts back on long wait times at VA hospitals, enables quicker diagnoses of disabilities and eliminates unnecessary trips to the VA or contracted compensation and pension exams for veterans in rural communities. Specifically, to further encourage the use of private medical evidence, we are amending title 38, United States Code, section 5125 to provide that, when a claimant submits private medical evidence, including a private medical opinion, that is competent, credible, probative, and otherwise adequate for rating purposes, the Secretary shall not request a VA medical examination. This legislative change would require Veteran Service Representatives and Rating Veterans Service Representatives to document that private medical evidence was inadequate for rating purposes before ordering examinations, which are often unnecessary. Additionally, the legislation requires the VA to complete two reports, one 180 days after passage of the bill that tracks the bill’s implementation and an annual report that tracks the most common reasons and disabilities for which claims with evidence submitted by non-VA medical professionals were denied by VBA. Our goal with this legislation is simple: to uphold the promises we’ve made to our veterans by ending the backlog and getting them the benefits they have earned and deserve.  This is a common sense solution that will aid in adding efficiency to a complicated process in order to better serve our nation’s heroes. For more information or to co-sponsor H.R. 1331, please contact Carina Marquez-Barrientos with Rep. Walz at carina.marquez@mail.house.gov or Chris Del Beccaro with Rep. Denham at Chris.DelBeccaro@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tim Walz                                 Jeff Denham Member of Congress               Member of Congress''
''Dear colleague, As co-chairs of the bipartisan Congressional Refinery Caucus, we want to invite your staff to attend a 10am briefing on April 7 in 2218 Rayburn. The briefing will focus on the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS). As many Members are aware, the Environmental Protection Agency is currently in the process of revising standards for ethanol and advanced biodiesel usage in the United States. This rulemaking process greatly impacts our constituents and a wide range of industries, and we are approaching the first release of guidance from the EPA in several years. At a time when gasoline demand in the United States remains level, these new standards continue to push mandatory ethanol and advanced biofuel usage even higher. We have four excellent speakers to discuss these issues: Kelsi Bracmort, Ph.D. of CRS will give a brief, high-level explanation of how the RFS functions; Tim Cheung with ClearView Energy Partners will address likely next steps from the Administration, Congress and the Courts; Lou Pugliaresi of EPRINC will discuss impacts of the RFS for the oil and gas sector; and David Kennedy with BoatUS will address the impact of the RFS on consumers and non-road engines. Following the discussion, there will be opportunity for Q+A. Very Respectfully, Pete Olson                                                     Cedric Richmond Member of Congress                                     Member of Congress''
''April 1, 2015 Please join the US Department of Veterans Affairs For the VA Outreach Showcase Dear Colleague: As Ranking Member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, I am excited to invite you to a VA Outreach Showcase where you will see firsthand and directly engage with those on the frontlines of VA’s efforts to help Veterans obtain benefits and services. This event is expected to showcase more than 20 outreach programs of vital concern to Veterans and their families, including Benefits Assistance Services, eBenefits, Health care benefits, Veterans Choice Program, Mental health outreach, Voluntary Services, Vocational rehab/employment, Education and training, Women’s health care, Burial and memorial benefits, Adaptive sports, and several more.  For more information about the showcase the VA’s Congressional Liaison Service at vaocls@va.gov. The showcase will take place in the Capitol Visitor Center – Room SVC 215 on Tuesday, April 7, 2015 from 10a until noon. Sincerely, /s/ Corrine Brown Ranking Member House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs''
''Become a Cosponsor of the Equal Pay Day Resolution Dear Colleague: More than fifty years after passage of the Equal Pay Act, women comprise almost 50 percent of the American workforce, conducting research, providing goods and services, and driving innovation that makes our economy the most dynamic in the world.  Despite these achievements, women still earn approximately 78 cents for every dollar earned by men. Closing the wage gap is not simply an issue of fairness; it is also an economic imperative. As we look for ways to strengthen the middle class and support American families, closing the wage gap should be a top priority for Congress. For a woman working full time, the current wage gap represents a loss of $430,000 over the course of her career.  As of October 2014, if the gap were eliminated, women who work in California could buy 58 more weeks of food.  Ohio’s working women could afford nine more months of mortgage and utilities payments.  Working women in Georgia could afford 10 more months of rent.  Women employed in Florida could afford nearly 1,900 more gallons of gas. As women transition into retirement, the pay gap continues to negatively impact their economic security.  In 2011, due in part to lower lifetime earnings, women retirees received a monthly Social Security benefit that averaged $300 less than their male colleagues, enough to cover a typical American household’s monthly groceries. Equal Pay Day, recognized this year on April 14, marked the day when women’s earnings from January 2014 finally equaled what men earned in calendar year 2014 alone.  To highlight this critical disparity, we will introduce the Equal Pay Day Resolution on Tuesday, April 14.  We hope you will join us as a cosponsor. For more information or to cosponsor, please contact Kelsey Moran with Rep. Frankel at Kelsey.Moran@mail.house.gov or Beverly Pheto with Rep. DeLauro at Beverly.Pheto@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, LOIS FRANKEL                                         ROSA DELAURO Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress''
''Simplify Tax Filing for Your Constituents Each year during the tax-filing season, taxpayers face the added stress of spending countless hours locating tax information stubs and filling out information that the IRS already has on file.  Taxpayers spend an estimated 6.1 billion hours a year complying with the tax code and an average of over $200 on tax preparation fees. It’s time to bring the tax filing system into the 21st century. My bill, the Autofill Act of 2015, would create a voluntary tax filing program that would allow individuals to log in to a secure IRS website and download a tax form that is automatically populated with information the IRS already collects from employers, the Social Security Administration, health insurance companies, and financial institutions. The information would be available as both a printable document file and a computer-readable form that would be compatible with existing tax preparation software. Taxpayers with simple tax situations could simply review the returns for accuracy and sign at the bottom. Taxpayers with more complex situations could use the pre-populated forms as a starting point, saving the time and anxiety of tracking down W-2’s, 1099-INT’s, proofs of health insurance, and so on. According to a report by the Brookings Institution estimates of a national pre-filled tax return program indicate that it could save taxpayers up to $2 billion in fees and 225 million hours of time each year.[1] In California, the state’s two tax filing programs, known as ReadyReturn and CalFile, save the state an estimated $500,000 annually and ninety-eight percent of ReadyReturn users have indicated that they would use it again.[2] To sign on as an original cosponsor of the Autofill Act or for more information, please contact Gary.Timmins@mail.house.gov at 5-3515.  Sincerely, Bill Foster Member of Congress [1] The Brookings Institution. (2006). The ‘Simple Return’: Reducing America’s Tax Burden Through Return-Free Filing. Retrieved from http://www.brookings.edu/~/media/Research/Files/Papers/2006/7/useconomics%20goolsbee/200607goolsbee.PDF [2] State of California Franchise Tax Board. ReadyReturn Pilot Tax Year 2004 Study Results  (2006).  Retrieved from https://www.ftb.ca.gov/readyreturn/ty04rrfinalreport.pdf''
''Supported by the National Taxpayers Union Dear Colleague: I write today regarding important legislation to continue our efforts combatting waste, fraud, and abuse at the General Services Administration (GSA), and I urge you to cosponsor this bill. GSA has a long history of mismanaging taxpayer funds, from elaborate kickback schemes arranged with contractors to extravagant spending on 2000 square foot Las Vegas suites for senior employees. Last September, the U.S. Attorney for the District of Northern California chose to indict one such employee for fraud, citing his use of agency funds for personal travel and subsequent choice to lie about his activities to investigators. The Government Spending Accountability (GSA) Act of 2015, which passed the House by voice vote last Congress, would bring much needed transparency and place limitations on spending to this long-troubled agency. Specifically, it would limit GSA spending to $500,000 per conference, prohibit the agency from sending more than 50 employees to any one conference, and limit total agency travel expenses to 70% of FY 2010 levels. Additionally, the bill would require GSA to publicly post online detailed quarterly reports on any conference that costs more than $10,000. If you would like to become an original cosponsor or have any questions, please contact Mary Anne Ludwig at x54231 or at maryanne.ludwig@mail.house.gov. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Diane Black Member of Congress''
''Lift the Cuba Embargo Current Cosponsors: Rangel, Meeks, Ellison, McCollum, McGovern, Jackson Lee, Lee, Cohen, Polis, Rush Dear Colleague: For over fifty years, the United States has imposed an embargo on the nation of Cuba.  This embargo has persisted despite the fall of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.  Despite its complete failure to achieve the intended goals of its proponents this embargo has not been allowed to end, but has rather been further strengthened at the expense of the citizens of both nations. Last December, President Obama took the historic step of implementing a policy of engagement by seeking the normalization of diplomatic relations with Cuba.  Lifting the embargo will enhance our ability to influence events throughout the Western Hemisphere and improve our relations with Latin American countries. In addition to its failures, this embargo has accomplished a number of unintended consequences.  It has separated Cuban Americans from their families.  It has kept two peoples from learning from and about each other.  It has denied opportunities for growth and investment to businesses in the United States, opportunities that were gratefully taken by businesses from nations as varied as China, Canada and Israel.   Furthermore, continuing to enforce this ineffective policy wastes valuable resources that are needed to address more pressing security concerns.  This punitive policy has had only one result, an increase in the suffering of a people. This legislation would end this embargo and make the foreign policy of the United States conform more closely to the founding ideals of our great nation.  It is time to recognize that the Cuban embargo is wrong and that continuing a failed policy will not improve it.  Help the United States move towards a Cuban policy that better serves the interests of both our peoples and better expresses our values.  It is time to end the embargo. If you would like more information or would like to cosponsor H.R. 735, please contact Angel Nigaglioni at ext. 5-4361 or by email at angel.nigaglioni@mail.house.gov.                                                 Sincerely,                                                 /s/                                                 José E. Serrano                                                 Member of Congress''
''Support Baseball Diplomacy Current Cosponsors: Rangel, Meeks, Polis, McCollum, McDermott, Cohen, McGovern, Grijalva, Farr, Waters Dear Colleague: As we continue to rethink our fifty years of failed policy towards Cuba, I would urge you to support H.R. 738, the Baseball Diplomacy Act. This bill draws on a shared passion for baseball to bring the people of the United States and Cuba closer together. Under current law, Cuban baseball players must renounce their citizenship, denounce their government, and abandon their families in order to play professional sports in the United States. The Baseball Diplomacy Act would eliminate these barriers and allow Cuban players to enter the United States on non-immigrant visas for the duration of the season to play baseball and then return to Cuba with their earnings when the season had ended. Opening the door to Cuban baseball players will help relations between Cuba and the United States at the personal level. The Cuban players would be able to participate in the great melting pot of professional baseball and learn about the United States first hand, while Americans would get to experience the great talent of Cuban players. The Baseball Diplomacy Act does not change other aspects of our relationship with Cuba or alter other existing laws on immigration. It merely offers Cuban baseball players the same opportunities as athletes from other countries, by allowing them to get visas for the duration of the baseball season and to return home for the off-season. If you would like more information or would like to cosponsor H.R. 738, please contact Angel Nigaglioni at ext. 5-4361 or via email at angel.nigaglioni@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s/ José E. Serrano Member of Congress''
''Current Cosponsors:  Bonnie Watson Coleman, Robin L. Kelly, James P. McGovern, Gwen S. Moore, Charles B. Rangel Dear Colleague, I write to urge you to become an original cosponsor of a resolution that I will soon introduce recognizing June as Men’s Cancer Awareness Month.  The Center for Disease Control (CDC) asserts that nearly 300,000 men die each year from various forms of cancers.  Furthermore, the American Cancer Society estimates that in the United States, men have a 1 in 2 lifetime risk of developing cancer, compared to a 1 in 3 risk in women. I am introducing this resolution to encourage men to get regular check-ups in order to stay healthy and live longer.  By joining me in support of recognizing the month of June as National Men’s Cancer Awareness Month it is my sincere hope that we can work together to better promote expanded advocacy. I believe that this resolution is a critical step toward increasing public awareness of cancer among men.  Therefore, it is my sincere hope that you will join me as an original cosponsor in supporting June as National Men’s Cancer Awareness Month. To cosponsor, please contact LaTasha Lee in my office at 5-1313 or at LaTasha.Lee@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s/ Alcee L. Hastings Member of Congress''
''Endorsed By: Native American Rights Fund, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, National Indian Gaming Association Current Cosponsors:  Cardenas, Clarke, Coffman, Cole, Conyers, DeGette, Garamendi, Grijalva, Hastings, Honda, Kirkpatrick, Larson, Lujan Grisham, Moore, Mullin, Nolan, Takai, Takano, Young Dear Colleague, I invite you to cosponsor H.R. 1089, the Native American Indian Education Act. The purpose of this act is to ensure that Federal funding is provided to support and sustain the long-standing Federal mandate requiring certain colleges and states, to waive in certain circumstances, tuition charges for Native American Indian students they admit to an undergraduate college program, including the waiver of tuition charges for Indian students who are not residents of the State in which the college is located. The formal U.S. Congressional mandate is found in the Congressional Record, Vol. 43, p. 1412 (Senate) and 1490 (House) for 1909, as well as the report of the Secretary of the Commissioner of Indian Affairs to the Secretary of the Interior for the 1909 fiscal year. These contain the mandate language: “that Indian pupils shall at all times be admitted to such school free of charge for tuition.” The funding paragraph makes this a discretionary, rather than a mandatory program. The bill has a CBO approved offset and does not increase federal spending. The offset does not terminate any other existing education or tribal program. If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor, please email Dustin Sherer or call x51429. Sincerely, Scott Tipton Member of Congress''
''Co-Sponsor H.R. 1614 – The State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015 Support the National Guard and International Capacity Building Co-Sponsors: Bishop, Bordallo, Bridenstine, Lamborn, Perry, Walz Dear Colleague, The National Guard State Partnership Program has been an incredibly successful program for building the capacity of our friends and allies around the world by developing strong military-to-military and military-to-civilian relationships with National Guard units across the country.  The National Guard currently provides unique capacity building capabilities to Combatant Commanders (COCOMS) and U.S. Chiefs of Mission via 68 comprehensive partnerships between National Guard units across the United States and 74 partner nations, in all Combatant Commands with more being developed in the coming year.  It is an innovative, low-cost, small footprint security cooperation program. The success and importance of the State Partnership Program (SPP) was highlighted recently during the conflict in Ukraine.  For 22 years, the California National Guard and Ukraine have held capacity building exercises.  When the instability in Ukraine began the California National Guard got some of the clearest insight we had into the situation by virtue of the long term relationship they had forged with Ukraine’s military and civil institutions.  This Bill will strengthen, expand, and extend this critical capacity building program by implementing the following changes. Eliminates 2016 termination date of program Modifies a program restriction limiting it to primarily humanitarian and emergency response and expands it to support the national interests and security cooperation goals and objectives of the United States Requires the National Guard Bureau (NGB) to develop and maintain a list of “core competencies” that the National Guard can provide the program to support COCOMs and Chiefs of Mission Allows for the program to operate as intended by the National Guard, COCOMS and Chiefs of Mission Creates an accounting line within the Department of Defense that allows National Guard funds to be used in support of the program and ensures accountability of the funding.  Enhances an annual reporting requirement on the SPP program and requires NGB to develop performance metrics to evaluate performance of the program Spells out roles of Chief of the National Guard Bureau, the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of State in managing the SPP program and ensures that all equities are considered in the context of broader program goals Enhancing this critical program for the National Guard will help Combatant Commanders and U.S. Chiefs of Mission better leverage the capabilities inherent in the National Guard and will strengthen our relations with allies and nations across the globe. The dual role of the National Guard provides them a unique opportunity to support Combatant Commander as well as an Ambassador’s needs in a given country. I am introducing this legislation to prevent expiration, codify current practices, and enhance the program’s positive impact worldwide. I hope that you’ll join me in this effort to extend and enhance this important program.  If you would like to cosponsor H.R. 1614, the National Guard State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015, please contact my Military Fellow, Bryan Fram at bryan.fram@mail.house.gov''
''Dear Colleague, We invite you to join us as a cosponsor of the Computer Science in STEM Act of 2015 This bill will help equip our children with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century workforce by strengthening computer science education for students from kindergarten through grade twelve.  The bill would provide a framework within which state educational agencies and computer science teachers have the resources they need to improve computer science education for their students. In an increasingly technology-based world, businesses and other organizations continue to invest in, and rely heavily upon, information technology (IT) to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and safeguard information.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the high tech industry will be among the fastest growing industries in the coming years.  This growth will further outpace our already insufficient pool of college graduates with computing-related degrees if we fail to attract more young people to this field. By strengthening computer science education for students at the primary and secondary educational levels, this bill will encourage our youth to pursue careers in computing, or equip them to be successful in any field that requires computer skills. Specifically, this bill would: (1) amend the definition of STEM in the America Competes Act of 2010 to include computer science, (2) provide competitive grants for states to develop and implement comprehensive plans to improve their computer science education programs for k-12 students, (3) ensure that teachers have improved training and the appropriate skills and resources to teach k-12 computer science courses, and (4) provide for an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the activities funded by the grants. This legislation is an important step towards expanding access to computer science education and ensuring that the next generation is ready to meet the demands of the 21st century job market. If you would like to cosponsor this bill, or have any questions, please contact Steve Botsford at Stephen.Botsford@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tony Cárdenas Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Please join Senator Gillibrand and me in sponsoring the Computer Science Career Education Act. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, by 2020 1 in every 2 STEM jobs will be in computing and there will be 1.4 million jobs in computer science with only 400,000 students enrolled in a computer science degree program. Despite these employment opportunities, most states do not offer computer science courses as part of their core curriculum in math and science. Instead, they have focused on offering technology literacy or computing application courses. While these are critical, the overall result is that there will not be enough students with a computer science degree to fill the needs of employers. Ensuring the future of our STEM workforce requires schools, in partnership with relevant stake-holders, to align secondary curriculum with postsecondary institutions to ensure computer science curriculum is responsive to industry employment demands. Additionally, innovative educational opportunities that lead students to attainment of industry-recognized credentials will be needed. To encourage the development of computer science curriculum that will meet the market needs of employers and better integrate secondary and postsecondary education, the Computer Science Career Education Act will award grants to a consortium between State or local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, non-profit organizations and employers with a documented need in the computer science sector.  Consortia can apply for funds to develop and operate a 4- or 6-year computer science career education training program. The program should; include the development of computer science programs for both secondary (grades 6-12) and postsecondary education that are consistent with computer science K-12 standards; link secondary schools and institutions of higher education; create workplace experiences for students through internships, apprenticeships and mentorships with business partners; provide professional development for teachers; include training programs that prepare students for careers in computing; and provide equal access to individuals who are members of underrepresented groups and special populations. The Programs created as a result of this act will help bridge the skill gap between the available workforce and employers.  If you would like to cosponsor or have any questions, please contact Stephen Botsford in Congressman Cardenas’ office at Stephen.Botsford@mail.house.gov Sincerely, Tony Cárdenas Member of Congress''
''Co-Sponsor H.R. 1104, The Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act Prevent IRS Targeting of Contributions to Nonprofits Deadline: COB Monday, April 13th Groups Supporting: Americans for Prosperity, Americans for Tax Reform, FreedomWorks, Hispanic Leadership Fund, Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, 60 Plus Association, National Taxpayers Union, Citizens United, Taxpayers Protection Alliance, Tea Party Nation, Institute for Liberty, American Commitment. The Fair Treatment for All Gifts Act (H.R. 1104) would permanently ensure that donations to 501(c)4, (c)5, and (c)6 organizations are not subject to the gift tax. Federal law mandates that gifts in excess of $14,000 are subject to the gift tax, but donations to nonprofit organizations have always been considered tax-free. However, in recent years the IRS has threatened to apply the gift tax to these contributions as part of its broader effort to target conservative organizations for enhanced scrutiny and unfair treatment. Chairman Roskam’s legislation will prevent the IRS from exploiting the gift tax as yet another tool to target and silence those whose political beliefs do not align with its own. Americans who donate to tax-exempt organizations should always be treated fairly and equally by the IRS—an agency with an infamous track record of targeting individuals for their religious and political beliefs. Although the IRS claims it is no longer seeking to curb giving to social welfare organizations, we need assurances that this practice will never happen in the future. The Fair Treatment for All Donations Act, which will codify the longstanding practice of exempting these contributions from the gift tax, marks an important step in shielding Americans from further burdensome taxes and intrusive scrutiny by the IRS. The Washington Times elaborates on the story here. Under the Internal Revenue Code: •    501(c)4 designates a qualifying social welfare organization. •    501(c)5 designates a qualifying labor union or agriculture organization. •    501(c)6 designates a qualifying business league, such as a Chamber of Commerce. If you have any questions, or would like to be a co-sponsor, please email Jeff Billman at jeff.billman@mail.house.gov or call x67415.''
''Resolution Supporting Homeless Veterans Current Original Cosponsors:  Reps. Corrine Brown, Steve Cohen, Al Green, Raul M. Grijalva, Sheila Jackson Lee, Brenda L. Lawrence, James R. Langevin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Charles B. Rangel, and Adam B.Schiff.   Supporters: Give US Your Poor National Alliance to End Homelessness The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans Major General William L. Nash (U.S. Army, Ret.) Dear Colleague: On any given night, nearly 50,000 military veterans sleep in homeless shelters or on the streets.  Furthermore, approximately 260,000 veterans use homeless shelters or other services during the course of a year. Homeless veterans have become a focal point in the broader fight to prevent and end homelessness in America.  We may all take pride and comfort in the recent finding that homelessness among veterans has begun to decrease.  One of the biggest contributors to the decreased number of homeless veterans has been the increased federal investment in efficient and effective programs.  In addition, there has been significant progress, but more must be done.  It is time that we recognize these unsung heroes who have returned from service to face hard times and homelessness. I am introducing this resolution to pay tribute to the vast numbers of men and women who have served our nation in uniform, yet return home from service homeless, some of whom survive war to die on the streets of this country. It is my sincere hope that will join me as an original co-sponsor of this critically important resolution. To become an original co-sponsor or for more information, please contact LaTasha Lee in my office at latasha.lee@mail.house.gov or 5-1313. Sincerely, /s/ Alcee L. Hastings Member of Congress''
''Current cosponsors (7): Courtney, Welch, Waters, Holmes Norton, Hastings Schakowsky, Ellison Dear Colleague, With the passage of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, Congress gave the CFTC new authority to curb speculation and regulate the risky financial transactions that caused the 2008 financial crisis.  However, chronic underfunding has restricted the CFTC’s ability to properly enforce the rules. That is why we are reintroducing the Wall Street Accountability through Sustainable Funding Act. This legislation will require the CFTC to collect modest transaction fees to recover the cost of annual appropriations.  Unlike other financial regulators, the CFTC does not collect fees from market users in exchange for creating open, competitive, and financially sound markets for traders.  This idea is not new—in fact it has been proposed by every President since Ronald Reagan. We are pleased that the President’s budget once again supports fully funding the CFTC through user fees. This bill will bring the CFTC in line will all other financial regulators and insulate the CFTC from future budget fights.  Congressional oversight will also be preserved though the appropriations process by making the fees available to the CFTC only after appropriation.  Additionally, these fees will be adjusted biannually to accurately recover the cost of appropriations without overcharging market participants. Without adequate funding, the CFTC is restrained from curbing speculation and the risky practices in the derivatives markets that caused the financial crisis and the economic downturn.  Additionally, as markets grow and evolve, the CFTC will be challenged to make necessary investments in personnel and technology to meet its obligations to ensure secure, transparent and accountable market environments. Please join us and become an original cosponsor of the Wall Street Accountability through Sustainable Funding Act.  If you have any questions about the bill, please contact Arjun Malhotra in Representative DeLauro’s office at arjun.malhotra@mail.house.gov Sincerely, ROSA L. DeLAURO                           PETER WELCH                           JOE COURTNEY Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                     Member of Congress''
''***Deadline Extended*** COB 5/01/15 Supporters American Bakers Association, Spina Bfida Association Cosigners: Rodney Davis (IL-13), Joseph Pitts (PA-16), Tim Walberg (MI-07), Bob Dold (IL-10), Vicky Hartzler (MO-04), Bruce Westerman (AR-04), Ted Poe (TX-02), David Rouzer (NC-07), David Valadao (CA-21), Kevin Yoder (KS-03), Dr. Andy Harris (MD-01),  Mike Bost (IL-12), John Shimkus (IL-15), Gus Bilirakis (FL-12) Dear Colleague, Please join us in sending the following letter to the Secretaries of Agriculture and Health and Human Services urging the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans to address the concerning inconsistencies within the report—specifically with regard to enriched grains and their value in the American diet—by including specific and unambiguous language in the final recommendations distinguishing the difference between refined and enriched grains. Enriched grains are primary sources of folic acid in the American diet. In 1998, the FDA mandated that enriched grains be fortified with folic acid. Since then the incidence of American infants born with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, has decreased by 36%. Appropriately, the CDC has recognized folic acid fortification of enriched grains as one of the top-ten public health achievements of the 21st century. The current guidance goes against all the science of NIH, HHS, FDA, CDC, and USDA by accidentally combining two categories of grain and therefore potentially encouraging folic acid deficiency and serious health consequences as part of their new 2015 dietary guidelines.  Please help us get this technical error straightened out to help ensure women’s and infant health. To sign this letter, or if you have any questions, please contact Jeff Billman with Rep. Roskam at jeff.billman@mail.house.gov or 202-225-4561. March XX, 2015 Dear Secretary Vilsack and Secretary Burwell, On February 19, 2015, the Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee (DGAC) released its recommendations on how to develop the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans. There were many concerning inconsistencies within the report, specifically with regard to enriched grains and their value in the American diet. Enriched grains—like bread, buns, rolls, cereal, and pasta—are fortified with iron and B-vitamins and are primary sources of folic acid in the American diet. The National Institute of Health, the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Office of Women’s Health at the Department of Health and Human Services all note that folic acid derived from fortified grain foods is particularly important for women of childbearing age. Many women do not take folic acid supplements, yet require this essential nutrient to help prevent neural tube defects (NTDs) in the case of pregnancy. According to the CDC, if women of childbearing age take 400 micrograms of folic acid every day before and during early pregnancy, it drastically helps reduce their baby’s risk for potentially devastating NTDs. In fact, according to the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) historian, a “greater consumption of folic acid may also reduce the danger of Alzheimer’s disease, while also offering some protective effects against certain kinds of cancer as well as heart disease.” In 1998, the FDA mandated that enriched grains be fortified with folic acid. Since then the incidence of American infants born with neural tube defects, such as spina bifida and anencephaly, has decreased by 36%. Appropriately, the CDC has recognized folic acid fortification of enriched grains as one of the top-ten public health achievements of the 21st century. In its report, the DGAC mistakenly categorized enriched grains congruently with refined grains, and thus recommended a drastic reduction in consumption of both. In failing to differentiate refined from enriched grains there is potential to confuse consumers and contribute to serious negative health effects. There is a need to recognize the nutritional value and further educate the public on the need for fortified enriched grains as a primary source of B-vitamins, iron, and folic acid and the important role these nutrients play to ensure healthy pregnancy and childbirth. Any dietary guidance that undercuts the important progress made to date on folic acid fortification presents a grave threat to public health and in particular, the most vulnerable among us. Of particular concern, Hispanic women are 1.5 to 3 times more likely to have a baby with an NTD. It was the primary responsibility of the DGAC to ensure that the 2015 Dietary Guidelines for Americans are irrefutably science-based, consistent with advice from other federal agencies, and are communicated in terms easily understood by the public. In order to reduce confusion among American consumers and avoid reduced consumption of fortified enriched grains, we ask that agency staff include specific and unambiguous language in the final recommendations distinguishing the difference between refined and enriched grains. Please contact Jeff Billman in my office at (202) 225-4561 with questions or concerns. We further respectfully request that you respond in writing by March XX to confirm your intentions for moving forward to remedy this important issue. Sincerely, PETER J. ROSKAM Member of Congress''
''Current Cosponsors: Abraham (LA-5), Allen (GA-12), Amodei (NV-2), Barletta (PA-11), Benishek (MI-1), Beyer (VA-8), Bishop (GA-2), Black (TN-6), Blumenauer (OR-3), Bost (IL-12), Boustany (LA-3), Brooks (AL-5), Brown (FL-5) Bucshon (IN-8), Bustos (IL-17), Carter (GA-1), Carter (TX-31), Cartwright (PA-17), Chabot (OH-1), Coffman (CO-6), Collins (NY-27), Collins (GA-9), Comstock (VA-10), Costello (PA-6),  Crenshaw (FL-4), Davis (IL-13), DeFazio (OR-4), Delaney (MD-6), Denham (CA-10), Dent (PA-15), DesJarlais, (TN-4), Diaz-Balart (FL-25), Doyle (PA-14), Duncan (SC-3), Duncan (TN-2), Emmer (MN-6), Esty (CT-5), Farenthold (TX-27), Fleischmann (TN-3), Frankel (FL-22), Gibson (NY-19), Gosar (AZ-4), Graham (FL-2), Granger (TX-12), Graves (MO-6), Graves (GA-14), Griffith (VA-9), Guthrie (KY-2), Hanna (NY-22), Harper (MS-3), Harris (MD-1), Hartzler (MO-4), Hastings (FL-20), Heck (WA-10), Hice (GA-10), Higgins (NY-26), Hinojosa (TX-15), Hudson (NC-8), Huelskamp (KS-1), Huizenga (MI-2), Hultgren (IL-14), Johnson (GA-4), Jones (NC-3), Joyce (OH-14), Katko (NY-24), Kelly (PA-3), Kelly (IL-2), Kilmer (WA-6), Kinzinger (IL-16), Kirkpatrick (AZ-1), Kuster (NH-2), LaMalfa (CA-1), Langevin (RI-2), Lawrence (MI-14), Lipinski (IL-3), Loebsack (IA-2), Lowenthal (CA-47), Maloney (NY-18), Marino (PA-10), Marino (PA-10), Matsui (CA-6), McCaul (TX-10), McGovern (MA-2), McKinley (WV-1), Meadows (NC-11), Meehan (PA-7), Messer (IN-6), Mica (FL-7), Miller (MI-10), Murphy (PA-18), Nadler (NY-10), Neal (MA-1), Newhouse (WA-4), Noem (SD), Nugent (FL-11), Paulsen (MN-3), Pearce (NM-2), Perry (PA-4), Peterson (MN-7), Pittenger (NC-9), Posey (FL-8), Reed (NY-23), Reichert (WA-8), Rice (SC-7), Ross (FL-15), Rothfus (PA-12), Rush (IL-1), Ryan (OH-13), Schock (IL-18), Sessions (TX-32), Sewell (AL-7), Sires (NJ-8), Slaughter (NY-25), Smith (NJ-4), Smith (TX-21), Thompson (PA-5), Thompson (CA-5), Tipton (CO-3), Titus (NV-1), Valadao (CA-21), Vela (TX-34), Walberg (MI-7), Walz (MN-1), Webster (FL-10), Welch (VT), Westmoreland (GA-3),Whitfield (KY-1), Williams (TX-25), Womack (AR-3), Yoder (KS-3), Young (AK) Dear Colleague: All across America, small privately owned and operated freight railroads move goods and raw materials for our constituents.  To preserve and improve the private sector’s ability to maintain these important services, we ask you to join us in cosponsoring H.R. 721.  This bill will extend the Section 45G (26 USC 45G) short line track maintenance tax credit that expired at the end of 2014. Section 45G has had tremendous results.  Short line railroads connect over 10,000 customers across America to the national freight railroad network.  By maximizing private infrastructure investment, Section 45G has allowed these railroads to provide their customers with more customized and competitively priced service.  Most short lines operate track that was once owned by large railroads.  This track received little investment by its previous owners, but Section 45G is helping these small businesses overcome this infrastructure shortfall and ensure that the vital link between our communities and the national freight railroad network will be preserved.  These 550 small companies have an average of 34 employees and median annual gross revenues of less than $5 million. Freight rail connections are critical to preserving the first and last mile of connectivity to factories, grain elevators, power plants, refineries, and mines that employ over one million Americans.  The vast majority of freight rail infrastructure is maintained by private sector investments that must compete against government owned and funded highway infrastructure.  Section 45G represents a small but powerful incentive to level the playing field between small entrepreneurial businesses and their taxpayer-funded competitors. Reducing taxes on these small businesses maximizes their ability to invest in private sector transportation assets that strengthen our local economies and benefit customers in our districts.  The 45G credit has produced the results hoped for when 285 of our House and Senate colleagues joined in supporting the creation of Section 45G in 2004 (H.R. 876/S. 1703), 292 supported extension in the 110th Congress (H.R. 1584/S. 881), 314 supported extension in the 111th Congress (H.R. 1132/S. 461), 307 supported extension in the 112th Congress (H.R. 721/S. 672), and 302 supported the extension in the 113th Congress (H.R. 721/S. 411).  We look forward to similar levels of support this Congress for this important initiative. Please contact Colin Brainard (5-6601) with Rep. Lynn Jenkins, CPA (R-KS) or David Skillman (5-4811) with Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) to join in this effort.     Sincerely, Lynn Jenkins, CPA                             Earl Blumenauer             Member of Congress                          Member of Congress            Rodney Davis                                      Dan Lipinski                        Member of Congress                            Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, This bill will help equip our children with the skills they need to be successful in the 21st century workforce by strengthening computer science education for students from kindergarten through grade twelve.  The bill would provide a framework within which state educational agencies and computer science teachers have the resources they need to improve computer science education for their students. In an increasingly technology-based world, businesses and other organizations continue to invest in, and rely heavily upon, information technology (IT) to increase efficiency, reduce costs, and safeguard information.  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects that the high tech industry will be among the fastest growing industries in the coming years.  This growth will further outpace our already insufficient pool of college graduates with computing-related degrees if we fail to attract more young people to this field. By strengthening computer science education for students at the primary and secondary educational levels, this bill will encourage our youth to pursue careers in computing, or equip them to be successful in any field that requires computer skills. Specifically, this bill would: (1) amend the definition of STEM in the America Competes Act of 2010 to include computer science, (2) provide competitive grants for states to develop and implement comprehensive plans to improve their computer science education programs for k-12 students, (3) ensure that teachers have improved training and the appropriate skills and resources to teach k-12 computer science courses, and (4) provide for an independent and comprehensive evaluation of the performance and effectiveness of the activities funded by the grants. This legislation is an important step towards expanding access to computer science education and ensuring that the next generation is ready to meet the demands of the 21st century job market. If you would like to cosponsor this bill, or have any questions, please contact Steve Botsford at Stephen.Botsford@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tony Cárdenas Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Please join us in supporting veterans’ right to immediate mental health care by cosponsoring HR 1604, “Veterans’ Mental Health Care Access Act.” This legislation would expand the Choice program to allow veterans to seek immediate mental health care at any facility eligible to receive reimbursement through CMS.  The 30 day waiting period and 40 mile distance provisions currently in the Choice program would be waived for mental health care needs.  A veteran would simply use their Choice card to receive mental health care immediately without having to jump through additional bureaucratic hoops. We face a crisis involving Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and other mental health disorders among our veterans.  Every day 22 veterans commit suicide, and 17 of these victims never pursued mental health care from a VA facility for various reasons.  With some veterans, there may be a fear of a stigma about receiving mental health care at a VA hospital or clinic.  We believe it will increase the number of those who utilize care if they can access it in a more confidential low key manner at a private off campus location. Regardless of the reasons, our veterans need to be able to immediately access mental health care from any provider within or outside of the VA with ease.  If a veteran is experiencing mental distress, he or she should not have to go to a VA facility to seek mental health treatment if they aren’t comfortable doing so.  They should be allowed to seek treatment at the most comfortable and convenient location. If you would like to more information on this bill or would like to cosponsor please contact Jeff Brabant (Jeff.Brabant@mail.house.gov) in Rep. MacArthur’s office at (202) 225-4765 or Aaron Woolf (Aaron.Woolf@mail.house.gov) or Davin Combs (Davin.Combs@mail.house.gov) in Rep. O’Rourke’s office at (202) 225-4831. Sincerely,                                                                            Sincerely, Tom MacArthur                                                                    Beto O’Rourke Member of Congress                                                            Member of Congress''
''Support Baseball Diplomacy Current Cosponsors: Rangel, Meeks, Polis, McCollum, McDermott, Cohen, McGovern, Grijalva, Farr, Waters, Lee Dear Colleague: As we continue to rethink our fifty years of failed policy towards Cuba, I would urge you to support H.R. 738, the Baseball Diplomacy Act. This bill draws on a shared passion for baseball to bring the people of the United States and Cuba closer together. Under current law, Cuban baseball players must renounce their citizenship, denounce their government, and abandon their families in order to play professional sports in the United States. The Baseball Diplomacy Act would eliminate these barriers and allow Cuban players to enter the United States on non-immigrant visas for the duration of the season to play baseball and then return to Cuba with their earnings when the season had ended. Opening the door to Cuban baseball players will help relations between Cuba and the United States at the personal level. The Cuban players would be able to participate in the great melting pot of professional baseball and learn about the United States first hand, while Americans would get to experience the great talent of Cuban players. The Baseball Diplomacy Act does not change other aspects of our relationship with Cuba or alter other existing laws on immigration.  It merely offers Cuban baseball players the same opportunities as athletes from other countries, by allowing them to get visas for the duration of the baseball season and to return home for the off-season. If you would like more information or would like to cosponsor H.R. 738, please contact Angel Nigaglioni at ext. 5-4361 or via email at angel.nigaglioni@mail.house.gov.             Sincerely,                                     /s/                                     José E. Serrano                                     Member of Congress''
''Congressional Staff Briefing TODAY 11:00 AM Rayburn 2103 Autism spectrum disorder is a neurodevelopment disorder.  Individuals with autism may experience difficulties in social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication and demonstrate repetitive or disruptive behaviors. According to the CDC autism affects 1 in 68 American children.  Research shows this increase is only partly due to improved diagnosis and awareness.  It is estimated that 1 out of 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls are diagnosed with autism in the United States.  Additionally it is estimated that over 3 million individuals in the United States have autism.  These staggering numbers indicate a crisis we will have to face as these children become adults. The goal of educating an individual with autism is to prepare the individual for employment and independent living. When it comes to education, what options does a student with autism spectrum disorder have? It really depends on the severity of the autism spectrum disorder. The biggest factor that almost all children with autism need, no matter what type of school they are in, is a structured learning environment. Students with autism learn at their own pace and must have customized learning plans to help them reach their highest potential. Many times, children with autism undergo one-on-one learning with teachers and paraprofessionals. While families struggling with autism spectrum disorder face a variety of hurdles, one of the greatest and most difficult challenges is finding an appropriate educational program. According to the NY Times, there are going to be half a million children with autism in the next 10 years who will become adults.  Services for adults with autism exist, but unlike school services, they are not mandated, and there are fewer of them.  Combined with shrinking government budgets, the challenges are daunting.  Educationally appropriate and essentially based programming for students and young adults with autism spectrum disorder is the next pioneering step to ensure a hopeful future for these young lives. Please invite your health and education legislative staff to attend an informational congressional staff briefing.  You will hear from educators, parents and alumni. This is the next conversation on autism you don’t want to miss! Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel Member of Congress''
''Dear Congressional Staff, By now you should have received an invitation to a lunch briefing from the National Security Network on the P5+1 negotiations with Iran on Thursday, April 2nd from 12:00-1pm in Rayburn 2226. As you know, the deadline for a framework agreement is approaching; the National Security Network and the National Iranian American Council will host a panel discussion with key experts who will discuss the current state of play in the negotiations and the contours for a good final deal between Iran and the P5+1, including a readout from Lausanne, regional reactions, and terms on sanctions relief and Iran’s permitted nuclear output.  Please RSVP using this link: http://bit.ly/1F1qncF For Hill staffers only. No interns please. Lunch will be provided.  Progress Report: The State of Play in a Final Deal with Iran Thursday April 2nd, 12:00-1:00 pm National Security Network and the National Iranian American Council cordially invite you to a briefing, Progress Report: The State of Play in a Final Deal with Iran Thursday April 2nd, 12:00-1:00 pm Rayburn House Office Building Room 2226 featuring remarks by Reza Marashi, Research Director, National Iranian American Council Kelsey Davenport, Director of Non-Proliferation Policy, Arms Control Association Elizabeth Rosenberg, Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy, Economics and Security Program, Center for a New American Security moderated by John Bradshaw, Executive Director, National Security Network Lunch will be provided. Speaker Biographies John Bradshaw J.D.,is the Executive Director of the National Security Network. Prior to joining NSN, Bradshaw served as the Executive Director of the Enough Project at the Center for American Progress. Bradshaw served as Washington Director of Physicians for Human Rights. He also worked as a Senior Advisor at the Open Society Policy Center. Previously, Bradshaw was a Foreign Service Officer, serving in Venezuela, Brazil, and Burma, as well as in the State Department’s East Asia and Human Rights bureaus. He also served as a foreign policy advisor to Senator Paul Wellstone and to Senator Robert Torricelli, both members of the Foreign Relations Committee. Earlier in his career, he was a Peace Corps volunteer in the Philippines. Kelsey Davenport is the Director for Nonproliferation Policy at the Arms Control Association, where she provides research and analysis on the nuclear and missile programs in Iran, North Korea, India, and Pakistan and on nuclear security issues. Kelsey also reports on developments in these areas for Arms Control Today. Kelsey joined the Arms Control Association in August 2011 as the Herbert Scoville Jr. Peace Fellow. Prior to coming to the Arms Control Association, Kelsey worked for a think tank in Jerusalem researching regional security issues and track II diplomatic negotiations. Reza Marashi joined NIAC in 2010 as the organization’s first Research Director.  He came to NIAC after four years in the Office of Iranian Affairs at the U.S. Department of State.  Prior to his tenure at the State Department, he was an analyst at the Institute for National Strategic Studies (INSS) covering China-Middle East issues, and a Tehran-based private strategic consultant on Iranian political and economic risk. Marashi is frequently consulted by Western governments on Iran-related matters.  His articles have appeared in The New York Times, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, and The Atlantic, among other publications. He has been a guest contributor to CNN, NPR, the BBC, TIME Magazine, The Washington Post, and the Financial Times, among other broadcast outlets. Elizabeth Rosenberg is a Senior Fellow and Director of the Energy, Economics and Security Program at the Center for a New American Security. From May 2009 through September 2013, Ms. Rosenberg served as a Senior Advisor at the U.S. Department of the Treasury, to the Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing and Financial Crimes, and then to the Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence.  In these senior roles she helped to develop and implement financial and energy sanctions.  Key initiatives she helped to oversee include the tightening of global sanctions on Iran. From 2005 to 2009 Ms. Rosenberg was an energy policy correspondent at Argus Media in Washington D.C. +''
''Dear Colleague,                                                    We urge you to become a cosponsor of H.R. 1088, the Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015, provides necessary assistance for American workers and firms that have been injured by increased competition in the global marketplace through the end of 2020. The U.S. manufacturing, service, farming, and fishing sectors have been hit hard with declines in employment, and these industries need support to remain competitive.  Additionally, due to a lapse in reauthorization of the full program, TAA expired for thousands of service industry workers affected by trade.  It also expired  for workers losing their jobs due to shifts in production to certain foreign countries, such as China; it is currently only available if the job loss is due to trade with a country with which we have a free trade agreement, or that is a beneficiary of a preference program.  This distinction cannot be justified.  Although Congress included a short-term TAA extension in the omnibus bill last year, the statutory authority for the program expires entirely at the end of this fiscal year.  Congress created the TAA program in 1962 in response to the loss of jobs among hard-working Americans as a result of increasing global competition as well as to promote American competitiveness.  TAA benefits have several components: training assistance, income support while in training, and job search and relocation assistance.  Additional programs assist farmers fishermen, and firms with the development and implementation of business plans to enable them to regain a competitive foothold, along with financial support to execute those plans. The Trade Adjustment Assistance Act of 2015 would ensure that TAA eligibility is available to workers and firms in the services and manufacturing sectors, workers whose firms shift production to (or are adversely affected by imports from) FTA and non-FTA countries, U.S. suppliers of component parts, public sector workers, and farmers and fishermen.  This bill also invests in American workers and companies by restoring comprehensive levels of benefits in areas such as job training, case management, income support, and job search and relocation allowances that are critical to workers adversely affected by increased global competition.   Our legislation will help American workers and companies receive the assistance they need to strengthen our workforce and industries to be better equipped to compete in the 21st century economy. For more information, or to become a cosponsor, please contact Mina Garcia at Mina.Garcia@mail.house.gov or at 68456. Sincerely, /s/                                                                                       /s/ SANDER LEVIN                                                                  ADAM SMITH Member of Congress                                                        Member of Congress''
''CLOSING COB TODAY Supported by: National Congress of American Indians (NCAI) and National American Indian Housing Council Dear colleague: Please join us in supporting robust funding for the Indian Home Loan Guarantee Program (Section 184) and the Indian Housing Block Grants (IHBG) at the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) by signing the below letter to the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Subcommittee. While we face housing needs across the nation, the problem is particularly acute in Indian Country, where between 2002 and 2012 the number of overcrowded households increased 14% and the number of households with severe housing costs increased 47%. Overcrowding in housing, meaning more than one individual occupies each livable room, is significantly higher on American Indian reservations and trust lands than the national average. Among other negative impacts, overcrowding fosters an increase in domestic violence and poor performance in school. A decent, stable, and safe home is critical to family health and individual success. Congress has rightly placed great value on housing, and the Section 184 and IHBG programs are the primary vehicle for making homeownership and affordable housing available to American Indian and Alaska Native communities. If you have any questions or would like to sign on, please contact Scott Rasmussen at scott.rasmussen@mail.house.gov (Huffman) or Seth Dawson at seth.dawson@mail.house.gov (Heck). Sincerely, JARED HUFFMAN                                         DENNY HECK Member of Congress                                         Member of Congress March XX, 2015 Dear Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price: We are writing to thank you for your previous support for the Indian Housing Loan Guarantee program (Section 184) as well as the Indian Housing Block Grant (IHBG) and to urge the Subcommittee to allocate robust funding for these critical programs in the FY 2016 Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations bill. These programs are the primary vehicle for encouraging homeownership and making decent housing available to American Indian and Alaska Native communities and extending the success, independence, and health benefits that come with healthy and sustainable housing. While we face housing needs across the nation, the problem is particularly acute in Indian Country, where between 2002 and 2012 the number of overcrowded households increased 14% and the number of households with severe housing costs increased 47%. Overcrowding in housing, meaning more than one individual occupies each livable room, is significantly higher on American Indian reservations and trust lands than the national average. Among other negative impacts, overcrowding can foster an increase in domestic violence and poor performance in school. A decent, stable, and safe home is critical to family health and individual success. The IHBG program enables tribes to provide housing that meet unique and diverse circumstances. These funds, which are often leveraged to make a greater impact, support a variety of activities including new construction, rehabilitation, modernization, weatherization and energy efficiency improvement, and crime prevention, among others. In FY 2015, it’s estimated that IHBG funds will be utilized to construct 1,874 new units and rehabilitate 3,921 units. Additionally, American Indians living on reservations or off-reservation trust land face unique challenges in accessing mortgage capital. Because land held in trust for a tribe cannot be encumbered or alienated, private lenders have traditionally refrained from marketing loans to native communities. A 2007 independent report made this clear, stating, “Based on our discussions with tribes and lenders, most potential borrowers did not have access to mortgage lending before Section 184 became available.” Since it was authorized in 1992, the program has leverage relatively minimal federal investment to provide over 20,000 families with first time access to mortgage capital and homeownership. The program plays a key role in promoting sustainable and healthy communities. Last year, the House acted to reauthorize the Native American Housing Assistance and Self-Determination Act to ensure American Indian and Alaska Native communities can continue to meet local housing needs. We appreciate the Subcommittee’s support for these housing programs in the past and urge robust support for these programs in FY2016. We look forward to working with you to ensure continued support for the Section 184 and IHBG programs. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,''
''***CLOSING TODAY*** Appropriations Request to the Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science Deadline: COB Friday, March 20th Please join us in cosigning the letter below to support robust funding for critical National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) marine fishery data and resource management programs. A thriving fishing industry is a vital component to improving our American economy. In order to maintain healthy fisheries, it is crucial to fund programs and initiatives that are designed to ensure sustainable fisheries and rebuild overfished stocks. This letter highlights several key NOAA programs designed to protect and promote fisheries, and we urge that they be funded at the levels necessary to effectively implement each program. NOAA funds a variety of programs, grants, and organizations that maintain marine fishery data and resource management programs. These programs include the Inter-jurisdictional Fisheries Act Grants, which was established by Congress to promote and encourage state activities in support of the management of inter-jurisdictional fishery resources throughout their ranges. Other key programs include Fishery Information Networks like PACFIN, AKFIN, and RECFIN, which supply commercial and recreational fisheries data to help manage annual fishing seasons. Additionally, continued funding for Regional Councils and Commissions is critical as they implement and revise fishery management plans and monitor management regimes that help maintain sustainable inter-jurisdictional fisheries. Of particular concern are our nation’s dwindling salmon populations. Salmon are an important source of food, recreation, jobs, cultural identity, and social tradition. These iconic fish are synonymous with pristine water, rich landscapes, healthy environments, and a thriving natural resource economy. Record landings of wild salmon in 2013—up 68 percent from 2012—are evidence that NMFS’ salmon management programs are working, but as long as several salmon populations remain endangered, these programs are in need of strong, sustained support. To ensure that our fishing populations do not become depleted, commercial and recreational fishing data collection programs, stock assessments, and research need to be a priority. Please join us in ensuring that our NOAA marine fishery data and resource management programs remain operational by urging robust funding for these proposed programs. To cosign this letter, please contact Katie Westfall (Rep. Huffman) or Allison Colden (Rep. Thompson) by Friday, March 20th, 2014. Sincerely, Jared Huffman                                                  Mike Thompson MEMBER OF CONGRESS                            MEMBER OF CONGRESS TEXT OF LETTER BELOW The Honorable John Culberson                               The Honorable Chaka Fattah Chairman                                                                 Ranking Member Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science         Subcommittee on Commerce-Justice-Science H-309, the Capitol                                                   1016 Longworth Building Washington, D.C. 20515                                         Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Fattah: We request your assistance to provide adequate levels of funding for fiscal year (FY) 2016 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) marine fishery data and resource management programs through the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS). Fisheries conservation and management requirements have increased substantially since the last reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Conservation and Management Act (MSA). The fishery management councils and NOAA Fisheries have imposed a variety of restrictions designed to ensure sustainable fisheries and rebuild overfished stocks. Reductions in harvest quotas to avoid bycatch of overfished stocks and vast closed areas to protect both fish stocks and their habitats have been implemented. Progress on ocean and fisheries initiatives has been slowed by the sheer amount of scientific knowledge needed to provide conservation while allowing sustainable commercial and recreational harvests to occur on healthy fish populations. For FY 2016, NOAA is proposing structural changes to NMFS Operations, Research, and Facilities (ORF) budget accounts. Many accounts have been grouped into one broader Programs, Projects, and Activities (PPA) category. These proposed changes are reflected in our requests. We would like to provide the following views and comments on core NOAA marine programs: PPA: Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions: The Regional Fishery Management Councils (“RFMC”) are the workhorses of the Federal regulatory process for marine fisheries. Each RFMC is working to revise fishery management plans under its jurisdiction to end overfishing and rebuild fish stocks. This line item also funds the Atlantic Coastal Cooperative Fisheries Management Act, a fisheries management program directed at inter-jurisdictional fisheries on the East Coast and administered by the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission. The three Interstate Marine Fisheries Commissions funded annually within this account to assist the States, NOAA Fisheries and the Councils develop and monitor management regimes for fisheries that are inter-jurisdictional in nature. We support $33,470,000 specifically for Regional Councils and Fisheries Commissions. Inter-Jurisdictional Fisheries Act (IJFA) Grants (see below) are also proposed to be included in this PPA, bringing the total for the Regional Councils and Fisheries Commission to $35,975,000. Inter-Jurisdictional Fisheries Act Grants: The IJFA was established by Congress to promote state activities in support of the management of inter-jurisdictional fishery resources throughout their range. The IJFA supports the monitoring and assessment programs of the States and Interstate Commissions, as well as funding for research to gauge the health of commercially and recreationally important fish stocks. The IJFA is a matching grant program. Funds received by the States are matched on a dollar-for-dollar basis. This is a successful example of an effective and affordable federal/state partnership designed specifically for the management of nearshore fisheries with inter-jurisdictional boundaries. These funds are also used to combat the spread of marine invasive species. Congress appropriated $2,500,000 in FY 2015 for the Inter-Jurisdictional Fisheries Act (“IJFA”) Grants to States Program, restoring this program after cuts in FY 2011 and 2012. We support the FY 2016 request of $2,505,000, which accounts for slight inflationary increases, to maintain this important collaboration between the Federal Government and the States. PPA: Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments Fish Information Networks: The key data programs for the Nation are funded through the Fishery Information Networks. These include the commercial fishery data program for the West Coast (“PACFIN”); the commercial fishery data program for the North Pacific (“AKFIN”); and the recreational fishery data program (“RECFIN”). These are joint federal-state programs designed to collect, assimilate, and distribute baseline fisheries data. The information is used by the North Pacific and Pacific Fishery Management Councils, NOAA Fisheries, the West Coast States, and the U.S.-Canada Pacific Salmon Commission to manage annual fishing seasons. We recommend funding at the FY 2016 request of $22,080,000. Expand Annual Stock Assessments—Improve Data Collection: The fishery stock assessment account funds the collection of adequate and timely fishery dependent data, a Federal obligation strengthened by the Congress when it reauthorized the MSA. We recommend full funding of the FY 2016 budget request of $73,749,000. PPAs: Fisheries Data Collections, Surveys, and Assessments and Habitat Management and Restoration Survey and Monitoring Projects: These are long-term, extended time series stock assessments used to manage fisheries throughout the Nation. For the West Coast, these include West Coast groundfish; the Alaska crab fisheries; Alaska pollock and groundfish, rockfish, halibut, and sablefish. Both the Pacific Fishery Management Council and the North Pacific Fishery Management Council rely upon these fishery surveys to determine annual catch limits and monitor the health of these stocks. We support the FY 2016 requested level of $24,503,000. PPA: Habitat Conservation and Restoration Habitat Conservation and Restoration: These programs support efforts to protect and restore coastal and marine habitat to rebuild commercial and recreational fisheries, recover species, and improve the resiliency of coastal communities. Habitat loss and degradation directly threaten the sustainability of our nation’s fisheries and the communities that depend on a healthy coast. Funding for habitat restoration directly confronts these challenges. This includes the Community-based Restoration Program (“CBRP”). Through public-private collaboration with states, localities, citizens’ organizations, businesses, and colleges and universities, CBRP accomplishes on-the-ground projects to restore the nation’s coastal, marine, and migratory fish habitat. We recommend that Habitat Conservation and Restoration be funded at the very least at the FY 2016 request level of $57,885,000, with a minimum of $25,877,000 to maintain level restoration funding for the Community-based Restoration Program (including Coastal Ecosystem Resiliency Grants). Program: Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund (PCSRF): The States of Oregon, Washington, California, Alaska, and Idaho must submit projects on a competitive basis to promote the recovery and sustainability of wild salmon and steelhead stocks. Projects supported by the PCSRF have improved management practices and increased the availability and quality of salmon and steelhead habitat. We believe that the conservation benefits realized by PCSRF projects justify the base funding amount of $65,000,000 contained in the FY 2015 appropriations bill and urge that this amount be appropriated in FY 2016 as well. PPA: ESA Salmon Pacific and Atlantic Salmon: Within the Protected Species Research Program, $60,000,000 was appropriated for Pacific Salmon and $5,500,000 to Atlantic Salmon in FY 2015. This program strives to recover and sustain all threatened and endangered salmon populations to maintain healthy ecosystems. We urge that this program be funded at the requested levels of $62,338,000 and $6,163,000 for Pacific and Atlantic salmon, respectively. PPA: Salmon Management Salmon Management: This account supports many important salmon management activities on the West Coast and Alaska. These activities include but are not limited to the operation and maintenance of the Mitchell Act hatcheries; the mark and coded wire tag programs; the Pacific Salmon Treaty and the Chinook Salmon Agreement; and ongoing work to establish a genetic stock identification database. We support funding for this program at the amount of $33,200,000. This represents an increase of $3,000,000 over current funding but only partially restores a cut of $6,000,000 from FY 2013 levels. The increase will help meet obligations faced by the Pacific Salmon Commission as well growing demands on the Mitchell Act hatchery system to meet production goals while implementing hatchery reforms. We appreciate your support for the NOAA Fisheries marine resource conservation and data management programs. We ask that you strongly support these budget items as part of your efforts to produce a Commerce-Justice-Science appropriations bill for FY 2016. Signed, Jared Huffman                                                  Mike Thompson MEMBER OF CONGRESS                            MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''DEADLINE: 12 pm on Monday, March 23rd Current Signers (12): Engel, Clarke, Hastings, Meeks, Pierluisi, Jackson Lee, Lewis, Rangel, Gutierrez, Brown, Sires, Waters Dear Colleague: We write to ask you to join us in sending a letter to Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey requesting that $64 million in funding be provided for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) in the FY 2016 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill.  While CBSI received approximately $64 million in FY 2015, the President requested $53.5 million for FY 2016. Given the Caribbean’s location between the drug-producing nations of South America and our country (which unfortunately creates a large portion of the demand for illegal drugs), the region is particularly susceptible to the drug trade.  CBSI has been crucial in helping our partners in the Caribbean improve their capacity to combat crime and violence.  We believe that maintaining CBSI funding in FY 2016 at the FY 2015 level is essential. Please join us in signing onto this letter (text below) by contacting Eric Jacobstein with Rep. Engel by 12 pm on Monday, March 23rd.  Thank you very much for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Eliot L. Engel Ranking Member House Committee on Foreign Affairs Yvette Clarke Member of Congress Alcee Hastings Member of Congress Gregory W. Meeks Member of Congress Text of Letter: Dear Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey: As you prepare the Fiscal Year 2016 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill, we write to urge you to provide $64 million in funding for the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI).  While CBSI received approximately $64 million in FY 2015, the President requested $53.5 million for FY 2016.  Given the Caribbean’s location between the drug-producing nations of South America and our country (which unfortunately creates a large portion of the demand for illegal drugs), the region is particularly susceptible to the drug trade.  CBSI has been crucial in helping our partners in the Caribbean improve their capacity to combat crime and violence.  We believe that maintaining CBSI funding in FY 2016 at the FY 2015 level is essential. At the 2009 Summit of the Americas, President Obama announced the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative.  From FY 2010 through FY 2014, an estimated $327 million in CBSI funding provided key support in five main areas: (1) maritime and aerial security cooperation; (2) law enforcement capacity building; (3) border/port security and firearms interdiction; (4) justice sector reform; and (5) crime prevention and programs for at-risk youth. Drug trafficking organizations continue to shift to the Caribbean making CBSI more important than ever.  In its January 2015 Caribbean Border Counternarcotics Strategy, the Office of National Drug Control Policy explains this phenomenon: “Enhanced enforcement efforts along the Central America/Mexico corridor and on the U.S. Southwest border as well as the ongoing violence between rival transnational criminal organizations in Mexico may be contributing to the shift to more efficient, presumably less troublesome Caribbean routes.” In addition, according to the Congressional Research Service (CRS), crime and violence is on the rise in the Caribbean.  CRS reports that “Homicide rates in several Caribbean countries have increased in recent years because of gangs and organized crime, competition between drug trafficking organizations, and the availability of firearms.” The Caribbean Basin Security Initiative provides a great deal of bang for its buck for U.S. taxpayers.  We urge you to provide $64 million for CBSI in the FY 2016 Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations bill.  We greatly appreciate your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Require the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service Proposed Rule to Increase Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Fees to Undergo Negotiated Rulemaking *This is a Language Request* Closing TODAY, Friday, March 20 Bipartisan cosponsors: Frederica S. Wilson, Mario Diaz-Balart, Corrine Brown, Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Kevin Cramer, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Lois Frankel, Alcee L. Hastings, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Sheila Jackson Lee, William R. Keating, Carlos Curbelo, Bradley Byrne, Julia Brownley, Ted Deutch, Sanford D. Bishop, Jr., Vern Buchanan, Endorsed by: American Association of Port Authorities, National Pest Management Association, Cruise Lines International Association, Florida Ports Council, Florida Chamber of Commerce, Latin American Business Association, Cargo Airline Association, Canadian/American Border Trade Alliance, National Industrial Transportation League, Wasserman & Associates, PortMiami, Express Delivery and Logistics Association, United States Great Lakes Shipping Association, Broward County’s Port Everglades, Florida Perishables Trade Coalition, Florida Customs Brokers & Forwarders Association, Maritime Exchange for the Delaware River and Bay, Peruvian Asparagus Importers Association, Diamond State Port Corporation/Port of Wilmington, Delaware Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending a letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies to prohibit spending of funds for the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) rule to increase Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection (AQI) fees until the proposal undergoes a negotiated rulemaking process. Overall, the proposed rule increases AQI fees by $530.6 million. While we recognize the importance of safeguarding against invasive pests, we are very concerned with the fact that APHIS did not properly engage stakeholders and has not conducted a thorough review of the potential impact to U.S. trade and commerce. Please join us in supporting port-related businesses such as importers, commercial truckers, cargo and passenger vessels, and aircraft. For more information and to sign on to this letter, please contact Kyle Johnson (kyle.johnson@mail.house.gov) in Congresswoman Wilson’s office, or Miguel Mendoza (miguel.mendoza@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Diaz-Balart’s office. Sincerely, Frederica S. Wilson                                                     Mario Diaz-Balart Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress March 23, 2015 Honorable Robert B. Aderholt, Chairman Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies 2362 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Sam Farr, Ranking Member Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies 1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Farr, We write to express concerns about the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) pending rulemaking increasing Agricultural Quarantine Inspection (AQI) fees. According to APHIS, the proposal increases AQI user fees by $530.6 million, much of which will be borne by small, port-related businesses such as importers, commercial truckers, cargo and passenger vessels, and aircraft.  The proposed rule increases AQI fees for commercial trucks by 52 percent, commercial trucks with transponders by 205 percent, commercial vessels by 66 percent, and commercial aircraft by 218 percent.  It also establishes a $375 per pest treatment fee, a $2 fee for each international cruise passenger, and lifts the fee caps for commercial trucks, vessels, and railcars.  For example, under the proposal a commercial cargo vessel with a weekly call to the U.S. from the Caribbean would pay $42,900, which is nearly five times the current fee.  Furthermore, some cruise vessels could pay as much as $600,000 annually. While we recognize that APHIS has not raised fees in 10 years and that it is vital to safeguard our borders from destructive invasive pests, APHIS did not thoroughly review the potential impact to U.S. trade and commerce and also failed to engage stakeholders in the development of the rule.  As a result, we are worried that jobs will be lost and affected industries will suffer. Therefore, we ask that the committee prohibit the use of FY ‘16 appropriations or any APHIS generated fees for implementing the proposed rule until such time as APHIS negotiates a more workable proposal with all impacted stakeholders pursuant to negotiated rulemaking procedures. Bill Language Request: Department of Agriculture—SEC. __. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used to finalize, implement, administer, or enforce the proposed rule entitled “User Fees for Agricultural Quarantine and Inspection Services”, published by the Department of Agriculture in the Federal Register on April 25, 2014 (79 Fed. Reg. 22895 et seq.), except in compliance with the procedures described in subchapter III of chapter 5 of title 5, United States Code. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely, Frederica S. Wilson                                                     Mario Diaz-Balart Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Deadline: Monday, March 23, 2015   Dear Colleague: I invite you to join me in sending the letter below in support of funding for Education Technology State Grants, which would help educators better leverage technology and data to provide high-quality college- and career-ready instruction that meets the needs of all students. In an age when high-speed broadband is transforming almost every aspect of our lives, we must extend digital opportunities to every classroom. While technology is a valuable resource in increasing access and opportunity in education, technology alone cannot improve student learning. That’s why this program would ensure that teachers and principals have the tools and resources to use technology effectively. The Educational Technology State Grants program would provide funds to states and school districts to provide support and professional development for educators to select and use technology in transformative ways that improve student outcomes. Funds could be used for: using technology to increase family engagement and teacher collaboration; offering greater access to effective and experienced teachers; using real-time data to personalize student learning; providing teachers in rural and high needs areas with virtual coaching; providing online advanced or “hard-to-staff” course offerings to students when schools cannot provide them. This program will help educators overcome obstacles and ensure that every student has access to a quality education, regardless of race, geography, or income. To sign on, please contact Bo Morris in my office at bo.morris@mail.house.gov.   Sincerely,   Jared Polis                               Member of Congress   ___________________________________________________________________________________   March 26, 2015     Representative Tom Cole                                           Representative Rosa DeLauro Chairman                                                                  Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education             Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, and Education U.S. House Committee on Appropriations                   U.S. House Committee on Appropriations 2358-B Rayburn House Office Building                       1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515                                             Washington, DC 20515     Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro: As you prepare the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2016, we ask that you include $200 million for  Education Technology State Grants to assist States and local educational agencies to better leverage technology and utilize data to provide high-quality college- and career-ready instruction that meets the needs of all students. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has adopted changes to improve and modernize the E-rate program. As a result, a one-time $2 billion investment and a yearly $1.5 billion increase (plus an additional $2 billion in private sector contributions) will be provided to states and local districts to connect 99 percent of classrooms and students with high-speed broadband within five years. As critical as this investment is, this funding is limited to supporting connectivity and cannot be used to support teacher training or professional development on the effective use of technology to improve learning.   In order to maximize the FCC investment, Education Technology State Grants would provide the resources and support needed to ensure teachers and school leaders are prepared to use the technology effectively. Thoughtful use of technology can personalize instruction for struggling students and provide students in isolated and underserved areas with access to rigorous courses and high quality digital resources. Technology can also help teachers discover and share high-quality, open digital learning resources and content; identify and use a wide range of devices and digital tools, use real-time data to personalize learning; increase engagement with families and other teachers; and provide teachers in rural areas or specialized subjects with virtual coaching in advanced or hard-to-staff course offerings. Education Technology State Grants would provide formula funds to States and competitive subgrants from the States to school districts to support professional development aimed at coupling technology with student data to improve student outcomes. This critical funding will help teachers and leaders receive the support and professional development they need to select and use technology in transformative ways that will provide every child with a quality education, regardless of race, class, or geography. Thank you for your consideration of this request.   Sincerely,''
''Support the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Deadline: COB March 18 Current Signers: Vargas, Ellison, Pingree, Bordallo, Hastings (FL), Swalwell, Jackson Lee, McGovern, Welch, Sires, Takai, Schakowsky, Cardenas, Waters, Clark, DeLauro, Veasey, Blumenauer, Lewis, Rangel, Butterfield, Norton, Pascrell, Beatty, Langevin, Pocan, Tsongas, Keating, Chu, Higgins, Clarke, Engel, Brady (PA), Thompson (CA), Nadler, Capps, Lujan Grisham, Van Hollen, D. Davis (IL), Loebsack, Grayson, Gabbard, Scott (VA), Sarbanes, Kirkpatrick, Doyle, Al Green (TX), McNerney, Lowenthal, Lee, Takano, Speier, Ruiz, Conyers, Capuano, Walz, Lo. Sanchez (CA), Rush, Vela, Deutch, Plaskett, Richmond, Beyer, Li. Sanchez (CA), Bishop, Brown, Cicilline, Peters, Cartwright, Grijalva, Cohen, EB Johnson FY 2015 Signers: Brady (PA), Payne, Langevin, Wasserman Schultz, Cicilline, Wilson (FL), Speier, Lujan Frisham, Thompson (CA), Pallone, Richmond, Pocan, Keating, Kildee, Kirkpatrick, Lewis, Hahn, Veasey, Beatty, Connolly, Grayson, Vela, McGovern, Bonamici, Swalwell, Gabbard, Brownley, Barber, Walz, McDermott, Blumenauer, Scott (VA), McNerney, Pierluisi, Becerra, Schwartz, Levin, Costa, Pingree, Ruiz, Carney, Bera, Capuano, Cartwright, Kilmer, Garcia (FL), Takano, Cardenas, Grijalva, Davis (CA), Loebsack, Shea-Porter, Vargas, Tsongas, Huffman, Negrete McLeod, Van Hollen, O’Rourke, Clark, Nadler, Brown, Lynch, Holmes Norton, D. Davis (IL), Jackson Lee, Capps, Cummings, Tierney, Johnson (GA), Ellison, Moore, Moran, Smith (WA), Lee, Fattah, Welch, Butterfield, Sires, McCarthy (NY), Clarke, Hastings (FL), Rangel, Schakowsky, Pascrell, Cohen, DeLauro, Ruppersberger, Li. Sanchez (CA), Conyers, Bishop (GA), Bordallo, Sarbanes, Edwards, Carson, Israel, Higgins, Johnson (TX), Slaughter Dear Colleague: Please join me in a letter urging the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee to restore funding for the HOME Investment Partnerships program (HOME) to its FY 2011 funding level of $1.6 billion in FY 2016. HOME funding is a vital resource for communities working to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals in need of supportive housing, including veterans, persons with disabilities, seniors and persons experiencing homelessness. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the program allows states and localities to respond to their most pressing housing needs. Among its numerous eligible uses, HOME can provide gap financing that is critical to the creation and provision of affordable housing for the families who need it the most. HOME is currently funded at $900 million, a 44 percent decrease from its FY 2011 funding level and less than half its FY 2004 appropriation. Restoring HOME funding is necessary to address the growing need for affordable housing especially at a time when the Center for Housing Policy reports nearly one in four working households spends more than half its income on housing costs. The housing industry has and will continue to play a major role in our economic recovery. HOME funding needs to be restored to improve our economy and ensure Americans have access to affordable housing. Please contact Jacob Gelman (Jacob.Gelman@mail.house.gov) at 5-7032 in my office to sign on to the letter. Sincerely, Marcia L. Fudge Member of Congress _________________________________________________________________ The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart The Honorable David Price Chairman Ranking Member Subcommittee on Transportion, Housing, Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, Urban Development and Related Agencies Urban Development and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations Committee on Appropriations 2358-A Rayburn House Office Building 1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price: As you begin work on the fiscal year (FY) 2016 appropriations process, we respectfully request your consideration of the needs of the millions of low-income households across the United States without access to affordable housing. Specifically, we ask the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (THUD) Appropriations Subcommittee to restore HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) funding to at least its FY 2011 funding level of $1.6 billion for FY 2016. HOME funds serve as a critical resource for communities in all 50 states. It works to meet the needs of low-income families and individuals lacking access to affordable housing, including veterans, persons with disabilities, seniors and those experiencing homelessness. Overseen by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the HOME program allows states and localities the freedom and the flexibility to respond to their most pressing housing needs in the way they see fit. HOME funds can be used in a variety of ways by participating jurisdictions, from rehabilitating owner-occupied housing, to assisting home buyers and developing affordable rental housing, as well as providing tenant-based rental assistance. For FY 2015, HOME was funded at $900 million — a level 44 percent below the FY 2011 enacted level, and a level representing less than half the amount provided for the program in FY 2004. Restoring HOME funding to $1.6 billion must be a part of any effort to address the growing need for affordable housing by the one-in-four working renter households and the one-in-five working homeowners who spend more than half their incomes on housing costs each year. The HOME Program has demonstrated the remarkable ability to attract other monies to its affordable housing projects, leveraging $4.12 of private and public dollars for every $1 of HOME funding expended over the past twenty years. HOME is also a potent job creator, and HUD estimated in 2012 that an appropriation of $1 billion for HOME would create or preserve approximately 17,870 jobs. HOME provides housing assistance in over 580 rural, suburban, and urban communities across the country, in addition to all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Since 1990, HOME has helped to create over 1.1 million housing units and provided tenant-based rental assistance to nearly 275,000 families. The housing industry has and will continue to play a major role in our economic recovery. We urge you to restore HOME program funding to $1.6 billion in order to help improve our economy and ensure every American has access to affordable housing. Sincerely,''
''Support Housing and Foreclosure Counseling Programs Deadline Friday, March 20, 2015, COB Dear Colleague: Please join us in supporting funding for housing and foreclosure counseling programs.  HUD’s Housing Counseling Assistance program and the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling have shown tremendous results in improving access to housing. From 2009 through 2013, these programs helped more than 5 million households avoid foreclosure, assisted nearly 1.1 million renters, and helped over 174,000 homeless Americans in accessing and maintaining access to shelter. Recent research has consistently demonstrated that loans made to borrowers who have received pre-purchase counseling perform better than loans made to comparable borrowers who did not receive pre-purchase counseling.  A 2013 study looked at 75,000 mortgages and found that borrowers who received pre-purchase counseling and education were one-third less likely to become seriously delinquent than similar borrowers who did not receive pre-purchase counseling and education.  Additional studies found that homeowners receiving counseling had higher credit scores, less overall debt and lower delinquency rates.  Expanding access to high-quality pre-purchase counseling provided by HUD-approved agencies will help ensure that the recovery in the housing market is happening in a smart and responsible way. In addition, more than 3.6 million loans were delinquent or in some stage of foreclosure as of January 2015.  Despite the progress made since the peak of the crisis this is still nearly double of the pre-crisis levels.  With more than 7 percent of all mortgages delinquent or in foreclosure, there continues to be a huge pool of homeowners who can benefit from foreclosure mitigation counseling.   Helping these struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure is critical to stabilizing communities, maintaining the burgeoning recovery, and providing investors with better return on their investment than a costly foreclosure. This is a programmatic request. Members are should submit the request online to ensure the Appropriations Committee recognizes your support for the HUD Housing Counseling Assistance Program and Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling funding. Please join us in supporting this critical assistance for American homeowners and families. The deadline to sign on is COB, Friday, March 20. Please contact Erik Sperling at Erik.Sperling@mail.house.gov or extension 5-5126 with questions or to sign on to the letter. Sincerely, John Conyers, Jr.                              Dan Kildee       Member of Congress                        Member of Congress March XX, 2015 The Honorable Mario Diaz-Balart                              The Honorable David Price Chairman                                                                   Ranking Member Subcommittee on Transportation,                              Subcommittee on Transportation Housing and Urban Development,                             Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies                                                and Related Agencies House Committee on Appropriations                         House Committee on Appropriations B-307 Rayburn HOB                                                  1016 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515          Dear Chairman Diaz-Balart and Ranking Member Price: As you consider the fiscal year 2016 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies appropriations, we urge you to support funding for housing and foreclosure counseling programs. We respectfully request that HUD’s Housing Counseling Assistance program be funded at $60 million, which is the same level requested by the President, and that the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) be funded at $50 million. Housing counseling has shown tremendous results in improving access to housing. From 2009 through 2013, the program helped more than 5 million households avoid foreclosure, assisted nearly 1.1 million renters, and helped over 174,000 homeless Americans in accessing and maintaining access to shelter. As we transition from the foreclosure crisis into a recovery of the housing market, it is important that the housing counseling community have the resources to transition from a primary focus on foreclosure prevention counseling to expand its capacity to provide pre-purchase and rental counseling. Access to affordable mortgage credit for well-qualified borrowers is critical to a sustained housing market recovery. Given the necessary resources, housing counseling can be the bridge that connects borrowers to safe, affordable, sustainable mortgages. There are many ways in which housing counseling serves this function, including: Preparing families for sustainable homeownership by understanding their household income and expenses, increasing their savings, and raising their credit score in order to later qualify for an affordable mortgage; Helping borrowers understand different mortgage products and avoid more expensive products if the borrower may qualify for a more affordable mortgage; Connecting households with a broad range of private market  participants, including multiple lenders, real estate agents, home inspectors, and other providers; Helping homeowners avoid predatory loan products; and Educating borrowers on first-time homebuyer and other programs for which they may qualify. Recent research has consistently demonstrated that loans made to borrowers who have received pre-purchase counseling perform better than loans made to comparable borrowers who did not receive pre-purchase counseling.  A 2013 study looked at 75,000 mortgages and found that borrowers who received pre-purchase counseling and education were one-third less likely to become seriously delinquent than similar borrowers who did not receive pre-purchase counseling and education.  Additional studies found that homeowners receiving counseling had higher credit scores, less overall debt and lower delinquency rates.  Expanding access to high-quality pre-purchase counseling provided by HUD-approved agencies will help ensure that the recovery in the housing market is happening in a smart and responsible way. We must bear in mind that more than 3.6 million loans were delinquent or in some stage of foreclosure as of January 2015.  Despite the progress made since the peak of the crisis this is still nearly double of the pre-crisis levels.  With more than 7 percent of all mortgages delinquent or in foreclosure, there continues to be a huge pool of homeowners who can benefit from foreclosure mitigation counseling. Helping these struggling homeowners avoid foreclosure is critical to stabilize communities, maintain the burgeoning recovery, and provide investors with better return on their investment than a costly foreclosure. In addition, as a result of substantial changes to the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage (HECM) product, congressionally-mandated HECM counseling now requires longer counseling sessions and additional counselor training, burdening organizations that provide housing counseling with significant additional costs. Housing Counseling Assistance remains critical for millions of American families and has a proven track record of success.  For many families, the purchase of a home may be one of the most significant financial decisions they make, and housing counseling can arm them to make better and more-informed decisions.  For those who are struggling to avoid foreclosure, it can help them find a way to stay in their homes.  HUD estimates that the requested funding level will leverage at least $296 million in other public and private funding, which will allow HUD-approved housing counseling agencies to assist more than 2 million renters and owners to obtain, maintain, or preserve their homes by making informed choices about their financial and housing options.  As such, we respectfully request $60 million for HUD’s Housing Counseling Assistance program and $50 million for the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation’s National Foreclosure Mitigation Counseling (NFMC) in FY 2016. We thank you for your attention to this matter and look forward to working with you to ensure that all Americans have access to quality, affordable housing. Sincerely,''
''Deadline: COB TOMORROW   Current cosigners (78): Joyce Beatty, Sanford Bishop, Earl Blumenauer, Suzanne Bonamici, Madeleine Bordallo, Robert Brady, G.K. Butterfield, Michael Capuano, Tony Cárdenas, André Carson, Judy Chu, Katherine Clark, Yvette D. Clarke, William Lacy Clay, Emanuel Cleaver, John Conyers, Jim Cooper, Joe Crowley, Elijah Cummings, Danny K. Davis, John Delaney, Rosa DeLauro, Mark DeSaulnier, Ted Deutch, Keith Ellison, Elizabeth Esty, Blake Farenthold, Lois Frankel, Marcia Fudge, Tulsi Gabbard, Alan Grayson, Luis V. Gutiérrez, Alcee Hastings, Denny Heck, Brian Higgins, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Michael Honda, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Hank Johnson, William Keating, Joseph P. Kennedy, Ann McLane Kuster, Jim Langevin, Rick Larsen, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sander Levin, John Lewis, Stephen Lynch, Sean Patrick Maloney, Jim McDermott, James McGovern, Gregory Meeks, Grace Meng, Gwen Moore, Jerrold Nadler, Richard E. Neal, Donald Norcross, Pedro R. Pierluisi, Chellie Pingree, Jared Polis, Charli Rangel, Loretta Sanchez, John Sarbanes, Jan Schakowsky, Robert C. “Bobby” Scott, Terri Sewell, Louise Slaughter, Adam Smith, Mark Takai, Bennie Thompson, Niki Tsongas, Chris Van Hollen, Juan Vargas, Marc Veasey, Filemon Vela, Tim Walz, Peter Welch, John Yarmuth Dear Colleague: I invite you to sign the attached letter urging the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee to fund the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) $486.9 million in the FY 2016 CJS Appropriations bill. LSC is currently funded at just $375 million for FY 2015, an 11% decrease from FY 2010.   For further perspective, consider this: if LSC’s 1995 appropriation of $400 million were adjusted to keep pace with inflation, it would total more than $600 million today. This reduced funding has severely limited LSC’s ability to promote access to justice. According to a 2009 study commissioned by LSC’s Board of Directors, “Documenting the Justice Gap in America,” many LSC grantees turn away half of the people who qualify and seek civil legal assistance due to the lack of resources. State studies consistently show that only 20% of the civil legal needs of the eligible population are being met. Please join me in urging appropriators to fund the Legal Services Corporation $486.9 million, so that more low-income families and individuals may find legal assistance. To sign the letter, please contact Michael Eisenstatt in my office at 5-3265 or michael.eisenstatt@mail.house.gov by 5pm on Wednesday, March 18, 2015. Sincerely, /s/ Steve Cohen Member of Congress DATE The Honorable John Culberson                           The Honorable Chaka Fattah Chairman                                                             Ranking Member Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,                Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice,   Science and Related Agencies                           Science and Related Agencies Committee on Appropriations                                        Committee on Appropriations H-309, The Capitol                                             1016 Longworth House Office Building U.S. House of Representatives                           U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515                                      Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Fattah: As you consider programs that deserve funding, we respectfully request that you fund the Legal Services Corporation (LSC) at $486.9 million in the Fiscal Year (FY) 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. LSC received its largest appropriation of $420 million in FY 2010. LSC is currently funded at $375 million for FY 2015, an 11% decrease from FY 2010. Also, if LSC’s 1995 appropriation of $400 million were adjusted to keep pace with inflation, it would total more than $600 million today. More Americans are eligible for legal aid than ever in LSC’s history. Over 60 million Americans, or 21 % of the U.S. population, currently qualify for legal assistance from LSC funded programs. LSC-funded legal aid programs help constituents who live in households with annual incomes at or below 125% of the federal poverty guidelines – in 2014, $14,588 for an individual and $29,813 for a family of four. Eligible constituents span every demographic and live in rural, suburban, and urban areas. They include veterans and military families, homeowners and renters, families with children, farmers, the disabled, and the elderly. According to a 2009 study commissioned by LSC’s Board of Directors, “Documenting the Justice Gap in America,” many LSC grantees turn away half of the people who qualify and seek civil legal assistance due to the lack of resources. State studies consistently show that only 20% of the civil legal needs of the eligible population are being met. Investment in civil legal aid is one of the most effective ways to help Americans navigate the justice system and help stabilize and grow the nation’s economy. The modest federal contribution to civil legal aid – only 39% of total funding for LSC-supported legal aid programs, and only 25% of all legal aid funding in the United States – is a good investment, allowing millions of Americans to safeguard their basic legal rights at minimal cost. The Conference of Chief Justices (CCJ) of the state Supreme Courts, a non-partisan organization comprised of the Chief Justices and Judges of every state has been a strong advocate of funding for LSC. The CCJ issued a policy paper showing that the large number of unrepresented citizens overwhelming state courts has negative consequences on the effective and efficient operation of the courts. The paper concludes that adequate funding for LSC is necessary to better meet the demand for legal services and to ensure access to justice for all. Congress established LSC to operate as a private, nonprofit corporation to promote equal access to justice and to provide grants for high-quality civil legal assistance to low-income persons and families. LSC distributes more than 90% of its total funding to 134 independent nonprofit legal aid programs that provide legal assistance to low-income individuals and families in every congressional district. Programs that receive LSC grants help the most vulnerable, such as military veterans seeking disability benefits, families facing unlawful evictions or foreclosures, and women seeking protection from abuse. We thank the committee for including $4 million for the new Pro Bono Innovation Fund to support new projects to encourage private attorneys to engage in pro bono service and support pro bono initiatives throughout the country. We urge you to continue to fund this important innovative program to expand access to justice. We hope you will do everything possible to ensure that the Legal Services Corporation receives full funding in the FY 2016 CJS appropriations bill. We urge you to provide $486.9 million to fund LSC to ensure that critical legal assistance will be provided to those in urgent need. Sincerely,''
''UN Peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of the Congo 12pm, Wed, March 18th 1105 Longworth House Office Building Dear Colleague: I am writing to draw your attention to an invitation recently sent to your office by the Better World Campaign regarding an upcoming lunch briefing titled “UN Peacekeeping in the Democratic Republic of the Congo: Successes & Lessons Learned.” The event is scheduled for Wednesday, March 18th from 12:00-1:00 p.m. in Room 1105 of the Longworth House Office Building. The United Nations has renewed efforts to deal with persistent insecurity in the eastern provinces of the DR Congo over the last year, brokering a regional cooperation framework, establishing a special intervention brigade to neutralize armed groups, and authorizing the use of unarmed, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to improve the situational awareness of peacekeepers on the ground. These initiatives have been shepherded under the leadership of Special Representative of the Secretary-General (SRSG) Martin Kobler of MONUSCO, who will be the featured speaker at Wednesday’s briefing. Mr. Kobler has vast experience in shaping international policies in conflict areas, with more than 25 years in the German foreign service and as a senior UN official.  Previously, he served as the Special Representative in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Iraq (UNAMI) and was Deputy Special Representative with the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA). We hope that you will be able to join us for this discussion. If you or a member of your staff is interested in attending, please RSVP at www.etouches.com/DRCBriefing, or call (202) 887-9040 if you have any questions. Sincerely, SAM FARR Member of Congress''
''List of Signees Charles B. Rangel, Jerrold Nadler, Mike Thompson, Sam Farr, Jim Langevin, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Mark Takai, Sheila Jackson Lee, Jan Schakowsky, John Garamendi, Adam B. Schiff, Peter DeFazio, Keith Ellison, John Lewis, Filemon Vela, Steve Cohen, Ben Ray Lujan, Lois Capps, Yvette D. Clarke, Alan Grayson, Earl Blumenauer, Jared Polis, Raul Ruiz, Alan Lowenthal, Elijah E. Cummings, Henry C. “Hank” Johnson, Jr., Diana DeGette, Beto O’Rourke, Matt Cartwright, Debbie Dingell, Gerald E. Connolly, Mike Quigley DEADLINE: March 18, 2015 Dear Colleague: I invite you to join me in signing the attached letter to the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee urging the Subcommittee to provide adequate funding for the National Landscape Conservation System (National Conservation Lands). The National Conservation Lands protect 27 million acres of cultural and natural treasures managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM). They are the crown jewels under the agency’s care that have been designated for protection by Congress and the President. These areas—wild rivers, scenic trails, big game habitat, and unparalleled archaeological and historical resources—protect our national heritage while ensuring outstanding recreational and scientific opportunities. The Conservation Lands protect habitat for numerous endangered species as well significant archaeological communities and historic ranches and homesteads. Gold medal trout fisheries, interpretive trails, whitewater rafting and red rock slot canyons are among the many opportunities the System protects and enhances. The Conservation Lands, permanently established by Congress in 2009, warrant congressional attention to ensure these resources can be preserved in perpetuity while fostering opportunities for economic development, scientific research and outdoor education. These areas enhance public recreation and the quality of life in surrounding communities, attracting a range of tourism related economic activity. They also provide healthy opportunities for young people to engage in volunteerism, assisting the BLM with needed stewardship while training to be the next generation of land managers. This funding will help prevent the loss of irreplaceable landscapes and irreparable damage to our national treasures under the care of the Bureau of Land Management. To join me in signing this letter, or if you have any questions, please contact Daniel Torrez at Daniel.Torrez@mail.house.gov or at (202) 225-6065. Sincerely, Raúl M. Grijalva Ranking Member House Committee on Natural Resources                            March xx, 2014 The Honorable Ken Calvert Chariman Subcommittee on Interior Committee on Appropriations B-308 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Betty McCollum Ranking Member Subcommittee on Interior Committee on Appropriations 1016 Longworth HOB Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum: We write to urge you to provide sufficient funding to properly administer and conserve the 30-million acre National Landscape Conservation System (National Conservation Lands) that contains Bureau of Land Management’s crown jewels, including presidential and congressionally directed National Monuments, Wilderness areas, National Scenic and Historic Trails and National Wild and Scenic Rivers. These areas protect unparalleled natural, cultural and recreational resources in places such as Colorado’s Canyon of the Ancients National Monument, which contains the largest concentration of known archaeological sites in the nation, and Idaho’s Morley Nelson Snake River Birds of Prey National Conservation Area, which protects the densest population of nesting raptors in the country. As you prepare the fiscal year 2016 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to provide the BLM with adequate funding to protect this invaluable system of national treasures under its care. These nationally significant resources provide educational opportunities for thousands of young people each year, opportunities for scientific discovery, and recreational opportunities for hunters, anglers, backpackers, kayakers and others. The System accounts for only 10 percent of the Bureau’s lands, yet accommodates a third of its recreation activity—millions visit system units each year. The System has suffered from significant underfunding since its inception, consistently receiving less than 4 percent of the Bureau’s budget, or less than $3 per acre. BLM staff continues to contend with irreparable resource damage, and managers continue struggle with a range of issues, including but not limited to: a lack of law enforcement staff to ensure visitor safety and curb looting and vandalism of archaeological sites; deteriorating facilities; lack of field staff to ensure scientifically informed management decisions; and insufficient volunteer coordinators who can ensure millions in taxpayer savings through facilitating in-kind donations of volunteer labor. The Conservation Lands offer an exciting opportunity to protect and restore our western heritage for a relatively small investment. We respect that this is a challenging time for our nation’s economy. This modest request does not reflect all of the System’s needs, but would allow management to keep up with inflation and address the highest priority project backlogs, new resource management plans and those nearing the implementation phase, significant increases in visitation and associated management challenges. A small investment in these protected areas can stimulate significant economic growth while also providing important jobs in surrounding communities through the employment of part-time and full-time BLM staff and through short-term projects funded directly by the agency’s contracting authority. These areas can also ensure sustainable local economies by attracting a strong workforce and businesses attracted to the quality of life protected areas offer. This funding will ensure protection of our western heritage—our natural and cultural history—while ensuring long-term economic growth and healthy recreational opportunities for communities throughout the West. We look forward to working with the Subcommittee in the coming months to ensure adequate funding in fiscal year 2016 to protect and restore America’s newest conservation system—the National Conservation Lands.''
''Deadline: TODAY, Tuesday, March 17, 2015 – COB Current Cosigners (106): Langevin, Jackson-Lee, Alcee Hastings, Higgins, Lance, Yarmouth, Bonamici, McGovern, Van Hollen, Grijalva, David Price, Cardenas, Tonko, Takano, Holmes-Norton, Sires, DeFazio, Rangel, Honda, DeLauro, Frankel, Takai, Blumenauer, Farr, Cicilline, Fitzpatrick, Maloney, Gutiérrez, Beatty, Vela, Pocan, DelBene, Walz, Castor, Tsongas, Gabbard, Sablan, Bobby Scott, Heck, Veasey, Cummings, Yvette Clarke, Bordallo, Schakowsky, Frederica Wilson, John Conyers, Matsui, Nadler, Corrine Brown, Cleaver, Loebsack, McDermott, Foster, Grayson, Schiff, Deutch, Vargas, Lujan, Speier, Chu, Doggett, David Scott, Moore, Doyle, Lewis, Ross, Plaskett, Carson, Etsy, Engel, Wasserman-Schultz, Edwards, Hank Johnson, Clark, Scott Peters, Nolan, Al Green, Sarbanes, Kind, Linda Sanchez, Zoe Lofgren, Polis, Adam Smith, Dingell, Cartwright, Meng, Perlmutter, DeGette, Ellison, Welch, Eshoo, McLane-Kuster, Castro, Keating, Peterson, Delaney, Neal, Payne, Brownley, Himes, DeSaulnier, Lowenthal, Lynch, Connolly Dear Colleague: As co-chairs of the Congressional Arts Caucus, we invite you to join us in sending the below letter to Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Calvert in support of funding for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). The letter requests a funding level of up to $154.466 million for the NEA in the FY16 Interior Appropriations bill to support the NEA’s core to strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts engagement. The NEA reached its peak in funding ($176 million) in FY 1992, and has never recovered from a 40 percent budget cut in FY 1996. According to the NEA, for every one dollar we spend on federal arts initiatives we see nine non-federal dollars leveraged, generating roughly $600 million in matching support while at the same time enriching our children and communities with access to the arts they might not otherwise have. Moreover, forty percent of all NEA program funds—approximately $49 million in FY14—is re-granted through state arts agencies. Private support cannot match the leveraging role of government cultural funding. The NEA contributes to the development and economic growth of communities nationwide. In January, the Bureau of Economic Analysis found that the arts and cultural sectors contributes $698 billion to the economy, or 4.32 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, more than construction ($586.7B) or transportation and warehousing ($464.1B). Arts and culture-related industries also create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. These arts businesses represent 3.9 percent of all businesses and 1.9 percent of all employees, respectively. America’s arts and entertainment are also leading exports, with estimates of more than $30 billion annually in overseas sales. At the same time, this industry returns $9.59 billion to the federal government in income taxes. The National Governor’s Association and the U.S. Conference of Mayors recognize the enormous value of the arts in our communities and regional economies by approving resolutions and publishing reports in support of federal arts funding. The American public wants and needs an affordable investment in the arts.  We urge you to join us in supporting a funding level request up to $154.466 million in the FY 2016 Interior Appropriations bill. The deadline to sign onto the letter is COB, Tuesday March 17th. For district-specific information or to sign onto the letter, please contact Jack Spasiano (jack.spasiano@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Slaughter and Michael Taggart (michael.taggart@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Lance. Sincerely, Louise M. Slaughter                                       Leonard Lance Co-Chair, Congressional Arts Caucus               Co-Chair, Congressional Arts Caucus __________________________________________________________________________________ The Honorable Ken Calvert                                              The Honorable Betty McCollum Chairman                                                                     Ranking Member Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and                   Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Related Agencies                                                         2256 Rayburn House Office Building B-308 Rayburn House Office Building                              Washington, DC 20515 Washington, DC 20515                                                            Dear Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum, We urge you to support a funding level of up to $154.466 million for the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) in the Fiscal Year 2016 (FY16) Interior Appropriations bill to support the NEA’s core mission to strengthen the creative capacity of our communities by providing all Americans with diverse opportunities for arts engagement, and in which every community recognizes and celebrates its aspirations and achievements through the arts. The NEA reached its peak funding at $176 million in 1992, and has never fully recovered from a 40 percent budget cut in FY 1996. The Arts Endowment is at the forefront of a national effort to support arts and health in the military.  The NEA/Walter Reed Healing Arts Partnership was established in 2011 to explore how creative arts therapy and arts engagement programs can improve health and well-being in military healthcare settings. The successful partnership supports writing, visual arts, and music arts therapy for patients at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE). In the program, a creative arts therapist works with patients using art therapies to improve communication, externalize and process traumatic events, as well as improve and restore neurological and physical function through non-invasive and cost-efficient treatment. Patients’ feedback at the conclusion of the program described their ability to process trauma through these interventions, and to address and confront issues related to identity, frustrations, transitions, grief, personal insight, cognitive skills and memory. The healing arts program has been so successful, the NEA expanded the partnership in 2013 to bring visual arts therapy and expressive writing activities to military patients at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital’s satellite NICoE center in Virginia. There is a growing demand among military treatment facilities wanting art therapy programs, and with the proposed increase the NEA will be able to bring healing arts program to more of our service members. In addition to supporting our military service members, the NEA contributes to the development and economic growth of our communities. Arts and culture-related industries create jobs, attract investments, generate tax revenues, and stimulate local economies through tourism and consumer purchases. These arts businesses represent 3.9  percent of all businesses and 1.9 percent of all employees, respectively. America’s arts and entertainment are also leading exports, with estimates of more than $30 billion annually in overseas sales. Through a partnership with the Department of Commerce’s Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA), various aspects of the U.S. creative sector were measured. In 2012, the analysis found that the total dollar amount that the arts and culture sector contributes to the U.S. economy is more than $698 billion, or 4.32 percent of the U.S. Gross Domestic Product, more than construction ($586.7B) or transportation and warehousing ($464.1B). Arts and cultural spending has a ripple effect on the overall economy, boosting both commodities and jobs. For example, for every 100 jobs created from new demand for the arts, 62 additional jobs are also created. The BEA analysis also found that 4.7 million workers were employed in the production of arts and cultural goods, receiving $334.9 billion in compensation. Few other federal investments have such a widespread impact and magnifying effect across the entire nation as does the Arts Endowment. According to the NEA, for every one dollar we spend on federal arts initiatives we see nine non-federal dollars leveraged, generating over $600 million in matching support while at the same time enriching our children and communities with access to the arts they might not otherwise have. Moreover, forty percent of all NEA program funds—approximately $49 million in FY14—is re-granted through state arts agencies. Private support cannot match the leveraging role of government cultural funding. The requested level of funding for FY16 will help the NEA maintain its enormously successful programs, including The Big Read, Our Town, Challenge America, The Mayors’ Institute on City Design, The Citizens Institute on Rural Design, Blue Star Museums, Shakespeare in American Communities, Art Works, and Poetry Out Loud, which help the NEA reach every congressional district in the country, serving rural and urban communities; impacting veterans, businesses, and schools.  The NEA awards grants to all 441 Congressional districts. In FY 14, the NEA granted $116.1 million in appropriated funds through 2,276 grants reaching 434 congressional districts. The arts also play a significant role in equalizing educational opportunities. Students with an education rich in the arts have higher GPAs and standardized test scores, lower drop-out rates, and even better attitudes about community service– benefits reaped by students regardless of socio-economic status. Art is an irreplaceable way of understanding and expressing the world, and it links our ability to create and innovate in ways beyond comparison. The NEA’s education programs have helped to sustain support in local communities for arts education, which has been proven to help close the education achievement gap and also benefit children and adults in many important ways throughout their lives. We strongly urge you to support NEA funding at $154.466 million in the Fiscal Year 2016 Interior Appropriations bill. By approving this level of funding, you will maintain the NEA’s ability to ensure that all Americans have the opportunity to benefit from the arts. We appreciate your attention to this request, and hope we can count on your continued support. Sincerely, Louise M. Slaughter                                                    Leonard Lance Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus                   Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress''
''Support Head Start Funding in FY16 Labor-HHS Appropriations **This is a Programmatic Request** DEADLINE TO SIGN ON: March 24, 2015 Dear Colleague: Created in 1965, Head Start is the most successful, longest-running, national school readiness program in the United States.  It provides comprehensive education, health, nutrition, and parent involvement services to low-income children and their families. Over 32 million pre-school aged children have directly benefited from Head Start and our country as a whole is better off because of this program. In recognition of its importance, I am sending a letter to the House Appropriations Full Committee and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, requesting that Head Start be funded at no less than the President’s request of $10.118 billion in Fiscal Year 2016. Over the last decade, Head Start has experienced funding cuts at double digits. These cuts left individual Head Start programs strapped for funding and only able to serve less than half of the eligible population of children and families and Early Head Start serves less than 13% of eligible children and families. Without receiving adequate annual funding, this percentage will continue to decrease due to the reality that more families are having difficulty making ends meet. All evidence demonstrates the importance of early cognitive development in children to let this program flounder. Head Start was created as part of the War on Poverty. However, with more than 5 million American children (under the age of 5) living in poverty and Head Start only being able to serve 1.1 million, it is vital that we properly fund the program. Head Start serves less than half of all eligible children and Early Head Start serves less than 13% of eligible children. Please join me in urging the House Appropriations Committee and Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies to include adequate funding for Head Start in the FY16 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies mark. To sign on to the letter please contact Jacquelyn in my office at jacquelyn.gonzalez@mail.house.gov.   Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Loretta Sanchez Member of Congress —————————————————————————————————- The Honorable Hal Rogers, Chairman         The Honorable Nita Lowey, Ranking Member House Committee on Appropriations          House Committee on Appropriations U.S. House of Representatives                  U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC 20515-6065                    Washington, DC 20515-6065 The Honorable Tom Cole                           The Honorable Rosa DeLauro Chairman                                                   Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, Health and          Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education                Human Services, Education U.S. House of Representatives                  U.S. House of Representatives Washington, DC  20515                            Washington, DC 20515                                                                                                            March XX, 2015 Dear Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Lowey, Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro, As you work on the Fiscal Year 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, we strongly urge you to include the President’s request of $10.118 billion for the Head Start program. We understand the serious constraints on the federal budget, however funding for a high performing federal program, like Head Start, is a critical investment in our children’s future and the prosperity of our country.  Requirements from the 2007 reauthorization significantly increased the number of teachers with BA or advanced degrees from 38% to 71%.  Additionally, all programs are now required to use scientifically-valid curricula and programs that fail to meet rigorous standards and measures are required to compete for their grants. However, despite these increasing requirements, Head Start programs have not seen adequate increases to meet the rising costs of quality.   In order to ensure Head Start’s continued success with children and their families each year, we must commit to providing adequate funding for Head Start through the annual budget and appropriations process. The purpose of Head Start is to improve the school readiness of low-income children by enhancing their cognitive, social, and emotional development in a learning environment that supports children’s growth in language, literacy, mathematics, science, social and emotional functioning, creative arts, and physical skills. Year after year, Head Start programs around the nation have served this purpose and transformed the lives of children and their families in dramatic ways. Enrollment in Head Start can break the cycle of poverty that affects too many American families.  Children who are in the program are better prepared to learn and have higher self-esteem and more advanced social behavior when they enter school.  They also score higher on school readiness measures such as verbal achievement, perceptual reasoning, and social competence than children who did not attend preschool. The most efficient way to reduce the achievement gap between certain affluent and disadvantaged students in the 12th grade is to reduce the achievement gaps that exist in the 1st grade. Head Start also creates an economic benefit for the country; for every dollar spent on Head Start, the country realizes almost nine dollars in benefits through participants’ increased earnings, decreased welfare dependence, and other factors. Thus, we respectfully request that the Fiscal Year 2016 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee mark include Head Start program funding at the President’s funding request of $10.118 billion. Head Start is an investment in our future that merits adequate funding so the program can continue to provide much needed education and health services to America’s most vulnerable children. Sincerely,''
''Dear colleague, I invite you to sign on to the letter below to the Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee to block funding for the Environmental Protection Agency’s sweeping new revision to the National Ambient Air Quality Standard for ozone. The deadline is close of business on March 18th. In 2008, the EPA issued a strict new rule to regulate emissions of ozone or “smog” forming pollution. Because of regulatory delays, however, that rule is only now being implemented and we are only beginning to see the air quality improvements it will bring. Despite that fact, the EPA is in the process of issuing another, even more stringent ozone rule. This will require states and communities to try to comply with both remarkably costly and complicated rules simultaneously. Their work will be even further complicated by the fact that EPA has yet to release a long-promised update to some tools states use to meet standards like these. The US has made important strides to cut man-made emissions in recent years. However, many sources are simply beyond our control, such as naturally occurring or foreign sources of pollution. Other sources are man-made but cannot be easily controlled with existing technology, which is why some groups believe EPA’s new ozone rule could rank among the most expensive regulations ever issued. Because of that, I intend to send the below letter asking that they block funding for the Agency to issue a new standard. The hope is that EPA will use this opportunity to resume implementation of the current standard. For more information, please contact Richard England (Richard.England@mail.house.gov or 202-225-5951) in my office. Very respectfully, Pete Olson Member of Congress ——— March xx, 2015 Dear Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum, During your Subcommittee’s consideration of the FY2016 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, I respectfully request that you consider inserting the following language related to the EPA’s current proposal on ground-level ozone: None of the funds made available by this Act to the Environmental Protection Agency may be used to finalize, implement, or enforce any revision to the primary or secondary national ambient air quality standard for ozone under section 109 of the Clean Air Act that was promulgated in the rule entitled “National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Ozone” (73 Fed. Reg. 16436; March 27, 2008). As you may be aware, many areas in the United States do not meet the current ozone standards issued in 2008. EPA’s own implementation of that standard has been significantly delayed, and States are still preparing their compliance plans. In fact, EPA only issued its implementing regulations in February of this year. Last year, however, EPA proposed an even more stringent standard of 65 to 70 parts per billion (ppb), which may be one of the most expensive regulations ever released by a federal agency. In fact, a study commissioned by the National Association of Manufacturers estimated the impact on this country’s Gross Domestic Product of a 65ppb standard on the order of roughly $140 billion per year. Equally concerning are questions about the achievability of EPA’s proposed revisions. Even EPA itself admits that much of the technology needed to meet such a standard remains unknown or has not yet been invented. This fact is a testament to just how much work our communities have already done to meet existing standards by harnessing so many of the available technologies. Further, the EPA has not yet released a long-promised revision to the Exceptional Events Rule or other tools that States will need to implement any revisions to the current standards. The Agency has not yet implemented the current 2008 standard, and there will likely be serious regulatory burdens and costs for communities of achieving an even lower standard. Given this, we ask that you limit funds in the FY2016 budget from being used for finalizing, implementing or enforcing revisions to the existing standard.''
''Sign Programmatic Letter Supporting the National Institutes of Health (NIH) DEADLINE:  Monday, March 23rd Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending the attached letter to Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro encouraging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies to continue support for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Fiscal Year 2016. The National Institutes of Health are our nation’s preeminent medical research centers and represent our best hope for finding cures, improving treatments, and gaining a better understanding of the diseases and conditions that affect millions of Americans. NIH research is a critical part of meeting health care challenges, strengthening our economy, inspiring the next generation of scientists, and maintaining our nation’s leadership in innovation. Continued investment in the NIH can leverage existing resources for maximum impact and will build on current progress to further help the American public. We encourage you to support continued, strong investment in the NIH by signing the attached letter and joining the effort to support life-saving medical research.  If you have any questions, please contact Lindsay Manson in Rep. Reichert’s office (5-7761) or Dante Cutrona in Rep. Costello’s office (5-4315). Deadline for signing the letter is Monday, March 23rd.  Sincerely, DAVE REICHERT                                       RYAN COSTELLO Member of Congress                                      Member of Congress The Honorable Tom Cole                                            The Honorable Rosa DeLauro Chairman                                                                     Ranking Member Subcommittee on Labor, HHS & Education              Subcommittee on Labor, HHS & Education Committee on Appropriations                                    Committee on Appropriations United States Congress                                               United States Congress 2358-B Rayburn House Office Building                    1016 Longworth House Office Building Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Cole and Ranking Member DeLauro: As Members of Congress who strongly value the contributions of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), we are writing to thank you for your past support and to respectfully request your continued support for NIH medical research, which is essential to sustain advances in science and the health and economic impacts of the research it funds. The National Institutes of Health are our nation’s preeminent medical research centers and represent our best hope for finding cures, improving treatments, and gaining a better understanding of the diseases and conditions that affect millions of Americans. NIH research is a critical part of meeting health care challenges, strengthening our economy, inspiring the next generation of scientists, and maintaining our nation’s leadership in innovation. Continued investment in the NIH can leverage existing resources for maximum impact and will build on current progress to further help the American public. We recognize and appreciate the challenges facing the Appropriations Committee and your ongoing efforts to find savings in the most responsible areas. We urge you to consider the wide-ranging, positive effects of investment in research on health and the economy. We appreciate your consideration of our request. Sincerely, DAVE REICHERT                                                               RYAN COSTELLO Member of Congress                                                              Member of Congress''
''Support COPS Hiring and Byrne JAG programs to help Local Law Enforcement and Community Safety Programmatic Request Deadline to sign on is COB Thursday, March 19th Dear Colleague: As Co-Chairs of the House Law Enforcement Caucus, we encourage you to join us in requesting continued support for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program and COPS programs for Fiscal Year 2016 by sending the attached letter to the House Commerce, Justice, Science (CJS) and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee. Since their inception, the COPS Hiring and Byrne JAG programs have enabled law enforcement agencies to form vital partnerships among communities and law enforcement officers, combat criminal activities, and develop and implement problem-solving and crime prevention programs nationwide.  These two programs work hand-in-hand to provide evidence-based and innovative programs vital for public safety.  Despite long-standing support for these programs, including a similar letter to appropriators last year that garnered over 180 signatures, they have both sustained cuts.  We urge to support local law enforcement and community safety by signing the attached letter encouraging support for the COPS Hiring and Byrne JAG programs in the Fiscal Year 2016 CJS appropriations bill.  If you have any questions or would like to sign on, please  fill out the form here or contact Robert Biestman in Rep. Reichert’s office (Robert.Biestman@mail.house.gov or x.5-7761) or Dylan Sodaro in Rep. Pascrell’s office (Dylan.Sodaro@mail.house.gov or x.5-5751). Sincerely, DAVE REICHERT                                                                BILL PASCRELL, JR. Co-Chair, Law Enforcement Caucus                                      Co-Chair, Law Enforcement Caucus Letter Text Dear Chairman Culberson and Ranking Member Fattah, Thank you for your ongoing and diligent efforts to appropriately rebalance limited resources in order to support our nation’s highest priorities.  As you begin to craft the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) appropriation bill for Fiscal Year 2016, we respectfully urge you to include sufficient funding for the Byrne Justice Assistance Grant (Byrne JAG) Program and the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) programs, in particular the COPS Hiring program.  These programs are critical to ensuring that state and local law enforcement have the tools, personnel and resources necessary to protect and serve their communities, including in efforts to prevent further gun violence. The Byrne JAG and COPS programs are the cornerstone of our federal justice assistance programs.  Since their inception, the Byrne JAG and COPS programs have enabled law enforcement agencies to form vital partnerships among communities and law enforcement officers, combat criminal activities, and develop and implement problem-solving and crime prevention programs nationwide. The strength of the Byrne JAG program is in its impact across the criminal justice system, from law enforcement to prosecution and courts, crime prevention and education, corrections and community corrections, drug treatment and enforcement, program planning, evaluation, technology improvement, and crime victim and witness initiatives.  The COPS Office and its corresponding programs provide invaluable resources and technical assistance to state and local law enforcement agencies, keeping our communities safe.  Sufficient funding is critical to ensuring that law enforcement has the resources necessary to effectively and efficiently protect the public, because in recent years law enforcement agencies have experience shrinking budgets and difficult decisions concerning operational readiness and number of officers on patrol. We appreciate the difficulty you face in appropriating adequate resources for the programs under your jurisdiction, and we thank you for your work.  Support for the Byrne JAG and COPS Hiring programs is imperative to the safety of our communities.  These programs supplement the manpower and incentivize the collaboration across agencies necessary to build upon successful crime reduction efforts over the past 20 years.  For these reasons, we respectfully request that you include strong funding for the Byrne JAG and COPS programs, especially the COPS Hiring program, in the FY2016 CJS appropriations bill. Thank you for your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: I would like to invite you to participate in the following hearing of the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe (the Helsinki Commission): Northern Ireland: Stormont, Collusion and the Finucane Inquiry Wednesday, March 18, 2015, 2:00 pm Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2175 The Helsinki Commission hearing will review progress toward holding individuals accountable for past injustices in Northern Ireland. This will include the December 2014 Stormont House Agreement, as well as government collusion in paramilitary crimes, and the long-promised—but not yet delivered—inquiry into the murder of human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane. In the December 2014 Stormont House Agreement, the parties of the Northern Ireland Executive and the British and Irish governments agreed on a process to resolve a number of outstanding issues in Northern Ireland. These include accountability for past injustices, or what has become known as “dealing with the past.” The success of the process is far from assured, and the hearing will investigate its prospects and help determine how the US government can best support its implementation. The hearing will examine other issues of accountability for past government collusion in paramilitary crimes. This will include the Finucane case: as part of the Good Friday Agreement, the government of the United Kingdom solemnly committed to conducting a public, independent judicial inquiry into its collusion in Mr. Finucane’s murder. Yet 17 years after the accord and 26 years after Mr. Finucane’s death, the British government has not yet conducted the promised inquiry. The following witnesses are scheduled to testify: Ms. Anne Cadwallader, author, Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland Mrs. Geraldine Finucane, widow of murdered human rights lawyer Patrick Finucane Professor Kieran McEvoy, Queen’s University School of Law, Belfast, Northern Ireland The Helsinki Commission is a U.S. Government agency with membership from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. If you would like to participate in this hearing, or if you have any questions, please contact David Kostelancik of the Helsinki Commission staff at 202-225-1901 or via e-mail at david.kostelancik@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Chris Smith, M.C. Chairman''
''Gosar-Sánchez Letter Supporting SCAAP Reimbursement for Local Law Enforcment Deadline to sign on, COB Monday March 23. Current Cosigners (13): Brownley, Chu, Franks, Gosar, Honda, Lowenthal, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Sires, Mike Thompson, Veasey, Vela, Williams Groups Supporting: National Association of Counties, California Association of Counties Dear Colleague, Please join Congressman Paul Gosar and Congresswoman Linda Sanchez in sending a letter to the House Appropriations Committee in support of the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) during FY 2016 deliberations.  SCAAP is a grant program that reimburses states and local governments for the cost of incarcerating undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. Compensation to local law enforcement agencies under SCAAP currently covers less than 18% of the actual cost of incarcerating undocumented criminal offenders. Further reducing resources for this vital program would shift an even greater burden onto states for what is a federal responsibility. The text of the letter is below.  Deadline is COB Monday, March 23.  Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact Trevor Pearson (trevor.pearson@mail.house.gov) in Dr. Gosar’s office or Stephanie Cuevas (stephanie.cuevas@mail.house.gov) in Mrs. Sanchez’s office Thank you for your thoughtful consideration of this request. Sincerely, Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.                   Linda Sanchez Member of Congress                     Member of Congress March 25, 2015 Dear Chairmen Rogers and Wolf and Ranking Members Lowey and Fattah: As you consider the Fiscal Year 2016 Commerce, Justice, Science Appropriations bill, we urge you to appropriate adequate resources to the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program (SCAAP) at a level appropriate to effectively execute the program’s purpose. As you know, SCAAP is a grant program that reimburses states and local governments for the cost of incarcerating undocumented immigrants convicted of crimes. By law, the federal government is ultimately responsible for immigration enforcement, including the incarceration of undocumented criminal offenders. When this is not possible, the law requires the federal government to compensate state and local governments for their incarceration costs. Although appropriations levels for SCAAP have decreased dramatically in recent years, the costs incurred by states to fulfill what is essentially a federal function have increased. We cannot afford to reduce resources for this vital program, which already falls far short of what states and local governments actually spend to incarcerate undocumented criminal offenders. Reducing federal SCAAP reimbursements forces state and local law enforcement agencies to absorb a greater portion of the costs of a federal responsibility. We recognize the challenges of the current fiscal environment and thank you for your effort and dutiful consideration of FY 2016 appropriations priorities. We respectfully ask that that the benefits of SCAAP to our local jurisdictions be carefully considered and that the program be appropriated at a level consistent with its federally mandated responsibility. Sincerely,''
''114th Congress Cosponsors (41): Blumenauer, Capps, Cartwright, Castor, Clark, Connolly, DeFazio, DeGette, Edwards, Ellison, Eshoo, Farr, Grayson, Grijalva, Honda, Huffman, Keating, Kuster, Langevin, Lee, Lofgren, Lowenthal, Maloney, Meng, Nadler, Norton, Peters, Pingree, Pocan, Price, Quigley, Rangel, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Schiff, Slaughter, Swalwell, Takano, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen Organizations that have endorsed this bill (over 120) include: NRDC, Earthjustice, Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters (LCV), Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments, Earthworks, Physicians Scientists & Engineers for Healthy Energy, Clean Water Action, Wilderness Society, Powder River Basin Resource Council, Western Organization , of Resource Councils (WORK), Los Padres ForestWatch, Center for Effective Government, Citizens Climate Lobby, Southern Environmental Law Center, Interfaith Power and Light, Breast Cancer Action, Choose Clean Water Coalition, and many more Dear Colleague: America’s energy and economic future requires exploration for oil and natural gas. That development can and should be done responsibly and with consideration for environmental and public health. Today, however, oil and gas operators are exempted from basic protections afforded us by the Clean Air Act – which aims to keep toxic substances out of our lungs. Unchecked hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”), and other industry procedures used by oil and natural gas operators to extract mineral resources, may pose a significant threat to our atmosphere and the health of American families. The Bringing Reductions to Energy’s Airborne Toxic Health Effects (the BREATHE Act) would prevent toxic air pollution by: Reversing the exemption of oil and gas exploration and production activities from the Clean Air Act’s aggregation requirement; and Adding hydrogen sulfide to the federal list of hazardous air pollutants. The production, processing, storage, and transmission of oil and natural gas can release toxic air pollutants that threaten the health of nearby homes, schools and communities. The BREATHE Act is intended to protect the public from small air pollution point sources that might individually seem harmless but cumulatively account for the release of large volumes of toxic substances. It would hold oil and gas operators accountable – just as every other industry is held accountable – for their impact on our nation’s air quality by closing the industry’s loophole to the Clean Air Act’s aggregation provision. The BREATHE Act also adds hydrogen sulfide to the Clean Air Act’s federal list of hazardous air pollutants. Under current law, the Clean Air Act entirely exempts hydrogen sulfide from regulation even though it has been associated with nausea, vomiting, headaches, and irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat.  Hydrogen sulfide may result from well heads, pumps, piping, separation devices, storage tanks, and flaring. The BREATHE Act would ensure that the oil and gas industry takes measures to avoid the release of Hydrogen Sulfide into our atmosphere, and protect the health of our homes and families. For more information on the BREATHE Act or to become a cosponsor, please contact Jennifer.George-Nichol@mail.house.gov in the office of Congressman Polis. Sincerely, Jared Polis                                                                               Matt Cartwright Member of Congress                                                               Member of Congress''
''Support Physician Training in Community-Based Settings Support the Teaching Health Center Program Cosigners: Tsongas, LaMalfa, Clarke, Cohen, Costa, Danny Davis, DeFazio, Garamendi, Gibson, Denny Heck, Mike Kelly, Peter King, Rick Larsen, McMorris Rogers, Tim Murphy, Quigley, Rangel, Roe, Ross, Rush, Schakowsky, Takano, Mike Thompson, Zinke Deadline change: COB, March 18 Dear Colleague: Please join us in sending the following letter to House leadership urging them to continue funding the Teaching Health Center (THC) program. This critical program currently supports the training of primary care physicians and dentists in America’s Community Health Centers. In July 2014 the Institute of Medicine (IOM) issued a report on graduate medical education (GME) suggesting our national GME system “has not produced an increasing proportion of physicians who choose to practice primary care, to provide care to underserved populations, or to locate in rural or other underserved areas.” The THC program is well positioned to contribute to the training of the next generation of primary care physicians.  THCs are premised on the principle that the most effective way to get new primary-care physicians and dentists into more communities is to train them in community-based settings.  THCs train those specialties most in need (family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, geriatrics, psychiatry, obstetrics / gynecology, and dental), in the geographic areas of most need.  The THC program is small, yet disproportionately impactful—funding over 500 GME positions nationally—all of which are in primary care.      Funding for the THC program will expire this fall, threatening one of our most successful physician training programs.  We invite you to join us in urging the continuation of the THC program and preserve its positive contributions to training the next generation of primary care physicians.    If you would like to sign the letter or need additional information, please have your staff contact Tasha Kellett (tasha.kellett@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Niki Tsongas’ office or Colleen McGowan (colleen.mcgowan@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Doug LaMalfa’s office. The deadline to sign on is March 18, 2015. Sincerely, Niki Tsongas                                                                Doug LaMalfa Member of Congress                                                     Member of Congress ————————————————————————————————————— The Honorable John Boehner                                                    The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House                                                               Minority Leader U.S. House of Representatives                                                  U.S. House of Representatives H-232, U.S. Capitol                                                                   H-204, US Capitol Washington, DC  20510                                                             Washington, DC  20510 Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Pelosi: As bipartisan bicameral negotiations begin to unfold in the 114th Congress about the future of the nation’s health programs, we write to urge House Leadership to support a program that currently is having a demonstrable impact on primary care physician workforce development – the Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education (THCGME) program.  Currently, THCs are training more than 500 primary care physicians and dentists at 60 training sites located in 24 states.[1]  THCs are located in federally qualified health centers, rural health clinics, and tribal clinics – organizations that care for underserved communities and populations.  THC programs have expanded access to care for thousands of patients and have created a physician and dentist workforce pipeline for those communities.  The TCHGME program, funded since 2011 and set to expire on September 30, has increased the numbers of primary care physicians and dentists training to care for underserved populations nationwide.  They also play an important role in distributing physicians to communities outside of large urban areas where most teaching hospitals are located.  Providing GME training opportunities in diverse geographic locations is important because we know that 55% of all family physicians practice within 100 miles of their residency program and 46% will practice within 50 miles of their training program.[2]  The THCGME program, in our opinion, has met its charge and is worthy of continued support.  We look forward to working with you to enhance the program and allow for it to continue its remarkable work of training the next generation of primary care physicians and expanding access to vulnerable populations. Sincerely, Niki Tsongas                                                                 Doug LaMalfa Member of Congress                                                     Member of Congress [1] Robert Graham Center: Teaching Health Center GME Funding Instability Threatens Program Viability | Brown, Klink [2] Family Medicine: Family Medicine graduate Proximity to Their Site of Training | February 2015 | Fagan, Gibbons, Finnegan, Petterson''
''Help More Children Start the School Day With Breakfast ***Programmatic Appropriations Request*** Sign-on Deadline: Thursday, March 19th COB Support FY 2016 funding to help schools serve breakfast to more eligible children Dear Colleague, Please join me in urging the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture to provide $35 million in FY 2016 funding for grants to help schools expand access to school breakfast for eligible low-income children. School breakfast programs were developed in response to a simple problem: too many children going to school without breakfast or without a nutritionally adequate breakfast.  Studies have found that children who don’t eat a good breakfast are not ready to learn, are subject to more illnesses, and lose energy and focus before lunch. Over 11.2 million children received a free or reduced-price breakfast on an average day during the 2013- 2014 school year, an increase of over 320,000. Yet, nationwide, only about 53 low-income children participated in school breakfast for every 100 participating in school lunch. According to the latest school breakfast scorecard from the Food Research and Action Center, in Connecticut, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and my own state of Wisconsin, between 20-25 percent of schools that offer lunch do not even offer school breakfast, denying tens of thousands of low-income children the opportunity to start their school day with a meal. We know that innovative models such as breakfast in the classroom, breakfast after the bell, and grab and go carts have and can increase participation of eligible children.  We need to support their adoption in schools to allow more children to begin the day with a healthy meal. The Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) authorized competitive grants to address this challenge by helping schools create, maintain, or expand their breakfast programs using innovative programs like universal breakfast or other programs that local schools decide will help them reach more hungry students in the morning. In FY 2015, Congress provided $25 million for school equipment grants to help replace outdated equipment that can pose a barrier to preparing healthy breakfast and lunches on a larger scale.  The letter below asks for $35 million to help increase participation in school breakfast programs and to help schools overcome known barriers. I urge you to join me in this request.  To sign on, please contact Izmira Aitch (izmira.aitch@mail.house.gov) in my office by close of business on March 19, 2015. Gwen Moore MEMBER OF CONGRESS ________________________________________________________________________ March XX, 2016 Dear Chairman Aderholt and Ranking Member Farr: We write to urge the subcommittee to provide $35 million in the FY 2016 Department of Agriculture Appropriations bill for grants under section 105 of the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (P.L. 111-296) to help reduce the number of children who start the school day on an empty stomach and not adequately prepared to learn. Requested funds will help local educational agencies and schools increase access to breakfast, establish, maintain, or expand their school breakfast programs, for low-income children. The school breakfast program is a proven way to provide low-income children with a nutritious meal to start the school day.  Yet despite improvements, the latest School Breakfast Scorecard by the Food Research and Action Center using USDA data found that in 2013-2014 school year, about half (53.2 for every 100) of all low-income students who participated in school lunch also ate school breakfast–up from a ratio of 51.9:100 the prior year and 43:100 a decade earlier.  Millions of eligible low-income students are missing an opportunity to start their school day strong. The science is clear: hunger hinders learning and child development.  Connecting kids to programs like school breakfast helps ensure they get the healthy food they need to learn and grow and remain attentive through the school day.  When we invest in ensuring access to healthy breakfast and lunches through the child nutrition programs, we support the considerable investment in education made by federal, state, and local taxpayers while ensuring that the individual child has the best opportunity to learn. We strongly support providing funding so that schools are able to reduce hunger among low-income students and boost education and health outcomes.  By funding these grants, we can allow schools to choose the best options and practices that they believe will work to increase the number of children who start the day with a healthy breakfast. Again, we urge you to provide $35 million for grants to help schools remove barriers that keep eligible students from participating in school breakfast. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague,   Please join us in supporting the families across the country who are afflicted by dystonia, including America’s veterans, by signing on to the attached letter to the DOD appropriations subcommittee asking them to again list dystonia in the Peer Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) for FY2016 .   Dystonia is a rare neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions causing uncontrollable movements and abnormal body postures and is a highly debilitating disease that can cause intense pain. According to the Dystonia Society, about 10% of dystonias are genetic, but the majority are of unknown causes.  The disorder has no cure and only limited treatment options and we believe much more research is warranted.   Several scientific peer-reviewed journal articles demonstrate a clear relationship between traumatic brain injuries, including those sustained during military combat, and dystonia. Accordingly, our letter requests that appropriators continue to include dystonia in the PRMRP.   This is a programmatic request funded through HAC-D. If you have any questions or would like to add your name to these letters by March 20, 2015, please contact Katherine Talalas with Rep. Smith or Waverly Gordon with Rep. Schakowsky.   Sincerely,   Christopher H. Smith                                                              Jan Schakowsky Member of Congress                                                               Member of Congress         March 25, 2015     The Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen                                   The Honorable Pete Visclosky Chairman                                                                                 Ranking Member Committee on Appropriations                                                Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense                                                      Subcommittee on Defense H-405, the Capitol                                                                  2328 Rayburn HOB Washington, DC 20515                                                          Washington, DC 20515   Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky,               On behalf of the families across the country impacted by dystonia, we thank the Subcommittee for its leadership in including dystonia as a condition eligible for study in the Peer-Reviewed Medical Research Program (PRMRP) in the past and urge you to retain this language in the fiscal year 2016 Defense Appropriations bill.                Dystonia is a neurological movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle spasms that cause the body to twist, repetitively jerk, and sustain postural deformities. Some forms of dystonia are genetic, but dystonia can also be caused by injury or illness. There is no known cure for dystonia, and treatment options remain limited.               There are several scientific peer-reviewed journal articles which demonstrate a clear relationship between military and combat service and dystonia. Trauma is a signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, and it is important to study the link between dystonia and combat-related trauma.               Dystonia researchers have competed successfully since the first year that dystonia was eligible for study in FY2011. It is our belief that dystonia research would continue to advance positively through this program. Accordingly, we urge you to include dystonia in the PRMRP in the FY2016 Defense Appropriations bill.               Thank you for your attention to this matter and we look forward to working with you to continue the tremendous progress made in the scientific understanding of dystonia.   Sincerely,     _____________________________                                      _____________________________ Christopher H. Smith                                                              Jan Schakowsky Member of Congress                                                               Member of Congress''
''DEADLINE: March 20th, COB Dear Colleague: I hope you will join me in signing the attached letter to Chairwoman Kay Granger and Ranking Member Nita Lowey of the State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Appropriations Subcommittee seeking continued support for Middle East people-to-people reconciliation and co-existence programs in Fiscal Year 2016. At this time of uncertainty in the Middle East, it is vitally important that we support efforts that promote cooperation between Israelis and Palestinians, Arabs and Jews in the region – programs that are also vital to U.S. interests. Grassroots reconciliation programs bring everyday people together in support of peace and obtaining mutual social, political and economic gains. Additionally, they work to promote national security interests by reducing violence, advancing reconciliation, and providing an antidote to terrorism and anti-U.S. propaganda. And, they can play a role in increasing the likelihood that any high-level deals reached in the future can be sustained in part through grassroots buy-in and understanding. To date, these competitive grants have supported a variety of programs, including: Sports programs engaging thousands of Israeli and Palestinian children and young adults; Olive oil projects that have produced over $20 million in returns to farmers who work together across the communities; “Hand-in-Hand” community schools, teaching shared culture and values to children in two languages; Teacher placement programs that have been adopted by the Ministry of Education’s Haifa and North regional school districts which places Arab teachers in Israeli schools; Please join me in ensuring the efforts of grassroots reconciliation programs continue in the Middle East by signing a letter asking for at least $10 million in FY 2016 for people-to-people coexistence and reconciliation programs. If you would like to sign on or need more information, please contact Jeremy Woodrum in my office at jeremy.woodrum@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Joseph Crowley Member of Congress ========================= The Honorable Kay Granger Chair U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs HT2, U.S. Capitol Washington, DC 20515 The Honorable Nita M. Lowey Ranking Member U.S. House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs 2365 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member Lowey: We thank the Subcommittee for its long-term commitment to programs that promote people-to-people coexistence and reconciliation around the world, particularly in the Middle East. We all hope that Israeli and Palestinian leaders will reach genuine, mutually-supported success when they restart negotiations. While reaching a high-level agreement will only be achieved by bilateral negotiations between political leaders, sustaining any future agreements will be more effectively achieved through the strong support and buy-in of impacted communities and peoples. As part of the effort to sustain future agreements and combat terrorism, Congress appropriates funds for Middle East coexistence that help bring people together at the grassroots level to increase understanding and reduce violence. The coexistence and reconciliation activities supported by this program lay the groundwork for a sustained peace at the grassroots level. These programs will also help enable the success of any diplomatic solution. They have a record of success in bringing together ordinary Israelis and Palestinians in working jointly on educational programs, business cooperation, sports activities, community development, and inter-religious dialogue. Through local organizations, these funds serve to engage thousands on the ground to cooperate in projects, break down barriers and stereotypes, diminish the appeal of terrorism, and change attitudes, while building trust and a foundation for sustainable peace. Additionally, reconciliation efforts help reduce violence on the ground and provide an antidote to anti-U.S. propaganda. These programs work, creating greater trust, enhanced cooperation, increased “conflict resolution values”, decreased aggression and loneliness, and mitigation of hazardous conditions between and amongst project participants from opposing sides of the conflict. Equally important, these projects give those who seek to address their differences peacefully tangible ways to reject terrorism and violence and work toward a better tomorrow. Below are just three examples of impact that some recent grantees of this program have created: • The Abraham Fund Initiatives (TAFI)’s Ya Salam Arabic language and culture instruction program began by training and placing Arab teachers in a handful of Israeli Jewish schools in 2008. After initial successes, the program was adopted in 2011 by the Ministry of Education’s Haifa and North regional school districts, expanding tenfold in less than five years – it is now implemented in 25% of the secular Hebrew public elementary schools around the country, reaching more than 23,000 students in a year. • The Good Water Neighbors program has expanded from 11 to 28 Israeli and Palestinian partnering communities, as well as 8 neighboring communities in Jordan. These partnerships have resulted in the establishment of multiple waste water treatment plants, sewage and clean water access systems, and other facilities. • Hand in Hand has grown to a network of schools in five cities and towns with demand for more, and through support, built thriving community programs around each school – the resilience of their community-building efforts clearly illustrated by their series of joint Arab-Jewish activities. The Jerusalem school received an outpouring of Jewish and Arab support in the wake of “price tag” vandalism this fall. These represent just a fraction of the impact that these and other grantees have created through this grant program. To support this work, we urge the Subcommittee to provide $10 million in funding focused exclusively on people-to-people coexistence and reconciliation projects in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,''
''Current Signers: (15) Jan Schakowsky, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Gwen Moore, Elliot Engel, Richard Hanna,Bobby L. Rush, Keith Ellison, Mark Pocan, Alcee Hastings, Adam Schiff, Eric Swalwell, William R. Keating, Katherine Clark, Tony Cárdenas, Rubén Hinojosa, Dear Colleague: We invite you to join a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging the State Department to include funding for the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence Against Women in its FY2016 budget request. The UN Trust Fund has provided over 300 grants in over 130 countries and territories around the world, funding innovative approaches to combat violence against women.  Yet it is only able to fund about 1% of the requests it receives. The United States provided funding for the UN Trust Fund between 2005 and 2010.  During these years, the United States’ contribution made up as much as 20% of the Trust Fund’s grants made each year.  We believe it is time that we again fund this critically important initiative and renew our contribution to the UN Trust Fund. We hope that you will join us in writing to Secretary Kerry urging its inclusion in the State Department’s FY2016 budget request. If you have any questions, please contact Andrew Goczkowski (Schakowsky) at Andrew.Goczkowski@mail.house.gov or Sarah Arkin (Wasserman Schultz) at Sarah.Arkin@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s                                                        /s Jan Schakowsky                                  Debbie Wasserman Schultz Member of Congress                             Member of Congress — Dear Mr. Secretary: As the State Department prepares its Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request, we write to urge you to include funding for the United Nations Trust Fund to End Violence against Women. As you may know, the UN Trust Fund is the only global multi-donor voluntary fund providing grants to civil society and non-governmental organizations, government entities, and UN Country Teams to support innovative, targeted programs to combat violence against women and girls. These important programs are needed now more than ever as more than 1 in 3 women will experience physical or sexual violence in her lifetime. Established in 1996, the UN Trust Fund has provided over 300 grants in 132 countries and territories for innovative approaches to combating violence against women. From Afghanistan to Bangladesh to Sudan, the UN Trust Fund works with grantees all over the world who are implementing imaginative new programs to change cultural norms, support and empower survivors, and ensure that institutions are responsive to issues of violence against women. The United States previously recognized the important work that the UN Trust Fund supports and provided critical funding from 2005 to 2010. During this period, the U.S. contribution to the UN Trust Fund constituted as much as 20 percent of the grants made annually. Unfortunately, with average grant requests of $1 billion each year, the UN Trust Fund is currently able to meet only 1 percent of these requests. We believe that supporting mechanisms that work prevent and respond to gender-based violence, such as the UN Trust Fund, are a critical step in promoting international development, peace, and security. By reestablishing a U.S. commitment to the UN Trust Fund, the United States would greatly increase the UN Trust Fund’s grant-making capacity and thus increase the number of women it can assist. At the recent Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict in London you stated, “We have to speak out loudly and clearly against one of the most persistent and neglected injustices imaginable. And we have to fight to hold the criminals accountability and end the age of impunity. Instead of shaming the survivors, we have to punish the perpetrators. And we must support the victims afterwards as they work to try to rebuild their lives.” We strongly believe reestablishing U.S. support for the UN Trust Fund in in the State Department’s Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request would help achieve this critical goal. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague, This year our nation will celebrate the 93rd annual American Education Week from November 16-22, 2014.  This special week is a wonderful opportunity for all Americans to celebrate public education and honor those individuals who are dedicated to ensuring that every child receives a quality education. The American Education Week recognizes all those who make a difference in our education system – from teachers to education support professionals to parents. The American Legion and National Education Association founded the American Education Week in 1919 to raise the public’s awareness of the importance of education. The first American Education Week was held in 1921 and it has been celebrated each year thereafter. This resolution is a cost-free, bipartisan way to show your appreciation of the key role educators play in the life of every child in America. Our children are our nation’s future – teachers, support professionals, and parents ensure these children have the necessary skills and education for a productive and bright future. Please join us as a cosponsor of the American Education Week resolution to honor all those who make a difference in the lives of children. To cosponsor, please contact Chris Cooper with Congressman Joyce (chris.cooper@mail.house.gov) or Julia Steinberger with Congressman Takano (julia.steinberger@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, David P. Joyce                        Mark Takano Member of Congress              Member of Congress''
''Globally, infections caused by antibiotic resistant bacteria are larger public health problem than HIV/AIDS or even Ebola. Despite the scale of this crisis, these “superbugs” are too often ignored. This week, CBS Newspath distributed a story about the uptick in antibiotic-resistant infections and what we can do to stop them. The story has already aired in over 30 markets as of this morning. Antibiotic resistant bacteria cause 2 million infections per year in the U.S., which result in 23,000 deaths and $20-35 billion in excess direct health care costs. The WHO has declared that antibiotic resistance is a “problem so serious that it threatens the achievements of modern medicine” and “A post-antibiotic era—in which common infections and minor injuries can kill—far from being an apocalyptic fantasy, is instead a very real possibility for the 21st century.” See my OpEd in The Hill this week for more information on the Threat of the Superbug. To date, 39 city councils have passed resolutions to support my bill, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA). The scientific community and over 450 organizations agree this legislation is the only serious solution to the epidemic of antibiotic resistance. PAMTA sets aside eight classes of antibiotics needed for human medicine as off-limits for routine farm use unless an animal is sick. Stopping the indiscriminate use of antibiotics on the farm – where 80% of the antibiotics in this country are used – is the best way to protect modern medicine and ensure that we do not pay even greater human and financial costs in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Please contact Clayton Cox (clayton.cox@mail.house.gov) in my office to cosponsor PAMTA or with any questions. In addition, your press office can contact your local CBS affiliate to ask that the news story run in your district. Contact Eric Walker (eric.walker@mail.house.gov) in my office with questions regarding the CBS story. Sincerely, Louise M. Slaughter Member of Congress''
''Join 27 Bipartisan Cosponsors: Juan Vargas, Dan Lipinski, Andy Barr, Joe Barton, Doug Collins, Louie Gohmert, Paul Gosar, Bill Johnson, Steve King, Doug Lamborn, Robert Latta, Randy Neugebauer, Robert Pittenger, Joseph Pitts, Bill Posey, Davie Roe, Steve Stockman, Randy Weber, Andy Harris, Jeff Duncan, Paul Broun, David McKinley, Tim Griffin, Scott Perry, Chris Stewart, Jim Jordan, Mo Brooks. Dear Colleague; As the world was shocked and horrified by the attack on a Jerusalem synagogue by Palestinian terrorists who savagely murdered 5 innocent people, including three of which were American citizens, Palestinians were celebrating. This deplorable violence has been driven and fueled by their leader, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has been an American bread winner of approximately 400 million dollars of US Foreign Assistance per year. Abbas who is Soviet educated, having completed his studies in the U.S.S.R, is proud and honored to incite anti-American, Israeli, and Jewish hatred. Cleary he has gone to great lengths to express his approval for the murder of innocent civilians as seen when he praised Rabbi Yehudah Glick’s attempted assassin as “a martyr defending the rights of our people and its holy places.” But this is not new; Abbas is a long time hater of Jews. His 1982 PhD dissertation, The Connection between the Nazis and the Leaders of the Zionist Movement, argues that the Nazi-perpetrated Holocaust has been exaggerated. In the months following the failed peace process and Operation Protective Edge against Hamas, Abbas has supported action by the PA removing any potential for peace, proven by his lead merger of the PA with the terrorist organization, Hamas, and his unilateral anti-Israel resolution at the United Nations. Therefore, the Palestinian Authority (PA) is no longer a partner in peace and should no longer be a recipient of our assistance. As a Congress we must stop this moral depravity and refuse to reward the PA’s behavior by remunerating them with our precious tax dollars. We strongly encourage you to become a cosponsor to H.RES. 622 which calls for the suspension of aid to the Palestinian Authority. Please contact Jason Frye with Rep. Bachmann at jason.frye@mail.house.gov or Ellie Stern with Rep. Franks at ellie.stern@mail.house.gov to become a cosponsor.                  Most sincerely, Trent Franks                                                      Michele Bachmann Member of Congress                                         Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: I wanted to bring your attention to this briefing invitation you should have already received entitled Direct Access to Diagnostic Testing.  The briefing will be held Tuesday October 7th at 9:30 AM in Room 2103 of the Rayburn House Office Building.  Breakfast will be provided. Our distinguished speakers will be Ms. Angela Calman-Wonson, Vice President of Communications, and Dr. Emily Drabant Conley, Director of Business Development of 23andMe, Inc. – a leading personal genetics and biotechnology company in Silicon Valley. 23andMe is dedicated to helping individuals understand their own genetic information through DNA analysis technologies and web-based interactive tools. Founded in 2006, 23andMe is named after the 23 pairs of chromosomes in a typical human cell. The company’s services enable individuals to gain deeper insights into their ancestry and inherited traits, as well as give them the opportunity to advance genetic research through participation in 23andMe’s research studies. Advances in genomics technology are changing the way that individuals are able to approach and use their genetic information. 23andMe has been a central figure in conversations about personal genetic testing as one of many important ways that private companies can contribute to advancing science and medicine. Ms. Wonson and Dr. Conley will discuss how the United States regulatory environment can be enhanced to drive innovation in medical devices and diagnostics. The Food and Drug Administration has recently announced that it will be expanding their oversight of Laboratory Developed Tests (LDTs) making it an ideal time for those that develop, market, and use genetic tests to weigh in on conversations surrounding regulation over all biotechnological products. Ms. Wonson and Dr. Conley will highlight important differences between the FDA’s and the European Union’s  (EU) approval processes for medical therapies and tests that allow for consumers to have access to these products on average more than 3 years sooner in the EU compared to the US. In hopes of building upon the important steps taken in the US to empower patients by guaranteeing people access to their lab results, the briefing will explore possible adaptations to the current regulatory environment and future collaborations that enable individuals to glean a deeper understanding of the role genes play in their personal lives. We hope you will be able to attend this important briefing. Please RSVP to Megan Anderson Brooks at mbrooks@dc-crd.com by noon on Monday, October 6th.  If you have questions, please contact my staffer Molly Fishman at molly.fishman@mail.house.gov for more information. I hope to see you there!    All the best, Jackie Speier Member of Congress''
''Wall Street Journal: Russia Halves Natural Gas Supplies to Slovakia Dear Colleague: I would like to bring to your attention a recent Wall Street Journal article entitled “Russia Halves Natural Gas Supplies to Slovakia.”  Specifically, the article states: “Russia cut natural gas supplies to European Union member Slovakia by 50% Wednesday, Moscow’s latest and most significant reduction in energy supplies to an EU country that is helping Ukraine build gas supplies ahead of winter.” “Slovakia’s prime minister said the supply cut is a politically driven message to the EU as it negotiates fragile gas talks between Moscow and Kiev.” “‘What’s interesting in the case is that it isn’t about a lack of gas, but this is about playing with gas supplies as an instrument of political posturing,’ Robert Fico said Wednesday.” “Slovakia this year began supplying natural gas to its eastern neighbor as an act of solidarity after Russia’s OAO Gazprom stopped supplying Ukraine with gas in June amid a price dispute and the broader conflicts between the two countries.” Russia has repeatedly used natural gas pricing to draw governments closer to its orbit and punished West-leaning governments with higher prices.  Previous disputes between Ukraine and Russia led to natural gas shutoffs in 2006 and 2009, negatively affecting downstream European countries.  In April 2014, Russia’s state-owned monopoly, Gazprom, increased the price of natural gas on Ukraine by 80 percent.  And in June 2014, Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine. Helping our allies diversify their energy resources is vital to strengthening our strategic partnerships and bolstering security.  In fact, in a joint statement issued on March 26, President Barack Obama and leaders of the European Union at the EU-US Summit in Brussels welcomed the prospect of U.S. natural gas exports.  Specifically, the joint statement states: “The situation in Ukraine proves the need to reinforce energy security in Europe and we are considering new collaborative efforts to achieve this goal.  We welcome the prospect of U.S. LNG exports in the future since additional global supplies will benefit Europe and other strategic partners.” Regardless of where U.S. natural gas is shipped, increasing supply and competition in the global marketplace will help provide international consumers with greater choice and thus increased leverage to negotiate pricing contracts.  In fact, Obama Administration officials have made similar arguments concerning U.S. natural gas exports.  For example, at an April 3, 2014 Atlantic Council forum, Carlos Pascual, then-Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. State Department, made the following statements: “….what the Europeans are saying is that if the United States can supply this global marketplace, it will help maintain and sustain that pattern to competition and trade over time.”  “So even if that gas is not going specifically to Europe, it’s helping to sustain this concept of competition in the global marketplace, which is fundamental to giving Europe choices.” Lifting self-imposed restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports will create jobs right here at home and help foster a more competitive global natural gas market.  This will enhance our strategic alliances, strengthen the independence of our allies, and help curtail the use of energy as a political weapon. On June 25, 2014, the House took action by approving H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, with bipartisan support, to require the Department of Energy to consider natural gas export permit applications in a timely manner.  It is imperative that President Obama and the Senate work with the House on this important American job creation and energy security initiative. Sincerely,             Michael R. Turner                 Member of Congress The Wall Street Journal – Russia Halves Natural Gas Supplies to Slovakia Move Comes as EU Negotiates Talks Between Moscow and Kiev By Sean Carney Oct. 1, 2014 11:36 a.m. ET Russia cut natural gas supplies to European Union member Slovakia by 50% Wednesday, Moscow’s latest and most significant reduction in energy supplies to an EU country that is helping Ukraine build gas supplies ahead of winter. Slovakia’s prime minister said the supply cut is a politically driven message to the EU as it negotiates fragile gas talks between Moscow and Kiev. “What’s interesting in the case is that it isn’t about a lack of gas, but this is about playing with gas supplies as an instrument of political posturing,” Robert Fico said Wednesday. Slovakia this year began supplying natural gas to its eastern neighbor as an act of solidarity after Russia’s OAO Gazprom stopped supplying Ukraine with gas in June amid a price dispute and the broader conflicts between the two countries. Mr. Fico said Slovakia will “fulfill its commitments” to supply Ukraine with the fuel. Eustream, the Slovak gas pipeline operator, Wednesday said its supplies to Ukraine were taking place without interruption. Gazprom earlier reduced gas flows to Slovakia and Austria, as well as to Poland, which also is supplying Ukraine with gas. Hungary, which had been supplying gas to Ukraine, last week halted all gas shipments there, leaving Slovakia and Poland as Ukraine’s lone suppliers. Hungary Wednesday said it is receiving all contracted supplies of gas from Russia. The fall in supplies to the EU states comes as Russia and Ukraine have been unable to agree on terms to resume gas flows to the former Soviet country. Last Friday the two sides agreed to a tentative deal brokered by European Commissioner for Energy Günther Oettinger, but Moscow and Kiev haven’t agreed on details and the compact remains on ice as the winter heating season approaches. As of Sept. 30, Ukraine’s underground gas storage facilities were only at 52% of capacity, according to Gas Infrastructure Europe, a Brussels-based trade group. Ukraine faces a gas shortage if supplies cannot be resumed, analysts have said. To cope domestically with the fall in gas supplies, Slovakia’s natural gas import and distribution company SPP AS said that it has made an “extraordinary purchase” of gas on the spot market from alternative suppliers. The volume it acquired is sufficient to cover the current daily consumption of its customer base, while also enabling the country to continue filling its underground storage facilities, the company said. Slovakia’s storage facilities were at 95% of capacity on Tuesday. SPP said it would continue injecting gas into the underground storage units until the end of October and Slovak households and businesses will continue to receive all gas needed. Should gas supplies to Slovakia remain reduced or even stop, SPP said it has adopted measures enabling it to source gas from Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany. Mr. Fico said he doesn’t believe Russia will completely halt gas supplies to the EU country.''
''Endorsed by: American Hospital Association (AHA), American Medical Association (AMA), Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS), College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), Federation of American Hospitals (FAH), American College of Physicians (ACP), American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), American College of Physician Executives, America’s Essential Hospitals, Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC), Association of Medical Directors of Information Systems, American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), American Optometric Association (AOA), Catholic Health Association of the U.S., Children’s Hospital Association, National Rural Health Association, Premier healthcare alliance, and VHA Inc. Dear Colleague, The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recently published a final rule regarding Meaningful Use Requirements for Electronic Health Records (EHR’s).  While the rule provided some relief by allowing hospitals and physicians to use old and current technology to attest for the Meaningful Use Program in 2014, it does not adequately address problems for 2015. To ensure that the $24 billion in taxpayer dollars already invested in the Meaningful Use Program do not go to waste, we urge you to cosponsor “The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-IT) Act of 2014” (H.R. 5481).  The Flex-IT Act would ensure providers receive the flexibility they need to successfully attest to the Meaningful Use Program in 2015 by maintaining a 90-day reporting period.  This is not a delay; it is simply an adjustment of the reporting period. By adjusting the timeline, providers would have the option to choose any three-month quarter for an EHR reporting period in 2015 to qualify for Meaningful Use. The additional time and flexibility afforded by these modifications will help hundreds of thousands of providers meet Stage 2 requirements in an effective and safe manner.  This legislation will reinforce investments made to date and will ensure continued momentum towards the goals of the Meaningful Use Program, including enhanced care coordination and interoperability. To date, less than 9 percent of hospitals have been able to use 2014 technology to attest to meaningful use for just 90 days in 2014, with the reporting period ending October 1.   While private practice physicians have until the beginning of next year, their situation is even more worrisome as only 1.3 percent of physicians having met the Stage 2 bar thus far.  Despite these extremely low attestation rates, healthcare providers must perform a full-year EHR reporting period in 2015 under the HHS final rule. Given the difficulties faced by providers in 2014, it is unclear why HHS insisted on a 365-day reporting period in 2015. We have heard concerns from our constituents and believe the reporting period for 2015 should be three months or 90 days. Fiscal Year 2015 is less than two weeks away, immediate attention to these concerns is needed.  Please join us in our effort to bring much needed relief to our nation’s doctors and hospitals by cosponsoring The Flexibility in Health IT Reporting (Flex-IT) Act of 2014 (H.R. 5481). For any questions and to cosponsor this legislation please contact Mitch Vakerics in Congresswoman Renee Ellmers’ office at Mitchell.Vakerics@mail.house.gov or 202-225- 4531 or Joel Bailey in Congressman Jim Matheson’s Office at Joel.Bailey@mail.house.gov or 202-225-3011. Sincerely, Renee Ellmers                 Jim Matheson Member of Congress     Member of Congress''
''Deadline: Tuesday, October 7th Current Signers (15): Polis, Marino, Connolly, Costa, DeLauro, Deutch, Ellison, Engel, Grijalva, Grimm, Lance, B. Lee, Lowenthal, Moran, Rangel Dear Colleague: The illegal trade in both ivory and wildlife has grown rapidly in recent years, fueling the widespread poaching of many protected species, particularly elephants and rhinoceros. The African elephant population has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the last 40 years, with more than 30,000 elephants poached in 2012 alone. From 2007 to 2012, rhinoceros poaching in South Africa increased by more than 5,000 percent. This trade involves many of the same transnational criminal networks that are involved in human trafficking, arms trafficking, and international terrorism, and these groups exploit corruption and weak laws, often in the world’s poorest countries, to traffic in wildlife and ivory and then use the proceeds to fund other illicit activities. The United States contributes to poaching by providing the second largest ivory market in the world after China, and, until now, the U.S. ivory market has been allowed to persist unmonitored and unchecked. Strictly enforcing restrictions on the import, export, and interstate commerce of ivory sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the United States is a leader in the effort to end the ivory trade. We hope you will join us in calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take actions to crack down on the illegal ivory market both domestically and abroad. To sign onto the letter, or for further information, please contact Bill Tighe (Marino) at bill.tighe@mail.house.gov or Craig Frucht (Polis) at craig.frucht@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tom Marino                                                      Jared Polis Member of Congress                                        Member of Congress — Dan Ashe Director of Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of Interior 1849 C Street, NW, Room 3359 Washington, DC 20240 Dear Director Ashe: As you know, the illegal wildlife trafficking trade has reached a level of global emergency, with impacts on national security, international human rights, and the survival of protected wildlife species. We are encouraged that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has taken initial steps to address this unprecedented crisis and combat the ivory and illegal wildlife trade, and we want to ensure that the progress made so far is not curtailed in the face of critics or adversaries. With the Agency’s continued leadership, the United States can take its place at the forefront of the global effort to stop illegal wildlife trafficking and halt the slaughter of some of our planet’s most iconic animals. The illegal trade in both ivory and wildlife has grown rapidly in recent years, approaching $20 billion in proceeds in 2012 and fueling the widespread poaching of many protected species, particularly elephants and rhinoceros. The African elephant population has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the last 40 years, with more than 30,000 elephants poached in 2012 alone. From 2007 to 2012, rhinoceros poaching increased by more than 5,000 percent. The United States contributes to poaching by providing the second largest ivory market in the world after China, and, until now, the U.S. ivory market has been allowed to persist unmonitored and unchecked. We commend your recently issued Director’s Order No. 210 instructing FWS personnel to strictly enforce restrictions on the import, export, and interstate commerce of ivory. Agency action like this sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the United States is a leader in the effort to end the ivory trade. Likewise, we applaud FWS’s decision to suspend imports of trophies from African elephants hunted in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Given the current situation for African elephants, there is no legitimate argument that trophy hunting enhances conservation or supports anti-poaching efforts. We urge the Agency to continue its efforts to prevent the unnecessary slaughter of elephants, and we encourage widening the suspension to include all African countries that permit elephant hunting. In addition to conservation concerns for some of the world’s most valued species, international wildlife trafficking threatens our national security and the human rights of vulnerable populations around the world. The illegal wildlife trade involves many of the same transnational criminal networks that are involved in human trafficking, arms trafficking, and international terrorism. These groups exploit corruption and weak laws, often in the world’s poorest countries, to traffic in wildlife and ivory and then use the proceeds to fund other illicit activities. For example, political instability and corruption across several African countries have made the enormous profits from the ivory black market a viable source for funding military resistance groups such as the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Shabaab, the Janjaweed militia in Sudan, and the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. These security implications must be addressed by strengthening laws, increasing enforcement, and reducing the demand for ivory and illegal wildlife. While the United States alone cannot solve the elephant poaching crisis or stop the illegal trade in wildlife and ivory, as a leader in the international community we play a very influential role and must send a clear signal that we will not tolerate illegal wildlife trafficking. Already, China has followed our lead: after the FWS crushed six tons of ivory, the Chinese government crushed over six tons from its own stockpiles. In addition, Hong Kong has begun to destroy close to 30 tons of illegal ivory, the largest amount to be destroyed to date. Significant restrictions on the sale of ivory items in the United States through strengthened regulations and enforcement efforts, as well as limits on the import of tusks from trophy hunted elephants, should be quickly proposed, finalized, and implemented. The FWS should not scale back its efforts and must ensure the United States is not contributing to the crisis now threatening the African elephant and other species. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued efforts. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleagues, You should have already received the invitation below from UNICEF for a briefing on October 3rd. The briefing will highlight the findings of “A Promise Renewed”, an annual report that looks at the latest child mortality statistics. Please join us to learn more about how effective strategies and programs are saving the lives of mothers and children around the world. 17,000 a Day Saved – 17,000 a Day Lost: A Briefing on Progress and Challenges in Saving Children’s Lives In collaboration with the Congressional Global Health Caucus Representative Dave Reichert and Representative Betty McCollum, Co-Chairs Friday, October 3, 2014 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Room 2103, Rayburn House Office Building The world has made dramatic progress on child survival, cutting under-5 child deaths in half since 1990.  Still, too many children die annually from preventable causes – including a million children who die the day they are born.  This briefing explores UNICEF’s “A Promise Renewed” annual report on the latest child mortality statistics and causes.  In addition, speakers from USAID and PATH will share their effective strategies and programs to save the lives of women and children. Tessa Wardlaw Chief, Data and Analytics Section Associate Director, Division of Data, Research, and Policy UNICEF Katherine Taylor Deputy Assistant Administrator, Bureau for Global Health U.S. Agency for International Development Dr. Cyril Engmann Global Program Director, Maternal, Newborn, and Child Health and Nutrition PATH Please RSVP to oppa@unicefusa.org''
''Cosponsor H.R. 4872, the “Ending Special Mail Privileges for Congress Act” Current Cosponsors:  Reps. Woodall (R-GA), Duckworth (D-IL), Crawford (R-AR), Ribble (R-WI), and Joyce (R-OH) Dear Colleague, I wanted to be sure you saw a letter that was sent on Monday by a bipartisan coalition of government watchdog groups in support of H.R. 4872.  In an era where trust in government is at an all-time low, we should be able to achieve common sense, bipartisan reforms that make the federal government more accountable.  This straightforward bill would simply ensure that congressional offices play by the same rules at the Post Office as the folks they represent. For more information or to cosponsor, please email Alex Poirot.  You may also visit http://www.woodall.house.gov/stopthefrank for more information. Sincerely, Rob Woodall Member of Congress Government Watchdog Coalition: “Rein in the Franking Privilege” Dear Member of Congress: We write to you to encourage your support of the “Ending Special Mail Privileges for Congress Act of 2014” (H.R. 4872), sponsored by Reps. Rob Woodall (R-GA) and Tammy Duckworth (D-IL). The Woodall-Duckworth legislation is a bipartisan and measured response designed to rein in some of the worst abuses of the privilege by making it clear to both constituents and Congress alike that “franked mail” costs taxpayers. Our organizations include: Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW); Common Cause; National Taxpayers Union; Public Citizen; Prof. James Thurber, Dept. of Government, American University; Taxpayers Protection Alliance; and U.S. PIRG. Under current franking rules, members of Congress simply sign their name on the envelope in place of a postage stamp, which serves as an IOU with the Postal Service. The congressional offices then estimate the mail expenses and reimburse the Postal Service from member expense accounts. The franking privilege even extends to the spouse of a member who dies in office. This “signature system” of postage, with congressional offices calculating their own mailing expenses, gives constituents the impression that the mailing is a free congressional perk and lends lax accounting methods to congressional offices of the actual costs of franked mail to taxpayers. H.R. 4872 would end the signature system of postage, requiring congressional offices to affix an actual postage stamp to each franked mail, and thus provides an accurate business-like accounting system of the actual costs. The legislation would also end transferring the franking privilege to spouses of deceased members. In the end, making the actual costs of the franking privilege evident to constituents and members will encourage greater self-restraint by members and more accurate accounting. In this era of electronic communications in which “snail mail” is no longer the medium of choice, it may also lead to ending the franking privilege altogether. We urge Congress to adopt the bipartisan Woodall-Duckworth legislation to rein in abuses of the franking privilege. Sincerely, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) Common Cause National Taxpayers Union Public Citizen Prof. James Thurber, Dept. of Government, American University Taxpayers Protection Alliance U.S. PIRG''
''Dear Colleague: I invite you to read the National Journal article below regarding executive action on immigration that documents how past Presidents have exercised their discretion more than 20 times since the mid-1970s to permit people already in the U.S. from being deported. Join me in urging President Obama to use this well-established legal authority to provide immediate and temporary relief from deportation to qualified immigrant workers and immigrant families. Sincerely, Congressman Luis V. Gutiérrez Member of Congress NATIONAL JOURNAL (Charles Kamasaki/NCLR): Critics Say Executive Action on Immigration Would Be Unprecedented. They Forget Their History. Presidents have almost always acted first to permit immigration or prevent deportation—with Congress ratifying those actions later on. BY CHARLES KAMASAKI http://www.nationaljournal.com/next-america/perspectives/critics-say-executive-action-on-immigration-would-be-unprecedented-they-forget-their-history-20141001 October 1, 2014 The president’s announcement that he would soon take executive action to “to do what he could” to fix a broken immigration system in the absence of legislation has prompted critics to assert that this would be unprecedented unless first authorized by Congress. In fact, the record demonstrates the opposite. For at least the last 70 years, presidents have routinely acted first to permit the entry of people outside normal channels or to protect large numbers of people from deportation, with legislation ratifying the executive action coming later. During World War II, the Roosevelt administration negotiated a temporary worker arrangement with the Mexican government, later known as the Bracero program, an action Congress ratified a year later. When the authorization expired in 1947, the Truman administration continued the program until it was reauthorized in 1951. Before it ended in 1964, millions of workers entered the United States under the auspices of the Bracero program, hundreds of thousands under executive—not legislative—authority. The program was rightly criticized for numerous labor and human-rights violations, but few questioned the executive authority it operated under. After the war ended, President Truman used his executive authority to permit 250,000 people from Europe to enter or stay in the U.S. outside normal immigration channels. It was only three years after this exercise of discretion that Congress passed the Displaced Persons Act, permitting some 400,000 additional entries. In April 1975, at the end of the Vietnam War, President Ford used parole authority to authorize the evacuation of 200,000 South Vietnamese to this country; it was not until a month later that the Indochina Migration and Refugee Act of 1975 was enacted, providing resettlement funding for 130,000 of those parolees. Full legislative authorization to resettle those fleeing Indochina did not come until 1980, when Congress passed the Refugee Act, resulting in permanent resettlement of 1.4 million Indochinese in the U.S. Although most entered as bona fide refugees, hundreds of thousands were paroled into the country when statutorily authorized numbers proved inadequate. But these broad exercises of discretion were limited to refugees fleeing wars a long time ago, right? Wrong. Presidents have exercised their discretion more than 20 times since the mid-1970s to permit people already in the U.S. from being deported. Some sought to avoid return to a Soviet bloc country. Iranians in the 1980s sought protection from the regime that overthrew the shah and occupied the American Embassy there. Afghans in the U.S. in the 1980s and 1990s were protected first from the Soviet puppet state and later from the Taliban. Others would have been returned to face civil war or natural disasters abroad. Not until 2003, several decades after the practice of country-specific relief from deportation was first deployed, did Congress codify the practice known as “temporary protected status.” The record also shows that Congress made many executive orders of temporary relief permanent, often years after the fact. As Fidel Castro took power in Cuba in 1959, more than 900,000 Cubans fled to the United States, the vast majority paroled into the country by Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, and Johnson. Not until 1966, some seven years after the influx began, was the Cuban Adjustment Act passed. In 1980, 130,000 Mariel Cubans and nearly 40,000 Haitians arrived in South Florida. Most, but not all, of the Cubans were paroled into the U.S. by President Carter. Haitians initially were protected from deportation by litigation challenging the denials of their asylum claims; most of these Haitians, and some Cubans whose entry had been challenged, eventually received discretionary “Cuban-Haitian entrant status” in the Reagan administration. Six years later, the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 provided lawful permanent resident status for Cuban-Haitian entrants. In 1987, Reagan administration Attorney General Edwin Meese directed the Immigration and Naturalization Service not to deport an estimated 200,000 Nicaraguans in the United States without authorization, including those whose asylum claims had been denied. In 1990, President George H.W. Bush instructed his attorney general to provide “deferred enforced departure” status to an estimated 190,000 Salvadorans fleeing civil war. In 1997, a decade after Meese’s initial action, Congress passed legislation permitting these groups’ adjustment to permanent residence. In 1989, the Bush administration provided DED status to 80,000 Chinese students in the U.S. who feared returning to the strife that eventually led to the Tiananmen Square massacre and later issued an executive order extending their status. Congress then passed the Chinese Student Protection Act in 1992, three years following the initial executive action, making the students eligible for green cards. OK, but major exercises of prosecutorial discretion have been used only for foreign policy reasons, right? Wrong again. Executive actions have been used by every modern administration on more than a dozen occasions to further purely domestic policy objectives. After domestic emergencies—the San Francisco earthquake, the 9/11 attack, Hurricanes Katrina and Ike, and others—immigration officials relaxed enforcement efforts to advance public health and safety. Beginning with President Carter in 1980, every administration has instructed immigration officials to reduce enforcement efforts during the census. Other exercises of discretion went beyond specific emergencies or events. In 1977, Carter administration Attorney General Griffin Bell suspended deportation of about 250,000 people unfairly denied visas by a quirk in the allocation process. It was not until nearly a decade later, via IRCA in 1986, that all of these cases were resolved. In 1990, INS Commissioner Gene McNary issued a “Family Fairness” policy deferring the deportation of 1.5 million immediate family members of people receiving legalization under IRCA, building on a more-limited exercise of discretion in 1987 by Edwin Meese. Three years after Meese’s original executive action, Congress codified the action in the Immigration Act of 1990. In 1997, President Clinton provided DED status to some 40,000 Haitians previously paroled into the U.S. At the end of the 105th Congress a year later, legislation passed allowing these Haitians to permanently adjust their status. The record is clear: Presidents of both parties have used discretionary powers on multiple occasions to protect various groups from deportation for an enormously wide variety of reasons. Except for temporary conditions, Congress acted later—often years later—to ratify the president’s decisions. Looking back now, would we reverse any of these executive actions? Should we have returned Eastern Europeans to behind the Iron Curtain, Cambodians to the killing fields, Ethiopians to a brutal civil war, Iranians to the arms of the ayatollah, or Chinese students to face the tanks in Tiananmen Square? Would we be better off without the Cubans and Haitians who revitalized South Florida over the past 40 years? Were we wrong to prevent the separation of 1.5 million people from family members getting right with the law under IRCA’s legalization? Many of these actions were controversial when first announced. But Congress later affirmed virtually all of them—without explicitly reversing any of them—suggesting that eventually they were widely accepted. Decades from now, people looking back on President Obama’s imminent announcement of broad-scale executive action will see that he prevented the separation of families, began fixing a badly broken immigration system, and improved wages, housing, and education for those receiving legal status, thus immeasurably enriching the economy. They’ll likely see that Congress later ratified his actions, as happened so often before. And, they’ll wonder: what was all the fuss about? Charles Kamasaki is senior cabinet adviser at the National Council of La Raza. A slightly longer version of this piece, complete with citations, is available on the NCLR website. http://www.nclr.org/images/uploads/pages/CKK%20precedent%20long%20version%20FINAL(1).pdf''
''Signers: Mike Michaud, Sen. Chris Murphy, Chellie Pingree, Steve Cohen, Alan Lowenthal, Carolyn McCarthy, Bill Owens, Jim Langevin, Jim McGovern, Dan Lipinski, Bill Pascrell, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sanford Bishop, Tim Bishop, Barbara Lee, Gerry Connolly, Jim Moran, Earl Blumenauer, Joe Courtney, Brian Higgins, Rush Holt, Hank Johnson, Bill Keating, Gwen Moore, Joe Kennedy, Matt Cartwright, Michael Fitzpatrick, Katherine Clark, Peter Welch, Grace Meng, Sen. Angus King FINAL Deadline: Wednesday, October 8 Dear Colleague, We are writing to request your support for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program.  Created following 1998 Good Friday peace accord, this scholarship program serves as a living symbol of the important cultural and political ties between the United States and the people and governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Each year, twelve American students are selected through a rigorous process based on their academic performance, service and leadership to pursue graduate studies at a university in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The program is administered by the nonpartisan, non-profit US-Ireland Alliance. In addition to serving as a symbol of friendship between our two countries, the program prepares scholars for international leadership far beyond the island of Ireland.  Many scholars have gone on to serve as leaders in their communities, business, journalism, and government.  A number of scholars are currently employed by Department of State working on issues that are priorities for State.  Despite the overwhelming success of this program and its alumni, in recent years, the State Department has eliminated funding for the program.  Please join us in urging Secretary Kerry to immediately and permanently reinstate funding to ensure that this critical program continues for years to come. If you have any questions or would like to sign on, please contact Ben Goodman (Rep. Michaud) at ben.goodman@mail.house.gov or Tovan McDaniel (Sen. Murphy) at tovan_mcdaniel@murphy.senate.gov The deadline for signatures is COB Wednesday, October 8. Sincerely, MICHAEL H. MICHAUD                                        CHRIS MURPHY Member of Congress                                             United States Senator October XX, 2014 The Honorable John F. Kerry? Secretary? U.S. Department of State? Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry, We are writing to urge you to immediately reinstate – and sustain – Department of State funding for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program.  We urge you to recommit the Department to its long-standing commitment to this successful and efficient program. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship program was created after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and serves as a living symbol of the important cultural and political ties between the United States and the people and governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Named in honor of the chairman of the peace talks and former Senate Majority Leader, and created by the non-partisan, non-profit US-Ireland Alliance, the Mitchell program annually sends up to twelve of the best and brightest American students – as selected through a rigorous review – to universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland for a year of graduate study.  The program is recognized as one of the most prestigious and highly competitive international scholarships with applicants turning down Rhodes interviews to accept the Mitchell. The Mitchell program received bipartisan support under the Clinton and Bush Administrations, in large part due to the broad and unwavering bipartisan support for the program from Capitol Hill.  And we very much appreciate the fact that during your tenure in the U.S. Senate, you were among the Mitchell Scholarship’s ardent supporters. With such a strong reputation and record of support, we were surprised when Secretary Clinton’s final budget proposal eliminated funding for the Mitchell program.  After an outcry from Members of Congress, the Irish and Northern Ireland Governments, U.S. citizens and universities, funding was restored. We were perplexed and disappointed that budget requests submitted under your leadership have not restored this funding and are concerned that this reinforces a view that efforts to strengthen cultural ties with Europe are not being prioritized.  Further evidence of that was seen in the Administration’s extensive cuts to the Fulbright program, particularly in Europe.  Hill support for the Mitchell remains strong – as evidenced by the most recent letter of support, which included the signatures of 30 House Members and eight Senators.  But because the State Department included no funding whatsoever for the Mitchell in its budget, it has been a significant challenge for program supporters on the Hill to restore funding. Recent events in Ukraine are a strong reminder that strengthening relationships and U.S. interests in Europe must remain a firm priority on the State Department’s agenda.  While we understand the budgetary pressures facing the Department, we strongly disagree with this decision that saves less than $500,000 while eliminating a prominent, widely supported, and very successful scholarship program.  Ending support for the Mitchell scholarship program fuels a building narrative of U.S. disengagement from Ireland and Northern Ireland at a time of crisis in that region.  It also deprives America’s future leaders of an opportunity to form relationships and gain skills that will serve this country (several Mitchell Scholars now work for the Department of State).  This Administration has pointed to the fact that only about 1% of our students study abroad – a figure that is woefully inadequate.  Given these realities, it is hard to understand why the Administration would eliminate funding for the Mitchell Scholarship program. We strongly urge you to immediately reinstate funding for the Mitchell program – for now, and for the immediate future – within the budget of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. We appreciate your consideration of this important issue. Sincerely,''
''Current signers: Fitzpatrick, Norton, Peterson, Rangel, Levin Deadline: October 30 Please join me on a letter to the House Appropriations Defense Subcommittee urging it to adopt the Senate Appropriations Committee-passed funding level of $50 million for the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) in Fiscal Year 2015. Healthcare costs for DOD are expected to rise to $70 billion by 2028, and sadly this population has higher incidence rates of certain cancers than the non-military population. Targeted research on these cancers that disproportionately afflict service members and their families will help improve health outcomes. Created in Fiscal Year 2009, the PRCRP addresses the significant disparity in cancer incidence between the military community and the general population due to hazardous environments and  environmental exposure. The Program funds studies to better understand the incidence of cancer in the military community and promote the prevention, detection, and treatment of these cancers. The full text of the letter is below, and please have your staff contact Chris Gorud at chris.gorud@mail.house.gov or 5-7944 to add your name or ask any questions. Sincerely, CAROLYN B. MALONEY Member of Congress Dear Chairman Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky, We write to respectfully request that the Committee adopt the $50 million funding level passed by the Senate Appropriations Committee for the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program (PRCRP) during Conference on the Fiscal 2015 Defense Appropriations bill, or a Fiscal 2015 omnibus spending bill.  The Senate figure represents an increase from the $25 million for the PRCRP appropriated in Fiscal Year 2014.  Created by Congress in Fiscal Year 2009, the PRCRP fosters groundbreaking cancer research relevant to service members and their families. Longitudinal studies of cancer incidence have found that cancer incidence among service members and their families differ substantially from the general public. For example, Department of Defense-published data shows that the military population has a higher incidence of melanoma, likely due to hazardous environments and intense sun exposure during deployments, than the civilian population. High costs for military medical care—projected to rise from $48 billion in 2014 to $70 billion in 2028—necessitate proactive investment in research to improve prevention, detection, and treatment of cancers that affect military personnel and their families. We know that the PRCRP has been effective in examining these issues through past research, and $50 million in funding will surely build on important progress. We thank you for your consideration of this important request and would greatly appreciate your support in providing $50 million for the Peer-Reviewed Cancer Research Program.''
''Letter supported by: American Jewish Committee, Israel Allies Foundation, National Jewish Democratic Council, Endowment for Middle East Truth Current Signers (59): Brian Higgins, Doug Collins, Eliot Engel, Steve Chabot, Nita Lowey, Mark Meadows, Ted Deutch, Scott Perry, Steve Israel, David Joyce, Carolyn Maloney, Trent Franks,  Bill Pascrell, Doug Lamborn, Grace Meng, Leonard Lance, Adam Schiff, Randy Weber, Juan Vargas, Jackie Walorski, Gene Green, Bill Johnson, David McKinley, Patrick Murphy, Ted Yoho, Joe Pitts, Bill Owens, Paul Gosar, John Fleming, Robert Latta, Michele Bachmann, Mike Kelly, Jim Langevin, Tom Price, Brad Sherman, Lois Frankel, Rush Holt, Steve Stivers, Henry Waxman, David Schweikert, Dan Maffei, Chris Collins, Steve Stockman, Carolyn McCarthy, Curt Clawson, Albio Sires, Steve Pearce, Gus Bilirakis, Phil Gingrey, Dina Titus, David Cicilline, Paul Broun,  Brad Schneider, Jerrold Nadler, Eric Swalwell, Bill Posey, Sander Levin, Frederica Wilson, Bob Brady Dear Colleague, Hamas’s campaign of indiscriminate rocket fire and tunnel attacks against Israel has involved the repeated use of human shields and the placement of rocket launchers, weapons caches and other terrorist infrastructure within civilian areas. Equally disturbing, on at least three occasions, rockets were discovered at United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) facilities, the agency charged with providing services to Palestinians in Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, the West Bank and Gaza. These events raise serious questions about the measures UNRWA is undertaking to ensure its facilities are not being used for illicit activities. As the largest single state contributor to UNRWA, providing $294 million in FY ’13, the United States has an obligation to ensure that US resources are not being used to perpetrate or facilitate acts of terrorism. Please join us in urging the State Department to conduct an independent investigation into these events, and certify that US tax dollars are being used in a manner consistent with their humanitarian purpose. To sign on, please contact David Grossman with Rep. Higgins (David.L.Grossman@mail.house.gov) or Vernon Robinson Jr. (Vernon.Robinson@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Collins (GA). Sincerely, Brian Higgins                                      Doug Collins Member of Congress                            Member of Congress The Honorable John F. Kerry Secretary U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry, The recent conflict between Israel and Hamas has seen the latter’s cynical and illegal use of human shields and the placement of its rocket launchers, weapons caches and other terrorist infrastructure within densely populated civilian areas.  It is within this context that we are gravely concerned to learn of the repeated use of United Nations Relief Works Agency (UNRWA) facilities to maintain rocket stockpiles during the course of the conflict. We strongly condemn these actions. According to news reports and press releases by the United Nations (UN), on July 16, July 22, and again on July 29, rockets were found during the course of inspections of UNRWA schools in Gaza. Of further concern, UN officials said the rockets found on July 16 were turned over to local authorities answerable to the Palestinian unity government, though it’s unclear what formal powers this entity has in Gaza. With regard to the rockets found on July 16, the cache subsequently went missing, presumably returned to terrorist hands. We appreciate UNRWA’s important role in providing humanitarian, social services, education and other forms of assistance in the West Bank, Gaza, Lebanon, Jordan and Syria. Furthermore, we note Secretary General Ban Ki Moon’s condemnation of the rocket incidents, UNRWA’s ongoing investigation into their placement in these schools, and changes in protocol that have subsequently been adopted. However, as the largest single-state contributor to UNRWA, providing $294 million in Fiscal Year 2013, the United States has a responsibility to ensure that UNRWA facilities and personnel are not being used to perpetrate or facilitate acts of terrorism.  We must ensure that United States taxpayer funds are not exploited for these nefarious purposes. While we do not advocate a cutoff in funding at this time, these issues must be addressed. That is why we urge the State Department to conduct an independent investigation, while acknowledging the limitations imposed by the situation on the ground, to ascertain the extent to which UNRWA facilities are being misused in Gaza. We also believe screening of staff for membership in Hamas and Hezbollah, both US designated foreign terrorist organizations, must be more effective going forward.  Furthermore, site inspections by Operations Support Officers (OSO) should be increased in Gaza. While we recognize UNRWA does not possess policing capabilities, or the ability to counter armed intruders, it must do more to prevent its facilities from being used to endanger the lives of civilians and commit acts of terrorism. Consequently, as the agency overseeing UNRWA contributions, the State Department is responsible for ensuring these funds are being used in a manner consistent with their humanitarian purpose. We therefore urge swift action to facilitate an independent investigation and ensure that UNRWA implements the necessary reforms to certify such incidents will not happen again. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: The bipartisan Congressional Aluminum Caucus invites you to a policy discussion and briefing on the issues and opportunities of the North American aluminum industry. The briefing will include an overview of the state of the industry, insight into the importance of energy, and a discussion on the uses and benefits of aluminum. Hosted by the Aluminum Caucus and featuring industry executives from across the country, the event will be held in the Judiciary Committee hearing room, Rayburn House Office Building 2226 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. TODAY. We also invite you to join the Aluminum Caucus. It is an excellent forum for Members to discuss aluminum, its production, and its uses, and to exchange ideas with other Members who share an interest in the industry.  Together we can help elevate awareness about the importance of this industry in our districts and across the country. The Aluminum Caucus was founded by Representatives Larry Bucshon (R-IN), Suzan DelBene (D-WA), Bill Johnson (R-OH) and Bill Owens (D-NY). The Caucus provides a forum to exchange ideas and discuss issues and policies important to our aluminum constituents.   To join the Aluminum Caucus, please contact Ben Barasky in Rep. Suzan DelBene’s (D-WA, 1) office at ben.barasky@mail.house.gov , or Patrick Orth, in Rep. Bill Johnson’s (R-OH, 6) office at Patrick.orth@mail.house.gov. Below is full list of Caucus members. Sincerely, Aluminum Caucus Co-Chairs Larry Bucshon (R-IN) Suzan DelBene (D-WA) Bill Johnson (R-OH) Bill Owens (D-NY) Aluminum Caucus Members Larry Bucshon (R-IN) Suzan DelBene (D-WA) Bill Johnson (R-OH) Bill Ownes (D-NY) Andy Barr (R-KY) Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) Cheri Bustos (D-IL) Shelley Capito (R-WV) Doug Collins (R-GA) Rick Crawford (R-AR) Blake Farenthold (R-TX) Brett Guthrie (R-KY) Janice Hahn (D-CA) David Joyce (R-OH) Mike Kelly (R-PA) Dave Loebsack (D-IA) Alan Lowenthal (D-CA) David McKinley (R-WV) Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA) Tim Murphy (R-PA) Gary Peters (D-MI) Phil Roe (R-TN) Todd Rokita (R-IN) Tim Ryan (D-OH) Adam Smith (D-WA) Jason Smith (R-MO) Steve Stockman (R-TX) Pat Tiberi (R-OH) Elizabeth Esty (D-CT)''
''Bloomberg: U.S. Gas Boom Turns Global as LNG Exports to Shake Up Market Dear Colleague: I would like to bring to your attention a recent Bloomberg article entitled “U.S. Gas Boom Turns Global as LNG Exports to Shake Up Market.”  Specifically, the article states: “While the U.S. won’t begin exporting gas until late next year, the prospect of rising North American supply is already having an impact as the market anticipates increased competition, Catriona Scott, a London-based senior energy analyst at Interfax Europe Ltd.’s Global Gas Analytics, said by phone yesterday.” “‘You have suppliers like Qatar looking to balance their portfolios and positioning themselves to be able to offer Asian buyers much more flexible supply options from a pricing perspective,’” Scott said.  ‘This will be another step in that change.’” The United States’ emerging role as an energy producer is impacting global markets.  Liquefied natural gas (LNG) previously destined for the United States, but no longer needed as a result of increased production, was diverted to other markets, helping several countries to successfully renegotiate their long-term contracts.  And lifting self-imposed restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports will further help foster a more competitive global natural gas market, providing our allies with greater choice and helping to curb the use of energy as a political weapon.  In fact, a recent study by Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy entitled “American Gas to the Rescue?  The Impact of U.S. LNG Exports on European Security and Russian Foreign Policy” states: “The US shale gas boom has already helped European consumers and hurt Russian producers by expanding global gas supply and freeing up liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments previously planned for the US market.  This has strengthened Europe’s bargaining position, forcing contract renegotiations and lowering gas prices. US LNG exports will have a similar effect.” “Over the long term, US exports, along with growth in LNG supply from other countries such as Australia, will create a larger, more liquid and more diverse global gas market.  This will increase supply options for Europe and other gas consumers, and give them even more leverage in future negotiations with Russia and other producers.” On June 25, 2014, the House took action by approving H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, with bipartisan support, to require the Department of Energy to consider natural gas export permit applications in a timely manner.  It is imperative that President Obama and the Senate work with the House on this important American job creation and energy security initiative. Sincerely,            Michael R. Turner                Member of Congress Bloomberg – U.S. Gas Boom Turns Global as LNG Exports to Shake Up Market By Christine Buurma and Chou Hui Hong – Oct 1, 2014 The U.S. natural gas boom is poised to go global as the government approves projects that will export the fuel to buyers from Tokyo to New Delhi. Dominion Resources Inc.’s Cove Point terminal in Maryland won authorization Sept. 29 from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to ship liquefied natural gas around the world. It’s the fourth export project to win permission and the first outside the Gulf of Mexico. Construction will cost between $3.4 billion and $3.8 billion, Dominion said yesterday. Advances in drilling techniques including hydraulic fracturing have pushed U.S. natural gas output to a record every year since 2011 and made the country the world’s largest producer. U.S. supplies will compete with cargoes from Qatar and Australia, two of the biggest exporters, shifting global movements of the super-chilled fuel. “In our projections the U.S. becomes a significant LNG exporter, taking the bronze medal after Qatar and Australia,” Laszlo Varro, head of gas, coal and electricity markets at the International Energy Agency, said in an interview in Berlin yesterday. “As North American LNG flows to Japan and Korea, the Japanese and Koreans will buy less LNG from Qatar. Qatar will want to do something with that gas.” Surging U.S. gas production from shale formations including the Marcellus deposit in Appalachia has sent prices tumbling 69 percent from a peak in 2008. Marketed gas output will advance 5.3 percent this year to an all-time high of 73.93 billion cubic feet a day, according to U.S. Energy Information Administration projections. First Exporter Cheniere Energy Inc. is set to be the first company to export gas produced from the U.S. shale boom. The company’s Sabine Pass export terminal under construction in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, may ship its first LNG cargoes to overseas customers as early as next year, the company has said. BG Group agreed to buy about a third of the annual 16 million tons of LNG from the Sabine Pass terminal, which also sold the fuel to companies including Korea Gas Corp., Gas Natural SDG SA and Gail India Ltd., Cheniere said. Asia is a prime market for low-cost U.S. supplies, with LNG demand for the region set to climb about 36 percent from 2013 to 2020, according to Rafael McDonald, director of global gas and LNG at IHS CERA, an energy consulting company in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Asia consumed 75 percent of the world’s LNG last year, data from the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers show. 20-Year Contracts A U.S. LNG cargo sent to Japan today would cost about $10.50 per million British thermal units, including marketing and transportation costs, McDonald said by phone yesterday. Japan paid an average of $15.58 per million Btu for shipments from Australia in June, government data show. LNG into northeast Asia was little changed at $14.70 in the week ended Sept. 29, according to the Energy Intelligence Group’s World Gas Intelligence publication today. Sumitomo Corp., Japan’s third-largest trading house, and Tokyo Gas Co. will buy gas from the Cove Point terminal under 20-year contracts. Japan’s LNG imports jumped to a record after the 2011 meltdown at the Fukushima Dai-Ichi nuclear plant. “Asia is the growth market,” McDonald said by phone yesterday. “U.S. LNG will bring security of supply and diversification of supply sources for the region.” Indian Imports India is building LNG receiving terminals in anticipation of U.S. cargoes, R.K. Garg, finance director at Petronet LNG Ltd., India’s biggest importer of LNG, said by phone yesterday. Gail India Ltd., the nation’s largest gas distributor, said in June that it is offering LNG supplies from the U.S. tied to the American benchmark as an alternative to its oil-linked contracts. Asia’s LNG contracts traditionally are tied to oil, making them vulnerable to increases in crude prices. U.S. exports may also be destined for Europe, especially if severe winters cause prices to jump, McDonald said. North American LNG exports to Japan and Korea may displace supplies from Qatar, prompting Qatar to divert cargoes to Europe, the IEA’s Varro said. “U.S. LNG will definitely lead to a more competitive and more saturated European gas market, even if the actual quantities in Europe will not be very large,” he said. Global Trade Worldwide, LNG trade will rise by 40 percent to 450 billion cubic meters (16 trillion cubic feet) by 2019, the IEA said in its medium-term gas market report in June. U.S. LNG exports will probably climb to about 8.5 billion cubic feet a day of gas in 2020, IHS CERA’s McDonald said, or about 1.8 percent of global demand. While the U.S. won’t begin exporting gas until late next year, the prospect of rising North American supply is already having an impact as the market anticipates increased competition, Catriona Scott, a London-based senior energy analyst at Interfax Europe Ltd.’s Global Gas Analytics, said by phone yesterday. “You have suppliers like Qatar looking to balance their portfolios and positioning themselves to be able to offer Asian buyers much more flexible supply options from a pricing perspective,” Scott said. “This will be another step in that change.”''
''NOW Lunch Briefing: Moms Impacted by Eating Disorders & BMI Report Cards: Intended Outcomes & Unintended Consequences 12:00PM – 1:00PM, Wednesday October 1, 2014 Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2226 Dear Colleague, I am writing to bring your attention to an invitation you should have received for an important briefing hosted by the Eating Disorders Coalition. Eating disorders are the deadliest of all mental illnesses. Eating disorders often go undetected, and even after diagnosis recovery requires intensive treatment and a long road toward recovery. The current lack of awareness, pervasive stigma, and difficult battles to obtain insurance coverage for treatment put enormous strain on the families of individuals who have eating disorders. On Wednesday, October 1, 2014, the Eating Disorders Coalition will host an important briefing to allow Congressional staff to hear directly from the mothers of individuals with eating disorders. This will be an excellent opportunity to learn from their experiences and gain a greater understanding of these deadly disorders. Assistant Professor Kendrin Sonneville, ScD, RD, LDN, from the University of Michigan School of Public Health, will also give a presentation regarding the impact of in-school Body Mass Index screening. BMI is an important tool to aid in obesity surveillance, but carries the risk of harm when used inappropriately. While CDC has published information to assist schools with collection of BMI data, there is a lack of clear guidance to implement best practices in screening procedures. Without appropriate safeguards, in-school screenings could result in harm to students. To  RSVP please contact the Eating Disorders Coalition at manager@eatingdisorderscoaltion.org. Sincerely, Ted Deutch MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''Deadline: Tuesday, October 7th Current Signers (7): Polis, Marino, Ellison, Grijalva, Grimm, Moran, Rangel Dear Colleague: The illegal trade in both ivory and wildlife has grown rapidly in recent years, fueling the widespread poaching of many protected species, particularly elephants and rhinoceros. The African elephant population has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the last 40 years, with more than 30,000 elephants poached in 2012 alone. From 2007 to 2012, rhinoceros poaching in South Africa increased by more than 5,000 percent. This trade involves many of the same transnational criminal networks that are involved in human trafficking, arms trafficking, and international terrorism, and these groups exploit corruption and weak laws, often in the world’s poorest countries, to traffic in wildlife and ivory and then use the proceeds to fund other illicit activities. The United States contributes to poaching by providing the second largest ivory market in the world after China, and, until now, the U.S. ivory market has been allowed to persist unmonitored and unchecked. Strictly enforcing restrictions on the import, export, and interstate commerce of ivory sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the United States is a leader in the effort to end the ivory trade. We hope you will join us in calling on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to take actions to crack down on the illegal ivory market both domestically and abroad. To sign onto the letter, or for further information, please contact Bill Tighe (Marino) at bill.tighe@mail.house.gov or Craig Frucht (Polis) at craig.frucht@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Tom Marino                                                      Jared Polis Member of Congress                                        Member of Congress — Dan Ashe Director of Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Department of Interior 1849 C Street, NW, Room 3359 Washington, DC 20240 Dear Director Ashe: As you know, the illegal wildlife trafficking trade has reached a level of global emergency, with impacts on national security, international human rights, and the survival of protected wildlife species. We are encouraged that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) has taken initial steps to address this unprecedented crisis and combat the ivory and illegal wildlife trade, and we want to ensure that the progress made so far is not curtailed in the face of critics or adversaries. With the Agency’s continued leadership, the United States can take its place at the forefront of the global effort to stop illegal wildlife trafficking and halt the slaughter of some of our planet’s most iconic animals. The illegal trade in both ivory and wildlife has grown rapidly in recent years, approaching $20 billion in proceeds in 2012 and fueling the widespread poaching of many protected species, particularly elephants and rhinoceros. The African elephant population has declined by an estimated 50 percent over the last 40 years, with more than 30,000 elephants poached in 2012 alone. From 2007 to 2012, rhinoceros poaching increased by more than 5,000 percent. The United States contributes to poaching by providing the second largest ivory market in the world after China, and, until now, the U.S. ivory market has been allowed to persist unmonitored and unchecked. We commend your recently issued Director’s Order No. 210 instructing FWS personnel to strictly enforce restrictions on the import, export, and interstate commerce of ivory. Agency action like this sends a clear signal to the rest of the world that the United States is a leader in the effort to end the ivory trade. Likewise, we applaud FWS’s decision to suspend imports of trophies from African elephants hunted in Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Given the current situation for African elephants, there is no legitimate argument that trophy hunting enhances conservation or supports anti-poaching efforts. We urge the Agency to continue its efforts to prevent the unnecessary slaughter of elephants, and we encourage widening the suspension to include all African countries that permit elephant hunting. In addition to conservation concerns for some of the world’s most valued species, international wildlife trafficking threatens our national security and the human rights of vulnerable populations around the world. The illegal wildlife trade involves many of the same transnational criminal networks that are involved in human trafficking, arms trafficking, and international terrorism. These groups exploit corruption and weak laws, often in the world’s poorest countries, to traffic in wildlife and ivory and then use the proceeds to fund other illicit activities. For example, political instability and corruption across several African countries have made the enormous profits from the ivory black market a viable source for funding military resistance groups such as the Somalia-based Al-Qaeda affiliate, al-Shabaab, the Janjaweed militia in Sudan, and the Lord’s Resistance Army in Uganda. These security implications must be addressed by strengthening laws, increasing enforcement, and reducing the demand for ivory and illegal wildlife. While the United States alone cannot solve the elephant poaching crisis or stop the illegal trade in wildlife and ivory, as a leader in the international community we play a very influential role and must send a clear signal that we will not tolerate illegal wildlife trafficking. Already, China has followed our lead: after the FWS crushed six tons of ivory, the Chinese government crushed over six tons from its own stockpiles. In addition, Hong Kong has begun to destroy close to 30 tons of illegal ivory, the largest amount to be destroyed to date. Significant restrictions on the sale of ivory items in the United States through strengthened regulations and enforcement efforts, as well as limits on the import of tusks from trophy hunted elephants, should be quickly proposed, finalized, and implemented. The FWS should not scale back its efforts and must ensure the United States is not contributing to the crisis now threatening the African elephant and other species. Thank you for your consideration and for your continued efforts. Sincerely,''
''Deadline Extended: COB Thursday, October 2nd! Current Cosigners: Reps. Joe Barton, Diane Black, Marsha Blackburn, John Culberson, Stephen Fincher, Ralph Hall, Kenny Marchant, and Roger Williams October 1, 2014 Dear Colleague,             Please join me in signing the attached letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator Marilyn B. Tavenner, urging CMS to change their proposal that will lead to limited patient access to innovative new therapies designed to treat chronic and acute wounds.             Complications from unhealed wounds can lead to more serious health concerns.  Thanks to new technologies, the practice of wound care is rapidly changing to improve patients’ lives. Unfortunately, the proposed update to the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) bundles payment for innovative, new biological drugs in the broader “skin substitute” package.  It also would evaluate “skin substitutes” under the device pass-through process even if they were approved by the Food and Drug Administration as a biologic.             I am concerned that CMS’s proposal deters physicians from using innovative treatments that could benefit patients.  It also eliminates incentives to develop groundbreaking drugs and biologics in this treatment area.             I ask that you join me in urging CMS to clarify the proposed OPPS rule that will limit patient access and harm innovation.  Please contact Theresa Vawter in my office at theresa.vawter@mail.house.gov if you have additional questions or if you would like to sign the letter. Sincerely, Kay Granger             Member of Congress             October __, 2014 Marilyn B. Tavenner, Administrator Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 337H Humphrey Building Washington, DC 20201 Dear Administrator Tavenner:             We are concerned about a policy in the Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System (OPPS) that limits patient access to innovative new therapies designed to treat chronic and acute wounds. As you know, complications from unhealed wounds often lead to hospitalization, amputation, and increased mortality. The treatment of wounds, particularly from complications with diabetes and obesity, remains a significant unmet medical need in the United States. Thankfully, new technologies hold the promise of transforming the practice of wound care and improving patients’ lives by healing difficult wounds faster. Unfortunately, the Centers for Medicare and Medicare Services’ (CMS) decision to bundle payment for innovative new biologic drugs within the so-called “skin substitute” package undermines new medical innovation in this field and leaves clinicians and patients without better treatment options in the future. This occurs because the OPPS inappropriately groups dissimilar treatments within a single bundled payment. We do not believe CMS has the authority to bundle payment for drugs and biologics licensed under Section 351 of the Public Health Service Act (PHSA) whose cost exceeds the threshold for packaging. These breakthrough therapies are not devices or supplies.  They are  biologic drugs subject to dramatically different approval pathways and corresponding levels of clinical evidence at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). In addition, CMS proposes to treat certain biologic drugs as devices for determining pass-through payments. Small molecule and biologic drugs are not regulated in the same way as devices and are not equivalent for payment purposes. The Balanced Budget Act of 1999 established separate pass-through reimbursement methodologies for drugs and devices. It is inappropriate for CMS to use the device pass-through payment structure to pay for drugs and biologics. We are concerned that CMS’ decision creates a virtually limitless authority to bundle payment for any new drug or biologic in the future. This ignores Congress’ intent for Medicare to reimburse drugs and biologics separately based on their market prices, more accurately reflecting their benefit to patients as well as their research and development costs.  Congress has acted through changes in payment policy to bundle drugs and biologics with Medicare services, but that has been done with great care and through amending the Social Security Act, which governs the administration of the Medicare program. Packaging drugs and biologics with basic supplies such as wound dressings under a single payment also creates a strong disincentive for physicians to use innovative products. As a result, patients would not benefit from faster healing times and could receive substandard care.  This policy eliminates incentives to develop drugs and biologics in this underserved treatment area because manufacturers would not be able to recoup the substantial costs of researching and developing a biologic drug. In fact, we are aware this policy already has halted the development of promising new therapies to heal wounds. Manufacturers need greater certainty in order to make the substantial investment necessary to bring innovative products to market, particularly with the clinical trials and level of evidence required to obtain approval under section 351 of the PHSA. This is a clear example of how predictable and transparent payment policies that foster innovation are critical to ensuring that treatments get to the patients who need them most. We urge CMS to clarify in its 2015 OPPS final rule that innovative drugs and biologics used to treat wounds that are licensed under section 351 of the PHSA will be paid separately like any other drug or biologic in the OPPS, based on their market prices. In addition, CMS should not finalize its proposal to treat certain biologic drugs as devices for determining pass-through payments. Thank you for your attention to these critically important matters. We look forward to your prompt response and to working with you to address these concerns. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: I wanted to make sure you and your constituents are aware of Building Better Caregivers (BBC), a new service available to caregivers of injured or ill military veterans.  Recently launched by the National Council on Aging and the Department of Veterans Affairs, BBC is a free online workshop that offers training and support to family caregivers of veterans. Many veterans who are battling disabilities or chronic illnesses rely heavily on the daily care and support provided by family caregivers.  The efforts of family caregivers often enable veterans to live better lives and recover more quickly.  Too often, however, the needs of caregivers are neglected.  The physical, emotional and financial demands placed on caregivers can be enormous, and the BBC program can help ensure that they do not face these challenges alone. Through a six-week, interactive online workshop, the BBC program brings together small groups of caregivers to learn how to provide better care for their loved ones and also support themselves and each other.  Originally developed and tested by Stanford University, BBC has already served thousands of family caregivers.  The results have been overwhelmingly positive.  Participants in the workshop have shown decreased levels of stress and report high satisfaction with the workshop. To date, participation in the program has been well under capacity, and I invite you to help raise awareness of this new program among your constituents.  A fact sheet about this program can be found here.  Caregivers of veterans interested in participating in BBC can contact a Caregiver Support Coordinator at their local VA Medical Center.  Caregivers can locate their Caregiver Support Coordinator by visiting www.caregiver.va.gov and entering their ZIP code.  Caregivers can also sign up for the program by visiting http://va.buildingbettercaregivers.org/. Please contact Matt Connolly (matt.connolly@mail.house.gov) in my office for more information. Sincerely, HENRY A. WAXMAN Member of Congress''
''Energy and U.S. Free Trade Agreements: A look into energy and climate in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) 9:00am, Thursday, October 2nd H-122, The Capitol Light breakfast will be provided Please RSVP: andrew.linhardt@sierraclub.org Dear Colleague, By now you likely have received an invitation from the Sierra Club to attend a briefing focusing on the impact free trade agreements currently under negotiation may have on U.S. energy and climate policy. This is a unique opportunity to hear from environmental advocates from both sides of the Atlantic. Please join us for a discussion of the energy and climate implications of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Panelists will also give an update on the implementation of the EU Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), a climate policy designed to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels on the EU market. Panelists: Cecile Toubeau, Policy Officer, Transport and Environment, Brussels Nusa Urbancic, Program Manager for Fuels, Transport and Environment, Brussels Sharon Anglin Treat, Maine State Representative and Co-Chair, Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission, presenting on behalf of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) Ilana Solomon, Director, Sierra Club’s Responsible Trade Program Moderator: Andrew Linhardt, Sierra Club If you have any questions, please contact Brendan Larkin (Brendan.Larkin@mail.house.gov or x5-5076) in my office. Sincerely, Paul D. Tonko Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Please join the Modern Ag Caucus and the American Soybean Association for a lunch briefing today, Tuesday, September 30th at 11:30am as soybean farmers explain modern farming practices and answer your questions about key issues impacting the industry. What: Lunch Briefing: Soy 101 Where: 121 Cannon House Office Building When: Tuesday, September 30, 2014; 11:30am RSVP here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/soy-101-tickets-13211424727 Sincerely,  ADRIAN SMITH Member of Congress JIM COSTA Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, The World Health Organization estimates that the annual cost of fighting antibiotic-resistant infections is as high as $34 billion in the United States. Two recent reports highlight how this public health crisis is tied to the overuse of antibiotics on industrial farms and why strong measures must be taken to curb this practice. Clearly, the financial and personal costs of inaction are too great to ignore. In an important development, a report by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) acknowledged that the “use of antibiotics in animal agriculture promotes the development of antibiotic-resistant microbes,” which can infect humans. Just days before this connection was acknowledged, an investigative report released by Reutuers found that antibiotics are routinely administered to chickens on a scale previously unimagined, and that government regulators do not have a true idea of the scale of this problem. In a sign of this knowledge gap, the administration’s report continues to support the FDA’s voluntary regulatory approach, which asks drug companies to remove “growth promotion” uses from their labels and expects that this will lead to a reduction in the use of antibiotics in agriculture. Though the report recommends greater surveillance of antibiotic use in agriculture to determine whether this reduction occurs, the industry has already clearly told us that they don’t expect the voluntary policy to impact their bottom line – so I don’t anticipate a change in behavior. Simply asking industry to change their practices will not protect human health. I urge you to support my bill, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), which the scientific community and over 450 organizations agree is the only serious solution to the epidemic of antibiotic resistance. PAMTA sets aside eight classes of antibiotics needed for human medicine as off-limits for routine farm use unless an animal is sick. Stopping the indiscriminate use of antibiotics on the farm is the best way to protect modern medicine and ensure that we do not pay even greater human and financial costs in the fight against antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Please contact Clayton Cox (Clayton.Cox@mail.house.gov) in my office to sign on as a cosponsor or with any questions. Sincerely, Louise M. Slaughter Member of Congress''
''Cosponsor H.R. 4282, Creating Access to Residency Education (CARE) Act Endorsed by the American Medical Association and the American Osteopathic Association Dear Colleague,           The United States is facing a shortage of physicians to care for our families and senior neighbors.  Medicare is one of the main funding streams teaching hospitals rely on to educate medical residents; however, the Balanced Budget Act (BBA) of 1997 capped the number of medical resident positions used in a teaching hospital’s graduate medical education (GME) funding calculation.  Teaching hospitals in Florida, Nevada, Colorado and many other states are still forced to use their low residency numbers from 1996.  Many of these states have seen a huge population boom since that time, but they are still constrained to the BBA language.  Because of this, many hospitals must use their own funds to expand existing residency programs or to create new ones.  With no movement to eliminate or increase the residency caps, we must look to innovative partnerships to lift the financial burden from teaching institutions and allow them to invest in the health needs of their patients and communities.             We have heard from patient groups and the medical community in our respective states about the need to address the residency shortage immediately to ensure states with low medical residency numbers have the same caliber workforce as states with a large number of residency positions.  With almost 50 percent of physicians staying in or returning to the state where they did their residency, we believe we needed to do something to incentivize teaching hospitals to expand GME slots.  This call to action is why we introduced the Creating Access to Residency Education (CARE) Act.             The CARE Act establishes a grant initiative administered by The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) which is open to teaching hospitals and accredited graduate medical education training programs in states with fewer than 25 medical residents per population of 100,000.  It allows them to create new residency programs or increase slots in existing ones.  Grant awards range from two-thirds of the cost of funding a primary care slot to one-half the cost for positions in other fields.  The legislation also encourages teaching hospitals to partner with other organizations, such as local governments, community health centers or local health departments to assist with funding their portion of the cost.  This has the potential to create additional community buy-in on educating future doctors who will serve the community.             The CARE Act is one step to addressing the looming physician shortage problem.  Patients living in states with growing populations but stagnant GME positions should not be left without quality medical care.  Intergovernmental and community partnerships, like the ones the CARE Act encourages, are essential to allow teaching hospitals to maintain their missions of educating the physicians of tomorrow and ensuring our families, friends and neighbors continue to have access to the health services they need.  If you would like to sign on to the CARE Act, please contact Elizabeth Brown in Representative Castor’s office at elizabeth.brown@mail.house.gov or Catie Fulton in Representative Heck’s office at catie.fulton@mail.house.gov Sincerely, Kathy Castor                           Joe Heck Member of Congress              Member of Congress''
''Energy and U.S. Free Trade Agreements Briefing: A look into energy and climate in the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) 9:00am-10:00am, Thursday, October 2nd H-122, The Capitol Light breakfast will be provided Please RSVP: andrew.linhardt@sierraclub.org Dear Colleague, By now you likely have received an invitation from the Sierra Club to attend a briefing focusing on the impact free trade agreements currently under negotiation may have on U.S. energy and climate policy. This is a unique opportunity to hear from environmental advocates from both sides of the Atlantic. Please join us for a discussion of the energy and climate implications of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP). Panelists will also give an update on the implementation of the EU Fuel Quality Directive (FQD), a climate policy designed to reduce the carbon intensity of fuels on the EU market. Panelists: Cecile Toubeau, Policy Officer, Transport and Environment, Brussels Nusa Urbancic, Program Manager for Fuels, Transport and Environment, Brussels Sharon Anglin Treat, Maine State Representative and Co-Chair, Maine Citizen Trade Policy Commission, presenting on behalf of the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) Ilana Solomon, Director, Sierra Club’s Responsible Trade Program Moderator: Andrew Linhardt, Sierra Club If you have any questions, please contact Brendan Larkin (Brendan.Larkin@mail.house.gov or x5-5076) in my office. Sincerely, Paul D. Tonko Member of Congress''
''Help Preserve Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Legacy Cosponsor H.R. 5517, Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act of 2014 DEADLINE:  TOMORROW at noon Current cosponsors:  Brown, Clarke, Cohen, Cummings, Engel, Fattah, Fudge, Hastings, Jackson Lee, E. Johnson, H. Johnson, Lee, Levin, Meeks, Nadler, Norton, Rangel, D. Scott Dear Colleague:             I invite you to join me as a cosponsor of the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park Act of 2014, which will authorize the National Park Service to re-designate the current Martin Luther King, Jr. National Site into a National Park.             Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. brought people of all races, religions, economic, and social backgrounds together to do good.  His message was love; his weapon was truth, and his goal was to build a Beloved Community–a community of justice, a community at peace with itself.             The National Park Service should be applauded in helping keep Dr. King’s legacy alive by preserving a slice of Dr. King’s life.  The area currently classified as the MLK National Site is much more complex that the “site” designation suggests.  For this reason, this bill simply allows the site to be recategorized as a “park.”  The current sites includes not only Dr. King’s gravesite and birth home, but also the Historic Ebenezer Baptist Church where Dr. King, his father and his grandfather served as pastors.             I hope that you will join me in this simple, common-sense effort.  To cosponsor or for more information, please contact Kathleen Hom on my staff at x5-3801 or kathleen.hom@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, John Lewis Member of Congress''
''Washington Post: Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine are in a gas dispute as winter approaches Dear Colleague: I would like to bring to your attention a recent Washington Post article entitled “Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine are in a gas dispute as winter approaches.”  Specifically, the article includes the following excerpts: “Ukrainians are layering their sweaters in preparation for yet another tough confrontation with the Kremlin, this time over energy.  It is a replay of previous wintertime gas cutoffs by Russia that led to accusations that the Kremlin was using its bountiful energy supplies as a political weapon.  This year, any wintertime shortfall could be far more serious for Ukrainians already contending with the dire effects of a separatist war.” “‘People understand what the situation is,’ Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said in an interview ahead of the Friday negotiations.  ‘They know that Russia switched off gas.  They know that Russia is leading a war against us, not just war but also an economic war.  And naturally they expect a complicated fall and winter period.’” “Since the June gas cutoff, Ukraine has been dependent on the goodwill of its neighbors to send some gas coursing backward through pipelines in a process called reverse flow.  Those supplies are not enough to cover all of Ukraine’s needs, and Gazprom has said the practice is illegal.” “Countries that have agreed to help Ukraine have seen their own supplies from Russia come under pressure.  Poland was forced to cut off its shipments to Ukraine for a week this month when Russian gas flows dipped.  Hungary announced Friday that it was ending all gas flow to Ukraine, saying that it had to prioritize its own citizens’ needs in the event that the Ukraine-Russia conflict disrupted gas supplies later in the winter.” Russia has repeatedly used natural gas pricing to draw governments closer to its orbit and punished West-leaning governments with higher prices.  Previous disputes between Ukraine and Russia led to natural gas shutoffs in 2006 and 2009, negatively affecting downstream European countries.  In April 2014, Russia’s state-owned monopoly, Gazprom, increased the price of natural gas on Ukraine by 80 percent.  And in June 2014, Gazprom cut off natural gas supplies to Ukraine. Helping our allies diversify their energy resources is vital to strengthening our strategic partnerships and bolstering security.  In fact, in a joint statement issued on March 26, President Barack Obama and leaders of the European Union at the EU-US Summit in Brussels welcomed the prospect of U.S. natural gas exports.  Specifically, the joint statement states: “The situation in Ukraine proves the need to reinforce energy security in Europe and we are considering new collaborative efforts to achieve this goal.  We welcome the prospect of U.S. LNG exports in the future since additional global supplies will benefit Europe and other strategic partners.” Regardless of where U.S. natural gas is shipped, increasing supply and competition in the global marketplace will help provide international consumers with greater choice and thus increased leverage to negotiate pricing contracts.  In fact, Obama Administration officials have made similar arguments concerning U.S. natural gas exports.  For example, at an April 3, 2014 Atlantic Council forum, Carlos Pascual, then-Special Envoy and Coordinator for International Energy Affairs at the U.S. State Department, made the following statements: “….what the Europeans are saying is that if the United States can supply this global marketplace, it will help maintain and sustain that pattern to competition and trade over time.”  “So even if that gas is not going specifically to Europe, it’s helping to sustain this concept of competition in the global marketplace, which is fundamental to giving Europe choices.” Lifting self-imposed restrictions on U.S. natural gas exports will create jobs right here at home and help foster a more competitive global natural gas market.  This will enhance our strategic alliances, strengthen the independence of our allies, and help curtail the use of energy as a political weapon. On June 25, 2014, the House took action by approving H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, with bipartisan support, to require the Department of Energy to consider natural gas export permit applications in a timely manner.  It is imperative that President Obama and the Senate work with the House on this important American job creation and energy security initiative. Sincerely,            Michael R. Turner                Member of Congress Washington Post – Russia’s Gazprom and Ukraine are in a gas dispute as winter approaches By Michael Birnbaum September 27 KIEV, Ukraine — The frigid water that comes out of the “hot” faucet of Alexander Korniienko’s shower in Kiev is a warning for his nation: After months without natural gas shipments from Russia, Ukraine may be facing a chilly winter. Ukrainians are layering their sweaters in preparation for yet another tough confrontation with the Kremlin, this time over energy. It is a replay of previous wintertime gas cutoffs by Russia that led to accusations that the Kremlin was using its bountiful energy supplies as a political weapon. This year, any wintertime shortfall could be far more serious for Ukrainians already contending with the dire effects of a separatist war. Korniienko has been on the vanguard of those facing the latest gas cutoff, since Kiev eliminated city-provided hot water in July as a conservation measure. Now he bathes by heating water in pots on his stove and sloshing it over his head. “We have the ice-bucket challenge every morning,” said Korniienko, 23, a computer programmer. “You take one shower and you go out and you get sick,” he added, suppressing a sneeze. After months of grinding negotiations, officials from Russia, Ukraine and the European Union on Friday announced a last-ditch proposal to help Ukraine get through the winter, but the sides still appeared to be squabbling over the price Russia will charge Ukraine. Analysts said the plans may still be derailed. The E.U. is eager to foster a deal, because continued disruptions in Russian gas shipments could extend the winter discomfort to Eastern European nations that are largely dependent on Russia for their supplies of natural gas. Most of Europe is as far north as Canada — Minneapolis is at roughly the same latitude as southern France, and Kiev is level with Calgary — so winters can be bitter. Natural gas is the most important fuel for heating their homes and providing hot water. Energy experts and diplomats warn that Ukraine has not done enough to prepare for a season with severely limited gas supplies even as other European nations have been trying to stockpile the resource as a safety measure. “It is not going to be easy,” Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk told a Ukrainian television station this month. “Freeze? No, we will not freeze. But it is not going to be warm, I warn you.” Russia seized Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula in March and then backed a separatist insurgency in Ukraine’s east that has cost at least 3,500 lives, according to U.N. estimates. The conflict has severely damaged infrastructure there. As the ground fighting worsened over the summer, so did the confrontation over energy. “People understand what the situation is,” Ukrainian Energy and Coal Industry Minister Yuriy Prodan said in an interview ahead of the Friday negotiations. “They know that Russia switched off gas. They know that Russia is leading a war against us, not just war but also an economic war. And naturally they expect a complicated fall and winter period,” Under the E.U. plan proposed Friday, Ukraine would repay $2 billion in debt to the state-backed Russian gas company Gazprom by the end of October and an additional $1.1 billion by the end of the year. In return, Gazprom would supply at least 5 billion cubic meters of gas to Ukraine over the next six months at $385 per 1,000 cubic meters, roughly on par with average European prices and the price Ukraine was paying until December 2013. Ukraine needs 5 billion to 12 billion cubic meters of gas beyond what it has stored to make it through the winter, officials have said. The E.U. price proposal is in line with what Russia has been pushing for months, reflecting a mounting European effort to have Ukraine settle the dispute and avoid a broader disruption of gas supplies. About 15 percent of the gas that Europe uses transits through Ukrainian pipelines. Ukraine depends on Russia for 60 percent of its gas. Prodan told journalists Friday after the negotiations that Ukraine still had not consented to the price — the key sticking point in the negotiations — and had not settled on the lump sum to be paid to Gazprom. The negotiators plan to keep talking in coming days. Gazprom says that Ukraine owes it $5.3 billion for gas delivered last year and in the first months of 2014, a figure that Ukraine disputes. Even if the sides do finalize a deal next week, it doesn’t eliminate the risk of a cutoff later in the winter, said Edward Chow, an energy expert at the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies. Russia stopped supplying gas to Ukraine in the winters of 2006 and 2009, also during times of political confrontation. “There’s still a lot of short-term brinksmanship that people can play, depending on what else is going on in the political sphere,” Chow said. He said that the government that took over when President Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in February had done little to push energy-sector reforms that would reduce opportunities for corruption, a major problem that analysts say has contributed to Ukraine’s long-term dependence on Russian energy. Ukraine also heavily subsidizes household gas supplies, a politically popular policy but one that has created little incentive to increase energy efficiency, which is stuck at Soviet-era levels. This year’s gas cutoff did not have a major effect on ordinary Ukrainians during the warm months. But as chillier weather has settled over the country in recent weeks, the problems are becoming more acute. In Kiev, as in many cities across the former Soviet bloc, water and air are heated at massive central stations and piped to apartment buildings. The uncertainty about gas supplies “means we’ll need more clothes” this winter, said Mykhailo Gonchar, an energy expert who is the head of the Strategy XXI Center for Global Studies, a Kiev-based research organization. Apartments might be heated to 60 degrees rather than 72 degrees this winter, he said. Since the June gas cutoff, Ukraine has been dependent on the goodwill of its neighbors to send some gas coursing backward through pipelines in a process called reverse flow. Those supplies are not enough to cover all of Ukraine’s needs, and Gazprom has said the practice is illegal. Countries that have agreed to help Ukraine have seen their own supplies from Russia come under pressure. Poland was forced to cut off its shipments to Ukraine for a week this month when Russian gas flows dipped. Hungary announced Friday that it was ending all gas flow to Ukraine, saying that it had to prioritize its own citizens’ needs in the event that the Ukraine-Russia conflict disrupted gas supplies later in the winter. Korniienko, the computer programmer, said that he had traveled home to western Ukraine — a six-hour drive — to take a bath at his parents’ house. Other friends in Kiev who have purchased electric water heaters have offered to let him shower at their places occasionally. “It’s not comfortable, but there’s no choice,” he said.''
''Signers: Mike Michaud, Chellie Pingree, Steve Cohen, Alan Lowenthal, Carolyn McCarthy, Bill Owens, Jim Langevin, Jim McGovern, Dan Lipinski, Bill Pascrell, Sheila Jackson Lee, Sanford Bishop, Tim Bishop, Barbara Lee, Gerry Connolly, Jim Moran, Earl Blumenauer, Joe Courtney, Brian Higgins, Rush Holt, Hank Johnson DEADLINE (EXTENDED) COB THURSDAY, 9/25 Dear Colleague, I am writing to request your support for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program.  Created following 1998 Good Friday peace accord, this scholarship program serves as a living symbol of the important cultural and political ties between the United States and the people and governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Each year, twelve American students are selected through a rigorous process based on their academic performance, service and leadership to pursue graduate studies at a university in Ireland and Northern Ireland. The program is administered by the nonpartisan, non-profit US-Ireland Alliance. In addition to serving as a symbol of friendship between our two countries, the program prepares scholars for international leadership far beyond the island of Ireland.  Many scholars have gone on to serve as leaders in their communities, business, journalism, and government.  A number of scholars are currently employed by Department of State working on issues that are priorities for State. Despite the overwhelming success of this program and its alumni, in recent years, the State Department has worked to eliminate funding for the program as part of its efforts to “deprioritize Europe.”  Please join us in urging Secretary Kerry to immediately and permanently reinstate funding to ensure that this critical program continues for years to come. If you have any questions or would like to sign on, please contact Ben Goodman on my staff atben.goodman@mail.house.gov or at 5-6306. Sincerely, MICHAEL H. MICHAUD Member of Congress Dear Secretary Kerry, We are writing to urge you to immediately reinstate – and sustain – Department of State funding for the George J. Mitchell Scholarship program.  We urge you to recommit the Department to its long-standing commitment to this successful and efficient program. The George J. Mitchell Scholarship program was created after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement and serves as a living symbol of the important cultural and political ties between the United States and the people and governments of Ireland and Northern Ireland.  Named in honor of the chairman of the peace talks and former Senate Majority Leader, and created by the non-partisan, non-profit US-Ireland Alliance, the Mitchell program annually sends up to twelve of the best and brightest American students – as selected through a rigorous review – to universities in Ireland and Northern Ireland for a year of graduate study.  The program is recognized as one of the most prestigious and highly competitive international scholarships with applicants turning down Rhodes interviews to accept the Mitchell. The Mitchell program received bipartisan support under the Clinton and Bush Administrations, in large part due to the broad and unwavering bipartisan support for the program from Capitol Hill.  And we very much appreciate the fact that during your tenure in the U.S. Senate, you were among the Mitchell Scholarship’s ardent supporters. With such a strong reputation and record of support, we were surprised when Secretary Clinton’s final budget proposal eliminated funding for the Mitchell program.  After an outcry from Members of Congress, the Irish and Northern Ireland Governments, US citizens and universities, funding was restored. We were perplexed and disappointed that budget requests submitted under your leadership have not restored this funding and that the State Department continues a policy of deprioritizing Europe.  Further evidence of that was seen in the Administration’s extensive cuts to the Fulbright program, particularly in Europe.  Hill support for the Mitchell remains strong – as evidenced by the most recent letter of support, which included the signatures of 30 Members of Congress.  But because the State Department included no funding whatsoever for the Mitchell in its budget, it has been a significant challenge for program supporters on the Hill to restore funding. Recent events in Ukraine are a strong reminder that strengthening relationships and U.S. interests in Europe must remain a firm priority on the State Department’s agenda.  While we understand the budgetary pressures facing the Department, we strongly disagree with this decision that saves less than $500,000 while eliminating a prominent, widely supported, and very successful scholarship program.  Ending support for the Mitchell scholarship program fuels a building narrative of U.S. disengagement not only from Ireland and Northern Ireland, but from Europe, at a time of crisis in that region.  It also deprives America’s future leaders of an opportunity to form relationships and gain skills that will serve this country (several Mitchell Scholars now work for the Department of State).  This Administration has pointed to the fact that only about 1% of our students study abroad – a figure that is woefully inadequate.  Given these realities, it is hard to understand why the Administration would eliminate funding for the Mitchell Scholarship program. We strongly urge you to immediately reinstate funding for the Mitchell program – for now, and for the immediate future – within the ECA budget. We appreciate your consideration of this important issue.''
''Cosponsor H. Con. Res. 114, a Resolution Calling for a Robust Debate and Authorization for Any Sustained U.S. Combat Role in Iraq or Syria Cosponsors: McGovern, Grayson, Defazio, Welch, Pocan, McDermott, Conyers, Clarke, O’Rourke, Tsongas, Pingree, Honda, Nolan Dear Colleague: Over the past few months, our country has grappled with the question of how to deal with the threat posed by the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).  Last week, the President put forward his own plan, which would provide for a significant long-term bombing campaign and military escalation in Iraq and Syria. The Constitution has entrusted specific, articulated war powers to both the Executive and Legislative branches.  The President has laid out a vision for action, consistent with his interpretation of his authority as Commander-in-Chief.  We believe that it is incumbent on Congress to exercise its own constitutional authority to debate and examine the significant consequences of another multi-year military intervention in the Middle East and to authorize any use of force. Consistent with this belief, we recently introduced H. Con. Res. 114, which calls for Congress to fulfill its constitutional duties by debating and voting on a narrowly tailored authorization for any sustained military campaign in Iraq or Syria.  The resolution states that: Congress should debate and vote on a statutory authorization or any sustained U.S. combat role in Iraq or Syria; Congress does not support the deployment of ground troops in Iraq or Syria; Congress should ensure that any such statutory authorization is narrowly tailored and limited; and Congress should ensure that any statutory authorization includes robust reporting requirements. After more than a decade of war, the voices of the American people need to be heard during a full and robust debate in Congress on the proper response to the threat posed by ISIS.  If you have any questions or would like to cosponsor H. Con. Res. 114, please contact Kyle Smith (kyle.smith@mail.house.gov) with the Congressional Progressive Caucus. Full Text of H. Con. Res. 114 can be found here. Sincerely, Raul M. Grijalva                                Keith Ellison                                       Barbara Lee Co-Chair                                             Co-Chair                                             Chair, CPC Peace Congressional Progressive Caucus  Congressional Progressive Caucus  and Security Taskforce''
''DEADLINE TODAY Current Signers (20): Polis, Grijalva, Cicilline, Lofgren, Capuano, Chu, Farr, Holt, Garcia, B. Lee, Lowenthal, McDermott, McGovern, Moore, O’Rourke, Pallone, Pocan, Serrano, Swalwell, Veasey Dear Colleague: We urge you to join us in calling on the President to take administrative relief measures that take into account the unique circumstances facing LGBT immigrants under our present immigration policies. There are 267,000 LGBT immigrants living in the United States today, and many of them came to this country to escape threats and extreme violence. These individuals are often seeking refuge from prejudice and persecution, but when they arrive in the United States, they encounter a complicated immigration system that can expose them to new risks and familial separation. Same-sex couples, who lack the freedom to marry in most parts of the country and the world, are routinely separated; LGBT people face gender-based violence in detention; and individuals are deported back to countries where their sexual orientation or gender identity puts their lives in grave peril. We hope you will join us in sending a letter to President Obama urging him to take prompt and bold action to provide relief for hundreds of thousands of LGBT individuals and their families who are suffering and whose future in our country remains uncertain due to unjust policies. For more information, or to sign onto the letter, please contact Craig Frucht (craig.frucht@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Polis’s office, Yesenia Chavez (yesenia.chavez@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Grijalva’s office, Sarah Trister (sarah.trister@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Cicilline’s office, or Tom Jawetz (tom.jawetz@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Lofgren’s office. Sincerely, Jared Polis                                                       Raúl M. Grijalva Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress   David N. Cicilline                                            Zoe Lofgren Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress — The President The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW Washington, D.C. 20500 Dear Mr. President: The need for administrative relief, inclusive of policies that take into account the grave circumstances that LGBT immigrants face under our present, broken immigration system, grows more urgent with each passing day. We are disappointed in your decision to delay executive action on immigration, yet we remain hopeful that you will take prompt and bold action to provide relief for hundreds of thousands of LGBT individuals and their families who are suffering and whose future in our country remains uncertain due to unjust policies. As strong supporters of comprehensive immigration reform legislation that includes a pathway to citizenship, we recognize that you alone do not have the power to implement the sweeping changes necessary to fully protect the lives and well-being of our nation’s immigrant families. We cannot truly fix our broken immigration system if Congress will not send a comprehensive reform bill to your desk. Nevertheless, by exercising your power to implement administrative policies that take into account the uniquely dangerous and difficult circumstances facing LGBT immigrants, you have the ability to protect thousands of individuals immediately. There are 267,000 LGBT immigrants living in the United States, and many of them came to this country to escape threats and extreme violence. These individuals are often seeking refuge from prejudice and persecution, but when they arrive in the United States, they encounter a complicated immigration system that can expose them to new risks and familial separation. Same-sex couples, who lack the freedom to marry in most parts of the country and the world, are routinely separated; LGBT people face gender-based violence in detention; and individuals are deported back to countries where their sexual orientation or gender identity puts their lives in grave peril. Deporting LGBT immigrants back to hostile countries is an unconscionable practice. Moreover, forcing them to return to their home countries in order to apply for permission to return with permanent status in the United States is completely unnecessary under current law. The Department of Homeland Security’s prosecutorial discretion policies have failed to implement a meaningful balancing test that properly weighs strong equities against negative factors, making at-risk LGBT immigrants much less likely to qualify for protection. We urge the administration to make better use of its limited resources by focusing its enforcement efforts on individuals who have records of violent criminal behavior rather than on those who do not. Many LGBT immigrants have struggled in the United States and have been pushed to the fringes of society. If given the opportunities made possible by deferred action, they will be able to thrive and contribute to the American economy like so many of the young people who already have obtained protection through the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals initiative. We are dedicated to enacting legislation that fixes our broken immigration system and reflects our values as Americans and will continue to work with you and our colleagues to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill. However, it is imperative that you use the tools at your disposal to ensure that families stay together, that immigrants are not put in harm’s way, and that LGBT people are not subjected, at the hands of the American government, to the dangers from which they have fled. Sincerely,''
''Help Build Safer Schools by Cosponsoring the National Parents Corps Act of 2014 DEADLINE:  Tuesday, September 30 at noon Dear Colleague:             I invite you to join me as a cosponsor of the National Parents Corps Act of 2014 (formerly H.R. 3055 in the 112th Congress).  Regardless of race, income, or region, a strong partnership and dialogue between school officials and parents are critical to creating a solid foundation for safe and strong communities.             The National Parents Corps Act would establish a national network of full-time, parent leaders in our nation’s middle schools.  It would help parents work directly with school administrators, teachers, students, social workers, community police, and other parents to reduce high-risk behaviors and improve academic and social performances in our schools.  These leaders would educate and train other parents, so they could collectively prevent and curb youth violence and the frighteningly prevalent use of alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs by our children.             This legislation responds to a crystal clear need.  According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s 2012 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, nearly 25 percent of children between ages 12 to 17 in the United States have used an illicit drug in their lifetime.   The National Parents Corps Act is narrowly tailored to develop a targeted, collaborative approach to stemming dangerous behaviors when children are at the most vulnerable age.             I hope that you will join me as a cosponsor of this common-sense bill.  We all have a duty to our children to create safe learning spaces and protect them from harm.  To cosponsor or for more information, please contact Kathleen Hom on my staff at x5-3801 or kathleen.hom@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, John Lewis Member of Congress''
''Sign Letter to Help Combat Student Loan Debt and Bring to Light University President Pay Supported by The Institute for Policy Studies Current Signers: Eric Swalwell, Marcy Kaptur, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Maxine Waters  Dear Colleague: A study by the Institute for Policy Studies found that executive pay for university presidents and student debt are closely related and should be addressed together in the future.  With student debt at an all time high, we must work together to help ensure that our federal tax dollars are working for students. Each year, the Department of Education conducts a mandatory Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) survey, which provides publically available data on postsecondary education.  Join me in writing a letter to the Department of Education requesting that the IPEDS study include university president salary and compensation as well as that of the top three personnel as required fields. With over one trillion dollars in current student debt, more than what is owed on credit cards, we should be looking for ways to address this problem.  Understanding the extent to which administrator compensation could be one of many causes of increased student debt is the first part in finding a solution. If you would like to sign the letter or have additional questions, please contact Katelynn Anderson (Katelynn.Anderson@mail.house.gov).  The deadline to sign on is COB Friday, September 19. Sincerely, /s Eric Swalwell Member of Congress         ______________________________________________________ September X, 2014 The Honorable Arne Duncan Secretary United States Department of Education 400 Maryland Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20202 Dear Secretary Duncan: We are writing to ask that you include university president salary and compensation as well as that of the top three personnel as required fields in the National Center for Education Statistics’s (NCES) yearly Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) survey.  As you may know, IPEDS provides valuable, publically available data on postsecondary education.  This includes information on students enrolled, staff employed, dollars expended, and degrees earned.  What is not included, however, is data on the pay and benefits of the highest compensated employees at these institutions. Including pay and compensation for these few school employees in IPEDS studies would help paint a picture of an institution’s priorities.  This, in turn, would assist students in making an educated decision about whether the school shares their values.  Moreover, this would help ensure taxpayer dollars provided to and for students are spent wisely – for the benefit of students.  Lastly, it also would allow policy makers and the public to detect trends over time. Additionally, there is reason to be concerned that higher compensation levels may be increasing the cost of education for students.  A May 2014 Institute for Policy Studies report examined the 25 public universities with the highest executive pay.  What it found was that this executive pay and student debt, along with resources for faculty, “are closely related and should be addressed together in the future.”  With over one trillion dollars in current student debt, more than what is owed on credit cards, we should be looking for ways to address this problem.  Understanding the extent to which administrator compensation could be one of many causes of increased student debt is the first part in finding a solution. Therefore, as the NCES works on future IPEDS surveys, we request that it ask for the salary and benefits of the school president and top three highest compensated paid personnel at each institution.  For the reasons stated, doing so would provide valuable information for students, parents, and policymakers.  Considering NCES already surveys these colleges and universities, this is also a cost-effective and common sense way to increase our knowledge in this area. Thank you for your consideration.  We look forward to your timely response. Sincerely,''
''Sign Letter to HHS to Reconsider Outdated Blood Donor Deferral Policy DEADLINE TODAY Current House Cosigners (38): Blumenauer, Bonamici, Capuano, DeGette, Deutch, Doyle, Farr, Grijalva, Hahn, Hastings, Higgins, Honda, Kuster, Pingree, Polis, Schiff, Takano, Cicilline, Cohen, Gutierrez, Himes, Holt, Lee, Maloney, Maloney, McCollum, Norton, Quigley, Rangel, Schakowsky, Smith, Speier, Swalwell, Tierney, Tonko, Tsongas, Vargas, Wilson Dear Colleague, Please join me in signing a bicameral letter to Secretary Burwell expressing concern with outdated HHS policies governing blood, organ, and tissue donation by men who have sex with men (MSM), and urging the agency to swiftly complete its work to change such policies, particularly the MSM blood donation ban.  The other week, the Washington Post ran a front page article about a gay teen from Iowa, AJ, who committed suicide. AJ was an organ donor, and while all his major organs were able to be donated, his eyes were rejected for donation due to FDA’s policies for MSM. Currently, men who have had sex with men in the past five years are ineligible to donate tissue and are classified as high-risk donors for organs. In addition, MSM are prohibited from donating blood for life. AJ’s story highlights the inconsistencies and inherent unfairness in our outdated policies for blood, organ, and tissue donation that were put in place during the rise of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s, when there were not accurate screening tests for HIV. Such discriminatory policies should be modernized to reflect our current medical practices and advanced screening technologies — today, all organ donors and blood donations are tested for HIV. HHS has recognized that the lifetime MSM blood ban is “suboptimal” and needs to be changed. While the agency has initiated several studies to inform a policy change, progress has been too slow. Our letter calls on HHS to finish its work to overturn the blood ban by the end of the year, and requests that such a change also inform modernization of the MSM organ and tissue donation policies. The deadline to sign on is COB, Tuesday, September 2, 2014. Please contact Joe Bushong (joseph.bushong@mail.house.gov) if you would like to sign or if you have any questions. Sincerely, Mike Quigley Member of Congress ———————————————– Dear Secretary Burwell: We write to express our continued concern regarding current policies governing blood, organ, and tissue donation by men who have sex with men (MSM) and to bring your attention to an incident in Iowa that highlights the inherent unfairness and inconsistency in the content and application of these policies.  Recently, the Washington Post reported the tragic story of a gay teenager, Alexander “AJ” Betts, Jr., who took his own life in July 2013 after experiencing months of bullying.  Prior to his death, AJ decided he wanted to be an organ donor and his mother, Sheryl Moore, received some comfort from the fact that his heart, liver, lungs, and kidneys helped to save other lives, including that of another teenager. However, the tragedy of Alexander’s death was highlighted once again in recent weeks when AJ’s mother received notice from a donor network that his eyes had been rejected for donation based on the FDA’s five-year deferral of MSM tissue donors.  Because Ms. Moore could not confirm that her teenage son had not been sexually active for the past five years, this final anatomical gift was summarily rejected.     As you know, FDA policy currently defers MSM blood donors for life and MSM tissue donors for five years, put in place during a time when there were not accurate screening tests for HIV and other transfusion- and transplantation-transmissible diseases.  Federal law, Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) policy, and Public Health Service (PHS) guidelines together govern MSM organ donation; however there is no mandatory MSM deferral because all organ donors, living or dead, are tested for HIV infection.  OPTN policy and PHS guidelines require notification to transplant programs receiving organs from a deceased male donor that he may have had sex with another man in the past year (based on behavioral history obtained from someone who knew the donor).  AJ’s story is a particularly poignant example of the harms of our policies governing blood, tissue, and organ donation by MSM.  As noted in the Washington Post story, AJ’s major organs were successfully donated to multiple donors, and consistent with federal law and policy, AJ was tested for HIV before such donations occurred.  However, FDA’s tissue donation policy nonetheless barred donation of AJ’s eyes because his mother was unable to sufficiently answer the behavioral screening questions.           These policies are inconsistent and fail to reflect the advances in HIV detection and the scientific community’s understanding of the virus since the policy was first established.  Furthermore, these policies continue to perpetuate inaccurate stereotypes, promote discrimination, and discourage individuals from seeking other appropriate health services.  We appreciate the efforts of the Department of Health and Human Services to review the blood donation policy, which, as you know, the Advisory Committee on Blood and Tissue Safety and Availability concluded more than four years ago was “suboptimal” and should be changed.   It is time that the agency took action, and we encourage such action to also address the deficiencies of the tissue donation policy. As many of us wrote to Secretary Sebelius a year ago, we are committed to ending the outdated blood donation policy and moving forward with securing the nation’s blood supply in a scientifically sound manner.  In her response last September, the Secretary indicated that the Department anticipates concluding its internal review for a policy recommendation regarding the blood donation ban “by late 2014,” a timeline which you reiterated in your response to questions from your HELP Committee confirmation hearing.  We anxiously await that policy change and urge the Department to adopt a risk-based policy for all donors, as supported by the medical community. AJ’s story clearly demonstrates that these outdated policies have real-life consequences, turning away much-needed donations of healthy blood and tissue, even when we face serious shortages.  His life ended far too soon, after he faced inexcusable torment simply because of who he was.  Yet he made the selfless decision before his death to be an organ donor.  Our current policies have failed to respect his dignity as a young, gay man and have wasted the gift of sight that might have helped someone else.  We urge you to develop blood, organ, and tissue donation policies that are consistent, based in current science, and designed to ensure all healthy donors can follow AJ’s compassionate example.  We also request that you provide us with a written update within 30 days on the following: The Department’s progress in reassessing the policy on blood and tissue donations from MSM; An estimation of when recommendations for policy changes will be announced publicly and when these changes will take effect; and What steps are being considered to make the adjustment of the blood and tissue deferral policies possible, such as changes in donor screening protocols or surveillance of donors and recipients. Thank you for your attention to this important matter and we look forward to a timely response to our request.  Sincerely, Tammy Baldwin                                                          Tom Harkin United States Senator                                                   United States Senator Mike Quigley                                                               Elizabeth Warren Member of Congress                                                   United States Senator''
''Don’t Let EPA Dodge Public Input on Proposed Power Regulations Send letter to EPA Demanding more public input on President’s proposed Clean Power Plan Deadline Today, Friday August 1. Current signers include: Nick Rahall, Paul Gosar, David McKinley, Cynthia Lummis, William Enyart, Walter Jones, Bill Johnson, Tim Griffin, Kevin Cramer, Robert Latta. Dear Colleague: This week the EPA held public hearings on their proposed Clean Power Plan (CPP). Despite the rule requiring existing power plants to cut their production by 30% over the next 15 years, the EPA only visited four cities to discuss their plan. The Partnership for a Better Energy Future, a coalition of business organizations representing over 80 percent of the U.S. economy, stated that in addition to significant legal questions regarding the proposed rule’s viability, the mandate is “fundamentally incompatible with numerous practical and technical aspects of America’s electricity system.” American families are projected to lose almost $600 billion in disposable income as a result of this new proposed rule – All for just an estimated 1.8% reduction of global carbon-dioxide emissions by the year 2030. Despite the real and immediate effect these proposed rules will have on Americans, especially those from coal producing states, the EPA has embarked on a tour to just four metropolitan cities to sell their plan and hear from the public. Join us in sending a letter to EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy to demand the EPA hold additional public comment hearings in areas which represent both coal producing communities and regions which receive much of their electrical power from coal powered generation.  The EPA has a responsibility to engage, inform, and, most importantly, listen to the concerns of citizens who will be directly affected by their regulations.  These limited hearings, however, fail to address this responsibility. For additional information or to co-sign this letter, contact Trevor Pearson (trevor.pearson@mail.house.gov) in Representative Gosar’s Office or Cory Toth (cory.toth@mail.house.gov) in Representative McKinley’s office. Sincerely, Paul A. Gosar, D.D.S.                                                David B. McKinley, P.E. Member of Congress                                                 Member of Congress The Honorable Gina McCarthy Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, Northwest Washington, D.C. 20460 August 1, 2014 Dear Administrator McCarthy, We write to express our concerns regarding the public hearings the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held July 29 – 31 pertaining to new proposed regulations for existing power plants. These hearings took place in Washington, D.C., Atlanta, Denver, and Pittsburgh.  These cities are large urban areas, several of which are hundreds of miles from the communities that will be most impacted by this flawed proposal. It is deplorable that the EPA has not scheduled public hearings in communities that will lose thousands of jobs if these overreaching regulations are adopted. The proposed EPA regulations will require existing power plants to cut their production by 30% over the next 15 years. The Partnership for a Better Energy Future, a coalition of business organizations representing over 80 percent of the U.S. economy, stated that in addition to significant legal questions regarding the proposed rule’s viability, the mandate is “fundamentally incompatible with numerous practical and technical aspects of America’s electricity system.” These reduction mandates are not only unrealistic, but they will cause significant job losses and be extremely detrimental to economic growth throughout the nation. American families are projected to lose almost $600 billion in disposable income as a result of this new proposed rule. All of this economic harm and destruction for our economies will only result in an estimated 1.8% reduction of global carbon-dioxide emissions by the year 2030. Proposed regulations by this Administration have already forced more than 200 different plants out of business. This latest proposal will only exacerbate that problem and it deserves greater public scrutiny as a result. The U.S. economy can’t afford to lose 226,000 jobs and $50 billion each year as the President and your Agency pursue an overreaching climate change agenda by any means and all costs necessary. We demand the EPA hold additional public hearings in states like West Virginia, Kentucky, Wyoming, Texas, Alabama, Illinois, Ohio, North Carolina, Arkansas, North Dakota and Arizona to hear from hardworking Americans who are already struggling to survive on thin margins and will be hit hardest by these burdensome new requirements.  The Administration has a responsibility to engage, inform, and, most importantly, listen to these very citizens.  These limited hearings, however, fail to address this responsibility.  Recent media reports describe many stakeholders, including several who are openly opposed to the new regulations, being denied the opportunity to speak at hearings despite signing up early. It is clear that the demand by the public to be more involved in this process is beyond the capacity provided by the four hearings scheduled in what appear to be politically chosen metropolitan areas. The Administration’s war on coal must cease and you must stop picking winners and losers to appease a radical agenda. It is far past time your agency embrace a true all-of-the-above energy policy that includes access to wind, solar, hydropower, geothermal, oil, natural gas, nuclear and coal. Thank you for taking the time to consider our request to gather additional input from actual stakeholders before finalizing this proposal. We urge to you schedule the requested hearings at your soonest convenience. Sincerely,''
''Modernize Our Oil and Gas Fiscal System and Save Taxpayers Billions of Dollars Deadline tomorrow, Thursday, July 31, COB Current cosigners: Blumenauer, Earl; Brownley, Julia; Capps, Lois; Chu, Judy; Connolly, Gerald; DeFazio, Peter; Farr, Sam; Grijalva, Raul; Hahn, Janice; Holt, Rush; Huffman, Jared; Lofgren, Zoe; Lowenthal, Alan; Matsui, Doris; McCollum, Betty; Moran, Jim; Peters, Scott; Pocan, Mark; Quigley, Mike; Sanchez, Linda; Schiff, Adam; Sherman, Brad; Speier, Jackie; Swalwell, Eric; Thompson, Mike; Tonko, Paul; Tsongas, Niki; Waters, Maxine Dear Colleague: The rents and royalties that oil and gas companies currently pay to operate on federal public lands are exceedingly low and long overdue for an update. Fortunately, the Department of the Interior has the authority to modernize rental and royalty rates for onshore oil and gas leases to ensure that states, the U.S. Treasury, and all Americans receive their fair share from the nation’s oil and gas boom. The money that taxpayers are losing to oil and gas companies is not trivial; the Department of Interior estimates that updating onshore royalty rates could increase revenue collections by about $1.25 billion over 10 years. Oil and gas revenues are not only a source of funds for helping to balance the federal budget, but are also critical for oil and gas producing states. Approximately half of all oil and gas revenues are sent back to the states where the leases reside. These revenues are often further directed to local communities impacted by oil and gas development. Join us in requesting that the Department of Interior modernize the oil and gas fiscal system and save taxpayers billions of dollars. To sign-on to the letter or if you have any questions, please contact Devin.helfrich@mail.house.gov in Rep. Alan Lowenthal’s office, Steve.feldgus@mail.house.gov in Rep. Peter DeFazio’s office, or Chris.rackens@mail.house.gov in Rep. Rush Holt’s office. Sincerely, Alan Lowenthal                                   Peter DeFazio                                      Rush Holt Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                          Member of Congress *** The Honorable Janice Schneider Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Assistant Secretary Schneider: We would like to congratulate you on your recent confirmation as Assistant Secretary, and we look forward to working with you to ensure the appropriate balance between responsible energy development and the many other important uses of our public lands. Among the many critical issues that fall under your purview, we hope that you will make modernizing the outdated and inadequate onshore oil and gas fiscal system a top priority. Appropriate rental and royalty rates for onshore oil and gas leases help ensure that states, the U.S. Treasury, and all American taxpayers receive their fair share from the nation’s oil and gas boom. As you know, the rents and royalties that oil and gas companies currently pay to operate on federal public lands are exceedingly low and long overdue for updating. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) pointed out in 2007 that in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. “receives one of the lowest government takes in the world,” and in response the Department of the Interior (DOI) raised offshore oil and gas royalty rates.[1]  The next year, GAO recommended that DOI conduct a comprehensive study of the onshore oil and gas fiscal system.[2] Although the previous administration balked at that suggestion, we were pleased that under the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Salazar, such a study was announced in DOI’s FY2010 budget, issued in May 2009. Unfortunately, it appears that the process of modernizing onshore royalty rates has stalled, as documented by another recent GAO report.[3] Although DOI has conducted numerous studies on the potential impact of changing onshore royalty rates, no regulatory steps have been taken, nor has an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR)–an initial step purely designed to gather information–been published. It has been more than five years since DOI began the process of analyzing potential changes to onshore oil and gas royalty rates, and it is highly disappointing that with only two and a half years remaining in President Obama’s term, no steps have been taken. Even non-binding actions such as the issuance of an ANPR, or simple yet meaningful actions such as providing administrative flexibility for onshore royalties to be set higher than 12.5 percent, would help advance the cause of ensuring that the American people are receiving a fair return on their resources. We understand that there are a large number of regulatory priorities for the Department right now, and we appreciate the resource constraints that you are operating under. However, receiving appropriate value for the extraction of federal oil and gas resources would actually increase federal and state revenues, and as such, it deserves to be given more attention than it has been receiving. It is surprising, for instance, that the Department has been prioritizing seemingly minor rulemaking efforts over raising royalty rates, such as an ANPR for communication site rental fees that recently appeared in the Unified Rulemaking Agenda. We believe that you have a tremendous opportunity to make sure that reforming the onshore oil and gas fiscal system gets the attention that it deserves, and we urge you to sign the Onshore Oil and Gas Royalty ANPR before the end of this August. If you cannot commit to doing so, please let us know where the ANPR is in the Departmental review process, how many more review steps–and by whom–are necessary, and the expected time frame for completion of the review process and publication in the Federal Register. Modernizing the oil and gas fiscal system has the potential to be a defining issue for your tenure, and could result in a legacy of billions of additional dollars for American taxpayers. We ask that you not let the opportunity to make meaningful changes in our royalty system go to waste. Sincerely, Alan Lowenthal                                   Peter DeFazio                                      Rush Holt Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                          Member of Congress Cc: BLM Director Neil Kornze Interior Secretary Sally Jewell [1] GAO-07-676R [2] GAO-08-691 [3] GAO-14-50''
''Modernize Our Oil and Gas Fiscal System and Save Taxpayers Billions of Dollars Deadline tomorrow, Thursday, July 31, COB Current cosigners: Blumenauer, Earl; Brownley, Julia; Capps, Lois; Chu, Judy; Connolly, Gerald; DeFazio, Peter; Farr, Sam; Grijalva, Raul; Hahn, Janice; Holt, Rush; Huffman, Jared; Lofgren, Zoe; Lowenthal, Alan; Matsui, Doris; McCollum, Betty; Moran, Jim; Peters, Scott; Pocan, Mark; Quigley, Mike; Sanchez, Linda; Schiff, Adam; Sherman, Brad; Speier, Jackie; Swalwell, Eric; Thompson, Mike; Tonko, Paul; Tsongas, Niki; Waters, Maxine Dear Colleague: The rents and royalties that oil and gas companies currently pay to operate on federal public lands are exceedingly low and long overdue for an update. Fortunately, the Department of the Interior has the authority to modernize rental and royalty rates for onshore oil and gas leases to ensure that states, the U.S. Treasury, and all Americans receive their fair share from the nation’s oil and gas boom. The money that taxpayers are losing to oil and gas companies is not trivial; the Department of Interior estimates that updating onshore royalty rates could increase revenue collections by about $1.25 billion over 10 years. Oil and gas revenues are not only a source of funds for helping to balance the federal budget, but are also critical for oil and gas producing states. Approximately half of all oil and gas revenues are sent back to the states where the leases reside. These revenues are often further directed to local communities impacted by oil and gas development. Join us in requesting that the Department of Interior modernize the oil and gas fiscal system and save taxpayers billions of dollars. To sign-on to the letter or if you have any questions, please contact Devin.helfrich@mail.house.gov in Rep. Alan Lowenthal’s office, Steve.feldgus@mail.house.gov in Rep. Peter DeFazio’s office, or Chris.rackens@mail.house.gov in Rep. Rush Holt’s office. Sincerely, Alan Lowenthal                                   Peter DeFazio                                      Rush Holt Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                          Member of Congress *** The Honorable Janice Schneider Assistant Secretary for Lands and Minerals Management U.S. Department of the Interior 1849 C Street NW Washington, DC 20240 Dear Assistant Secretary Schneider: We would like to congratulate you on your recent confirmation as Assistant Secretary, and we look forward to working with you to ensure the appropriate balance between responsible energy development and the many other important uses of our public lands. Among the many critical issues that fall under your purview, we hope that you will make modernizing the outdated and inadequate onshore oil and gas fiscal system a top priority. Appropriate rental and royalty rates for onshore oil and gas leases help ensure that states, the U.S. Treasury, and all American taxpayers receive their fair share from the nation’s oil and gas boom. As you know, the rents and royalties that oil and gas companies currently pay to operate on federal public lands are exceedingly low and long overdue for updating. The Government Accountability Office (GAO) pointed out in 2007 that in the Gulf of Mexico, the U.S. “receives one of the lowest government takes in the world,” and in response the Department of the Interior (DOI) raised offshore oil and gas royalty rates.[1]  The next year, GAO recommended that DOI conduct a comprehensive study of the onshore oil and gas fiscal system.[2] Although the previous administration balked at that suggestion, we were pleased that under the leadership of President Obama and Secretary Salazar, such a study was announced in DOI’s FY2010 budget, issued in May 2009. Unfortunately, it appears that the process of modernizing onshore royalty rates has stalled, as documented by another recent GAO report.[3] Although DOI has conducted numerous studies on the potential impact of changing onshore royalty rates, no regulatory steps have been taken, nor has an Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (ANPR)–an initial step purely designed to gather information–been published. It has been more than five years since DOI began the process of analyzing potential changes to onshore oil and gas royalty rates, and it is highly disappointing that with only two and a half years remaining in President Obama’s term, no steps have been taken. Even non-binding actions such as the issuance of an ANPR, or simple yet meaningful actions such as providing administrative flexibility for onshore royalties to be set higher than 12.5 percent, would help advance the cause of ensuring that the American people are receiving a fair return on their resources. We understand that there are a large number of regulatory priorities for the Department right now, and we appreciate the resource constraints that you are operating under. However, receiving appropriate value for the extraction of federal oil and gas resources would actually increase federal and state revenues, and as such, it deserves to be given more attention than it has been receiving. It is surprising, for instance, that the Department has been prioritizing seemingly minor rulemaking efforts over raising royalty rates, such as an ANPR for communication site rental fees that recently appeared in the Unified Rulemaking Agenda. We believe that you have a tremendous opportunity to make sure that reforming the onshore oil and gas fiscal system gets the attention that it deserves, and we urge you to sign the Onshore Oil and Gas Royalty ANPR before the end of this August. If you cannot commit to doing so, please let us know where the ANPR is in the Departmental review process, how many more review steps–and by whom–are necessary, and the expected time frame for completion of the review process and publication in the Federal Register. Modernizing the oil and gas fiscal system has the potential to be a defining issue for your tenure, and could result in a legacy of billions of additional dollars for American taxpayers. We ask that you not let the opportunity to make meaningful changes in our royalty system go to waste. Sincerely, Alan Lowenthal                                   Peter DeFazio                                      Rush Holt Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                          Member of Congress Cc: BLM Director Neil Kornze Interior Secretary Sally Jewell''
''Current cosponsors:  Bentivolio, Bishop (UT), Broun, Burgess, Cotton, Farenthold, Gibbs, Gohmert, Gosar, King (IA), Hall, Harris, LaMalfa, Miller, Olson, Palazzo, Perry, Posey, Stutzman, Weber, Westmoreland Dear Colleague, The tragic murders at the Navy Yard reminds us that personnel on our military bases are dangerously vulnerable to attack. Even with expected increases in security, the truth is if a terrorist or murderer bypasses the safeguards, military and civilian personnel on bases will again be defenseless against such an attack. Simply, all military personnel are well trained and could stop such shootings, yet Clinton-era and other laws and regulations have disarmed the very soldiers who could react immediately. Our nation entrusts our soldiers to defend our nation, and basic and additional skills training involves firearms handling and safety courses. Yet they are by law forbidden from carrying firearms on base–even after the Fort Hood terrorist attack. I introduced H.R. 3199, the Safe Military Bases Act, which will repeal the military personnel gun bans, and invite you to cosponsor this important bill. Now, we have 21 co-sponsors. To cosponsor the bill, please contact Art Harman in my office at 5-1555 or art.harman@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Steve Stockman Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Every state is responsible for its own pollution under the National Ambient Air Quality Standards. However, there are certain sources of pollution beyond a state’s control. This can include naturally occuring and foreign pollution (as addressed by my other recent clean air bill, HR 4957), but another major source is pollution that blows across state lines from one state to its neighbors. EPA has tried on several occasions to regulate interstate pollution, first under the Bush Administration and now under President Obama with the Cross State Air Pollution Rule or CSAPR. CSAPR was initially thrown out by a federal court but has been revived by the Supreme Court. As part of that decision, the court found that the text of the Clean Air Act as currently written gives EPA sweeping power to impose rules on states before they have had a reasonable chance to draft their own compliance plans. This will be important now and in the future, as each new air quality standard will require revisions to the transport rule. Two simple changes to the Clean Air Act, being introduced as the Clean Air Fairness Act of 2014, would help states chart their own course and improve air quality without fear of retroactive penalties from the EPA: First, CAFA 2014 would prevent EPA from throwing states into a clean air rule late in the rulemaking (as happened to Texas) without an opportunity to question the regulation. This is accomplished by mandating that states be given notice and opportunity for comment on air transport rules. Second, CAFA 2014 supports states right by giving them the chance to draft their own State Implementation Plans, instead of facing a federally-mandated EPA plan. The Court found that the Clean Air Act as written allows EPA to jumpstart the federal rulemaking process by mandating that states undertake an almost impossible modeling process if they don’t want one designed by EPA. This applies to both the CSAPR and any future air regulations on interstate pollution. For more information or to cosponsor HR 4799, please contact Richard England (richard.england@mail.house.gov) in my office. Very respectfully, Pete Olson Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Please join us in signing a letter to the U.S. Postal Service to pursue a commemorative stamp for the civil rights leader, Yuri Kochiyama. Yuri Kochiyama was born and raised in San Pedro, California to Japanese immigrant parents. After the Pearl Harbor attack in 1941, Kochiyama, along with the rest of her family, were interned in Jerome, Arkansas with other Japanese-Americans for three years. After her release, Kochiyama moved to New York with her husband and became involved in social activism, including the fight for quality education for inner-city children, fair employment practices for black and Puerto Rican workers, and Malcolm X’s Black Liberation. Her friendship with Malcolm X greatly influenced her political activism. She joined the Organization for Afro-American Unity and the Republic of New Africa, which led to her leadership in the emerging Asian American Movement in the late 1960s. She joined the opposition against the Vietnam War, fought for Puerto Rican independence, and continued to provide support for social and political prisoners. She was also instrumental in gaining reparations for Japanese American internees in 1988. Her work has shown her to be a true leader whose social activism spanned across races and many marginalized communities. She was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 and is the author of the memoir, Passing It On. Yuri Kochiyama died at the age of 93 on June 1, 2014 in her home in Berkeley, CA. It is time we recognize her legacy of diversity, inclusivity and extraordinary contributions to American society and culture. To cosign this letter, please contact Monica Pham at Monica.Pham@mail.house.gov or 5-2661 in Rep. Lee’s office and Kelly Honda at Kelly.Honda@mail.house.gov or 5-2361 in Rep. Honda’s office. Sincerely, /s/ Barbara Lee Member of Congress                          /s/ Mike Honda Member of Congress''
''Support the Victims of Child Pornography Cosponsor the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act Deadline to be original cosponsor:  June 26th         Endorsing Organizations:  Building Empowerment by Stopping Trafficking, ECPAT USA, National Crime Victim Law Institute, National Organization for Victim Assistance Senate Cosponsors: Blumenthal, Cornyn, Feinstein, Graham, Grassley, Kirk, Klobuchar, Lee, Markey, McCain, Murray, Portman, Pryor, Roberts, Schumer, Toomey House Original Cosponsors:  Chu, Cohen, Cole, Cotton, DelBene, Eshoo, Gene Green, Hastings (FL), Hastings (WA), Jackson Lee, Lowey, McCarthy (NY), George Miller, Meeks, Pascrell, Slaughter, Speier, Terry, Vargas, Weber, Wilson (FL) Dear Colleague, A federal statute[1] requires that, in child sexual exploitation cases, a defendant must pay restitution for “the full amount of the victim’s losses.”  That works for crimes in which a defendant directly causes specific harm to a victim, but child pornography crimes are different.  Each step in the child pornography process – production, distribution, and possession – increases the harm to a victim but makes more difficult identifying those responsible.  Restitution is especially important in cases of child pornography where victims often need years of therapy to put their lives back together. Meeting that challenge is the purpose of the Amy and Vicky Child Pornography Victim Restitution Improvement Act of 2014.   “Amy” and “Vicky” are the victims in two of the most widely-distributed child pornography series in the world.  In Paroline v. United States, which reviewed Amy’s case, the Supreme Court on April 23 said that the existing restitution statute is not suited for cases like theirs because it requires proving the impossible: how one person’s possession of particular images concretely harmed an individual victim.  That standard puts the burden on victims to forever chase defendants and recover next to nothing. Originally introduced by Senator Orrin Hatch with six Republican and six Democrat original cosponsors, the Amy and Vicky Act creates an effective, balanced restitution process for victims of child pornography that also responds to the Supreme Court’s decision in Paroline.  It does three things that reflect the nature of these crimes.  First, it considers the total harm to the victim, including from individuals who may not yet have been identified.  Second, it requires real and timely restitution.  Third, it allows defendants who have contributed to the same victim’s harm to spread the restitution cost among themselves. A victim’s losses include medical services, therapy, rehabilitation, transportation, child care, and lost income If a victim was harmed by a single defendant, the defendant must pay full restitution for all her losses If a victim was harmed by multiple individuals, including those not yet identified, a judge can impose restitution on an individual defendant in two ways depending on the circumstances of the case the defendant must pay “the full amount of the victim’s losses” or, if less than the full amount, at least $250,000 for production, $150,000 for distribution, or $25,000 for possession Federal law already provides a mechanism for creating a restitution payment schedule Multiple defendants who have harmed the same victim and have paid at least those minimum amounts may sue each other to spread the restitution cost (a point specifically highlighted by the Supreme Court in Paroline as important). You can find a section by section explanation of the bill by clicking here. Those who continue a victim’s abuse should not be able to hide in the crowd; there should be no safety in numbers.  Victims should not be abused again by putting the burden on them to prove the impossible.  Instead, the Amy and Vicky Act creates a practical process, based on the unique kind of harm from child pornography, that both puts the burden on defendants where it belongs and provides actual and timely restitution for victims. If you are interested in becoming a cosponsor of the Amy and Vicky Act or you have any questions, please contact Stephen Coffey in my office at Stephen.Coffey@mail.house.gov or at 202-225-5546.  The deadline to be an original cosponsor is June 26th. Sincerely,  Matt Cartwright                                                                                        Tom Cotton Member of Congress                                                                              Member of Congress Suzan DelBene                                                                                      Randy Weber Member of Congress                                                                              Member of Congress Judy Chu                                                                                                 Doc Hastings Member of Congress                                                                              Member of Congress [1] 18 U.S.C. §2259''
''Deadline: Thursday, June 19th Current signers: Welch, Connolly, DeFazio, Grijalva, Tonko, Farr, Israel, Lee, Shea-Porter, Langevin, Doggett, C. McCarthy, Higgins, Linda Sanchez, Dingell, Engel, McCollum, DeLauro, Bustos, Nadler, Titus, Rangel, Deutch, Clay, Butterfield, S. Bishop, Peterson, Enyart, Holmes Norton, Gabbard, Davis, Negrete McLeod, Lynch, Pocan, Lujan Grisham, Blumenauer, Sarbanes, Kuster, Cartwright, Veasey, S. Peters, Brown, Vargas, DelBene, Maffei, Garamendi. Dear Colleague: The Highway Trust Fund (HTF), which funds critical highway infrastructure projects in every district, is approaching insolvency.  Should funding run out later this summer, road and bridge projects across the country will grind to a halt at the height of construction season and jobs will be lost. We must do our job and reauthorize the HTF before funding runs out, but we should not do so at the expense of Saturday mail delivery, a vital service that Americans depend on, especially in rural America. Please join us in sending a letter urging Speaker Boehner to explore bipartisan, practical, and sustainable long-term funding solutions for the HTF instead of resorting to budgetary gimmicks that would harm the U.S. Postal Service, which is an off budget agency that does not rely on a single taxpayer dollar to fund its operations. To sign our letter or for additional information, please contact Tom.Cheney@mail.house.gov (Welch) or Benjamin.Rhodeside@mail.house.gov (Connolly).                         Sincerely,                                       PETER WELCH                                                        GERALD CONNOLLY                                        Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress Dear Speaker Boehner, We write in strong opposition to the elimination of Saturday mail delivery to justify providing short-term funding to address the imminent insolvency of the Highway Trust Fund (HTF).  And respectfully, we request your assistance in ensuring that this misguided and fundamentally flawed proposal is not considered by the House of Representatives. The HTF, which funds critical highway infrastructure projects in every district, is approaching insolvency.  Should funding run out later this summer, road and bridge projects across the country will grind to a halt at the height of construction season and related jobs will be lost. We must do our job and reauthorize the HTF before funding runs out, but we should not do so at the expense of Saturday mail delivery, a vital service that Americans depend on, especially in rural America. Eliminating Saturday delivery will harm the fiscal health of the U.S. Postal Service by removing a delivery day from its most profitable product line, first-class mail. The result would be a significant loss of mail volume and revenue as it struggles to rebound from the recession.  Further, it would sacrifice a key advantage it holds over its competitors. Respectfully, we implore you to explore practical and sustainable long-term funding solutions for the HTF that do not involve the U.S. Postal Service, which as you are aware, is an off budget agency that does not rely on a single taxpayer dollar to fund its operations.  We look forward to working with you on a more appropriate, bipartisan solution to the transportation funding shortfall.                           Sincerely,''
''Urge CNCS to Support Pay For Success Deadline to sign on is Friday May 2nd. Dear Colleague, As you may know, the FY14 Omnibus Appropriations bill that we passed in January provided $70 million in funding for the Social Innovation Fund at the Corporation for National and Community Services (CNCS.)  Of that $70 million, up to 20% can be used for Pay For Success. Pay For Success is a bipartisan model of financing that partners governments, non-profits, and the private sector to implement interventions to accomplish social goals while saving the government money in the long term.  The best part of the deal is that the government only pays for success; the government doesn’t pay if the intervention proves ineffective as measured by an independent third-party evaluator.  This minimizes risk to taxpayers while providing the incentives to maximize the effectiveness for our constituents. Passing the Omnibus so long after fiscal year 2014 began left CNCS with a limited amount of time to obligate funding, and that time is running out.  Please join me in urging CNCS both to make full use of the 20% allocation to Pay For Success and to use it to support and leverage the existing infrastructure at the state and local level where the private sector, non-profits, and governments are working hand in hand to produce better outcomes for our constituents while saving taxpayer money. For any questions or to sign on, please contact Xan Fishman with Congressman Delaney at xan.fishman@mail.house.gov or Allie Kimmel with Congressman Polis at allie.kimmel@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, John K. Delaney                      Jared Polis Member of Congress                Member of Congress May XX, 2014 Wendy Spencer CEO Corporation for National and Community Service 1201 New York Avenue, NW, 10th Floor Washington, DC 20525 Dear Ms. Spencer, As you know, Congress appropriated $70 million for the Social Innovation Fund at CNCS in the 2014 Omnibus appropriations bill, P.L. 113-76.  Importantly, the bill allows for up to 20% of that funding to be used for Pay For Success projects.  We write to encourage you to allocate the full allowable 20% of this funding for Pay For Success projects.  By minimizing risk to the taxpayer, and maximizing incentives for effective interventions and outcomes, Pay For Success provides for both better outcomes and governmental savings, a true win-win. Additionally, as you look at ways to engage the federal government in Pay For Success, we encourage you to work to support and leverage the infrastructure already in place in the private sector at the state and local level by funding feasibility studies, development work by intermediaries and technical assistance for local and state governments to negotiate Pay For Success contracts.  Structuring CNCS support in this way should help to drive the structuring and closing of Pay For Success transactions, ideally enabling the federal government to assess the outcomes and savings potential of the model across sectors.  We recognize that there is limited time to obligate the funds.  Thankfully, many states, local governments, non-profits, philanthropies, and impact investors are already engaged in implementing the Pay For Success model in the United States.  These entities are doing laudable work that should be scaled, and the federal government should work to support these efforts and advance the use of this model at all levels of government. In addition, it would be valuable to conduct a system-wide analysis of the effectiveness of the field, as this will facilitate congressional review.  We recommend CNCS dedicate some portion of the funds to independent analysis and learning so that the pilot yields data and evidence about the strengths and weaknesses, as well as the challenges and opportunities of the model. Please do not hesitate to contact our offices with any questions. We look forward to hearing your thoughts on how we can increase the use of Pay For Success programs. Sincerely,''
''April 30, 2014 Dear Colleague: Eliminating duplicative government programs is a must if we want to return this country to fiscal sanity.  One program I believe we can eliminate is the Open World Leadership Center.  This program designed to engage “emerging leaders” from post-Soviet countries by exposing them to American cultural institutions, has outlived its usefulness. I’m not convinced that we are seeing a return on our investment.  This is costing the American taxpayers millions of dollars every year and what do we have to show for it?  Instability in Eurasia on a scale not seen since the Cold War. There is no tangible evidence to suggest that our investment in the Open World Leadership Center has resulted in an improvement in U.S.-Eurasian relations. Worse still is the fact that the U.S. State Department operates nearly 90 programs that accomplish missions similar to that of the Open World Leadership Center, including the National Endowment for Democracy, the International Republican Institute, the National Democratic Institute, and the U.S. Agency for International Development just to name a few. In this time of great fiscal uncertainty Congress must make it our priority to eliminate duplicitous government programs and promote deficit reduction. That is why I introduced amendment #20 to H.R. 4487, which will defund the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund. I encourage you to support amendment #20 when it is voted on today. Please contact Ryan McCormack at 5-3365 for more information. Sincerely, Rep. Sean P. Duffy''
''Vote Yes On Holt Amendment to Legislative Branch Appropriations To Reinstitute Office of Technology Assessment Dear Colleague, For 23 years, Congress had an insightful, non-partisan agency aimed at providing Members of Congress and their staff with expert advice on technological aspects of public policy.  It was called the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), and from 1972 to 1995 it produced reports on topics that were striking in their relevance today: computer software security, disposal of chemical weapons, teaching with technology, bioenergy and more. OTA was part of Congress and understood well the congressional process. It spoke the language of Congress. It looked at the technological aspects of a large variety of issues, and provided clarity where it was needed most. Mistakenly, Congress turned out the lights on OTA in 1995 with the thought that outside agencies, universities and private industry would fill the void. But they have not. In the years since OTA was defunded, our need for its work has grown only more acute.  Too often we have considered or not considered legislation in ignorance of the technological factors. This is why I am introducing an amendment to re-fund OTA. The Holt Amendment would reallocate to the OTA $2.5 million dollars appropriated for the already well-funded House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund. During its 23 years, OTA produced an amazingly high return investment with hundreds of millions in savings through its recommendations to Congress. A study on Agent Orange helped save the government $10 million. An OTA report was the source of recommendations for upgrades in computer systems at the Social Security Administration that led to a savings of over $350 million. Studies on the Synthetic Fuels Corporation raised important questions about the program, and its subsequent abolishment saved tens of billions of dollars. When Congress abolished OTA, scientific topics did not become less relevant to the political process.  They just became less understood.  And scientific thinking lost its toehold on Capitol Hill, with troubling consequences for the ways we legislate on all issues – not just those that are explicitly scientific. I urge you to vote yes on my amendment to give Congress a tool we desperately need to do the people’s work with clarity and reason. This is not a new agency; it is simply adding a small sum to renew a dormant congressional support office. Please contact Sean Gallagher of my staff at sean.gallagher@mail.house.gov with any questions.                                                                         Sincerely,            Rush Holt                                                                         Member of Congress''
''Join Letter to the State Department Urging Action to Protect Human Rights in Honduras Current Signers: George Miller, Sam Farr, Henry C “Hank” Johnson, Raúl M. Grijalva, Jim McGovern, Marcy Kaptur, Barbara Lee, Rosa DeLauro, Mike Michaud, John F. Tierney, Dear Colleague, Please join us in signing the attached letter to Secretary of State John Kerry urging action on the ongoing human rights situation in Honduras. While a new Administration has recently been sworn in, grave concerns remain over the human rights situation.  Vulnerable groups continue to be targets of intimidation and violence, military forces continue to be utilized for policing, and human rights abusers continue to operate with impunity in the region.  The 2013 elections in Honduras were preceded by the assassination of several opposition candidates, and questions remain about discrepancies in the vote. We hope you will join us in writing to Secretary Kerry to ensure that the State Department continues to urge the Honduran government to protect fundamental human rights in the region, end the use of military forces for law enforcement, investigate and prosecute abuses, and restore the rule of law. If you have any questions, or would like to sign onto the letter, please contact Andrew Goczkowski in Rep. Schakowsky’s office at 202-225-2111, or by emailing Andrew.Goczkowski@mail.house.gov Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jan Schakowsky           Henry C. “Hank” Johnson         Sam Farr Member of Congress    Member of Congress                Member of Congress — May XX, 2014 The Honorable John Kerry Secretary of State 2201 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: We write to express concern about the ongoing human rights situation in Honduras.  As a new President and Congress have recently taken office, we ask the State Department to use its leverage to urge the Honduran government to protect the fundamental human rights of its citizens, end the use of military forces for law enforcement, investigate and prosecute abuses, and, more broadly, restore the rule of law. Almost five years after the 2009 coup ousting President Zelaya, egregious violations of human rights continue.  The Associated Press has documented ongoing death-squad style killings by Honduran police.  Independent media and human rights organizations continue to report that vulnerable groups, including members of the LGBT community and indigenous and campesino activists, are being targeted and killed.  Basic labor rights are routinely violated and union leaders have received increased death threats in recent months. Instead of implementing reforms to address those pervasive problems, the Honduran government adopted policies that threaten to make the human rights situation even worse.  The former and current administrations have promoted the militarization of police forces and use their armed forces for domestic law enforcement.  In August 2012, a new Military Police was created, with a projected size of at least 5,000.  That force has committed human rights abuses while engaged in policing, such as the October 2013 raid on the home of opposition activist Edwin Espinal.  Members of the armed forces are also implicated in the killing of Tomás Garcia in July 2013.  Because of a continuing record of human rights abuses by the Honduran police and military, Members of Congress have repeatedly called for a cessation of U.S. aid to the country’s security forces. Those and other human rights abuses have not been effectively investigated or prosecuted in recent years.  According to the National Commissioner for Human Rights, during the last administration, dozens of lawyers and journalists were killed and 97 percent of cases regarding these suspected human rights abuses remain unpunished.  The non-governmental group Rights Action cites allegations of almost 100 killings of lands rights activists in the area of Bajo Aguán.  According to a Human Rights Watch study, there is “virtually complete impunity for crimes” believed to be associated with land conflicts in that region of the country. We are also concerned about recent developments impeding Hondurans’ freedom of speech and association.  In the first two months of 2014, the Honduran government published a new decree revoking the legal status of over ten thousand non-profit organizations, including a wide range of opposition groups.  Those groups include women’s and environmental organizations, a prominent group that regularly reports on press freedom issues, and schools. Finally, we are concerned about reports that last year’s election in Honduras was not free and fair.  The human rights group COFADEH reports that at least 18 members of the leading opposition party LIBRE were assassinated in the lead-up to the election, with an additional six LIBRE-affiliated individuals and a well-known progressive journalist killed in the weeks after.  Election observers documented widespread vote-buying activities, acts of intimidation, and cases of citizens’ names being eliminated from voting rolls.  Challenges by opposition parties regarding discrepancies in the vote were not transparently addressed by the Supreme Electoral Council. We ask that you pay close attention to those issues, strictly evaluating U.S. support and training for the Honduran police and military in accordance with human rights conditions placed in the 2014 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations law.  We also ask that you fully enforce the Leahy Law, which prohibits assistance to individuals or units of any foreign military or police body that commit gross human rights abuses with impunity.  The State Department, along with our embassy in Honduras, must take a consistent and public stance supporting those threatened with human rights abuses, and strongly encourage the investigation and prosecution of those perpetuating crimes, including state agents. Thank you for your attention to this important matter. Sincerely, Members of Congress''
''Become an Original Cosponsor of the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Original Cosponsors: Bishop (UT), Chabot, Meadows, Messer Dear Colleague: Next week I will introduce the Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies (CARFA) Act.  If enacted, this legislation would help to ensure fiscal responsibility and accountability in the federal government.  Its purpose is to root out waste, inefficiency, and mismanagement in domestic agencies and programs, in order that we can maximize the benefit from federal funds. In our current fiscal state we are well into the realm of deficit spending. While we should always be dedicated to ensuring the maximum benefit of every tax dollar that comes to Washington, now more than ever, we should take steps to assure taxpayers that their hard-earned money is being well spent. The CARFA Commission is designed with narrow objectives, which will hopefully produce significant results.  It would focus on three areas in domestic agencies and programs: 1) Duplicative; 2) Wasteful and Inefficient; and 3) Outdated, Irrelevant, or Failed.  The findings and suggestions of this Commission will have privileged status before the House and Senate, and will be considered in their entirety and without amendment. By forcing Congress to vote up-or-down on a Commission’s recommendations, the Congressional log-rolling that normally protects spending and waste can be circumvented, and back room deals will become much less effective. I hope you will join me again to streamline and improve the work of our federal agencies.  Now is the time to become an original cosponsor and fight wasteful, duplicative, and wasteful spending. If you have any additional questions, please do not hesitate to contact me or Joel Katz of my staff at 5-9893 or Joel.Katz@mail.house.gov. Best regards, /s/ Doug Collins''
''Help stop mental health stigma! Co-sponsor the bipartisan Mental Health No Stigma Week resolution Supported by: Alliance for Children and Families, American Association for Geriatric Psychiatry (AAGP), American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy, American Dance Therapy Association, American Group Psychotherapy  Association, American Mental Health Councilors Association, American Psychiatric Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Association for Behavior Health and Wellness/Stamp Out Stigma, Brandon Marshall Foundation, Depression & Bipolar Support Alliance, International Bipolar Foundation, NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness, Mental Health America, National Council for Behavioral Health, National Association of County Behavioral Health and Development Disability Directors, National Association of State Alcohol and Drug Abuse Directors (NASADAD), National Association of Mental Health Program Directors, National Association of School Psychologists, the National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health, National Association of Mental Health Planning and Advisory Councils, Parents for Addiction Treatment and Healing, PUSH America, Schizophrenia and Related Disorders Alliance of America, School Social Work Association of America, State Associations of Addiction Services, World Federation for Mental Health Co-Sponsors: Scott Peters, Gary Miller, Barbara Lee, Alcee Hastings, Janice Schakowsky, Tim Ryan, Jim McGovern, Juan Vargas, Dan Benishek, Michael Honda, Judy Chu, G.K. Butterfield, Keith Ellison, Elizabeth Esty, Ann Kirkpatrick, Grace Napolitano, Sam Farr, Bobby Rush, John Lewis, Madeleine Bordallo, Carol Shea-Porter, Ed Perlmutter, Charles Range, Susan Davis Dear Colleague, I invite you to cosponsor this resolution recognizing May 5, 2014 through May 11, 2014, the first full week of May, as National Mental Health No Stigma Week. One in four Americans suffer from mental illness and stigmatization inhibits as many as two-thirds of these individuals from seeking treatment. By acknowledging the serious consequences of mental health stigma, we can foster public understanding, increase prevention of mental illness, and aid our fellow Americans. Stigmatization can come from strangers, close friends, and family alike: Only 26% of Americans agree that people are generally caring and sympathetic toward individuals with mental illness. Mental illness affects millions of American children: 13% of young children aged 8-15 and 20% of teenagers. Yet, only one-half (54%) of young adults who know someone with a mental illness believe that treatment can help people with mental illnesses lead normal lives. Discrimination and hostility directed towards those struggling with, and seeking treatment for, mental illness exacerbate the issues and can lead to tragic, yet preventable outcomes: More than 300,000 Americans attempt suicide every year. Those who attempt suicide list fear of stigmatization as one of the leading factors preventing them from seeking help. Public awareness campaigns that dispel prejudice surrounding mental disorders and their treatment can improve the quality of life for millions of Americans. California has already taken the lead on this issue by creating “California Mental Health No Stigma Week.” Creating a “National Mental Health No Stigma Week” has the power to start nationwide conversation, raise awareness, and help Americans struggling with mental health challenges. For more information or to cosponsor this resolution, please contact KC Jaski in my office at kc.jaski@mail.house.gov. The Deadline to sign on is Friday, May 2nd. Sincerely, SCOTT PETERS                                                                      GARY MILLER Member of Congress                                                               Member of Congress''
''**This is a programmatic request** DEADLINE: April 3rd Current Cosigners: Hinojosa, Rangel, Grijalva, Norton, Enyart, Jackson Lee Dear Colleague: I write to urge you to join me in sending the attached letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies requesting support for the President’s FY15 budget funding request of $100 million for the “First in the World” fund administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The “First in the World” fund supports a grant competition to: Encourage institutions of higher education to increase postsecondary attainment rates and Decrease costs for students by developing innovative practices, evaluating and building successful strategies, and expanding proven models to a national level. Provides funds to test and develop strategies to help low-income high school students prepare for, attend, and succeed at colleges and universities. This program is modeled after the successful and effective i3 program for elementary education. Using the i3 program model, the “First in the World” program will reach out to high school and higher education students to increase student success.  Access to a quality and affordable education is the surest path to success, and a highly skilled and well-educated workforce is the key to maintaining the United States’ economic strength in this increasingly global economy. I encourage you to support this much needed program to help bring college costs down and improve access for students. If you have questions or would like to sign the letter, please contact Hannah Katz in my office at Hannah.Katz@mail.house.gov.  Deadline for signing the letter is Thursday, April 3rd. Sincerely, Joaquin Castro Member of Congress  Dear Chairman Kingston and Ranking Member DeLauro: As the subcommittee develops the FY 2015 Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies appropriations bill, we request $100 million would be used to support the second year of the First in the World (FITW) initiative administered by the U.S. Department of Education, which supports grants to institutions of higher education to implement innovative strategies and practices shown to be effective in improving college completion and making college more affordable for students and families, particularly for low-income students. With college costs remaining high and college completions remaining low, as a nation we have a shared responsibility to improve access, affordability, and attainment in higher education. The U.S. now ranks 12th in the world in college completion rates among young adults.  This is a serious concern given that by 2018, more than 60 percent of our nation’s jobs will require some form of postsecondary education or training. And just as college is becoming increasingly critical, the exponential increase in tuition prices presents a significant barrier to access for thousands of students. Building on the first round of this competition, these requested funds will encourage and enable additional institutions to pilot and adopt innovative policies, practices, and strategies that increase college access and success while reducing costs, particularly for low-income students, and further build evidence of effectiveness in higher education. This funding will help postsecondary institutions to develop or expand upon innovative practices to improve student completion and increase attainment of quality credentials, close completion gaps, improve time-to-degree and affordability, and increase transfer rates. In order to once again lead the world in college attainment, we need to encourage institutions and other higher education stakeholders to think outside of the box.  Promising innovations, which contain costs and increase completion while maintaining or enhancing quality, are still the exception today.  Collectively—by aligning incentives and rewarding innovation—we must make them the norm to accelerate America’s global competiveness in a knowledge-based global economy. We appreciate your consideration of this request.''
''Supported by: National Education Association Cosponsors: (50) Bass, Blumenauer, Brownley, Capuano, Cicilline, Cohen, Conyers, Davis, Ellison, Esty, Farr, Gabbard, Grayson, Gene Green, Grijalva, Hahn, Hastings, Heck, Himes, Honda,  Huffman, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Hank Johnson, Keating, Kuster, Larson, Barbara Lee, Lynch, Markey, McDermott, McGovern, Meeks Michaud, Moran, Nadler, Napolitano, Holmes Norton, Scott Peters, Pingree, Pocan, Rangel, Rush, Sarbanes, Shea-Porter, Slaughter, Swalwell, Tierney, Van Hollen, Waxman, Welch. Dear Colleague: Today’s Supreme Court decision in McCutcheon v. Federal Election Commission is a disturbing step backward in our democratic process. I hope you can join me, Rep. Conyers and 49 colleagues by supporting a constitutional amendment that would prevent wealthy donors from taking over our elections. H.J. Res 25 clarifies the authority of Congress and the States to regulate the expenditure of funds for political activities by corporations. The 2012 general election saw a record $6.2 billion dollars raised, with significant portion of that coming from big donors who represent the 1 percent of the 1 percent. Unfortunately, Wednesday’s decision will put an even more chilling effect on silencing the average American’s voice. In the elections to come, spending will continue to expand at the federal, state, and local levels.  “One person, one vote” will become a mantra of the past, as megaphones of moneyed interests continue to drown out the voices of ordinary Americans. Our nation has long recognized the need to protect our political process from the corrosive effect of corporate money, and the asymmetrical influence of wealthy individuals. We cannot allow super PACs to dominate our politics, our public policy, or our elections — to do so would undermine American democracy. I hope you will join be in the longstanding belief that Congress has the right to cap political spending in the name of preventing corruption. If you would like to co-sponsor this resolution or would like more information, please contact Marc Rehmann at Marc.Rehmann@mail.house.gov or at 5-8699. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, /s/ Donna F. Edwards Member of Congress''
''Job Corps 50th Anniversary Kick-off Reception Location: B338-340 Rayburn House Office Building Date: TODAY! Wednesday, April 2, 2014 Time: 5:30-7:00 p.m. Dear Colleague, On behalf of the Friends of Job Corps Caucus, we cordially invite you to attend the Job Corps 50th Anniversary Kick-off Reception on Wednesday, April 2, from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Job Corps was created in 1964 as a residential career training and education program to serve our nation’s economically disadvantaged youth. Since opening the doors of its first center in 1965, it has grown to be the largest and most successful program of its kind, serving nearly 65,000 students a year in 125 centers in all 50 states. Millions of students have participated in and benefitted from its courses over the last half century. More than 80 percent of Job Corps graduates in recent years have found employment, continued their studies in higher education, or joined the military after completing the program. Join us in celebrating the success of Job Corps by meeting with current students, staff, center operators, local constituents, supporters, and VIPs. For questions about Job Corps, contact Trish Jones at tjones@njcaweb.org. If you would like to join the Friends of Job Corps Caucus, please contact Sean Strebel in Congressman Jim Matheson’s office (5-3011, sean.strebel@mail.house.gov), or Jared Bass in Congressman Chaka Fattah’s office (5-4001, jared.bass@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, Jim Matheson                                                  Chaka Fattah Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Please join us in supporting occupational safety and health funding for Fiscal Year 2015. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is the primary federal agency responsible for conducting research and making recommendations for the prevention of work-related illness and injury. NIOSH provides leadership to avert workplace illness, injury, disability, and death and supports programs to improve the health and safety of workers. Through 18 university-based Education and Research Centers (ERCs) in 17 states, NIOSH trains thousands of occupational safety and health professionals to minimize the dangers faced by workers. Agricultural safety and health has been an important focus of NIOSH for more than 20 years. Congress designated NIOSH to lead a comprehensive national effort to prevent occupational injuries in the agricultural sector. NIOSH funds 9 regional Centers for Agricultural Disease and Injury Research, Education, and Prevention, as well as the National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. The Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program (AFF) is the only substantive federal effort to meet the obligation to ensure safe working conditions for workers in one of our nation’s largest and most vital production sectors. We invite you to join us in sending this letter to request level funding for the Education and Research Centers (ERCs) and the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program (AFF).  If you have any questions or would like to sign this letter, please contact Rebecca.Shaw@mail.house.gov (Gibson) or Jake.Oster@mail.house.gov (Welch). Sincerely, CHRIS GIBSON                                                                                           PETER WELCH Member of Congress                                                                                       Member of Congress Chairman Jack Kingston                                            Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro House Appropriations Subcommittee on                   House Appropriation Subcommittee on Labor, HHS, Education                                              Labor, HHS, Education Washington, DC 20515                                              Washington, DC 20515 Dear Chairman Kingston and Ranking Member DeLauro: We are writing to respectfully request that the Fiscal Year 2015 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill include $332.86 million for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and that within that amount include $27 million for the Education and Research Centers (ERCs) and $24 million for the Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Program (AFF).  NIOSH supports 18 university-based Education and Research Centers in 17 states, as well as nine regional Centers for Agricultural Disease and Injury Research, Education, and Prevention, and a National Children’s Center for Rural and Agricultural Health and Safety. Annually, almost 1.2 million workers are injured seriously enough to require time off work. Daily, an average of over 13,000 U.S. workers sustain disabling injuries on the job, 11 workers die from an injury suffered at work, and 145 people die from work-related diseases.   The mission of the ERCs is to reduce these work-related injuries through research and training and programs to improve occupational health and safety.  Collectively, the ERCs provide training and research resources to every Public Health Region in the United States. The agriculture, forestry and fishing industry fatality rate is more than 6 times that of the all-industry average and the annual cost of agricultural occupational injuries is estimated to exceed $25 billion.  The AFF Program serves as a resource for agricultural safety and health and works closely with major agricultural industries, including the forestry and fishing sectors, to understand related health risks, develop and evaluate interventions, and build capacity to address health and safety needs of agricultural businesses.  The NIOSH AFF program aims to protect vulnerable workers in this sector in addition to providing leadership in applied research, disease and injury surveillance, education, and prevention.  The AFF program is the only substantive federal effort to meet the obligation to ensure safe working conditions for workers in our Nation’s largest and most vital production sectors. We urge you to recognize the important contribution of NIOSH, including the ERCs and the AFF Program, to the health and productivity of our nation’s workforce and continue level funding for the programs in the FY 2015 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations bill. Sincerely,''
''Current Cosponsors: Barton, Cummings, Delaney, Dingell, Edwards, Ellmers, Eshoo, Guthrie, Latta, Lance, Lujan, Matsui, Meeks, Pallone, Sarbanes, Shimkus, Van Hollen End Widespread, Malicious Caller Identification Schemes Dear Colleague, The last decade has given birth to a number of new technologies, including smartphones, tablets, and social networks. We have also seen the development of the ability to disguise your identity as someone else, such as your best friend, your favorite restaurant, or even your bank when making phone calls to others. This practice is known as spoofing and has affected the lives of many. According to an article in USA Today, fraudulent calls to mobile phones increased 52% between July and December of 2011, totaling more than 1 million phone calls, with 189,439 happening in the month of December. Thus far in 2014 there have been spoofing incidents in Kansas, North Carolina, Tennessee, Ohio and many other states. Congress passed the Truth in Caller ID Act in 2010 to mitigate the effects of caller ID spoofing, and this law made it illegal for someone to transmit misleading or inaccurate caller ID information with the intent to “defraud, cause harm, or wrongfully obtain anything of value . . .” While this law made great progress toward protecting U.S. citizens, criminals have increasingly circumvented the law by either making spoofing calls from outside of the United States or making use of text messaging services or their desktop computers. The Anti-Spoofing Act would improve upon the Truth in Caller ID Act by: 1)    Expanding the law to prohibit spoofing from foreigners; 2)    Updating the law to include new internet-based VoIP services that enable callers to make   outgoing-only calls from computers and tablets to mobile and landline phones; 3)    Requiring that legitimate spoofing providers adequately inform users of all applicable laws; and 4)    Broadening the law to include text messaging. Let’s protect all Americans from the pervasive scourge of spoofing. For more information or to become a cosponsor, please contact either Michael Fleischman with Rep. Meng (Michael.Fleischman@mail.house.gov or 5-2601), Emmanual Guillory with Rep. Barton (Emmanual.Guillory@mail.house.gov or 5-2002), or Jon Taets with Rep. Lance (Jon.Taets@mail.house.gov or 5-5361). Sincerely, Grace Meng                       Joe Barton                          Leonard Lance Member of Congress         Member of Congress          Member of Congress''
''Become an Original Co-Sponsor of The Fair Employment Protection Act Deadline to CoSponsor Wednesday, March 13th Dear Colleague: Last summer, a split Supreme Court made it harder for workers to bring a claim of workplace harassment in Vance v. Ball State University.  This case represents the latest move by the court to weaken the ability of workers to challenge workplace discrimination.  I write to ask you to join me in support of legislation to overturn that decision. The law has long held that, when certain kinds of employees engage in sexual, racial or other harassment, the employer is vicariously liable for their actions. Specifically, when an employer confers a certain authority on employees over others, and that authority assists employees in harassing their coworkers, the employer should be held directly responsible.  Through this principle, employees enjoyed stronger protections against harassment at the hands of supervisors and other colleagues with authority over them, as employers were incentivized to prevent this form of insidious, power-based harassment. In Vance, however, the court narrowed the kinds of delegated authority that trigger vicarious liability for employers.  A narrow majority ruled that an employer’s vicarious liability is only triggered when the offending employee is a supervisor with the power to hire, fire, or take other tangible employment actions.  According to the decision, if the employer has instead conferred some other type of authority on the offending employee, even the authority to direct coworkers’ daily work activities, the employer cannot be held vicariously liable for the harassment. The decision ignores the realities of today’s workplace, in which the power to direct someone’s work day may often rest with someone who does not also have the supervisory authority to take tangible employment actions on behalf of the employer.  Indeed, Vance disproportionately affects workers in industries that pay low wages and employ a large numbers of women workers, as these industries commonly employ individuals who have the power to direct day-to-day work activities but lack the power to hire or fire employees.  With this decision, the court weakened critical protections for workers to combat harassment. In the Vance dissent, Justice Ginsburg called on Congress to act to correct the ruling:  “The ball is once again in Congress’ court to correct the error into which this Court has fallen.” Heeding Justice Ginsburg’s call, we will soon introduce the Fair Employment Protection Act to override the Vance decision to clarify when an employer can be held vicariously liable for the harassment committed by those employees to whom the employer has granted power over coworkers.  The legislation would restore the law, so that vicarious liability is triggered by not just those employees with the authority to hire and fire, but also those who are in charge of coworkers’ daily work activities, thus able to reassign an employee whom they are harassing.  The Fair Employment Protection Act relies on the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) guidance as it stood prior to the court’s decision in Vance. In the 21st Century, harassment and hostile work environments should never impede economic success.  Everyone who works hard and plays by the rules should have the opportunity to get ahead.  The Supreme Court’s decision in Vance makes it harder for victims of unlawful and insidious harassment to hold their employers accountable. This ruling undermines efforts to advance fairness and equal opportunity in the workplace and needs to be addressed by Congress.  The Fair Employment Protection Act restores justice to Americans unlawfully harassed on the job and holds employers responsible when their supervisors and others empowered with authority over coworkers use their authority to victimize employees. We urge your support on this important legislation.  To add your name as an original cosponsor,  please contact Letty Mederos at Leticia.mederos@mail.house.gov or ext. 5-3725.   Sincerely, /s/                                                                                                /s/ GEORGE MILLER                                                                    ROSA DeLAURO Senior Democratic Member                                                           Ranking Member Committee on Education and the Workforce                                   Committee on Appropriations                                                                                                    Subcommittee on Labor, HHS,                                                                                                      Education, and Related Agencies''
''Cosponsor H.R. 4059, the Accelerate Our Startups Act Dear Colleague, I invite you to join me as a cosponsor of H.R. 4059, the “Accelerate Our Startups Act.” This legislation will help entrepreneurs launch their ideas and get startup businesses successfully off the ground. As you know, small businesses are our economic engine, producing over 60 percent of new jobs. Economists are finding that startups— a specific subset of small businesses that are scalable and high growth— represent a large part of the job creation potential in our economy. Unfortunately, their notoriously slim survival rates limit their job creation contribution. H.R. 4059 would create an initial program to support startups by expanding resources available to growth accelerators, entities that are specifically tailored to help startups rapidly and successfully scale up and expand their operations. It authorizes the Small Business Administration to expand growth accelerators through public-private partnerships in under-serviced, unique areas, so startup entrepreneurs don’t have to move to Silicon Valley for mentorship and resources. The program is crafted around a unique matching requirement with funds from the local community as well as the private sector to ensure broad-based involvement as well as participation from local entrepreneurs. Should you have any questions, or if you’d like to cosponsor the bill, please contact Michael Lukso at Michael.Lukso@mail.house.gov or 5-4835. Sincerely, Brad Schneider Member of Congress''
''As of 11:30 a.m. today, Volumes I and II of the President’s FY 2015 Budget have been released both online and through a mobile Web application (app) by the Government Printing Office (GPO). Volumes III and IV will be made available on March 10, 2014. All offices can download these volumes by visiting GPO’s website at www.fdsys.gov, or access them on your mobile device at http://m.gpo.gov/budget. Additionally, printed copies of the President’s Budget will be available upon request beginning on the following days. Tuesday, March 10, 2014       To receive a printed copy, please contact the House Document Room by phone at 202-226-5210 or email at hdocs@mail.house.gov.   Should you have any questions, please contact the Committee on House Administration at 202-225-8281 (Majority) or 202-225-2061 (Minority). Sincerely,   Candice S. Miller                                                        Robert A. Brady Chairman                                                                   Ranking Member''
''Ensure New Truck Fuel Economy Standards Are Economically and Commercially Viable March XX, 2014 The Honorable Gina McCarthy Administrator U.S. Environmental Protection Agency 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20460 The Honorable David Strickland Administrator National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, West Building Washington, D.C. 20590 Dear Administrators McCarthy and Strickland: The United States trucking industry plays an imperative role in the movement of diverse products and growing our nation’s economy.  Furthermore, the U.S. truck manufacturing and operating sectors provide millions of American jobs. Due to this important role, we ask for careful and thoughtful consideration of these positive economic impacts when drafting the proposed second phase of fuel economy and greenhouse gas (GHG) standards for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.  Given that the model year 2014-2018 standards are currently being phased in, we believe it is necessary for your agencies to evaluate how these standards have affected the trucking industry and consumers when proceeding on new standards. Additionally, we ask that these new standards, or any new standards, be written in a manner that can be achieved using economically and commercially viable technology and is based on available and sound science. Finally, we ask that you fully engage in stakeholder input across the truck manufacturing and operating industries, small and large, as well as other transportation sectors affected by the second phase standards.  Thank you for your time and we look forward to your response.''
''Dear Colleague: Last month, the People’s Republic of China reportedly conducted a successful test of a hypersonic “boost-glide” missile system.  This impressive milestone is just the most recent example of the growing threat that intermediate and long-range ballistic missile technology poses to the United States.  China, North Korea, and dangerous actors in the Middle East are rapidly developing and deploying ballistic missile assets at a pace that we cannot ignore. As recent reports by our military and defense leaders have made clear, potential rivals are making major investments in ballistic missile assets a key part of an overall strategy to develop effective asymmetric warfare capabilities against our Armed Forces.  In order to meet the challenges of countering immediate and future threats, our country must make the research, development, and deployment of ballistic missile defense (BMD) systems a priority.  For this reason, we encourage you to join us in signing a letter to President Obama to voice our support for the inclusion of robust missile defense funding in his Fiscal Year 2015 Budget. Failure to provide adequate resources for research and development of BMD assets could leave our Armed Forces exposed to potentially crippling attacks, degrade the confidence of our regional allies and economic partners and embolden our enemies.  From the South China Sea to the Gulf of Oman, the presence and assurances given by the U.S. provide the foundation for peace and economic freedom.  If we are to maintain our credibility and strategic advantage, we simply must make adequate investments in BMD now. We appreciate your consideration and hope you will join us in signing this letter.  For further information or to sign on, please contact Sarah Osborn (sarah.osborn@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Fleischmann, Ari Zimmerman (ari.zimmerman@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Franks, or Justin Johnson (justin.johnson@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Lamborn.  The deadline to sign is Thursday, February 27, at close of business. Sincerely, Chuck Fleischmann                             Trent Franks                                        Doug Lamborn Member of Congress                           Member of Congress                           Member of Congress Dear Mr. President: We respectfully write to you today to share our concerns regarding the ability of the United States to confront the rapidly changing strategic challenges posed by advanced intermediate and long-range ballistic missile technology. While the United States has made great strides in developing our ballistic missile defense (BMD) capabilities, it is imperative that we strengthen our current and near-future ability to counter immediate threats. Additionally, we must continue cultivating promising technologies with BMD applications which are the key to maintaining vital strategic advantages enjoyed by our Armed Forces, particularly technologies like directed energy, railguns and space-based defenses. In order to meet these challenges we want to voice our support for robust missile defense funding, and request you make it a priority in your Fiscal Year 2015 Budget. The crucial need to continue and strengthen research and development of BMD has become even more pressing in light of recent tests of missile systems by the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the deployment of advanced weapon systems by the People’s Republic of China. Also of concern is the purportedly successful test of the WU-14 hypersonic boost-glide weapon platform recently conducted by the Chinese People’s Liberation Army. While the actual fielding of a boost-glide weapon system will likely take years, we must invest adequate resources now in preparation for the impending deployment of such a system. It is clear that China is increasingly relying on ballistic missile platforms in order to provide effective asymmetric warfare capabilities in theaters where it cannot match U.S. Armed Forces. Additionally, the DPRK often uses ballistic missile tests in order to extract leverage in international negotiations. Further, in the Middle East, Syria and Hezbollah are increasing their ballistic missile technology and stockpiles, aided by the world’s leading state-sponsor of terrorism, Iran. It is for these reasons that we ask that you work with Congress to provide adequate resources for the research, development and deployment of BMD assets. Failure to do so could leave our Armed Forces exposed to potentially crippling attacks, degrade the confidence of our regional allies and economic partners and embolden our enemies. We thank you for taking our thoughts into consideration and look forward to working with you to maintain the United States’ unique role in the world. Sincerely,''
''February 5, 2014 Dear Colleague: We ask you to join us in sending the letter below to the FBI, urging it to take steps to increase the speed with which DNA is tested and profiles unloaded into CODIS.  DNA is an incredibly powerful tool in law enforcement, allowing us to punish the guilty and free the innocent with near certainty.  Unfortunately, there is a tremendous backlog of untested DNA evidence.  For example, according to National Institute of Justice, the number of cases with DNA evidence awaiting testing at laboratories more than doubled between 2005 and 2011. Thankfully technology exists which may be able to speed up testing of arrestees so it can occur in police booking stations, without having to go to a laboratory.  The letter below asks the FBI to develop a pilot program to explore widespread use of this technology. Additionally, there are currently obstacles to most efficiently utilizing private laboratories in DNA testing and analysis.  Our letter to the FBI urges it to address these problems, testing new policies and procedures through pilot programs. We can and we must do better in how quickly we test and analyze DNA evidence.  If you would like to sign this letter, or if you have any questions, please contact Andrew Ginsburg with Rep. Swalwell at andrew.ginsburg@mail.house.gov or Monica Pham with Rep. Honda at monica.pham@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s                                                                               /s Eric Swalwell                                                           Michael M. Honda Member of Congress                                                Member of Congress /s Barbara Lee Member of Congress February ___, 2014 The Honorable James Comey Director Federal Bureau of Investigation 935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, DC 20515 Dear Director Comey: We urge you to increase the speed with which DNA evidence is tested and profiles uploaded into the COmbined DNA Index System (CODIS).  In particular, we ask you to develop pilot programs to test the use of Rapid DNA analysis at police booking stations and assess its viability for broad deployment.  We also ask you to address impediments to the use of private sector laboratories in DNA testing and establish pilot programs to test any proposed new procedures. As you know, DNA is a powerful tool in law enforcement.  It allows us to achieve justice for victims by punishing those responsible for criminal activity with near certainty.  And, it allows us to free innocent people who have been convicted wrongfully.  However, for DNA to be utilized most effectively, samples must be tested and profiles uploaded into the national collection of DNA profiles, CODIS. Unfortunately, there is a tremendous backlog of untested DNA evidence.  For example, the National Institute of Justice reported in December 2013 that, in public laboratories surveyed in 2011, there were over 100,000 cases involving backlogged DNA evidence.  In 2005 the number was less than 50,000.  This does not even include other aspects of the DNA backlog, such as DNA evidence held by law enforcement and not sent to a laboratory to be tested as well as untested samples from arrestees and convicted offenders. With respect to solving part of the problem, improving public crime laboratory capacity, the federal government provided state and local governments $442 million between fiscal year 2008 and 2012, according to a July 2013 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report.  Unfortunately, there is little evidence of progress in backlog reduction.  In fact, according to the GAO, “The demand for DNA testing continues to exceed the capacity of laboratories to process these samples.” Our current efforts to reduce the DNA backlog are not working, and therefore we need to explore alternative solutions.  One option is to better utilize new technology that allows testing samples from arrestees at the time of booking.  Existing processes require law enforcement to collect DNA samples from arrestees, transport these samples to a laboratory, have them analyzed, and then wait for results.  This entire course can take weeks, during which time arrestees are free to potentially commit criminal acts or disappear. Technology, known as Rapid DNA analysis, exists which has the potential to allow law enforcement to quickly compare an arrestee’s DNA profile against CODIS right in the booking station.  This would free up laboratory capacity, allowing other testing to proceed more quickly, and help identify perpetrators immediately.  The FBI recognized the power of Rapid DNA analysis and the importance of furthering its use in 2010, when it established the Rapid DNA Program Office.  It is time to take the next step and assess the validity and efficacy of Rapid DNA analysis for possible widespread use in law enforcement booking stations.  This could be done through initial pilot programs, and we respectfully request the FBI adopt pilot projects to do so in a timely manner.  A second way to reduce the DNA testing backlog is to address obstacles in the utilization of private sector laboratories.  Currently a private sector laboratory cannot upload DNA information to CODIS and must send its results to a public sector laboratory for inclusion.  Upon taking ownership of the data, the public sector laboratory does a technical review to go over the private sector laboratory’s work.  This is in addition to the technical review that a private sector laboratory does before it sends the information in the first place. Having an additional technical review of data submitted from a private sector laboratory means additional time and resources.  This may not be necessary.  It is our understanding that in 2010 the FBI began a review of issues relating to the technical review requirement, prompted by similar concerns about its contributing to the DNA backlog by CODIS stakeholders, Members of Congress, and other elected officials.  Unfortunately, the FBI did not solve the problem in its latest Quality Assurance Standards for DNA Databasing Laboratories, which provides rules for laboratories doing DNA testing and were effective as of September 1, 2011. We ask the FBI review this issue again and adjust its policies and requirements to allow for the better use of private sector laboratories in DNA testing and analysis.  This could include developing a system whereby a public sector laboratory does not review work on DNA done and confirmed once already by a private sector laboratory, developing a method for the latter to directly, or working with a government partner, include DNA profiles in CODIS, or, at the very least, suggesting the use of best practices or encouraging public laboratories to make the review of private laboratory DNA work a top priority so as to stop their reexamination from delaying DNA backlog reduction. FBI concerns about any of these changes could be addressed by working with law enforcement agencies to first test them by conducting pilot programs.  The Alameda County District Attorney’s Office in California would welcome such an opportunity, and it is confident it could demonstrate how successful an expanded use of private laboratories could be in reducing the DNA backlog.  Thank you for your time and consideration.  Please respond to the separate issues of Rapid DNA analysis and better utilizing private sector laboratories either in the same or in separate communications, so as to enable the timeliest response(s) possible. Sincerely,''
''Cosponsors (22): Rooney, Bordallo, Buchanan, Carson, Cartwright, Castro, Conyers, Deutch, Grijalva, Honda, Horsford, Lee, Lowenthal, McCollum, McGovern, Meng, Moran, Norton, Peters, Price, Smith, and Wilson Dear Colleague, We write to ask for your support in recognizing the importance of nonprofit organizations and designating May 16, 2014 as “National Nonprofit Day.” As you know, the nonprofit sector has been growing steadily for more than a decade, and there are approximately 2.3 million nonprofit organizations now operating in the United States. Nonprofits contribute to advancements in science, research, and health care. They work to improve education, support civil and human rights, and to protect environmental resources and wildlife. The growth rate of the nonprofit sector has surpassed the rate of both the business and government sector, and in 2010, nonprofits added nearly $780 billion to the national GDP and employed 1 in 10 working Americans. Furthermore, nonprofit organizations facilitate charitable giving and community activism. The combined donations and volunteer hours of individuals to nonprofit organizations are worth billions of dollars annually. Nonprofit organizations advocate for solutions to some of the great challenges facing our nation and the world, and that is why they deserve to be recognized for its valuable contributions to society. Whether it is environmental conservation, cancer research, or advocacy for the homelessness, nonprofits play a pivotal role in shaping the future of America. Therefore, we urge you to join us in recognizing May 16, 2014 as “National Nonprofit Day.” If you should have any questions or would like to be added as a co-sponsor of this legislation, please contact Evan Polisar in Congressman Alcee Hastings’ office at Evan.Polisar@mail.house.gov or 5-1313, or Kelsey Creehan in Congressman Tom Rooney’s office at Kelsey.Creehan@mail.house.gov or 5-5792. Sincerely, Alcee L. Hastings                                                       Thomas J. Rooney Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress''
''Protect Consumers from High Car Rental Taxes Cosponsor H.R. 2543, The End Discriminatory State Taxes for Automobile Renters Act of 2013 Supported by: Advantage Rent A Car; Alamo Rent A Car; American Car Rental Association; American International Automobile Dealers Association; American Society of Travel Agents; Americans for Tax Reform; Associated Industries of Florida; Avis Rent A Car; Budget Rent A Car; Chrysler; Dollar Rent A Car; Enterprise CarShare; Enterprise Rent-A-Car; Ford Motor Company; General Motors; Global Business Travel Association; The Hertz Corporation; National Association of Minority Automobile Dealers; National Car Rental; National Consumers League; National Limousine Association; National Urban League; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; Rent A Toll; Thrifty Car Rental; Truck Renting and Leasing Association; and United Autoworkers Dear Colleague: We’ve all had the experience of renting a car and being shocked to discover that the taxes on our bill are almost as high as, or even higher than, the rental rate itself.  While a small portion of these taxes are for state or local sales taxes, the bulk of these additional charges are often going to pay for special projects like sports stadiums and convention centers.  These taxes not only hurt the traveling public, it turns out the majority are paid by local residents, with a disproportionate impact on low-income and minority individuals.  They also hurt the car rental and manufacturing industries by reducing demand for rental cars and purchases of those cars by rental companies. That’s why we introduced H.R. 2543, The End Discriminatory State Taxes for Automobile Renters Act of 2013, which would stop jurisdictions from imposing new discriminatory taxes on rental cars.  In 1976, there was one such tax.  Since then, more than 117 special rental car taxes have been enacted in 43 states and the District of Columbia. As a result, since 1990, car rental customers have paid more than $7.5 billion in special taxes to fund projects with no direct connection to renting a car. The End Discriminatory State Taxes for Automobile Renters Act would impose a permanent moratorium on discriminatory excise taxes on car rental customers by declaring these taxes an undue burden on interstate commerce. In the past, Congress has enacted similar protections for other interstate travelers such as airline, train, and bus passengers.  Our measure would logically extend this protection to car rental consumers. The bill grandfathers existing car rental excise taxes to prevent a cut-off of funding for projects financed through these taxes that are already underway, as long as the state or local authorization for the existing taxes does not expire or governments do not try to increase the rate of the tax. And the bill would not in any way restrict the ability of local governments to enact nondiscriminatory, general taxes such as sales and income taxes. This bipartisan legislation is supported by a broad range of organizations including Americans for Tax Reform, the National Consumers League, the Global Business Travel Association, and the United Autoworkers.  For more information or to become an original cosponsor, please contact David Greengrass with Rep. Cohen (x5-3265, david.greengrass@mail.house.gov) or Jack Ruddy with Rep. Graves (x5-7041, jack.ruddy@mail.house.gov). We hope you will join us as supporters of this important legislation. Sincerely, /s/                                                                                                                     /s/ Steve Cohen                                                                                                    Sam Graves Member of Congress                                                                                       Member of Congress /s/                                                                                                                     /s/ Gwen Moore                                                                                                   Jason Smith Member of Congress                                                                                       Member of Congress''
''Sign on by COB TODAY Co-Signers (79): Graves, Schiff, Farr, Wagner, Rahall, Harper, Rokita, Conaway, Hanna, Bishop (GA), Roe, Williams, Luján, Braley, Thornberry, Duncan (SC), LaMalfa, Jones, Petri, Blackburn, Brown, Loebsack, Hartzler, Meadows, Long, Cramer, Griffith, Capito, Harris, Wittman, Hinojosa, Barletta, King (IA), Stivers, Owens, Gibson, Walorski, Rooney, Collins, DesJarlais, Latta, Viclosky, Perlmutter, King (NY), Crawford, Vargas, Maffei, Bustos, Langevin, Pastor, Guthrie, Bachus, Fleischmann, Nunnelee, Royce, Slaughter, Brownley, Granger, Latham, Smith (MO), Roby, Neugebauer, Hastings (WA), McCollum, Cárdenas, Tipton,  Johnson (OH), Miller (MI), Massie, Duncan (TN), Wilson (SC), McKinley, Luetkemeyer, Sessions, Michaud, Perry, Forbes, Nugent, Ribble Dear Colleague, Earlier this Congress, we introduced the Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250), which aims to bring much needed reform to the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program and would ensure that recovery auditing is efficient, transparent, and fair. RACs are paid on a contingency basis so their ability to accurately identify improper payments in an impartial manner is questionable. According to a November 2012 OIG report, 72% of hospital Medicare Part A appeals that reach the third level of the appeals process are overturned in favor of the hospital. While RACs gain a commission on every claim they deny, providers must spend valuable resources and time to appeal these denials, a costly process which can sometimes last up to two years. Recently, the need for RAC reform has been further illuminated by an Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) announcement. The OMHA, which hears claims at the third level of the appeals process, announced that it has suspended assignment of most claim appeals to an Administrative Law Judge for at least the next two years, due to a backlog of 460,000 claims that has built up from 2010 – 2013. Even more alarming, OMHA’s 65 Judges already have 375,000 claims before them waiting to be heard. This delay will cause great financial problems for providers across the country, who must now wait at least another 2 years to start the appeals process for a new claim, and then an additional 1-2 years to see the appeal through. During that time, providers are not expected to be paid for the services they have already provided to beneficiaries. In light of this problem at OMHA, we invite you to join us on a letter to HHS asking Secretary Sebelius to dedicate more resources to resolve OMHA’s backlog issue and to urge the Secretary to adopt the RAC reforms contained in H.R. 1250, which is supported by 184 bipartisan Members of Congress. We believe that these reforms to the RAC program are necessary in upholding the integrity of the appeals process and ensuring fairness for all parties involved. If you have questions regarding this letter or would like more information on H.R. 1250, please contact either Jonathan.Mason@mail.house.gov (Graves) or Dao.Nguyen@mail.house.gov (Schiff). Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff                                    Sam Graves Member of Congress                           Member of Congress ————————————————————– February XX, 2014 Dear Secretary Sebelius: Providing Medicare beneficiaries with the services they deserve is of paramount importance to the Congress.  It is in light of this obligation that we write to express our concerns regarding the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program and the problems facing both Medicare beneficiaries and providers of Medicare inpatient services, hospitals and health systems. As you know, Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) are tasked with evaluating the accuracy of Medicare payments to providers. Although the intent of the program is laudable, operational problems within the program have persisted without corrective action by the Centers on Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).  RACs are able to audit medical records and claims three years after services have been provided.  They are paid a commission on the dollar amount of the claims they deny, which ranges between 9 and 12.5 percent.  Due to this payment structure, RACs are incentivized to deny claims, even when the claims are correct.  In fact, according to a November 2012 OIG report, 72 percent of hospital Medicare Part A appeals that have reached the third level of the Medicare appeals process are overturned in favor of the hospital.  Without more oversight measures in place, RACs have imposed a huge administrative burden on hospitals, which must spend valuable time and resources to appeal denied claims in order to be reimbursed for Medicare services provided. Furthermore, Medicare beneficiaries suffer when their inpatient stay is inaccurately denied by a RAC.  They pay higher out-of-pocket expenses under Medicare Part B and are sometimes held financially responsible for the post-acute care services they require.  This is not the way the Medicare program was intended to operate. The need for reform of the RAC program has been further illuminated by a recent announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) that it has suspended assignment of claim appeals to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for at least the next two years.  It states that this temporary halt was “necessitated by a dramatic increase in the number of decisions being appealed to OMHA”.  In its notice, OMHA further reveals that from 2010 to 2013, its claim and entitlement workload has grown by 184 percent and that it has accumulated a backlog of 460,000 claims for services and entitlement in just under two years.  Even more alarming, OMHA operates with 65 Administrative Law Judges, who already have 375,000 claims currently before them.  This contributes to mounting evidence that the RAC program is lacking in its effectiveness to identify errors and that its operational problems must be addressed by CMS.  The current RAC process is not the way the auditing program was intended to operate. In closing, we strongly recommend that CMS consider dedicating additional resources to help resolve OMHA’s backlog issue in order for the claims appeal process to resume as usual. Furthermore, we strongly urge CMS to immediately reform the RAC process.  We believe CMS should implement reforms to ensure that auditors are charged with identifying real claim coding and medical documentation errors, as well as provide a more transparent mechanism through which providers can be informed of errors so as to avoid them in the future.  An alternative payment arrangement with auditors should be considered by the Congress and CMS in order to ensure RACs are not improperly incentivized to deny claims for profit and to ensure they focus on prevention of errors.  This can be accomplished by paying RACs a retainer, as many other government contractors are paid.  We also urge CMS to adopt the commonsense reforms supported by 184 bipartisan Members of Congress that are contained in the Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250). Medicare beneficiaries and those who provide them with care have an important stake in ensuring the RAC auditing process is fair and effective.  We urge you to take immediate action before we see further problems with the RAC auditing program.                                                             Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: As Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Members of Congress, we encourage you to support Peace Corps Volunteers in your district by joining the bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus. Over the past 50 years, through war and conflict, more than 210,000 Americans have served their country in the name of peace, embodying the timeless American ideals of goodwill, prosperity, and progress. Today, 8,073 Volunteers from all 50 states and US territories are working shoulder-to-shoulder with local communities in 76 countries. Peace Corps is also enhancing its ability to meet 21st century development challenges by drawing from the full spectrum of American strength. By partnering with minority-serving institutions, AARP, and over 80 universities hosting Peace Corps Masters International programs, Peace Corps has expanded the diversity and capacity of Americans serving in host countries.   Amidst war and conflict, Peace Corps has shown the world a hopeful, uplifting side of America through the best of what this country has to offer: our citizens and our ideals. We encourage you to honor current and past Peace Corps Volunteers in your district by joining the bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus. You don’t need to have served in the Peace Corps to join the caucus. To find out how many Peace Corps Volunteers are currently serving in your district and to join the Peace Corps Caucus, please contact Caitie Whelan (Caitie.whelan@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Farr’s office. Sincerely, SAM FARR                                                                                  TOM PETRI Member of Congress                                                                     Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Colombia (1964-66)                                Peace Corps Volunteer, Somalia (1966-67) JOHN GARAMENDI                                                                  MIKE HONDA Member of Congress                                                                     Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Ethiopia, 1966-68                                   Peace Corps Volunteer, El Salvador, 1965-67 JOE KENNEDY Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Dominican Republic, 2004-06''
''Closing: COB Thursday, Feb. 6 Co-Signers (51): Graves, Schiff, Farr, Wagner, Rahall, Harper, Rokita, Conaway, Hanna, Sanford Bishop, Roe, Williams, Luján, Braley, Thornberry, Jeff Duncan, LaMalfa, Jones, Petri, Blackburn, Brown, Loebsack, Hartzler, Meadows, Long, Cramer, Griffith, Capito, Harris, Wittman, Hinojosa, Barletta, Steve King, Stivers, Owens, Gibson, Walorski, Rooney, Collins, DesJarlais, Latta, Viclosky, Perlmutter, Peter King, Crawford, Vargas, Maffei, Bustos, Langevin, Pastor, Guthrie Dear Colleague, Earlier this Congress, we introduced the Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250), which aims to bring much needed reform to the Medicare Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program and would ensure that recovery auditing is efficient, transparent, and fair. RACs are paid on a contingency basis so their ability to accurately identify improper payments in an impartial manner is questionable. According to a November 2012 OIG report, 72% of hospital Medicare Part A appeals that reach the third level of the appeals process are overturned in favor of the hospital. While RACs gain a commission on every claim they deny, providers must spend valuable resources and time to appeal these denials, a costly process which can sometimes last up to two years. Recently, the need for RAC reform has been further illuminated by an Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) announcement. The OMHA, which hears claims at the third level of the appeals process, announced that it has suspended assignment of most claim appeals to an Administrative Law Judge for at least the next two years, due to a backlog of 460,000 claims that has built up from 2010 – 2013. Even more alarming, OMHA’s 65 Judges already have 375,000 claims before them waiting to be heard. This delay will cause great financial problems for providers across the country, who must now wait at least another 2 years to start the appeals process for a new claim, and then an additional 1-2 years to see the appeal through. During that time, providers are not expected to be paid for the services they have already provided to beneficiaries. In light of this problem at OMHA, we invite you to join us on a letter to HHS asking Secretary Sebelius to dedicate more resources to resolve OMHA’s backlog issue and to urge the Secretary to adopt the RAC reforms contained in H.R. 1250, which is supported by 181 bipartisan Members of Congress. We believe that these reforms to the RAC program are necessary in upholding the integrity of the appeals process and ensuring fairness for all parties involved. If you have questions regarding this letter or would like more information on H.R. 1250, please contact either Jonathan.Mason@mail.house.gov (Graves) or Dao.Nguyen@mail.house.gov (Schiff). Sincerely, Adam B. Schiff                                    Sam Graves Member of Congress                           Member of Congress ————————————————————– February XX, 2014 Dear Secretary Sebelius: Providing Medicare beneficiaries with the services they deserve is of paramount importance to the Congress.  It is in light of this obligation that we write to express our concerns regarding the Recovery Audit Contractor (RAC) program and the problems facing both Medicare beneficiaries and providers of Medicare inpatient services, hospitals and health systems. As you know, Recovery Audit Contractors (RACs) are tasked with evaluating the accuracy of Medicare payments to providers. Although the intent of the program is laudable, operational problems within the program have persisted without corrective action by the Centers on Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS).  RACs are able to audit medical records and claims three years after services have been provided.  They are paid a commission on the dollar amount of the claims they deny, which ranges between 9 and 12.5 percent.  Due to this payment structure, RACs are incentivized to deny claims, even when the claims are correct.  In fact, according to a November 2012 OIG report, 72 percent of hospital Medicare Part A appeals that have reached the third level of the Medicare appeals process are overturned in favor of the hospital.  Without more oversight measures in place, RACs have imposed a huge administrative burden on hospitals, which must spend valuable time and resources to appeal denied claims in order to be reimbursed for Medicare services provided. Furthermore, Medicare beneficiaries suffer when their inpatient stay is inaccurately denied by a RAC.  They pay higher out-of-pocket expenses under Medicare Part B and are sometimes held financially responsible for the post-acute care services they require.  This is not the way the Medicare program was intended to operate. The need for reform of the RAC program has been further illuminated by a recent announcement from the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Medicare Hearings and Appeals (OMHA) that it has suspended assignment of claim appeals to an Administrative Law Judge (ALJ) for at least the next two years.  It states that this temporary halt was “necessitated by a dramatic increase in the number of decisions being appealed to OMHA”.  In its notice, OMHA further reveals that from 2010 to 2013, its claim and entitlement workload has grown by 184 percent and that it has accumulated a backlog of 460,000 claims for services and entitlement in just under two years.  Even more alarming, OMHA operates with 65 Administrative Law Judges, who already have 375,000 claims currently before them.  This contributes to mounting evidence that the RAC program is lacking in its effectiveness to identify errors and that its operational problems must be addressed by CMS.  The current RAC process is not the way the auditing program was intended to operate. In closing, we strongly recommend that CMS consider dedicating additional resources to help resolve OMHA’s backlog issue in order for the claims appeal process to resume as usual. Furthermore, we strongly urge CMS to immediately reform the RAC process.  We believe CMS should implement reforms to ensure that auditors are charged with identifying real claim coding and medical documentation errors, as well as provide a more transparent mechanism through which providers can be informed of errors so as to avoid them in the future.  An alternative payment arrangement with auditors should be considered by the Congress and CMS in order to ensure RACs are not improperly incentivized to deny claims for profit and to ensure they focus on prevention of errors.  This can be accomplished by paying RACs a retainer, as many other government contractors are paid.  We also urge CMS to adopt the commonsense reforms supported by 181 bipartisan Members of Congress that are contained in the Medicare Audit Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 1250). Medicare beneficiaries and those who provide them with care have an important stake in ensuring the RAC auditing process is fair and effective.  We urge you to take immediate action before we see further problems with the RAC auditing program.                                                             Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: Research clearly demonstrates how important good oral health is to a person’s overall health. However, while the importance of oral health is becoming better understood, much work remains to ensure that Americans have access to quality oral health care.  In an effort to promote education and awareness about oral health issues in the United States, we invite you to join the Congressional Oral Health Caucus.  We have seen firsthand how proper oral healthcare – or the lack thereof – can impact a person.  As a former dentist, Congressman Simpson has worked most of his life to ensure that Americans receive proper dental care.  He has seen that for people, especially children, who don’t have access to dental care, oral disease is almost 100 percent inevitable.   In fact, oral disease is the most common chronic disease affecting children in the United States. Seven years ago, 12-year-old Marylander Deamonte Driver died as a direct result of an infected tooth.  Determined to make sure no other child suffers so needlessly, Congressman Cummings has worked hard to find ways to improve oral health education, awareness and access.  The bipartisan Oral Health Caucus provides a forum for discussion and education, as well as opportunities to work together to formulate policy solutions for oral health issues.  The caucus also elevates awareness of oral health research achievements credited to our country’s premiere federal research agency, the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH). We look forward to welcoming you as a member of the Congressional Oral Health Caucus and hope that you will join us in making oral health a priority.  If you would like to join the Caucus or would like more information, please contact Nathan Greene with Congressman Mike Simpson, who can be reached at 5-5531 or at Nathan.Greene@mail.house.gov, or Suzanne Owen with Congressman Elijah Cummings, who can be reached at 5-4741 or at Suzanne.Owen@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Mike Simpson                                                                            Elijah E. Cummings Member of Congress                                                                   Member of Congress''
''Current Co-sponsors: Quigley, Schakowsky, Holt, Lowenthal, Tonko, Veasey, Honda, Lee, Edwards, Farr, McGovern, Serrano, Takano, Moran, Ellison, Roybal-Allard, and O’Rourke Dear Colleague, We are writing to encourage you to become a co-sponsor of the Immigrant Detainee Legal Rights Act. This important legislation will help to address one of the most egregious human rights and due process violations in immigration detention. Every day, countless immigrants are placed into detention without full knowledge of why they’re there, what their rights are, and how immigration courts work. There is no mandate that requires detention centers or jails that house immigration detainees to provide immigrants with this information. Currently, only twenty-five detention centers or jails provide legal orientation programs, or LOPs. According to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), for every $2 million we invest in LOPs, we save $20 million due to expedited court proceedings and better coordination of legal services. Our legislation would require the Attorney General, with the assistance of non-governmental organizations, to develop and deploy a plan to have an operational LOP program in every detention center and jail that houses immigrants within a year of enactment. It also requires this orientation and a legal notice of rights to be available in English and the five most common languages of detainees held at that facility in the previous year. This will enable immigrants to gain a better understanding of why they’ve been placed in detention and their legal rights. It will also improve our immigration court system because immigrants will be aware of their legal rights before they go to court. To become a co-sponsor of the Immigrant Detainee Legal Rights Act, please contact Amy Kelbick with Rep. Bill Foster at amy.kelbick@mail.house.gov or 5-3515, or Josh Lipman with Rep. Ted Detuch at joshua.lipman@mail.house.gov or 5-3001. Sincerely, Bill Foster                                           Ted Deutch Member of Congress                           Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Please join us in cosponsoring H.R. 3022, the National Discovery Trails Act. This legislation creates a new category of long-distance trails and designates the American Discovery Trail (ADT) as the first trail under the category.  The ADT is the nation’s first coast-to-coast, multi-use trail.  It stretches 6,800 miles from Delaware to California across 15 states.  The ADT connects wilderness areas and national parks and forests with rural towns and big cities.  The trail also links important historic, cultural, and scenic sites in the U.S. The route uses existing public lands and specifically prohibits any land acquisition for the trail.  Although the trail is already in place, it is not yet officially designated as a component of the National Trails System.  This designation is necessary so that signs can be installed on the trail. Maintenance of the trail would continue to be done as presently, by either the federal, state, or local level, or by private landowners. The ADT is an outstanding example of a public-private partnership and serves as the backbone of a growing national trails system.  Trails play an important role in promoting family-oriented recreation and economic growth and trails such as the ADT promote healthier lifestyles. If you would like to cosponsor this bill or have any questions, please contact Alan Feyerherm (Fortenberry) at alan.feyerherm@mail.house.gov(5-4806) or Courtney Krause (Polis) at courtney.krause@mail.house.gov(5-2161).                                                             Sincerely, Jeff Fortenberry                                                                      Jared Polis Member of Congress                                                              Member of Congress''
''URGE THE PRESIDENT TO TAKE ACTION ON PROPANE SHORTAGES DEADLINE:  COB Thursday, February 6 SUPPORTED BY:  National Turkey Federation, National Pork Producers Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, National Chicken Council CURRENT CO-SIGNERS:  Collin C. Peterson, Adrian Smith, Walter B. Jones, Reid Ribble, Tom Latham, Tim Griffin, Steve King, Markwayne Mullin, Scott Rigell, John Shimkus, Tim Walz, Robert E. Latta, Rodney Davis, Sanford Bishop, Bruce Braley, Kevin Cramer, David Loebsack, Jeff Fortenberry, Betty McCollum, Lynn Westmoreland, William L. Enyart, Richard Hudson, Tom Graves, Mike McIntyre, Lee Terry, Mike Quigley, Kristi Noem, Rick Nolan, Austin Scott, Tim Walberg Dear Colleague: As the cold weather continues, we are hearing reports of propane supply shortages and price spikes across the country.  Given this is a complex situation with a number of contributing factors, we want to express interest in finding solutions to address the current propane crisis which threatens our constituents.  We urge you to join our letter to the President asking him to take immediate action to help alleviate this dire situation. To join the letter, please contact Rebekah Solem with Rep. Peterson at rebekah.solem@mail.house.gov or Ansley Mick with Rep. Smith at ansley.mick@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Collin C. Peterson                                                          Adrian Smith Member of Congress                                                     Member of Congress President Barack Obama The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20500 Dear Mr. President: We understand the current propane market supply issue causing shortages in many regions of the country is a complex situation with a number of contributing factors which cannot be ignored.  Now, with more than twenty states making disaster declarations, we write to express our sincere interest in seeking solutions to the predicament. Several factors are contributing to the current price increases and supply shortages, including a large, wet harvest, unseasonably cold weather, and transport disruptions.  With extremely cold weather conditions likely to persist, many of our constituents are on the verge of a potentially dangerous situation with few options.  Any further reduction in supply threatens to leave many Americans without the fuel necessary to heat homes, businesses, and livestock and poultry operations.  Given the importance of this situation to consumers, we urge you to do everything in your power to address this problem without delay. We ask that you take immediate action to help improve this dire situation and are prepared to help find responsible solutions.  Thank you for your consideration, and we look forward to hearing from you regarding options to alleviate the propane fuel supply shortage and assisting in any way possible. Sincerely,''
''Become an original cosponsor of the Labor Statistics Improvement Act Deadline January 31st Please consider joining me as a cosponsor of the Labor Statistics Improvement Act. Unemployment numbers are carefully scrutinized and cited as an indicator of overall economic health. However many economists, including a former administrator of the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), have criticized the number as being an inaccurate representation of the actual job market. Currently, the BLS only considers limited statistics when reporting the unemployment rate. I propose the establishment of a commission to examine the processes used by BLS to provide unemployment rates and make recommendations to Congress for any changes in methodology or improvements to such processes. Among the criticisms of the current system are that the BLS does not consider the difference of an active or passive search for employment; the mismanagement of the “U” system currently in place; evidence reflecting higher unemployment than presented; or changes in the labor market. Definitions must be updated and better defined.  Those who would be working under normal circumstances should be properly reflected in the unemployment report.  Additionally, under the current report, any work for pay or profit counts as employed; a minimum amount of hours worked or a fair reflection of the adequacy of employment is not included.  All these issues – and potentially many more – need to be addressed and accounted for in order for the unemployment number to accurately reflect the labor force. The committee that the legislation would establish includes four individuals with experience in the private sector, academia, federal service or expertise in the economic market.  Appointments are for the life of the commission which will be for no more than 180 days. An accurate unemployment rate aids the nation’s labor force by providing a better snapshot of the economy and job market, allowing economists to provide more accurate analysis and letting policy makers make more informed decisions.  To cosponsor or if you have any questions, please contact stephen.sandora@mail.house.gov or kyle.whatley@mail.house.gov.''
''Current Co-Sponsors: Engel, Royce, Keating, Levin, Kaptur, Gerlach, Sherman, Poe, Sires, Connolly, Deutch, Higgins, Grayson, Frankel, Andrews, Lamborn, Lance, Joyce, Larson, Marino, Meeks, Cicilline, Doggett, Schwartz, Bera, Bass, Quigley, Courtney, Peters, Bentivolio, Slaughter, Gabbard, Lowey, McCollum, DeLauro, Brady, Lowenthal, Gibson, Franks, Gutierrez, Tonko, Himes Dear Colleague, We are writing to encourage you to become a co-sponsor of the bipartisan H.Res. 447, supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear. The resolution calls on Ukrainian authorities to respect the democratic rights of the hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens who have demonstrated in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities in support of a democratic, European future for their country. It further states that the United States should hold those who authorize or engage in violence against peaceful protesters personally accountable, including through targeted sanctions, if necessary, and urges all parties to exercise restraint and enter into substantive dialogue to resolve the current political and economic crisis. To become a co-sponsor of H.Res. 447, please contact Rob Lattin with Rep. Eliot L. Engel at robert.lattin@mail.house.gov or 6-8467.   H. Res. 447 Supporting the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear. Whereas a democratic, prosperous, and independent Ukraine is in the national interest of the United States; Whereas closer relations with the European Union (EU) through the signing of an Association Agreement should promote democratic values, good governance, and economic opportunity in Ukraine; Whereas the Government of Ukraine has declared integration with Europe a national priority and has made significant progress toward meeting the requirements for the Association Agreement; Whereas on November 21, 2013, following several months of intense outside pressure, Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych abruptly suspended negotiations on the Association Agreement one week before it was due to be signed at the EU’s Eastern Partnership Summit in Vilnius, Lithuania; Whereas this reversal of stated government policy precipitated demonstrations by hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian citizens in Kyiv as well as in cities throughout the country; Whereas the demonstrators have been overwhelmingly peaceful and have sought to exercise their constitutional rights to freely assemble and express their opposition to President Yanukovych’s decision; Whereas the demonstrators have consistently expressed their support for democracy, human rights, greater government accountability, and the rule of law, as well as for closer relations with Europe; Whereas on November 30, 2013, police violently dispersed peaceful demonstrators in Kyiv’s Independence Square, resulting in many injuries and the arrest of several dozen individuals; Whereas on December 11, 2013, police raided 3 opposition media outlets and the headquarters of an opposition party; Whereas on December 11, 2013, despite President Yanukovych’s statement the previous day that he would engage in talks with the opposition, police attempted to forcibly evict peaceful protesters from central locations in Kyiv; Whereas several journalists, including from Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, and civic activists supporting the demonstrators have been brutally attacked; Whereas on January 16, 2014, the Ukrainian parliament passed, and President Yanukovych signed, legislation which severely limits the right of peaceful protest, constrains freedom of speech and the independent media, and unduly restricts civil society organizations; Whereas the passage of these undemocratic measures and President Yanukovych’s refusal to engage in substantive dialogue with opposition leaders precipitated several days of violence and resulted in several deaths and hundreds of injuries, as well as numerous allegations of police brutality; and Whereas United States, European, and other leaders have urged all sides to exercise restraint and have warned the Ukrainian Government against the use of violence against peaceful protesters, and have further called on the government to engage in substantive dialogue with the opposition to resolve the current political and economic crisis: Now, therefore, be it Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the following: That the House of Representatives— (1) greatly values the warm and close relationship the United States has established with Ukraine since that country regained its independence in 1991; (2) supports the democratic and European aspirations of the people of Ukraine, and their right to choose their own future free of intimidation and fear; (3) calls on the United States and the European Union to continue to work together to support a peaceful resolution to the crisis, and to continue to support the desire of millions of Ukrainian citizens for democracy, human rights, government accountability, and the rule of law, and closer relations  with Europe; (4) urges the Government of Ukraine, Ukrainian opposition parties, and all protesters to exercise the utmost restraint and avoid confrontation, and calls on the Government of Ukraine to live up to its international obligations and respect and uphold the democratic rights of its citizens, including the freedom of assembly and expression, as well as the freedom of the press; (5) condemns all acts of violence and calls on the Government of Ukraine to bring to justice those responsible for violence and brutality against peaceful protesters, and to release and drop any criminal charges against those detained for peacefully exercising their democratic rights; (6) calls on President Yanukovych and the Parliament of Ukraine to rescind immediately the measures adopted on January 16, 2014, and restore full democratic protections and fundamental rights to Ukrainian citizens, and urges President Yanukovych to engage in substantive talks with opposition leaders to address the legitimate grievances of the opposition; (7) urges the United States and the European Union to continue to make clear to Ukraine’s leader that those who authorize or engage in violence against peaceful protesters will be held personally accountable; (8) supports the measures taken by the Department of State to revoke the visas of several Ukrainians linked to the violence, and encourages the Administration to consider additional targeted sanctions against those who authorize or engage in the use of force; and (9) urges all parties to engage in constructive, sustained dialogue in order to find a peaceful solution to Ukraine’s current political and economic crisis.''
''Deadline: Friday, January 31 Current Signers: Holt, Grijalva, Tonko, Ruppersberger Supported By: The Civil War Trust and National Parks Conservation Association Dear Colleague, I invite you to join me in writing to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) to support preservation of historic battlefields in the President’s FY15 budget.  America’s battlefields provide a unique opportunity for Americans to experience and remember the epic struggles for our young nation’s independence and identity.  Yet, only a fraction of these hallowed grounds are preserved for Americans to visit and explore.  Urbanization, suburban sprawl, and unplanned commercial and residential development are encroaching on these significant battlefields. In the late 1990’s, Congress created a competitive grant program, the American Battlefield Protection Program, that matches federal dollars with private money to preserve Civil War sites. In April, the House voted overwhelmingly to approve H.R. 1033, a bipartisan bill to reauthorize this important program and extend eligibility to War of 1812 and Revolutionary War battlefields.  This bill is now awaiting approval by the Senate. Please join me in writing to OMB to include $20 million in the FY15 Budget for the American Battlefield Protection Program to adequately address the critical need to preserve battlefields from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War.  For more information or to sign this letter, please contact Alicia Siani (Alicia.siani@mail.house.gov; x55801) of my staff. Sincerely, RUSH HOLT Member of Congress ________________________________________________________________________________________ January 31, 2014 The Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell Director Office of Management and Budget 725 17th St., NW Washington, DC  20503 Dear Director Burwell: We write to request respectfully that you support preservation of historic battlefields in the President’s Fiscal Year (FY) 2015 Budget by providing $20 million for the American Battlefield Protection Program. From Lexington, where the shot was heard ’round the world, to Gettysburg, the site of President Lincoln’s brilliantly concise description of the conception and proposition of our nation, the stories and sites of America’s battlefields provide a unique opportunity for Americans to experience and remember the epic struggles for our young nation’s independence and identity.  Yet, only a fraction of these hallowed grounds are preserved for Americans to visit and explore.  Urbanization, suburban sprawl, and unplanned commercial and residential development are encroaching on these significant battlefields.  Congress recognized this danger to our shared history, and in the late 1990’s, created the American Battlefield Protection Program, a competitive grant program that matches federal dollars with private money to preserve Civil War sites.  Since Congress first appropriated funding to this program in 1999, the program has helped save more than 19,500 acres of Civil War Battlefield ground in sixteen states.[1]  Yet, hundreds of our historic landscapes and the stories they tell remain vulnerable.  Post-war development has already erased the historic character of 50 battlefields from the Civil War.[2]  Furthermore, the need to preserve battlefields from the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 is dire.  According to the National Park Service, of the 677 nationally significant battlefields and associated sites of these two earlier conflicts, nearly half have already been lost or destroyed, and a remaining 89 sites may be lost by 2017.[3] We appreciate your Administration proposing nearly $9 million for the American Battlefield Protection Program for FY 2014, and are pleased that Congress saw the value in the program by appropriating that same amount.  Additionally, earlier this Congress, the House passed with bipartisan support H.R. 1033, the American Battlefields Protection Program Amendments Act of 2013.  This bill, currently being considered by the Senate, would reauthorize the American Battlefields Protection Program and expand the eligibility of Battlefield Protection Grants to include battlefields from the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War.  As the National Park Service testified on July 31, 2013, “with the addition of the Revolutionary War and War of 1812 battlefields to the program, we believe that a $20 million annual authorization would be appropriate.”  Therefore, we respectfully request that the President’s FY 2015 Budget Request include $20 million for the American Battlefield Protection Program to adequately address the critical need to preserve battlefields from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Historic sites, once lost, are gone forever.  Preserving these American treasures is essential to educating future generations about our rich cultural history.  With your Administration’s commitment to fully funding the American Battlefield Protection Program, we can protect these hallowed grounds for all. Thank you for your consideration of our request. Sincerely, [1] National Park Service, American Battlefield Protection Program, LWCF data through July 2012. [2] National Park Service, Update to the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission Report on the Nation’s Civil War Battlefields DRAFT v. 8, p. 22. [3] National Park Service, Report to Congress on the Historic Preservation of Revolutionary War and War of 1812 Sites in the United States 2007, p. 11.''
''Help DREAMers Afford Higher Education Cosponsor H.R. 3921: IN-STATE for DREAMers Act of 2014 Supporters: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Teachers, Asian Americans Advancing Justice, Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, AFL-CIO, Association of Community College Trustees, Colorado State University, Council on Opportunity in Education, Democrats for Education Reform, Demos, ED Trust, First Focus Campaign for Children, Jobs for the Future, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, National Association of College Admission Counseling, National Council of La Raza, National Education Association, National Immigration Law Center, NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education, United We Dream, University of Washington, Washington State University, University of Hawaii, We Belong Together: Women for Common-Sense Immigration Reform, Young Invincibles Dear Colleague: For generations of Americans, post-secondary education has served as a path to achieving the American dream. However, low-income students increasingly face significant obstacles to higher education, such as costly tuition rates and lack of financial aid. For undocumented students, known as DREAMers, the challenges are even greater. Students who came to America before they were 16 years old, and have earned a high school diploma, GED, or have served in the uniformed services (DREAMers) deserve access to the American dream. In order to ensure that DREAMers have access to a higher education credential, they should not be discriminated against because of their immigration status. However, only 19 states currently offer in-state tuition for undocumented students. That’s why we introduced the Investing in States to Achieve Tuition Equity for Students (IN-STATE) for DREAMers Act of 2014, which encourages states to increase access to higher education for low-income students, regardless of immigration status. The IN-STATE for Dreamers Act establishes the American Dream Grant program, which would provide $750 million (over ten years) in need-based student financial aid to states that set equitable in-state tuition rates and offer financial aid to undocumented students. American Dream Grants would supplement state financial aid funding, in order to increase higher education affordability for all students. States would qualify for grants by allowing in-state tuition for undocumented students or by expanding access to state financial aid for these students. This legislation is not a state mandate and is fully paid for. For questions or to cosponsor, please contact Allie Kimmel with Rep. Polis at Allie.Kimmel@mail.house.gov (x5-2161) or Hannah Katz with Rep. Castro at Hannah.Katz@mail.house.gov (x5-3236). Sincerely, Jared Polis                                                                                         Joaquín Castro Member of Congress                                                                         Member of Congress''
''Deadline: Tuesday, January 21 Supported by: Sierra Club, Wilderness Society, League of Conservation Voters, National Trust for Historic Preservation, Pew Environment, Society for American Archaeology, National Wildlife Federation, Conservation Lands Foundation, National Parks Conservation Association, Defenders of Wildlife, Oregon Wild, Cascadia Wildlands Current Signers: Holt, Napolitano, Lowenthal, McCollum, Ellison, Moran, Huffman, Levin, Nadler , Roybal-Allard, Cardenas, Ben Ray Lujan, Deutch, McGovern, Farr, Walz, Tsongas, Scott, Connolly, Lee, Maloney, Conyers, Thompson (CA), Honda, DelBene, Keating, Cicilline, Quigley, Moore, Wilson, Costa, DeGette, Capps, Thompson (MS), Polis, Tonko, Waxman, Eshoo, Castor, Israel, Lofgren, Fudge, Schiff, Lipinski, Bonamici, Cartwright, Chu Dear Colleague- The 113th Congress is on track to be the second Congress in a row that fails to protect any additional federal land or add any new land to the National Wilderness Preservation System. Under House Republican leadership, irrespective of public support, bills to create National Monuments, expand National Parks, and establish new Wilderness Areas are not seeing the light of the day. 38 bills designed to protect federal land have been in introduced this Congress. Only one has passed the House, and many sit on the shelf, ignored by the Majority, awaiting action. Fortunately, the Antiquities Act provides the President with the authority to establish new National Monuments, and move to protect special places that deserve recognition when Congress fails to provide leadership.  As Interior Secretary Jewell noted in an October 31, 2013  speech at the National Press Club, there are “some places that are too special to develop”, and political paralysis should not prevent the protection of the nation’s most valuable resources. In the same speech, Secretary Jewell stated that “if Congress doesn’t step up to act to protect some of these important places that have been identified by communities and people throughout the country, then the president will take action”. Her words were greeted with a standing ovation. Conservation of public lands has broad public support. In fact, a 2013 poll conducted by Colorado College found that 74 percent of Westerners polled agreed that “national parks, forests, monuments, and wildlife areas help attract high quality employers and good jobs to their state”. This year is the 50th Anniversary of the historic Wilderness Act, and we shouldn’t allow political paralysis to prevent the conservation of our special places, especially where enhanced federal protection will benefit local communities, guarantee resources are not damaged or looted, and conserve land for the enjoyment of future generations. Secretary Jewell got it right in October; conservation cannot always wait for Congress and the Antiquities Act is often an appropriate venue to support our nation’s most treasured historic, cultural, and natural resources. Please join us in signing the below letter to show our support for the administration’s conservation strategy and use of the Antiquities Act to establish new National Monuments. To sign the letter, or if you have questions, please contact, Brandon Bragato with the Democratic staff of the Natural Resources Committee. Sincerely, Peter DeFazio Ranking Member Committee on Natural Resources Raúl M. Grijalva Ranking Member Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation  January 22, 2014 The Honorable Sally Jewell, Secretary Department of the Interior 1849 C Street, N.W. Washington DC 20240 Dear Secretary Jewell: We are writing in response to your recent comments about the Antiquities Act and your ongoing commitment to conservation and historic preservation on Federal land. Only Congress has the authority to establish National Parks, Forests, and wilderness areas, but there is a long tradition of the conservation initiatives spearheaded by the President. Since the 1906 passage of the Antiquities Act, Presidents have had the authority to establish National Monuments. This is an important tool that has led to the protection of some our most iconic landscapes and valuable cultural resources, including the Grand Canyon and the recently enacted Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Monument. Some initiatives require Presidential leadership and should not be bogged down by political infighting and paralysis, increasingly common characteristics of Congress. In today’s deeply partisan environment, it’s becoming nearly impossible for Congress to make critical conservation decisions.  The 112th Congress was the first Congress in 40 years that failed to permanently protect any of America’s treasured landscapes. The current Congress is on a path to repeat that abysmal record. There are 37 land designation bills sitting before Congress that have broad public support. Unfortunately, Congress is failing to act.  The House Natural Resources Committee has only held hearings on 8 of these proposals and only one has moved beyond markup and passed the House. With only 112 legislative days scheduled for 2014, the time for Congress to act is running out. Many of these proposals are excellent candidates for an Antiquities Act designation by the President. On April 16, 2013, the Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation held a hearing on a suite of bills designed to dilute the Presidential authority outlined in the Antiquities Act. The theme of the hearing was overreach with a strong emphasis placed on the need to make the National Monument process more inclusive by requiring Congressional approval. As you know, Congress already has the opportunity to take the lead but is choosing to shun this role. Conservation and historic preservation initiatives with broad public support should not have to be sidelined or stalled because of political paralysis. Gateway communities throughout the country benefit from Federal conservation efforts; resources are protected, visitor experience is enhanced, and local economies are enhanced. At National Parks alone, visitors spend more than $35 million per day. Our most significant resources deserve our attention. Again, we are encouraged by your enthusiasm, and we look forward to your leadership to help identify appropriate sites for conservation and preservation. When Congress is unable to advance conservation legislation, the importance of the Antiquities Act is increasingly apparent, and we support its use to establish new National Monuments where appropriate.   Sincerely, Peter DeFazio Member of Congress Raúl M. Grijalva Member of Congress''
''January 16, 2013 Protect Children and Hold Accountable Those Who Travel Abroad to Engage in Commercial Sex by Co-Sponsoring the Protect Children from Sex Tourism Act of 2013 (H.R. 2915) Dear Colleague: Sex-trafficking is a horrific crime, regardless of a victim’s age, but cases involving children are particularly heinous.  Each year, over one million children are exploited in the global commercial sex trade.  Current law requires the prosecution to prove a defendant was aware of a victim’s minor status for that transgressor to be held liable.  The Protect Children from Sex Tourism Act of 2013 (H.R. 2915) eliminates that requirement, ensuring that victims of child-sex trafficking will be more likely to find justice.  This legislation is an important step toward protecting children from exploitation. A minor is a minor—and the tragic human impact of this crime is the same regardless of whether a victim’s age is known.  We must take action to protect innocent children and stop this terrible practice.  Any individual who engages in a commercial sex act with a minor should face the maximum penalty allowed. If you have any questions or would like to co-sponsor this legislation please contact Elaine Wilson (Elaine.wilson@mail.house.gov) with Congressman Cotton’s office at (202) 225-3772. Sincerely, Tom Cotton Member of Congress''
''Urge Leadership to Keep the House in Session until Emergency Federal Unemployment Benefits are Extended Letter supported by: SEIU, UAW, LULAC Deadline: TODAY, Thursday, Jan. 16 10:00am Current signers (113): Peters (MI), Barber, Barrow, Beatty, Beccera, Tim Bishop, Bonamici, Braley, Brownley, Butterfield, Carney, Cartwright, Castor, Castro, Chu, Cicilline, Clarke, Connolly, Conyers, Cooper, Costa, Crowley, Danny Davis, Delaney, DeLauro, DelBene, Deutch, Dingell, Edwards, Ellison, Engel, Enyart, Eshoo, Esty, Farr, Foster, Fudge, Garamendi, Garcia, Al Green, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Hahn, Hastings, Denny Heck, Higgins, Himes, Holt, Horsford, Hoyer, Huffman, Israel, Jackson Lee, Kaptur, Kildee, Kilmer, Kind, Kirkpatrick, Langevin, Larsen, Levin, Loebsack, Lofgren, Lowey, Lujan, Lujan Grisham, Lynch, Maffei, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, McCollum, McGovern, Meeks, Meng, Michaud, Moore, Moran, Patrick Murphy, Napolitano, Norton, O’Rourke, Pallone, Scott Peters, Pierluisi, Pingree, Pocan, Polis, Quigley, Tim Ryan, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Schakowsky, Schiff, Schneider, Schwartz, Serrano, Sewell, Shea-Porter, Sinema, Takano, Mike Thompson, Tierney, Titus, Tonko, Tsongas, Swalwell, Van Hollen, Vargas, Velazquez, Waters, Waxman, Welch, Yarmuth Dear Colleague, As you know, 1.3 million Americans immediately lost all of their unemployment insurance on December 28 when the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired.  While this number grows higher with every week of Congressional inaction, the House of Representatives is scheduled to recess for district work period this afternoon for 10 days.  This is unacceptable.  Another 100,000 Americans will lose their benefits during this break while the families who lost their benefits right after Christmas will continue struggling to put food on the table, heat their homes, and pay their bills weeks after they lost this lifeline. There are legitimate policy discussions to be had about exactly how we should extend federal unemployment insurance, but we cannot find common ground when the House of Representatives is not in session and when this legislation is not even being considered in the House. The clock is ticking. This is why I will be sending a letter to House Leadership urging them to cancel the pending district work period and keep the House of Representatives in session until both the House and Senate have sent legislation to the President to extend emergency federal unemployment benefits.  Stand up for American workers and join me in calling for the House to stay in session until we address this critical issue.  For more information or to sign this letter please contact me or David Weinberg on my staff at 225-5802 or david.weinberg@mail.house.gov.                                                             Sincerely,                                                             Gary C. Peters                                                             Member of Congress                                                                January 16, 2014 The Honorable John Boehner                                     The Honorable Eric Cantor Speaker, the U.S. House of Representatives              Majority Leader, the U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515                                            Washington, D.C. 20515        Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor, On December 28, 1.3 million Americans immediately lost all of their unemployment insurance when the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired.  While this number grows higher with every week of Congressional inaction, the House of Representatives is scheduled to recess for district work period today for 10 days.  This is unacceptable.  Another 100,000 Americans will lose their benefits during this break while the families who lost their benefits right after Christmas will continue struggling to put food on the table, heat their homes, and pay their bills weeks after they lost this lifeline. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program is an investment with a proven economic return, and it is the right thing to do for American families.  Every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.55 or more in economic activity.  These benefits have also kept hundreds of thousands of American children out of poverty. In the almost three weeks since the December 28 deadline, over 200,000 more Americans have exhausted their state benefits and are now unable to receive assistance under the expired federal program.  The number grows higher every day.  Approximately 72,000 Americans will lose their unemployment benefits every week – the equivalent of one person every 8 seconds. There are legitimate policy discussions to be had about exactly how we should extend federal unemployment insurance, but we cannot find common ground when the House of Representatives is not in session and when this legislation is not even being considered in the House. The clock is ticking.  This is why we urge you to cancel the pending district work period and keep the House of Representatives in session until both the House and Senate have sent legislation to the President to extend emergency federal unemployment benefits.  Thank you for your consideration and we stand ready to work with you on this critical issue.                                                             Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: I write to bring to your attention a letter that I will soon be sending along with Congressman Steve Stivers to Secretary of State John Kerry, urging the State Department to re-establish Ahiska (Meskhetian) Turks – a distinct minority in Southern Russia – as a group of “special humanitarian concern” for Priority-Two (P-2) processing for refugee status. For nearly 70 years, the Ahiska Turkish community has faced statelessness, discrimination, and violent attacks in the former Soviet Union.  The Ahiska Turkish diaspora, particularly in the United States, and various organizations have long advocated for resettlement assistance, but the international community remains largely unresponsive.  Most recently, media reports indicate that the Ahiska Turkish community is again being actively and severely persecuted in Southern Russia at every socio-economic and political level because of their ethnicity and religion, and the P-2 status, initiated in 2003 for Ahiska Turks, expired in 2007. Given the current human rights situation in Russia, especially continued reports of rising discrimination and harassment against certain minority groups, it is not likely that conditions will improve in the near future.  That is why we are asking the State Department to reinstitute P-2 status for Ahiska Turks and continue to implement this successful refugee program that has not only improved the lives of refugees, but also enriched the communities they joined. Thank you for your consideration.  If you have any questions or would like to co-sign the letter, please contact Jesse Walls (Rep. Stivers) at Jesse.Walls@mail.house.gov or 5-2015, or Christian Sy (Rep. Hastings) at Christian.Sy@mail.house.gov or 5-1313. Sincerely /s/ Alcee L. Hastings Member of Congress **DEADLINE: C.O.B. Friday, January 17, 2014** Co-Signers (37): Reps. Steve Stivers, Alcee L. Hastings, Michael Turner, John Lewis, Steve Chabot, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Tim Ryan, Mark Amodei, Pete Sessions, Greg Walden, Ed Whitfield, Mark Meadows, Jim Moran, Steve Cohen, Tom Cole, John Abney Culberson, Joe Wilson, Richard Hanna, Leonard Lance, Bill Shuster, Steve Stockman, Tim Griffin, Hakeem Jeffries, Gerald Connolly, Daniel Lipinski, Scott Perry, Alan Grayson, David Joyce, Dutch Ruppersberger, Bill Johnson, Andre Carson, Adam Kinzinger, Bill Pascrell,  Luke Messer, Earl Blumenauer, Virginia Foxx, and Lloyd Doggett January XX, 2014 The Honorable John Kerry Secretary U.S. Department of State 2201 C Street, NW Washington, DC 20520 Dear Secretary Kerry: We write to urge the U.S. Department of State to re-establish Ahiska (Meskhetian) Turks, a distinct minority in Southern Russia, as a group of “special humanitarian concern” for Priority-Two (P-2) processing for refugee status. For nearly 70 years, the Ahiska Turkish community has faced statelessness, discrimination, and violent attacks in the former Soviet Union.  Although the Ahiska Turkish diaspora, particularly in the United States, and various organizations have long advocated for resettlement assistance, the international community remains largely unresponsive.  Most recently, media reports indicate that the Ahiska Turkish community is again being actively and severely persecuted as a distinct minority group in Southern Russia at every socio-economic and political level because of their ethnicity and religion, and we are concerned that the P-2 status, initiated in 2003 for Ahiska Turks, has been interrupted. As you may know, under the P-2 status, nearly 12,000 Ahiska Turks came to the United States between 2004 and 2007, settling in Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Pennsylvania, New York, Oregon, Missouri, Kentucky, Texas, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Virginia, and many other states.  This resilient community has been able to fully integrate into American society, and has proven itself to be a great asset in their new home states by becoming entrepreneurs and creating opportunities for others. Unfortunately, issues of human rights and the ethnic persecution of Ahiska Turks in Russia remain serious concerns. An October 2013 report by the European Commission Against Racism and Intolerance, which dedicates a section to Ahiska (Meskhetian) Turks, indicated the situation in Southern Russia remains “very bad” for ethnic minorities.  The report also goes on to explain that human rights organizations’ efforts to monitor and report on the situation have been met with “hostility by the authorities, including criminal investigations and prosecutions.” Given the current human rights situation in Russia, especially continued reports of rising discrimination and harassment against certain minority groups, we fear that the conditions will not likely improve in the near future.  Therefore, we believe it is time to reinstitute P-2 status for Ahiska Turks and continue to implement a successful refugee program that has not only improved the lives of refugees, but also enriched the communities they joined. We appreciate your prompt attention to our request and look forward to your reply regarding the restoration of P-2 status to Ahiska Turks. Sincerely,''
''“A nation as a society forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.”  Thomas Jefferson Dear Colleague: In the past decade, over two million Americans have been deployed to the two wars in the Middle East, in which 6,600 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have made the ultimate sacrifice. There are times when military actions are necessary for national security or to fight tyranny.  However, the decision to use force must be the absolute last resort.  To go to war before you have expended your arsenal of peaceful options to resolve a conflict is criminal.  And the decision to use force must be made with a clear understanding that men and women will lay down their lives based upon the decisions leaders have made. This is why I am once again proposing that all men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 give two years of compulsory service to our nation. Whether that service is in our schools, in our hospitals, in our airports, or on the front lines abroad, the Universal National Service Act would ensure equality among us. Service would not be a condemnation, but rather a guarantee of balance and fairness. It would build upon the community service infrastructure already in place such as the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, as well as local initiatives such as NYC Serve, offering alternatives for those hesitant to pick up a weapon. I have also introduced, the “All American Selective Service Act”. This legislation ensures that all Americans, both men and women, register for Selective Service as equal partners in the defense of America. This milestone will be a critical step towards the equality we are constantly striving to achieve as a nation.  Now that women can serve in combat they should register for the Selective Service alongside their male counterparts.  Please see the “All American Selective Service Act”. Requiring National Service for all and Selective Service registration for both men and women may seem counter intuitive to some if the goal is to make the decision to use force more difficult.  I argue these actions support my sincere belief that every American has a duty towards the defense of our county and if all Americans are involved in our defense then all American will fully engage in any decision to use force. Currently, the 3.3 million military households representing less than one percent of American families have become a virtual military class who are unfairly carrying the burden of war. All those who share the benefits of our democracy should share the risk of defending it. We should not vest the perils of war disproportionately upon a few. If you have any questions or would like to add your name as an original cosponsor of the All Universal National Service Act please contact Patrick Burns at 225-4365 or at Patrick.Burns@mail.house.gov Sincerely, Charles B. Rangel Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: Cloud computing is a new name for an old concept: the delivery of computing services from a remote location, similar to the way electricity and other utilities are provided to most consumers.  Combined with higher data transfer speeds and near ubiquitous network connectivity, cloud computing is far more powerful and useful than previous generations of remote computing. According to the White House Office of Management and Budget, cloud computing offers many advantages to large diverse enterprises, like the federal government, because it is: Economical: cloud computing is a pay-as-you-go approach to Information Technology (IT), in which a low initial investment is required, and additional investment is needed only as system use increases; Flexible: IT departments that anticipate fluctuations in user demand no longer need to scramble for additional hardware and software. With cloud computing, they can add or subtract capacity quickly and easily; Fast: cloud computing eliminates long procurement and certification processes, while providing a near-limitless selection of services. The versatility and scalability of cloud computing will save taxpayer money and offer policymakers a chance to address the federal government’s dismal record of procuring and using information technology. According to the Congressional Research Service survey of cloud computing studies “most estimates project[ federal] savings of at least 50%.” The Brookings Institute reported that in 2010 “agencies generally saw between 25% and 50% savings in moving to the cloud.” The Government Accountability Office notes that “an estimated $20 billion of the federal government’s $80 billion in annual IT spending is a potential target for migration to cloud computing solutions.” In order to take advantage of all that cloud computing can do to improve federal government activities, we are pleased to announce the formation of the Congressional Cloud Computing Caucus. This bipartisan caucus will be dedicated to fostering awareness and understanding of this critical IT issue. If you’d like to join us, please contact Rich Beutel with Rep. Issa (5-5074) or Benjamin Rhodeside with Rep. Connolly (3-3122). Darrell Issa                              Gerry Connolly Member of Congress               Member of Congress''
''Provide Access for all Disabled Veterans to National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Co-sponsor the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act Endorsed by: Sierra Club, Sierra Club Military Outdoors, National Parks Conservation Association, Vet Voice Foundation Original Co-sponsors: Reps. Young, Stewart, Noem, Horsford, Ryan (OH), Honda, Langevin, Israel Dear Colleague, National parks preserve our country’s collective heritage—our ideals, our majestic lands, our sacred sites, and our patriotic legacy. These parks are national treasures, filled with monuments to the service and sacrifice of countless Americans whose courage forged our nation. Currently, individuals living with a permanently disability are granted free, unlimited access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five federal agencies. Many states, however, have recognized that veterans with any form of disability deserve free access to the parks and recreation centers throughout the nation they fought to protect. The Wounded Veterans Recreation Act would follow the example of those 35 states—and recognize the service of all 3.5 million veterans living with service-connected disabilities—by granting them a free, lifetime pass to enjoy our nations treasures. I hope you will join me in giving back to our veterans and become an original co-sponsor of this important legislation. If you have any questions or would like to become an original co-sponsor of the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act, please contact Orfa Torres-Jaen by email at Orfa.Torres-Jaen@mail.house.gov, or by phone at 5-5330. Background: According to the 2011 U.S. Census, there are 21.5 million military veterans in the U.S. Of this number, 3.5 million veterans are living with a service-connected disability. In 2004, Congress gave agencies the authority, through the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act (FLREA), to create the America the Beautiful—the National Parks and Federal Recreational Lands Pass. This interagency pass covers entrance and standard amenity recreation fees for all Federal recreation lands and waters where a fee is charged. This free, lifetime pass is available to U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States that have been medically determined to have a permanent disability. It provides access to more than 2,000 recreation sites managed by five federal agencies: The National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.    In 2007, FLREA expanded discounted annual passes to U.S. military members and their dependents in the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, and Coast Guard, as well as most members of the U.S. Reserves and National Guard. What the Wounded Veterans Recreation Act does: This legislation makes all disabled veterans eligible for a lifetime pass that would give them entry to the 2,000 national parks and federal recreational lands managed by the National Park Service, U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Bureau of Land Management, and the Bureau of Reclamation.''
''SIGN LETTER TO EPA REQUESTING COMMENT PERIOD EXTENSION FOR PR ON NEW POWER PLANTS  *DEADLINE COB TODAY (TUESDAY, JANUARY 14)* Current Co-Signers (63): Walorski, Aderholt, Barr, Barton, Blackburn, Brooks (IN), Broun, Bucshon, Capito, Collins (GA), Collins (NY), Conaway, Cramer, Daines, Davis, Dent, Duffy, Enyart, Fleming, Gosar, Graves (MO), Griffin, Griffith, Guthrie, Huelskamp, Johnson (OH), Kelly, King (IA), Kingston, Kinzinger, Lamborn, Latta, Long, Lummis, McCaul, McKinley, Messer, Mulvaney, Murphy, Neugebauer, Nugent, Olson, Pearce, Radel, Rahall, Roe, Rogers, Rohrabacher, Rokita, Rothfus, Schweikert, Shuster, Smith (MO), Smith (NE), Smith (TX), Stewart, Stivers, Stutzman, Thompson (PA), Wagner, Westmoreland, Young (AK), Young (IN) Dear Colleague, As you probably know, at the end of September 2013 the EPA announced a proposed rule for greenhouse gas emissions from new fossil fuel-fired power plants.  This rule was published in the Federal Register on Wednesday, January 8 and mandates the use of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology, effectively prohibiting the creation of new coal-fired power plants since the necessary CCS technology is not yet available on a commercial scale. Coal is used to generate around 40 percent of all electricity in the United States and is a reliable, abundant, low-cost power source.  At a time when the United States is struggling economically and energy demands are high due to the unusually cold winter, it makes no sense to crack down on the coal industry, which keeps energy costs low, provides good-paying jobs, and can help move America towards energy independence. Rep. Walorski will be sending a letter to the EPA requesting a 60-day extension of the comment period to allow all stakeholders adequate time to share their views and concerns.  If you would like to sign on, have any questions, or would like a copy of the letter, please contact Annie Boyajian at annie.boyajian@mail.house.gov or x5-3915. Sincerely, Jackie Walorski Member of Congress''
''Urge Leadership to Keep the House in Session until Emergency Federal Unemployment Benefits are Extended Letter supported by: SEIU, UAW, LULAC Deadline: TONIGHT, Wednesday, Jan. 15 COB Current signers (95): Peters (MI), Barber, Barrow, Beatty, Beccera, Bishop Tim, Bonamici, Brownley, Butterfield, Carney, Castor, Castro, Cicilline, Clarke, Connolly, Conyers, Cooper, Costa, Crowley, Danny Davis, Delaney, DeLauro, Deutch, Dingell, Edwards, Ellison, Engel, Enyart, Eshoo, Esty, Foster, Fudge, Garamendi, Garcia, Al Green, Grijalva, Hahn, Denny Heck, Higgins, Himes, Holt, Horsford, Hoyer, Huffman, Jackson Lee, Kaptur, Kildee, Kilmer, Kind, Kirkpatrick, Langevin, Larsen, Levin, Loebsack, Lofgren, Lowey, Lujan, Lujan Grisham, Lynch, Maffei, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, McCollum, McGovern, Meeks, Michaud, Moore, Patrick Murphy, Napolitano, Norton, O’Rourke, Scott Peters, Pierluisi, Pingree, Pocan, Quigley, Tim Ryan, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Schakowsky, Schiff, Schwartz, Sewell, Shea-Porter, Sinema, Mike Thompson, Titus, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen, Vargas, Velazquez, Waters, Waxman, Yarmuth Dear Colleague, As you know, 1.3 million Americans immediately lost all of their unemployment insurance on December 28 when the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired.  While this number grows higher with every week of Congressional inaction, the House of Representatives is scheduled to recess for district work period tomorrow for 10 days.  This is unacceptable.  Another 100,000 Americans will lose their benefits during this break while the families who lost their benefits right after Christmas will continue struggling to put food on the table, heat their homes, and pay their bills weeks after they lost this lifeline. There are legitimate policy discussions to be had about exactly how we should extend federal unemployment insurance, but we cannot find common ground when the House of Representatives is not in session and when this legislation is not even being considered in the House. The clock is ticking. This is why I will be sending a letter to House Leadership urging them to cancel the pending district work period and keep the House of Representatives in session until both the House and Senate have sent legislation to the President to extend emergency federal unemployment benefits.  Stand up for American workers and join me in calling for the House to stay in session until we address this critical issue.  For more information or to sign this letter please contact me or David Weinberg on my staff at 225-5802 or david.weinberg@mail.house.gov.                                                             Sincerely,                                                             Gary C. Peters                                                             Member of Congress                                                              January 16, 2014 The Honorable John Boehner                                     The Honorable Eric Cantor Speaker, the U.S. House of Representatives              Majority Leader, the U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515                                            Washington, D.C. 20515        Dear Speaker Boehner and Leader Cantor, On December 28, 1.3 million Americans immediately lost all of their unemployment insurance when the Emergency Unemployment Compensation program expired.  While this number grows higher with every week of Congressional inaction, the House of Representatives is scheduled to recess for district work period today for 10 days.  This is unacceptable.  Another 100,000 Americans will lose their benefits during this break while the families who lost their benefits right after Christmas will continue struggling to put food on the table, heat their homes, and pay their bills weeks after they lost this lifeline. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation program is an investment with a proven economic return, and it is the right thing to do for American families.  Every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.55 or more in economic activity.  These benefits have also kept hundreds of thousands of American children out of poverty. In the almost three weeks since the December 28 deadline, over 200,000 more Americans have exhausted their state benefits and are now unable to receive assistance under the expired federal program.  The number grows higher every day.  Approximately 72,000 Americans will lose their unemployment benefits every week – the equivalent of one person every 8 seconds. There are legitimate policy discussions to be had about exactly how we should extend federal unemployment insurance, but we cannot find common ground when the House of Representatives is not in session and when this legislation is not even being considered in the House. The clock is ticking.  This is why we urge you to cancel the pending district work period and keep the House of Representatives in session until both the House and Senate have sent legislation to the President to extend emergency federal unemployment benefits.  Thank you for your consideration and we stand ready to work with you on this critical issue.                                                             Sincerely,''
''Deadline: Friday, January 17 by COB Dear Colleague, On Dec. 5 we sent the letter below, along with 27 other Members of Congress, to President Obama calling for a pause in deportations of residents who would be eligible for an earned pathway to citizenship under pending immigration reform proposals. We stand by the 543 faith-based, labor, neighborhood, legal, and civil rights organizations – including the AFL-CIO, MALDEF, United We Dream, and NDLON – that support this proposal, and agree that this is the best way to advance the path to citizenship for undocumented individuals across the country. Since then, the Los Angeles City Council unanimously approved a resolution in support of our letter to the president (See article below). Officials in the City of San Francisco and San Diego have announced plans for similar resolutions. The National Immigration Law Center issued a report, How the Obama Administration Can Use Executive Authority to Stop Deportations, which finds,“[T]he Obama administration has both the legal authority and the moral responsibility to prevent tomorrow’s citizens from suffering the consequences of political inaction.” Several Members expressed interest in signing our letter but missed the opportunity to sign on, so we have decided to send an addendum to the President with additional signers.  If you would like to join us or have any questions, please contact Christina Partida at christina.partida@mail.house.gov or at 5-2435. Very Sincerely, Raúl M. Grijalva                        Yvette Clarke Member of Congress                   Member of Congress http://grijalva.house.gov/uploads/Grijalva%20Letter%20Urging%20Pause%20in%20Deportations.pdf http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-obama-deportations-20131218,0,5459128.story#ixzz2o0POr01I http://www.nilc.org/adminrelieftable.html''
''“A nation as a society forms a moral person, and every member of it is personally responsible for his society.”  Thomas Jefferson Dear Colleague: In the past decade, over two million Americans have been deployed to the two wars in the Middle East, in which 6,600 soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines have made the ultimate sacrifice. There are times when military actions are necessary for national security or to fight tyranny.  However, the decision to use force must be the absolute last resort.  To go to war before you have expended your arsenal of peaceful options to resolve a conflict is criminal.  And the decision to use force must be made with a clear understanding that men and women will lay down their lives based upon the decisions leaders have made. This is why I am once again proposing that all men and women between the ages of 18 and 25 give two years of compulsory service to our nation. Whether that service is in our schools, in our hospitals, in our airports, or on the front lines abroad, the Universal National Service Act would ensure equality among us. Service would not be a condemnation, but rather a guarantee of balance and fairness. It would build upon the community service infrastructure already in place such as the Peace Corps and AmeriCorps, as well as local initiatives such as NYC Serve, offering alternatives for those hesitant to pick up a weapon. I have also introduced, the “All American Selective Service Act”. This legislation ensures that all Americans, both men and women, register for Selective Service as equal partners in the defense of America. This milestone will be a critical step towards the equality we are constantly striving to achieve as a nation.  Now that women can serve in combat they should register for the Selective Service alongside their male counterparts.  Please see the “All American Selective Service Act”. Requiring National Service for all and Selective Service registration for both men and women may seem counter intuitive to some if the goal is to make the decision to use force more difficult.  I argue these actions support my sincere belief that every American has a duty towards the defense of our county and if all Americans are involved in our defense then all American will fully engage in any decision to use force. Currently, the 3.3 million military households representing less than one percent of American families have become a virtual military class who are unfairly carrying the burden of war. All those who share the benefits of our democracy should share the risk of defending it. We should not vest the perils of war disproportionately upon a few. If you have any questions or would like to add your name as an original cosponsor of the All Universal National Service Act please contact Patrick Burns at 225-4365 or at Patrick.Burns@mail.house.gov Sincerely, Charles B. Rangel''
''Current Cosponsors: Norton, Eleanor Holmes; Edwards, Donna; Huffman, Jared; Polis, Jared; Tonko, Paul; Esty, Elizabeth; Takano, Mark; Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho; Lofgren, Zoe; Conyers, John; Kaptur; Marcy; Chu, Judy; Ruiz, Raul; Holt, Rush; Lee, Barbara; Keating, William; Capps, Lois; Wilson, Fredrica; Rangel, Charlie; Honda, Mike; Peters, Scott; Shea-Porter, Carol                                                            Support Green Jobs and Green Education Dear Colleague: Our nation is changing and new and exciting technologies have the potential to move us towards a more sustainable energy future. The development and operation of new energy resources will require a highly skilled work force, and our country has the opportunity to create an entire spectrum of high-quality green jobs. That is why I introduced H.R. 2368, the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation (GREEN) Act. This legislation will create unique partnerships in the renewable and sustainable energy fields that will train young Americans to develop, operate, and maintain clean energy systems. This legislation is supported by the Association for Career and Technical Education and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. The GREEN Act fulfills a key need by creating a bridge between secondary and postsecondary schools so that students can transition from high school with technical knowledge that will be expanded and honed in a postsecondary environment.  Specifically, the bill provides funding for partnerships between secondary schools, career and technical schools or community colleges, and industry partners to develop new curricula and teaching programs in the renewable energy field. The legislation also provides opportunities for technical schools to upgrade their own energy systems to serve as model training facilities. Innovative green energy educational programs will allow young Americans to better compete in today’s changing economy. I encourage you to become a cosponsor of the GREEN Act. For questions or to cosponsor, please contact Teresa Frison of my staff at teresa.frison@mail.house.gov or extension 5-1947. Sincerely, /s/Jerry McNerney Member of Congress''
''President Obama announced that Americans who have received health insurance policy cancellations, will not be required to buy coverage in 2014. Therefore, I wanted to draw your attention to my bill that mirrors this policy change, but promotes fairness to those who have not yet received cancellation notices from their health insurance company or for those who are struggling to sign up for health insurance due to the faulty federal exchanges. H.R. 3338, Fairness in Failed Federal Exchanges, provides a hardship exemption from the individual mandate for all Americans struggling under Obamacare, including those facing higher premiums and those struggling to navigate the disastrous exchange system. It is unfair that the administration will delay the healthcare mandate for big businesses, but force individuals to pay the penalty. Additionally, the House has previously passed parallel legislation for every executive healthcare delay the administration has enforced. As such, H.R. 3338 should be no exception. Fairness in Failed Federal Exchange Act (H.R. 3338) On December 19, 2013, the Obama administration announced another delay to their signature law, allowing a new temporary exemption for millions of people who are facing the cancellation of their health insurance policies. Under the new delay, folks will be allowed to buy catastrophic coverage and be exempted from penalties if they go without insurance next year.  This is a short term delay for a long term problem. For this reason, I introduced the Fairness in Failed Federal Exchanges Act, H.R. 3338 in October 2013. This bill will exempt people from the individual mandate penalty if they have gone without healthcare coverage for one month in 2014, or in a subsequent year, if an individual executes an attestation that the he or she has been unable to enroll in the exchange We hope to have your boss join as a cosponsor.''
''ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO CONSTITUTIONALLY-PROTECTED RIGHTS AND BENEFITS FOR ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Current Bipartisan Cosponsors: Bonamici, Brady, Braley, Bustos, Capps, Cárdenas, Cartwright, Chu, Cicilline, Cohen, Cummings, DelBene, DeLauro, Doyle, Edwards, Esty, Farr, Fudge, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Alcee Hastings, Higgins, Himes, Honda, Hank Johnson, Kaptur, Kuster, Langevin, Lee, Lewis, Loebsack, Lowenthal, Lynch, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Matsui, McCollum, McGovern, Meeks, Michaud, George Miller, Moore, Moran, Patrick Murphy, O’Rourke, Pingree, Polis, David Price, Quigley, Rangel, Rush, Tim Ryan, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Schiff, Schneider, Schwartz, Serrano, Slaughter, Adam Smith, Speier, Swalwell, Takano, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen, Vargas, Velazquez, Walz, Waxman, Welch, and Frederica Wilson Dear Colleague: We invite you to join us in sponsoring the bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 313 which, with its companion  bill S. 1529 introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) would ensure that LGBT federal employees have access to the same basic rights and benefits enjoyed by all of our nation’s dedicated civil servants. Our bipartisan legislation would make sure Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 as unconstitutional, becomes a reality for LGBT federal employees across the country. The bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 3135, would require the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to effectively eliminate discriminatory practices in federal employment and to institute equal rights and benefits for equal work. This legislation enforces the constitutional protections that require civilian LGBT federal employees be treated fairly under the law and empowers federal agencies to compete for the best and the brightest against the private sector as well as state and local governments. Our bipartisan bill enables federal employees to live in, or move to states that do not recognize same-sex marriages as necessitated by their jobs. According to OPM, almost 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies and 18 state governments along with the District of Columbia already offer same-sex domestic partner benefits. It is time for the federal government to follow the lead of the private sector and the states, to guarantee constitutional rights, and to enhance efforts to effectively recruit and retain talented employees to serve our nation. To become a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 3135, or for additional information, please contact Ana Jara (Rep. Pocan) at ana.jara@mail.house.gov or at 5-2906. Sincerely,  Mark Pocan       Ileana Ros-Lehtinen        Gerry Connolly       Richard Hanna Member of Congress      Member of Congress      Member of Congress    Member of Congress''
''Deadline: COB Wednesday, January 15th Dear Colleague- In recent years, some of the global community has made major progress in the legal recognition of rights for members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) population. Unfortunately, criminal penalties, institutional discrimination, and widespread violence against the LGBT community are still common in much of the world. As you may be aware, on December 20, 2013, the Ugandan Parliament unexpectedly passed the Anti-Homosexuality Bill which had been pending since it was introduced in 2009. This bill has received extensive international and media attention due to a provision in a previous version that would provide for the death penalty in certain cases of “aggravated homosexuality.” Although the death penalty has been removed from the legislation, it is nevertheless an alarming restriction on people’s basic human rights. Under the Ugandan constitution, the President has 30 days to either sign the bill or send it back to the Parliament. In the past, President Museveni made comments that suggest he would not sign the Anti-Homosexuality Bill, but he continues to receive much pressure within Uganda to sign it. Local advocates in Uganda are requesting as much public attention as possible to put pressure on President Museveni. We invite you to join us in sending a letter to President Museveni expressing our concern, especially in light of the likely negative impact that this bill would have on PEPFAR funding that the U.S. sends to Uganda. Due to the timeline for the President, deadline to sign on is COB Wednesday, January 15. If you would like to sign onto this letter, or if you have any questions, please contact Elizabeth Hang in Congressman Cicilline’s office at Elizabeth.Hang@mail.house.gov or Gabriella Boffelli in Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen’s office at Gabriella.Boffelli@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, David N. Cicilline                               Ileana Ros-Lehtinen Member of Congress                         Member of Congress January XX, 2014 President Yoweri Museveni President of Uganda P.O. Box 25497 Kampala, Uganda Dear President Museveni: We write to express our grave concern about last month’s passage of the “Anti-Homosexuality Bill” by the Ugandan Parliament. We reiterate the position previously articulated by Members of Congress that this bill violates human rights standards, particularly for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) Ugandans. If adopted, this bill could result in a direct threat to the life and liberty of LGBT individuals and anyone perceived to be LGBT as well as their friends, families, and allies. We are further concerned that this bill is part of a larger trend of government restrictions on civil society organizations and passage of legislation that erodes the human rights of all Ugandans. As you are aware, the protection of fundamental human rights is a cornerstone of American democracy and our relations with foreign countries. Many of us who have worked to expand bilateral relations between our two countries – including through passage of the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) – are concerned about how this bill could affect future relations. The Anti-Homosexuality Bill, if it becomes law, would intensify the criminalization of consensual same-sex relations and impose unacceptable penalties on LGBT persons, those who speak out about the experiences and rights of LGBT individuals, and potentially those who provide support or services to the LGBT population. Worldwide, anti-LGBT stigma is correlated with increased vulnerability to HIV infection, and passing legislation that codifies such stigma could seriously undermine Uganda’s HIV/AIDS relief efforts.  Despite the country’s largely successful campaign against HIV/AIDS through the 1990s, Uganda is among a minority of African nations currently experiencing an increase in HIV infections. According to the World Health Organization, Uganda’s prevalence rate increased 9 percent between 2001 and 2010.  During fiscal year 2011, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) invested $323.4 million in Uganda’s HIV/AIDS relief efforts. This represents a steady increase in financial commitment nearly every year since PEPFAR’s inception, and we are concerned for the future viability of this program should the Anti-Homosexuality Bill become law. You have reiterated that you do not support the persecution of, or discrimination against, LGBT people, and we are concerned that the passage of the Anti-Homosexuality Bill will prevent the Ugandan government from fulfilling this commitment, representing a significant lapse in respect for human rights in Uganda, and reinforcing a worrisome trend of restricting human rights. We believe that advancing the human rights of LGBT persons is central to the United States’ commitment to promoting human rights. We believe that human rights violations should not be tolerated, and we respectfully urge you to prevent the Anti-Homosexuality Bill from becoming law. Sincerely,''
''Bipartisan legislation provides business tax credits for hiring individuals searching for work for more than six months Dear Colleague: While our unemployment rate has been falling steadily over the past few years, the unemployment rate for those out of work for 27 weeks or more remains stubbornly high. 4.1 million Americans fall into this category of “long-term unemployed”, or about 2.6 percent of the labor force and 37 percent of all unemployed individuals. A large part of this can be explained by the stigma attached to long-term unemployment. The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston recently published research showing the unique challenges faced by this group. One study found that those out of work for six months or longer received significantly fewer call backs for a job in the same industry they were previously employed than someone with no experience in that industry but who had only been out of work for a short period of time. A second study found the long-term unemployed experience a much larger negative income effect than those workers that experienced shorter-duration unemployment.  This study showed that long-term unemployed have lower earnings even after 10 or 15 years. It is clear that the best way to help the long-term unemployed find jobs would be for our economy to be marching faster towards full employment. But in the interim, there are steps we can take to incentivize employers to hire the long-term unemployed and help these families get back on their feet. H.R. 3726, the Long-term Unemployed Hiring Incentive Act would extend the successful Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC) program to cover qualified long-term unemployed individuals. Under this proposal, companies who hire individuals that have exhausted their regular 26 weeks of unemployment benefits (and therefore have been out of work for slightly over six months) would be eligible for a tax credit of up to $2400. Employment has some pretty obvious benefits, but it also provides immediate savings to the Federal and State governments by moving people off public assistance programs. Furthermore, helping the long-term unemployed individuals move back into the workforce increases their lifetime earnings, allowing them to contribute more to the economy and pay taxes instead of drawing public assistance in the future. While this proposal will not solve our long-term unemployment crisis or end the stigma associated with being out of work for a long period of time, it will provide a needed incentive for businesses to take a serious look at hiring the long-term unemployed. Congress should make it a priority to help those who want to work find work, provide for their families and fully contribute to the economy. If you would like to cosponsor this legislation, please contact Arthur Mandel in Congressman Pascrell’s office at x-5-5751 or Phillips Hinch in Congressman Reed’s office at x5-3161. Sincerely, Bill Pascrell, Jr.                                               Tom Reed Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress Alan S. Lowenthal                                          Jon Runyan Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress''
''Co-Sponsor the Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014 Supported by: Arab American Institute, Asian Americans Advancing Justice – AAJC, Center for Media Justice, Center for Rural Strategies, CenterLink: The Community of LGBT Centers, Common Cause, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), Family Equality Council, Free Press Action Fund, Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network (GLSEN), Marriage Equality USA, Media Action Center, Media Alliance, Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF), NAACP, National Alliance of Latin American & Caribbean Communities (NALACC), National Center for Lesbian Rights, National Congress of American Indians, National Council of La Raza, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Action Fund, National Hispanic Media Coalition, National Organization for Women, National Puerto Rican Coalition, Inc., National Queer Asian Pacific Islander Alliance (NQAPIA), Public Knowledge, Southern Poverty Law Center, The TransLatin@ Coalition, Transgender Law Center, United Church of Christ, Office of Communications, Inc., League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC), GLAAD Dear Colleague, Please join me as an original cosponsor of The Hate Crime Reporting Act of 2014, a bill that will provide essential information on the prevalence of hate crimes and hate speech on the Internet. In 1992, Congress directed the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) to examine the role of telecommunications, including broadcast radio and television, cable television, public access television and computer bulletin boards in encouraging violent acts and the commission of hate crimes against designated persons and groups. The NTIA study investigated speech that fostered a climate of hatred and prejudice in which hate crimes may occur. The report was completed and submitted to Congress in December 1993. Twenty years have passed since the issuance of this report, and with the advancement of technology and the development of the Internet, there are new and more readily available platforms for individuals to target vulnerable populations. This bill requires the NTIA, with the assistance of the Department of Justice to: (1) create a comprehensive, updated report that examines the role of the Internet and telecommunications in encouraging violent hate crimes based on race, gender, religion and sexual orientation; and (2) to make recommendations to address such crimes. Groups in support of an updated report include the National Hispanic Media Coalition, NAACP, Media Alliance, MALDEF and the National Urban League. To become an original cosponsor this bill or for more information, please contact Yvette Badu-Nimako at Yvette.Badu-Nimako@mail.house.gov or 202-225-5936 by January 14, 2014. Respectfully, Hakeem S. Jeffries MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''Cosponsor H.R. 3040, the Safe Freight Act Supported by: SMART Transportation Division (UTU), the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen (BLET/IBT), and Transporation Trades Department of AFL-CIO (TTD) Dear Colleague: On July 6, 2013 a runaway train carrying 72 tank cars of crude oil derailed in Lac-Megantic, Quebec, just 10 miles from my district. Subsequent explosions and fires killed nearly fifty people, destroyed more than forty buildings, and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in environmental damage. Prior to the derailment, the nearly mile long train carrying hazardous material had been operated by a single-person before it was left unattended for the night with the locomotive running. Since the accident, lacking sufficient liability insurance, the railroad has filed for bankruptcy. Layoffs and subsequent service disruptions have caused economic ripple effects for hard working families and businesses throughout my state. The tragedy in Lac-Megantic highlighted the significant dangers of single-person train crews. Freight railroads are present in nearly every district and they play an integral role in the American economy. Industries throughout the country depend on rail for the daily shipment of raw goods and hazardous materials. But as the hazardous shipments they carry traverse our cities, towns, and communities, we must make safety the highest priority. To that end, I invite you to join as a cosponsor to H.R. 3040, the Safe Freight Act, which will improve railway safety by eliminating the risky practice of single-person train crews. This bipartisan bill would ensure each train is operated by a crew of at least two people, including a certified engineer and a certified conductor. Canadian regulators recently implemented a similar measure by emergency order and the Federal Railroad Administration has already stated its belief that multiple person crews enhance safety. The vast majority of railroads already employ multiple person crews consisting of an engineer and a conductor. Working as a team these crews simultaneously operate the locomotive, communicate with dispatch, inspect the train for malfunctioning equipment and load shifting, and monitor the route for upcoming signals and potential hazards. The second crew member allows for dual sided inspections of the train, two sided monitoring at public road crossings, and the ability to identify and correct one another’s mistakes before an accident happens. Most importantly, two person crews can more rapidly open road crossings for emergency vehicles, and ensure that someone is available to stop the train should the engineer become disabled. All of these safety enhancements are lost with a single-person crew. Railroad operations today have become increasingly technical and complex.  A team of at least two qualified and certified crew members are best able to manage the multiple tasks required. Yet some railway operators have decided to put cost cutting before safety and continue utilizing single-person crews. I hope you will join me as a cosponsor of H.R. 3040 in order to end this dangerous practice that puts the safety of the public, the crew, and the well being of our economy at risk.  For more information or to cosponsor please contact Daniel Walls (Daniel.Walls@mail.house.gov or x5-6306) on my staff. Sincerely,  /S/ Michael H. Michaud Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, As we begin a new year and stand less than one month from the statutory debt limit deadline, I ask you to join me in reforming of the process by which we raise the debt ceiling so that in 2014 our economy can have the certainty that political games will not drive a government default. If December’s budget deal was important for only one reason, it was that it signaled a departure from the gridlock and brinksmanship of recent fiscal deadlines. We took a step forward and acted responsibly to avoid another unnecessary blow to our economic well-being. What we have learned from past debt limit showdowns is that these games have a real cost to our economy. Last year, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) performed a study that found that delays in raising the debt limit in 2011 resulted in an increase in Treasury’s borrowing costs of at least $1.3 billion that year. I’ve introduced legislation that would codify the mechanism employed in recent debt limit adjustments and help us avoid the economic anxiety of this hostage-taking ritual. H.R. 233 would permanently shift the role of Congress to disapproving debt-ceiling increases instead of being forced to approve them, which sometimes requires a supermajority vote in the Senate. The resolution of disapproval is part of a process first outlined by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) in 2011, and has been used in debt deals since. The proposed process allows the debt limit to be raised unless a supermajority of Congress votes to block such action. Last fall’s government shutdown and debt limit fight took America’s finances to the brink – exactly the wrong path to take with a fragile, recovering economy.  My legislation will ensure that the full faith and credit of the United States is never again used as a political football. For the health of our economy and to provide certainty to business leaders, investors, and the American people, please join me in supporting this sensible reform. To cosponsor, please contact Joon Suh at Joon.Suh@mail.house.gov.  Sincerely, Michael M. Honda Member of Congress''
''Avoid a Repeat of the West, Texas, Explosion Support the Waxman Amendment to H.R. 2279 January 7, 2014 Dear Colleague: Later this week, the House will consider H.R. 2279.  I am writing to urge you to support an amendment that I will offer to help improve chemical facility safety and security. On April 17, 2013, in West, Texas, the West Fertilizer Company storage and distribution facility exploded. Nearly 200 people were injured and 15 killed.  A crater 93 feet deep was left in the middle of town.  The nearby nursing home, a school, and several hundred houses were badly damaged.  The chemical that caused the explosion, ammonium nitrate, is the same substance that was used in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.  Although this chemical may be safe when stored and handled correctly, its risks are undeniable. Twelve first responders and volunteer firefighters died in that explosion.  The U.S. Chemical Safety Board reported in the preliminary findings from their investigation of the explosion that “the volunteer firefighters were not made aware of the explosion hazard from the [ammonium nitrate] stored at West Fertilizer, and were caught in harm’s way when the blast occurred.”  Uninformed, these emergency responders bravely fought the fire and put their lives at greater risk than they could have anticipated or prepared for. The House Energy and Commerce Committee took no action to examine or address this disaster.  So when the Committee considered H.R. 2279 last June, I offered an amendment to require owners or operators of facilities holding dangerous amounts of flammable or explosive substances to inform their state emergency planning officials of the risks they present.  The Committee unanimously supported my amendment. Soon thereafter, President Obama issued Executive Order 13650, entitled “Improving Chemical Facility Safety and Security.”  The President’s Executive Order establishes the kind of information sharing my amendment called for.  It will also enhance safety and security in chemical facilities by modernizing key policies, regulations, and standards. When the House considers H.R. 2279 later this week, I will offer a simple amendment to support the President’s Executive Order, urge its expeditious implementation using all existing authorities and request any legislative recommendations from the Administration. I urge you to support my amendment. Sincerely, HENRY A. WAXMAN Ranking Member Committee on Energy and Commerce''
''As Congress continues the debate over extending long-term unemployment benefits for millions of Americans and how to pay for them, finding ways to reduce the need for 27 or more weeks of unemployment benefits must be part of the discussion. In addition to creating an environment that promotes job growth, we must encourage job training that allows folks the opportunity to obtain the skills needed to compete in today’s workforce.  Unfortunately, some of our current policies discourage this. Today, there are more than 10.9 million unemployed Americans. This past November, the Department of Labor (DOL) reported people without a high school diploma had an unemployment rate of 10.8 percent, more than three times that of unemployment rates among college graduates.  Those with just a high school diploma are experiencing unemployment rates nearly twice that of college graduates.  Yet, we know there have been nearly 3.9 million job openings in November. Despite having all this information, many of our constituents are faced with choosing between being able to support their families or losing their unemployment benefits if they seek training needed to advance in today’s workforce.  The Opportunity KNOCKS (Kindling New Options for Career and Knowledge Seekers) Act seeks to make it so our constituents don’t have to choose. Problem: Unemployed workers who seek training through programs at our universities, community colleges and other technical schools fear they will be disqualified for unemployment insurance (UI) benefits.  This is often due to a complicated Workforce Investment Act system, clerical oversights and outdated policies. For example, some unemployed workers were attending a training program at a university in my district to gather the technical skills necessary to work in biorefineries that are popping up all over the country.  The university was partnering with industry to provide a five-day, 50-hour training program with an internship through no cost of the participants.  Unfortunately, some of the participants were told later that they would have to pay back their unemployment compensation because of the program’s requirements. How we can help: H.R. 1530 would broaden the definition of approved training and require states to approve any worker who is seeking training under the Workforce Investment Act, any industry-recognized certificate, an apprenticeship and an associate or baccalaureate degree.  For example, if an unemployed worker is accepted into a training program or taking classes to improve their opportunity for employment, they would not be at risk of losing their UI benefits. Background: The DOL provides guidance to state administrators of the Unemployment Insurance (UI) Program to consider a number of factors, including the need for remedial and post-secondary education, in making determinations on approved job training activities.  You can view these recommendations here. Please join me in supporting our workforce and helping end perpetual joblessness by encouraging those on unemployment to seek the training needed to compete for jobs in the 21st Century.  If you would like to become a cosponsor, please contact Ashley Phelps in my office either my email at Ashley.phelps@mail.house.gov or by phone at 202-225-2371. Sincerely, Rodney Davis Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: As Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Members of Congress, we encourage you to support Peace Corps Volunteers in your district by joining the bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus. Over the past 50 years, through war and conflict, more than 210,000 Americans have served their country in the name of peace, embodying the timeless American ideals of goodwill, prosperity, and progress. Today, 8,073 Volunteers from all 50 states are working shoulder-to-shoulder with local communities in 76 countries. Peace Corps is also enhancing its ability to meet 21st century development challenges by drawing from the full spectrum of American strength. By partnering with minority-serving institutions, AARP, and over 80 universities hosting Peace Corps Masters International programs, Peace Corps has expanded the diversity and capacity of Americans serving in host countries.   Amidst war and conflict, Peace Corps has shown the world a hopeful, uplifting side of America through the best of what this country has to offer: our citizens and our ideals. We encourage you to honor current and past Peace Corps Volunteers in your district by joining the bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus. You don’t need to have served in the Peace Corps to join the caucus. To find out how many Peace Corps Volunteers are currently serving in your district and to join the Peace Corps Caucus, please contact Caitie Whelan (Caitie.whelan@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Farr’s office. Sincerely, SAM FARR                                                                                  TOM PETRI Member of Congress                                                                     Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Colombia (1964-66)                                Peace Corps Volunteer, Somalia (1966-67) JOHN GARAMENDI                                                                  MIKE HONDA Member of Congress                                                                     Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Ethiopia, 1966-68                                   Peace Corps Volunteer, El Salvador, 1965-67 JOE KENNEDY Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Dominican Republic, 2004-06''
''Support the Release of FDA User Fees from the Sequester Dear Colleague, We invite you to join us in signing a bipartisan letter to the House and Senate Appropriations Committees requesting the release of the Fiscal Year 2013 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fees from the sequester and returning them to the agency. The sequestration of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA), Medical Device User Fee Act (MDUFA) and other medical user fees is impacting the ability of the FDA to fulfill its critical public health mission which includes bringing new medicines and technologies to patients in a timely manner. User fees are 100 percent industry-paid and targeted specifically for the approval of safe and effective drugs and devices. Sequestration was intended to reduce public spending; sequestering FDA user fees will do nothing to alleviate the deficit. Unfortunately, the misguided decision by the OMB to sequester these user fees has prevented the FDA from meeting its congressionally-mandated responsibilities while putting patient safety at risk. There is strong bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate for Congress to uphold the integrity of the user fee agreements and ensure that these fees be returned to their intended purpose. Join us in sending a letter to leaders of the Appropriations Committees in support of releasing these fees for appropriation in FY14 so that the FDA can continue to bring new medical products to patients in a safe and expeditious manner. If you have any questions or would like to sign the letter, please contact Molly McDonnell in Congressman Lance’s office at molly.mcdonnell@mail.house.gov or Erin Katzelnick-Wise in Congresswoman Eshoo’s office at erin.katzelnick-wise@mail.house.gov   Sincerely, Leonard Lance Member of Congress Anna Eshoo Member of Congress               ********* Dear Chairman Rogers and Chairwoman Mikulski, As you work to complete the Fiscal Year 2014 Omnibus Appropriations bill, we write to express our strong support for a bipartisan and bicameral provision that would release the Fiscal Year 2013 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) user fees from the sequester and return them to the agency. As you know the FDA uniquely relies on two sources of revenue: congressionally-directed appropriations and user fees, with user fees comprising over 60 percent of the human drug review budget alone. A result of extensive negotiations between the pharmaceutical and medical device industry and the FDA, these fees are intended for specific purposes, such as the review and approval of a new medical therapy or device. Congress passed bipartisan, bicameral legislation to renew and increase FDA user fees in return for a strengthened and improved drug and device review process.  The sequestration of PDUFA, MDUFA and other medical user fees is impacting the ability of the FDA to fulfill its critical public health mission which includes bringing new medicines and technologies to patients in a timely manner. The FDA, and the human drug review program especially, relies heavily on user fees to ensure that the agency has the tools it needs to make new medicines available to patients in a more efficient, consistent and timely manner. For example, a hiring freeze due to sequestration at the FDA has prevented the agency from hiring any new scientific or medical personnel to appropriately staff the human drug review program and advancing crucial regulatory science priorities. For medical devices, as part of the most recent MDUFA agreement, the medical technology industry agreed to nearly double their user fees in order to help FDA address persistent problems with timely and predictable device reviews. As a result of sequestration, however, the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) made an arbitrary decision to include FDA user fees in sequestered resources despite the fact that they are not government dollars and cannot contribute to reducing the deficit. User fees are 100 percent industry-paid and targeted specifically for the approval of safe and effective drugs and devices.   The misguided decision by OMB to sequester them has prevented the FDA from meeting its congressionally-mandated responsibilities while putting patient safety at risk.  User fees by law cannot be diverted to the general treasury for deficit reduction and instead sit in a budgetary limbo unavailable to the FDA for human drug review or for any other purpose. In Fiscal Year 2013 sequestration prevented the FDA from accessing nearly $85 million industry-paid user fees for the approval of new drugs and devices. There is strong bi-partisan support in both the House and Senate for Congress to uphold the integrity of the user fee agreements and ensure that these fees be returned to their intended purpose. We respectfully request that the Appropriations Committees pursue any opportunity to release these fees for appropriation in FY14 so that the FDA can continue to bring new medical products to patients in a safe and expeditious manner. Thank you for your consideration.''
''Supported by NumbersUSA and FAIR Dear Colleague: Last March, President Obama signed into law the Consolidated and Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013, which contained language to defund the “illegal alien lobbyist” position within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). This Public Advocate acted as a lobbyist for illegal aliens by serving as a special point of contact for those who had flouted our nation’s immigration laws. Despite the House and Senate passing language to defund this position and stop this waste of precious taxpayer dollars, ICE simply rebranded the office as “Community Outreach” and allowed its employees to continue their activities as before. This shameless disregard for the law was reported on by multiple news outlets and federal watchdogs, such as Fox News and Judicial Watch. In the face of this backlash, ICE has continued to shamelessly operate as if it has done nothing wrong. It is an outrage that federal bureaucrats think they can simply skirt the law, in essence ignoring the will of the people by playing a shell game and hiding ICE employees and activities with a mere title change. To stop this blatant abuse of power, I have introduced H.R. 3732 the Immigration Compliance Enforcement (ICE) Act. This bill would defund both positions and prohibit the creation of any new position within ICE that would allow the agency to ignore the law and continue its pro-illegal immigration activities. It is of utmost importance that ICE be held accountable and required to follow the spirit of the law, not just the letter. If you would like to cosponsor this legislation, please contact Mary Anne Ludwig (Maryanne.Ludwig@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Black’s office. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, s/ Diane Black Member of Congress January 2, 2014 The Honorable Diane Black U.S. House of Representatives 1531 Longworth House Office Building Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Representative Black: The Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR) would like to thank you for introducing legislation to permanently eliminate the illegal alien lobbyist position within U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). ICE created a new “Public Advocate” position to advocate for illegal aliens in February 2012. Thanks to your efforts, Congress cut off funding for this position in the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act of 2013.  Although President Obama signed the bill eliminating the position into law, the Administration simply changed its title to “Deputy Assistant Director of Custody Programs and Community Outreach” and otherwise kept the same employee in a position with the same job description. Your bill, H.R. 3732, would stop the Administration’s skirting of this law.  It prohibits federal funds from being used to fund any position at ICE that performs the exact or “substantially the same” functions as the former “Public Advocate” or “Deputy Assistant Director of Custody Programs and Community Outreach” positions. By introducing this legislation, you have demonstrated your commitment to putting the interests of the American people before those of illegal aliens, and to preventing the Obama Administration from further undermining our immigration system.  Again, FAIR thanks you for your hard work and dedication to this issue. Sincerely, s/ Daniel A. Stein, President Federation for American Immigration Reform''
''ENSURE EQUAL ACCESS TO CONSTITUTIONALLY-PROTECTED RIGHTS AND BENEFITS FOR ALL FEDERAL EMPLOYEES Current Bipartisan Cosponsors: Bonamici, Brady, Braley, Capps, Cárdenas, Cartwright, Chu, Cicilline, Cohen, Cummings, DelBene, DeLauro, Doyle, Edwards, Esty, Farr, Fudge, Grijalva, Gutierrez, Alcee Hastings, Higgins, Himes, Honda, Hank Johnson, Kaptur, Langevin, Lee, Lewis, Lowenthal, Lynch, Carolyn Maloney, Sean Patrick Maloney, Matsui, McCollum, McGovern, McLane Kuster, Meeks, Michaud, Moore, Moran, Patrick Murphy, Pingree, Polis, David Price, Quigley, Rangel, Rush, Sarbanes, Schakowsky, Schiff, Schneider, Schwartz, Serrano, Slaughter, Adam Smith, Speier, Swalwell, Takano, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen, Vargas, Velazquez, Walz, Waxman, Welch, and Frederica Wilson Dear Colleague: We invite you to join us in sponsoring the bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 313 which, with its companion  bill S. 1529 introduced by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) and Susan Collins (R-ME) would ensure that LGBT federal employees have access to the same basic rights and benefits enjoyed by all of our nation’s dedicated civil servants. Our bipartisan legislation would make sure Supreme Court’s ruling in United States v. Windsor striking down Section 3 of the Defense of Marriage Act of 1996 as unconstitutional, becomes a reality for LGBT federal employees across the country. The bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 3135, would require the United States Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to effectively eliminate discriminatory practices in federal employment and to institute equal rights and benefits for equal work. This legislation enforces the constitutional protections that require civilian LGBT federal employees be treated fairly under the law and empowers federal agencies to compete for the best and the brightest against the private sector as well as state and local governments. Our bipartisan bill enables federal employees to live in, or move to states that do not recognize same-sex marriages as necessitated by their jobs. According to OPM, almost 60 percent of Fortune 500 companies and 18 state governments along with the District of Columbia already offer same-sex domestic partner benefits. It is time for the federal government to follow the lead of the private sector and the states, to guarantee constitutional rights, and to enhance efforts to effectively recruit and retain talented employees to serve our nation. To become a co-sponsor of the bipartisan Domestic Partnership Benefits and Obligations Act, H.R. 3135, or for additional information, please contact Ana Jara (Rep. Pocan) at ana.jara@mail.house.gov or at 5-2906. Sincerely,  Mark Pocan       Ileana Ros-Lehtinen        Gerry Connolly       Richard Hanna Member of Congress      Member of Congress      Member of Congress    Member of Congress''
''The R&D Tax Credit is expiring for the 16th time!! Please support strengthening and renewing it. Deadline: Dec 11 COB Dear Colleague: At the end of this year, the R&D Tax Credit will expire for the 16th time. This tax credit is the primary way we incentivize the private sector to invest in research and development, and it is one of the most important ways we maintain our innovation-based competitive edge. It provides organizations an important tax reduction for qualified research expenses. Companies of all sizes use the tax credit, and 70 percent of credit dollars go towards high-skilled R&D salaries. It’s a highly effective credit that creates jobs and spurs innovation. Please join me in fixing this problem by cosponsoring the Igniting American Research Act. This legislation would extend the R&D tax credit, make permanent the Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) and increase it to 20 percent, and encourage more collaborative energy and biotechnology research. The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation recently estimated that increasing the ASC to 20 percent would not only create at least 162,000 jobs but also increase our GDP by $66 billion. In a competitive international economy, we must make sure that we are providing the right environment for American innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs. We currently rank 27 out of 42 countries in terms of R&D tax incentive generosity. If you would like to cosponsor the Igniting American Research Act, please contact Lumay Wang (lumay.wang@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, SCOTT PETERS Member of Congress''
''The R&D Tax Credit is expiring for the 16th time!! Please support strengthening and renewing it. Deadline: Dec 11 COB Current cosponsors: Honda Dear Colleague: At the end of this year, the R&D Tax Credit will expire for the 16th time. This tax credit is the primary way we incentivize the private sector to invest in research and development, and it is one of the most important ways we maintain our innovation-based competitive edge. It provides organizations an important tax reduction for qualified research expenses. Companies of all sizes use the tax credit, and 70 percent of credit dollars go towards high-skilled R&D salaries. It’s a highly effective credit that creates jobs and spurs innovation. Please join me in fixing this problem by cosponsoring the Igniting American Research Act. This legislation would extend the R&D tax credit, make permanent the Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) and increase it to 20 percent, and encourage more collaborative energy and biotechnology research. The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation recently estimated that increasing the ASC to 20 percent would not only create at least 162,000 jobs but also increase our GDP by $66 billion. In a competitive international economy, we must make sure that we are providing the right environment for American innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs. We currently rank 27 out of 42 countries in terms of R&D tax incentive generosity. If you would like to cosponsor the Igniting American Research Act, please contact Lumay Wang (lumay.wang@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, SCOTT PETERS Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, I wanted to draw your attention to the recent Op-Ed in Roll Call, “Challenges of a Changing Ocean: Can Congress Act in Time,” by former Representative Tom Allen, who represented Maine’s 1st District for six terms. In 2010, maritime economic activities such as shipping, marine construction, energy development, commercial fishing, recreational fishing and boating, aquaculture, and tourism contributed $258 BILLION in GDP to the national economy and supported 2.8 million jobs nationwide.  Our ocean resources are finite and under increasing pressure and competition.  If we don’t plan how we want to use and conserve them, we will squander them. I commend this article to you and hope you will take its message to heart and strive to build a strong ocean economy. SAM FARR Member of Congress Challenges of a Changing Ocean: Can Congress Act in Time? By Tom Allen Dec. 4, 2013 http://www.rollcall.com/news/challenges_of_a_changing_ocean_can_congress_act_in_time_commentary-229390-1.html?pg=1''
''Tell the FAA: No Calls on Planes! Current Co-Signers: Capuano, Cooper, DeFazio, Ellison, Esty, Farr, Grijalva, McCollum, Petri, Pocan, Schwartz Deadline to Sign On: Wednesday, December 11 Dear Colleague: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon consider a proposal to lift its ban on the use of the voice function on cell phones on domestic flights.  This has sparked fierce opposition from the flying public as well as many airline industry professionals, who have expressed deep safety concerns. I invite you to join me in sending a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration urging that it maintain its ban on cell phone calls in flight regardless of whatever decision the FCC may make. If you have any questions, or would like to sign the letter, please contact Brittany Hernandez at brittany.hernandez@mail.house.gov or 225-3265 by Wednesday, December 11. As always, I remain, Most sincerely, Steve Cohen Member of Congress Dear Administrator Huerta, As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers a proposed rule that would allow the use of the voice function on cell phones on domestic flights, we are writing to strongly urge that you maintain the ban on cell phone calls in flight. We share the concerns of the flying public and the many professionals in the aviation industry that such a change to the current rules disallowing the use of cell phone voice networks could result in not only a markedly less pleasant flying experience, but a less safe one as well. Allowing passengers to make phone calls while in flight would disrupt the right of other passengers to enjoy the quiet comfort of their flight.  In addition, we have strong concerns about the effect such a change may have on safety.  As the Association of Flight Attendants explained in a statement on November 21, 2013, “Any situation that is loud, divisive, and possibly disruptive is not only unwelcome but also unsafe.” Simply put, the flying experience in the United States would forever be changed for the worse if voice calls are allowed on flights. We hope that you will consider our concerns and those of the industry’s experienced professionals as you consider how to proceed in light of whatever decision the FCC may make and appreciate your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Change in Deadline: Thursday, December 12th at Noon Current Cosigners: Rubén E. Hinojosa, Mike Honda, Charles B. Rangel, Sam Farr, Yvette Clarke, Beto O’Rourke, Jan Schakowsky, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Barbara Lee, Zoe Lofgren, John Conyers, Luis V. Gutierrez, Keith Ellison  Dear Colleague: We ask that you join us in signing the letter below requesting a meeting with the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Rand Beers, to discuss several humanitarian concerns at the U.S. – Mexico border.  Current U.S. enforcement policies have had a negative impact on the lives and safety of migrants at the border.  We hope that a meeting will allow for discussion in greater detail about concerns and provide clarity about Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to address (1) increases in migrant deaths, (2) inadequate short-term custody conditions, and (3) dangerous deportation practices. Migrant Deaths In recent years, an alarming number of migrants have died in the U.S. borderlands. Last year, the remains of 463 migrants were found in U.S. territory, the second-highest year for migrant deaths in the past 15 years.  Fiscal year 2013 looks to be another alarming year. In a five-month period, between October 2012 and February of 2013, CBP discovered the remains of a staggering 70 human bodies in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone. Short-term Custody Migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions while in short-term CBP custody, including in holding cells at Border Patrol stations, checkpoints, ports of entry, and secondary inspection areas.  Complaints of CBP misconduct regularly include verbal and physical abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, due process violations, exposure to extreme temperatures, extended use of bright lights and  inadequate provision of space or bedding making sleep impossible, extreme overcrowding, and permanent confiscation of personal items (including legal documents, medication and personal identification). Dangerous Deportations Current CBP deportation practices often separate families and potentially place individuals at risk.  Specifically, current CBP deportation practices include repatriating Mexican migrants to border cities with extremely high levels of violence and criminal activity.  Additionally, on numerous occasions migrants are returned to Mexico in the middle of the night when basic services are unavailable and most shelters are closed. We recognize the multiple challenges in securing our southern border and the significant efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to this end.  However, U.S. border enforcement policies should not be carried out in a way that puts the lives and safety of migrants at risk. If you would like to join us in this letter or have any questions, please contact Christina Partida at christina.partida@mail.house.gov or at 5-2435. Sincerely, Raúl M. Grijalva                                Lucille Roybal-Allard Member of Congress                          Member of Congress _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________                                                            December xx, 2013 The Hon. Rand Beers Acting Secretary of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Acting Secretary Beers, We, the undersigned, write to respectfully request a meeting to discuss several humanitarian concerns at the U.S. – Mexico border that fall within the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. We are concerned that U.S. enforcement policies have had a negative impact on the lives and safety of migrants at the border.  We hope that a meeting will allow for discussion in greater detail about our concerns and provide clarity about Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to address (1) increases in migrant deaths, (2) inadequate short-term custody conditions, and (3) dangerous deportation practices. Migrant Deaths In recent years, an alarming number of migrants have died in the U.S. borderlands. Last year, the remains of 463 migrants were found in U.S. territory, the second-highest year for migrant deaths in the past 15 years. Fiscal year 2013 looks to be another alarming year. In a five-month period, between October 2012 and February of 2013, CBP discovered the remains of a staggering 70 human bodies in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone. By adopting some simple and low-cost measures, such as increasing the number of rescue beacons and water drums along the southern U.S. border, particularly in sectors with high numbers of migrant deaths, CBP could help to reduce the frequency of migrant deaths.  In order to address this problem, we request: ·         A detailed description of CBP programs or plans to reduce the number of migrant deaths at the border; and   ·         A description of the number and location of rescue beacons and water drums currently in place along the southern U.S. border.  Short-term Custody In addition, we are also concerned by reports that migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions while in short-term CBP custody, including in holding cells at Border Patrol stations, checkpoints, ports of entry, and secondary inspection areas.  Complaints of CBP misconduct regularly include verbal and physical abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, due process violations, exposure to extreme temperatures, extended use of bright lights and  inadequate provision of space or bedding making sleep impossible, extreme overcrowding, and permanent confiscation of personal items (including legal documents, medication and personal identification).  For example, a 2013 University of Arizona survey of deported migrants in five border cities (Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo) found that 45% of respondents reported not receiving sufficient food while in  U.S. custody, 37% reported denial of medical attention, and 39% reported confiscation of personal property, including money and identity documents.  In the past three years alone, numerous organizations have issued similar reports documenting tens of thousands of cases of CBP abuse that are consistent with these findings.  In order to address this problem we request: ·         A list of the number of short-term custody facilities currently used by CBP, including the average number of individuals currently being held in CBP short-term custody on any given day; ·         A description of any oversight or inspection apparatus currently in place to ensure that short-term custody facilities meet basic standards; ·         Information regarding whether CBP intends to issue updated short-term custody standards or guidance; ·         A description of CBP’s plans to work with other DHS components and the Department of Justice to improve the process for returning migrants’ confiscated belongings; and ·         Information regarding CBP’s alleged use of “hieleras,” or “icebox” cells. Dangerous Deportations Current CBP deportation practices often separate families and potentially place individuals at risk.  Specifically, current CBP deportation practices include repatriating Mexican migrants to border cities with extremely high levels of violence and criminal activity.  Additionally, on numerous occasions migrants are returned to Mexico in the middle of the night when basic services are unavailable and most shelters are closed. For example, drug-related violence has exploded in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas with the homicide rate rising to approximately 46 per 100,000, twice the national average.  The city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas which borders Brownsville, Texas, has become one of the most turbulent cities in this border state. Deportations to Matamoros, Tamaulipas increased five-fold in the last four years (2009-2012), and the city received a total of 165,549 migrants in this period.  The State Department has also recognized the public security threats in this city and restricted the movement of U.S. government employees in Matamoros between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Although this is clearly a dangerous region, some migrants are deported to Matamoros in the middle of the night. Night deportations are not limited to Matamoros. The University of Arizona survey referenced above found that approximately one in five migrants interviewed was deported between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. This practice puts deportees at the unnecessary and serious danger of being targeted by cartels and organized crime groups. Hence, ending the night deportations could significantly reduce the risks faced by migrants. In order to ensure humane deportation practices, we request that: ·         CBP immediately cease night deportations, and ensure that migrants have access to requisite shelter and services in consultation with local shelters and service providers, and that the security situation and access to basic medical care, shelter and services in Mexican border cities be taken into account in determining where to repatriate Mexican migrants; ·         CBP ensure that family units are deported together whenever possible.  Specifically, if an individual is repatriated through the Alien Transfer Exit Program (ATEP), he should be asked whether or not he is traveling with family members. If he answers in the affirmative, he should be removed from the ATEP program so that he is deported to the same location as his family members. Acting Secretary Beers, we recognize the multiple challenges in securing our southern border and the significant efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to this end.  However, U.S. border enforcement policies should not be carried out in a way that puts the lives and safety of migrants at risk. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns, and we look forward to discussing these issues with you. Sincerely,''
''Please support strengthening and renewing it. Deadline: Dec 11 COB Current cosponsors: Honda Dear Colleague: At the end of this year, the R&D Tax Credit will expire for the 16th time. This tax credit is the primary way we incentivize the private sector to invest in research and development, and it is one of the most important ways we maintain our innovation-based competitive edge. It provides organizations an important tax reduction for qualified research expenses. Companies of all sizes use the tax credit, and 70 percent of credit dollars go towards high-skilled R&D salaries. It’s a highly effective credit that creates jobs and spurs innovation. Please join me in fixing this problem by cosponsoring the Igniting American Research Act. This legislation would extend the R&D tax credit, make permanent the Alternative Simplified Credit (ASC) and increase it to 20 percent, and encourage more collaborative energy and biotechnology research. The Information Technology & Innovation Foundation recently estimated that increasing the ASC to 20 percent would not only create at least 162,000 jobs but also increase our GDP by $66 billion. In a competitive international economy, we must make sure that we are providing the right environment for American innovators, researchers, and entrepreneurs. We currently rank 27 out of 42 countries in terms of R&D tax incentive generosity. If you would like to cosponsor the Igniting American Research Act, please contact Lumay Wang (lumay.wang@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, SCOTT PETERS Member of Congress''
''Chaplain’s Holiday Open House Thursday, December 12 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm HB-25, The Capitol December 9, 2013 Dear Colleagues: You are invited to the Chaplain’s annual holiday open house this Thursday, December 12 from 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm in HB-25, my office in the Capitol. We hope that music, food and fellowship will abound – and the voting schedule will cooperate! When you are over in the Capitol that afternoon, please stop by.  You are welcome to bring your spouse and family members, as well as any staff who may wish to accompany you. To get to my office, go to the Crypt of the Capitol, take the staircase down toward the West Front (opposite the CVC stairs). At the bottom of the stairs, turn left and then left again at the end of the corridor. My office is on the right. If you’d like to take the elevator, go to the 1st floor corridor that houses the Office of the Attending Physician. Take the elevator opposite the pharmacy down one floor to the basement. I hope to see you on Thursday. If you have any questions, please call us at 5-2509. Sincerely, /s/ Rev. Patrick J. Conroy, S.J. Chaplain''
''Dear Colleague: We would like to draw your attention to the letter from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce in support of H.R. 2835, the Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2013.  If you are interested in cosponsoring this legislation, please contact Colin Brainard (Colin.Brainard@mail.house.gov) in Congresswoman Jenkins’ office at 5-6601 or Hill Thomas (Hill.Thomas@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Barrow’s office at 5-2823. Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America R. Bruce Josten Executive Vice President Government Affairs November 25, 2013 Dear Representative Jenkins and Barrow: The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than three million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations, and dedicated to promoting, protecting, and defending America’s free enterprise system, thanks you for introducing H.R. 2835, the “Restoring Access to Medication Act of 2013,” which would repeal the limitation on the use of funds from certain tax-preferred accounts for purchasing over-the-counter (OTC) medicines.  The Chamber strongly supports consumer-driven health products that not only help make health coverage more affordable and allow tax-free spending on a wide range of medical expenses, but also encourage more prudent use of services. Employers and employees both rely on Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and H.R. 2835 would make these consumer-driven health products more useful by restoring the ability to use tax-preferred funds to purchase over-the-counter medicines without a prescription.  The current restrictions that were imposed by Section 9003 of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act on these types of accounts are counterproductive in trying to bend the health care cost curve and getting costs under control.  The ability of consumers to use tax-free health care funds to purchase products that have been deregulated is a net positive for health care costs—it eliminates the need for unnecessary visits to providers and empowers consumers to take greater control over their health care spending.  Many workers rely on over-the-counter medicines as a cost-effective and convenient way to provide health care to their families.  In restoring the ability to use FSAs and other similar products for OTC medicines, H.R. 2835 would put the power back into the hands of Americans to manage their health care spending by promoting policies that lead to increased consumer engagement and flexibility. The Chamber thanks you for introducing H.R. 2835 and urges Congress to enact legislation that would encourage individuals to more carefully spend their health care dollars and reduce unnecessary doctor visits.  The Chamber appreciates your continuing efforts to promote free-market health care solutions and looks forward to working with you and your colleagues to pass this critical legislation.  Sincerely, R. Bruce Josten''
''Become a Cosponsor McGovern-Pitts Resolution to Protect Burma’s Rohingya Minority Current Cosponsors: Reps. Crowley, Franks, Engel, Smith (NJ), King, Schakowsky, and Wolf Dear Colleague: We have introduced a bipartisan resolution (H.Res. 418) calling for the protection of Burma’s Rohingya minority and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Burma.  We invite you to join us as a cosponsor. While Burma has begun a gradual transition from decades of military rule to civilian control, Burma’s Rohingya minority has experienced a shocking rise in targeted attacks at the hands of Burma’s Buddhist majority, along with increased instances of arbitrary arrests, detention, and extortion of Rohingya and other Muslim communities across the country. Long considered one of the most vulnerable and marginalized minorities in Burma, the Rohingya have been officially stateless since the adoption of a citizenship law in 1982.  The population has also historically experienced other severe legal, economic, and social discrimination, including restrictions on travel and limitations on access to education and employment.  More recently, a policy sanctioned in two districts in Burma’s Rakhine State has restricted Rohingya women from having more than two children. During the summer of 2012, violence targeting Rohingyas in Maungdaw and Sittwe resulted in the deaths of at least 57 Muslims and the destruction of 1,336 Rohingyas homes.  On October 23, 2012, at least 70 Rohingyas were killed, and the Yan Thei village of the Mrauk-U Township was destroyed. According to the Associated Press, communal violence since June of 2012 has resulted in approximately 240 deaths, mostly Muslims, and the displacement of 240,000 people. All signs indicate that the Rohingya and other Muslim communities in Burma remain at extreme risk to further forms of persecution and violence. We invite you to join us as a cosponsor on this resolution calling for an end to the persecution of Burma’s Rohingya minority and the protection of all ethnic and religious minority groups in Burma.  If you wish to receive a copy of the resolution, would like to cosponsor, or have any questions, please contact J.P. Shuster at 5-3599 (James.Shuster@mail.house.gov) with Congressman Jim McGovern or Carson Middleton at 5-2411 (Carson.Middleton@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Joe Pitts’s office. Sincerely, James P. McGovern                                        Joseph R. Pitts          Member of Congress                                      Member of Congress''
''Tell the FAA: No Calls on Planes! Current Co-Signers: Capuano, Cooper, DeFazio, Farr, Grijalva, McCollum, Petri Deadline to Sign On: Wednesday, December 11 Dear Colleague: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon consider a proposal to lift its ban on the use of the voice function on cell phones on domestic flights.  This has sparked fierce opposition from the flying public as well as many airline industry professionals, who have expressed deep safety concerns. I invite you to join me in sending a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration urging that it maintain its ban on cell phone calls in flight regardless of whatever decision the FCC may make. If you have any questions, or would like to sign the letter, please contact Brittany Hernandez at brittany.hernandez@mail.house.gov or 225-3265 by Wednesday, December 11. As always, I remain, Most sincerely, Steve Cohen Member of Congress Dear Administrator Huerta, As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers a proposed rule that would allow the use of the voice function on cell phones on domestic flights, we are writing to strongly urge that you maintain the ban on cell phone calls in flight. We share the concerns of the flying public and the many professionals in the aviation industry that such a change to the current rules disallowing the use of cell phone voice networks could result in not only a markedly less pleasant flying experience, but a less safe one as well. Allowing passengers to make phone calls while in flight would disrupt the right of other passengers to enjoy the quiet comfort of their flight.  In addition, we have strong concerns about the effect such a change may have on safety.  As the Association of Flight Attendants explained in a statement on November 21, 2013, “Any situation that is loud, divisive, and possibly disruptive is not only unwelcome but also unsafe.” Simply put, the flying experience in the United States would forever be changed for the worse if voice calls are allowed on flights. We hope that you will consider our concerns and those of the industry’s experienced professionals as you consider how to proceed in light of whatever decision the FCC may make and appreciate your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Change in Deadline: Thursday, December 12th at Noon Current Cosigners: Rubén E. Hinojosa, Mike Honda, Charles B. Rangel, Sam Farr, Yvette Clarke, Mike Honda, Beto O’Rourke, Jan Schakowsky, Eddie Bernice Johnson  Dear Colleague: We ask that you join us in signing the letter below requesting a meeting with the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Rand Beers, to discuss several humanitarian concerns at the U.S. – Mexico border.  Current U.S. enforcement policies have had a negative impact on the lives and safety of migrants at the border.  We hope that a meeting will allow for discussion in greater detail about concerns and provide clarity about Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to address (1) increases in migrant deaths, (2) inadequate short-term custody conditions, and (3) dangerous deportation practices. Migrant Deaths In recent years, an alarming number of migrants have died in the U.S. borderlands. Last year, the remains of 463 migrants were found in U.S. territory, the second-highest year for migrant deaths in the past 15 years.  Fiscal year 2013 looks to be another alarming year. In a five-month period, between October 2012 and February of 2013, CBP discovered the remains of a staggering 70 human bodies in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone. Short-term Custody Migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions while in short-term CBP custody, including in holding cells at Border Patrol stations, checkpoints, ports of entry, and secondary inspection areas.  Complaints of CBP misconduct regularly include verbal and physical abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, due process violations, exposure to extreme temperatures, extended use of bright lights and  inadequate provision of space or bedding making sleep impossible, extreme overcrowding, and permanent confiscation of personal items (including legal documents, medication and personal identification). Dangerous Deportations Current CBP deportation practices often separate families and potentially place individuals at risk.  Specifically, current CBP deportation practices include repatriating Mexican migrants to border cities with extremely high levels of violence and criminal activity.  Additionally, on numerous occasions migrants are returned to Mexico in the middle of the night when basic services are unavailable and most shelters are closed. We recognize the multiple challenges in securing our southern border and the significant efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to this end.  However, U.S. border enforcement policies should not be carried out in a way that puts the lives and safety of migrants at risk. If you would like to join us in this letter or have any questions, please contact Christina Partida at christina.partida@mail.house.gov or at 5-2435. Sincerely, Raúl M. Grijalva                                Lucille Roybal-Allard Member of Congress                          Member of Congress _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ December xx, 2013 The Hon. Rand Beers Acting Secretary of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Acting Secretary Beers, We, the undersigned, write to respectfully request a meeting to discuss several humanitarian concerns at the U.S. – Mexico border that fall within the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. We are concerned that U.S. enforcement policies have had a negative impact on the lives and safety of migrants at the border.  We hope that a meeting will allow for discussion in greater detail about our concerns and provide clarity about Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to address (1) increases in migrant deaths, (2) inadequate short-term custody conditions, and (3) dangerous deportation practices. Migrant Deaths In recent years, an alarming number of migrants have died in the U.S. borderlands. Last year, the remains of 463 migrants were found in U.S. territory, the second-highest year for migrant deaths in the past 15 years. Fiscal year 2013 looks to be another alarming year. In a five-month period, between October 2012 and February of 2013, CBP discovered the remains of a staggering 70 human bodies in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone. By adopting some simple and low-cost measures, such as increasing the number of rescue beacons and water drums along the southern U.S. border, particularly in sectors with high numbers of migrant deaths, CBP could help to reduce the frequency of migrant deaths.  In order to address this problem, we request: ·         A detailed description of CBP programs or plans to reduce the number of migrant deaths at the border; and ·         A description of the number and location of rescue beacons and water drums currently in place along the southern U.S. border. Short-term Custody In addition, we are also concerned by reports that migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions while in short-term CBP custody, including in holding cells at Border Patrol stations, checkpoints, ports of entry, and secondary inspection areas.  Complaints of CBP misconduct regularly include verbal and physical abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, due process violations, exposure to extreme temperatures, extended use of bright lights and  inadequate provision of space or bedding making sleep impossible, extreme overcrowding, and permanent confiscation of personal items (including legal documents, medication and personal identification).  For example, a 2013 University of Arizona survey of deported migrants in five border cities (Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo) found that 45% of respondents reported not receiving sufficient food while in  U.S. custody, 37% reported denial of medical attention, and 39% reported confiscation of personal property, including money and identity documents.  In the past three years alone, numerous organizations have issued similar reports documenting tens of thousands of cases of CBP abuse that are consistent with these findings.  In order to address this problem we request: ·         A list of the number of short-term custody facilities currently used by CBP, including the average number of individuals currently being held in CBP short-term custody on any given day; ·         A description of any oversight or inspection apparatus currently in place to ensure that short-term custody facilities meet basic standards; ·         Information regarding whether CBP intends to issue updated short-term custody standards or guidance; ·         A description of CBP’s plans to work with other DHS components and the Department of Justice to improve the process for returning migrants’ confiscated belongings; and ·         Information regarding CBP’s alleged use of “hieleras,” or “icebox” cells. Dangerous Deportations Current CBP deportation practices often separate families and potentially place individuals at risk.  Specifically, current CBP deportation practices include repatriating Mexican migrants to border cities with extremely high levels of violence and criminal activity.  Additionally, on numerous occasions migrants are returned to Mexico in the middle of the night when basic services are unavailable and most shelters are closed. For example, drug-related violence has exploded in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas with the homicide rate rising to approximately 46 per 100,000, twice the national average.  The city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas which borders Brownsville, Texas, has become one of the most turbulent cities in this border state. Deportations to Matamoros, Tamaulipas increased five-fold in the last four years (2009-2012), and the city received a total of 165,549 migrants in this period.  The State Department has also recognized the public security threats in this city and restricted the movement of U.S. government employees in Matamoros between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Although this is clearly a dangerous region, some migrants are deported to Matamoros in the middle of the night. Night deportations are not limited to Matamoros. The University of Arizona survey referenced above found that approximately one in five migrants interviewed was deported between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. This practice puts deportees at the unnecessary and serious danger of being targeted by cartels and organized crime groups. Hence, ending the night deportations could significantly reduce the risks faced by migrants. In order to ensure humane deportation practices, we request that: ·         CBP immediately cease night deportations, and ensure that migrants have access to requisite shelter and services in consultation with local shelters and service providers, and that the security situation and access to basic medical care, shelter and services in Mexican border cities be taken into account in determining where to repatriate Mexican migrants; ·         CBP ensure that family units are deported together whenever possible.  Specifically, if an individual is repatriated through the Alien Transfer Exit Program (ATEP), he should be asked whether or not he is traveling with family members. If he answers in the affirmative, he should be removed from the ATEP program so that he is deported to the same location as his family members. Acting Secretary Beers, we recognize the multiple challenges in securing our southern border and the significant efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to this end.  However, U.S. border enforcement policies should not be carried out in a way that puts the lives and safety of migrants at risk. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns, and we look forward to discussing these issues with you. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague:              More individuals and companies, big and small, urge Congress to enact H.R. 3309, the “Innovation Act,” to fight patent trolls and support American innovation. The “Innovation Act” will enact critical reforms in our nation’s legal system that will help inventors of all sizes to fight unwarranted litigation. Please review the extensive list of supporters here to see the widespread support of this important legislation.              I urge you to join all these supporters today. Vote YES on H.R. 3309.                                                                        Sincerely,                                                                        Bob Goodlatte                                                                        Chairman                                                                        U.S. House Judiciary Committee''
''Please join Congressman John Conyers, Jr. On International Human Rights Day Tuesday, December 10, 2013 For a discussion on: Employment: A Human Right 2237 Rayburn HOB 3:30pm-5:00pm Every December 10th, the world remembers the extraordinary accomplishment on that day in 1948 when nations came together in Paris to sign the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The power and relevance of the recognition enshrined in the Declaration – that all human beings have fundamental rights and freedoms – includes Article 23, the Right to Employment. Over the last year, 25 percent[i] of the American population was unemployed or underemployed and not earning enough to support their basic needs.  To the extent that employment is one of the most important mechanisms for the allocation of individual purchasing power, the right to employment should be seen as the critical foundation of economic democracy. If society cannot assure the survival of all citizens through employment access, it may be that the government has a special obligation to provide employment opportunities for all.Join us for a discussion on these matters and Rep. Conyers’ solution, H.R. 1000, the Humphrey-Hawkins Full Employment and Training Act. Panelists will include: Dean Baker, Co-Director and Co-Founder of Center for Economic and Policy Research John Cavanagh, Director of the Institute for Policy Studies Phil Harvey, Professor of Law and EconomicsatRutgers University Thea Lee, Deputy Chief of Staff at AFL-CIO Larry Mishel, President of Economic Policy Institute Declaration of Human Rights, Article 23: (1) Everyone has the right to work, to free choice of employment, to just and favorable conditions of work and to protection against unemployment. (2) Everyone, without any discrimination, has the right to equal pay for equal work. (3) Everyone who works has the right to just and favorable remuneration ensuring for himself and his family an existence worthy of human dignity, and supplemented, if necessary, by other means of social protection. (4) Everyone has the right to form and to join trade unions for the protection of his interests. [i]http://www.gallup.com/poll/125639/gallup-daily-workforce.aspx''
''Maximize the Recovery of Medicaid Funds by Ensuring Responsible Third-Parties Pay Their Fair Share Dear Colleague: The Medicaid program is a significant source of health coverage for Americans and costs the federal government and states over $400 billion a year, and those costs are only growing. Congress intended that Medicaid be the payer of last resort, that is, if a Medicaid beneficiary has another source of payment for health care, that source–such as private health insurance or a health plan provided through an employer–should pay before Medicaid does. This concept is known as third-party liability. While millions of Medicaid beneficiaries (over 13%) have third-party insurance that is liable to pay claims, Medicaid often continues to pay for the health care for these beneficiaries, resulting in an estimated $45 billion of taxpayer funds wasted annually (according to GAO). Whenever a state Medicaid program has paid a claim and subsequently discovers the existence of a liable third party, it must attempt to recover the money from the liable third party. While the Deficit Reduction Act (DRA) of 2005 implemented several provisions to improve the compliance of third-party payers in Medicaid, it excluded certain services from these new obligations. However, technological advances since the passage of DRA in 2005, such as electronic payments systems, have increased the ability for Medicaid to identify the proper payer and therefore, not pay for claims for which it is not responsible. In order to address the waste of taxpayer funds, I have introduced, H.R. 3659. My bill simply enforces the law currently in place and ensures that those who are responsible to pay a claim pay their fair share.  Instead of maintaining different exclusions for certain services, my bill also levels the playing field and requires all Medicaid third-party payers to comply with the same financing mechanisms. To co-sponsor this bill or if you have additional questions, please contact Sarah Johnson in my office at sarah.johnson@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Michael C. Burgess, M.D. Member of Congress''
''Become an Original Co-Sponsor  Dear Colleague: Please join me in cosponsoring an important piece of legislation designed to strengthen the web-based calculators that students and their families already use to estimate the cost of attending a college or university. All higher education institutions in the United States are required by the Higher Education Act to provide web-based Net Price Calculators to help students calculate the likely cost of tuition, room, board, and other expenses associated with attendance at a college or university. However, a recent studyby the Institute for College Access and Success found that many Net Price Calculators were “difficult for prospective college students and their families to find, use, and compare.” The most recent reauthorization of the Higher Education Act included provisions intended to simplify the process by which students and families seeking an estimate of college cost could obtain more detailed information than simply the “sticker price.” However, current law does not ensure that the specific information provided by Net Price Calculators is consistent across institutions and does not specify where on an institution’s website the calculator must be placed. To improve the usefulness of this critical tool, the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act would ensure that Net Price Calculators provide consistent and comparable price information for all colleges and universities based on up-to-date data.  The Act would also protect students from data mining and it would authorize the Department of Education to construct a “universal calculator” that would enable users to answer one set of questions to receive comparable net price estimates for all colleges and universities of interest to them. For more information or to become an original co-sponsor of the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act, please contact Jimmy Fremgen in my office at 5-4741 or Jimmy.Fremgen@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Elijah E. Cummings Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, I invite you to cosponsor the Schools of the Future Act, a bill to provide support for the use of digital learning technology in rural schools. As you know, technology has the power to vastly expand the educational options available to students in rural areas, thus providing students with a cutting-edge 21st Century education regardless of geography.  At the same time, technological tools have the power to transform the typical classroom experience into one that is more student-centered and provides teachers with more accurate information and feedback on student progress so that they can better address the needs of struggling students. Further, many rural schools have a smaller workforce to draw from and struggle to find teachers for a wide variety of electives or advanced coursework.  The students in these schools would benefit tremendously from the use of technology to deliver, supplement, or personalize instruction, providing opportunities rural students otherwise may not be able to access. The Schools of the Future Act would support the expansion of the use of digital learning through competitive grants to partnerships to implement and evaluate the results of technology-based learning practices, strategies, tools, or programs.  These may include but are not limited to an online repository of elective courses, computer-based tutoring programs to help struggling students, online learning tools designed for accelerated credit recovery for students who have dropped out or are not on track to graduate, or digital learning programs designed specifically for students with a particular learning disability.  Each eligible partnership must include an “evaluation partner” who is responsible for completing a comprehensive, well-designed and well-implemented evaluation of the project. I encourage you to join me in supporting this legislation to provide enhanced opportunities to rural students.  To sign on as a cosponsor, please contact Vonnie Hampel in my office at Vonnie.Hampel@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Dave Loebsack Iowa’s Second District''
''Tell the FAA: No Calls on Planes! Current Co-Signers: Capuano, Cooper, DeFazio, McCollum, Petri Dear Colleague: The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will soon consider a proposal to lift its ban on the use of the voice function on cell phones on domestic flights.  This has sparked fierce opposition from the flying public as well as many airline industry professionals, who have expressed deep safety concerns. I invite you to join me in sending a letter to the Federal Aviation Administration urging that it maintain its ban on cell phone calls in flight regardless of whatever decision the FCC may make. If you have any questions, or would like to sign the letter, please contact Brittany Hernandez at brittany.hernandez@mail.house.gov or 225-3265. As always, I remain, Most sincerely, Steve Cohen Member of Congress Dear Administrator Huerta, As the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) considers a proposed rule that would allow the use of the voice function on cell phones on domestic flights, we are writing to strongly urge that you maintain the ban on cell phone calls in flight. We share the concerns of the flying public and the many professionals in the aviation industry that such a change to the current rules disallowing the use of cell phone voice networks could result in not only a markedly less pleasant flying experience, but a less safe one as well. Allowing passengers to make phone calls while in flight would disrupt the right of other passengers to enjoy the quiet comfort of their flight.  In addition, we have strong concerns about the effect such a change may have on safety.  As the Association of Flight Attendants explained in a statement on November 21, 2013, “Any situation that is loud, divisive, and possibly disruptive is not only unwelcome but also unsafe.” Simply put, the flying experience in the United States would forever be changed for the worse if voice calls are allowed on flights. We hope that you will consider our concerns and those of the industry’s experienced professionals as you consider how to proceed in light of whatever decision the FCC may make and appreciate your consideration of this request. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague, H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act, is being considered by the House this week.  As co-chairs of the House Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we urge you to support the passage of this bill, which presents a unique opportunity to support innovation in our country by stopping patent trolls. Patent trolls are a significant drain on job creation and innovation. Studies have shown that these lawsuits impose tens of billions of dollars of indirect costs on our economy every year.  These resources should go towards building great new products or hiring hundreds of thousands of engineers and other employees.  Patent trolls target all sorts of businesses, from large companies to small businesses on Main Street.  In fact, startups and small businesses are frequently the most common targets.  Trolls commonly use patents that are vague or overbroad, forcing their victims to settle or otherwise face exorbitant litigation costs. The Innovation Act can help fix this.  The bill contains many provisions that would disrupt trolls’ business model, help level the playing field, and improve incentives for future innovation.  Supporters of this legislation range from startups and venture capital firms to Main Street retailers and technology companies.  The bill represents months of negotiations and has significant bipartisan support, which led to the Judiciary Committee passing it by a strong 33-5 vote last month.  We are committed to continue working across the aisle and with our Senate colleagues to enact reforms that will ensure our patent system works for all of our nation’s innovators. As co-chairs of the bipartisan House Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we are focused on the importance of innovation and the prominent role startup companies play in job creation.  We all agree that helping our country’s innovators and job creators should be a bipartisan priority and hope you will join us in voting for the Innovation Act. Sincerely, Gary C. Peters                                                 Darrell E. Issa Member of Congress                                     Member of Congress Jared Polis                                                       Vern Buchanan Member of Congress                                     Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: The Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (Franking Commission) is pleased to announce that, effective immediately, Members may include incidental holiday greetings in their official constituent communications. Prior to the Commission’s adoption of this new commonsense policy, franking regulations prohibited any form of a holiday greeting whatsoever.  However, the new policy, which still prohibits Members from sending communications for the sole purpose of expressing a holiday greeting, allows Members to include simple holiday salutations like Merry Christmas or Happy Hanukkah. Should you have questions regarding the new policy, please contact the Republican Commission staff at x60647 or the Democratic Commission staff x59337. Sincerely, Candice Miller                                                            Susan Davis         Chairman                                                                    Ranking Member''
''Change in Deadline: Thursday, December 12th at Noon Current Cosigners: Rubén E. Hinojosa, Mike Honda, Charles B. Rangel, Sam Farr, Yvette Clarke Dear Colleague: We ask that you join us in signing the letter below requesting a meeting with the Acting Secretary of Homeland Security, Rand Beers, to discuss several humanitarian concerns at the U.S. – Mexico border.  Current U.S. enforcement policies have had a negative impact on the lives and safety of migrants at the border.  We hope that a meeting will allow for discussion in greater detail about concerns and provide clarity about Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to address (1) increases in migrant deaths, (2) inadequate short-term custody conditions, and (3) dangerous deportation practices. Migrant Deaths In recent years, an alarming number of migrants have died in the U.S. borderlands. Last year, the remains of 463 migrants were found in U.S. territory, the second-highest year for migrant deaths in the past 15 years.  Fiscal year 2013 looks to be another alarming year. In a five-month period, between October 2012 and February of 2013, CBP discovered the remains of a staggering 70 human bodies in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone. Short-term Custody Migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions while in short-term CBP custody, including in holding cells at Border Patrol stations, checkpoints, ports of entry, and secondary inspection areas.  Complaints of CBP misconduct regularly include verbal and physical abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, due process violations, exposure to extreme temperatures, extended use of bright lights and  inadequate provision of space or bedding making sleep impossible, extreme overcrowding, and permanent confiscation of personal items (including legal documents, medication and personal identification). Dangerous Deportations Current CBP deportation practices often separate families and potentially place individuals at risk.  Specifically, current CBP deportation practices include repatriating Mexican migrants to border cities with extremely high levels of violence and criminal activity.  Additionally, on numerous occasions migrants are returned to Mexico in the middle of the night when basic services are unavailable and most shelters are closed. We recognize the multiple challenges in securing our southern border and the significant efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to this end.  However, U.S. border enforcement policies should not be carried out in a way that puts the lives and safety of migrants at risk. If you would like to join us in this letter or have any questions, please contact Christina Partida at christina.partida@mail.house.gov or at 5-2435. Sincerely, Raúl M. Grijalva                                Lucille Roybal-Allard Member of Congress                          Member of Congress _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ December xx, 2013 The Hon. Rand Beers Acting Secretary of Homeland Security U.S. Department of Homeland Security Washington, D.C. 20528 Dear Acting Secretary Beers, We, the undersigned, write to respectfully request a meeting to discuss several humanitarian concerns at the U.S. – Mexico border that fall within the authority of the Department of Homeland Security. We are concerned that U.S. enforcement policies have had a negative impact on the lives and safety of migrants at the border.  We hope that a meeting will allow for discussion in greater detail about our concerns and provide clarity about Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) plans to address (1) increases in migrant deaths, (2) inadequate short-term custody conditions, and (3) dangerous deportation practices. Migrant Deaths In recent years, an alarming number of migrants have died in the U.S. borderlands. Last year, the remains of 463 migrants were found in U.S. territory, the second-highest year for migrant deaths in the past 15 years. Fiscal year 2013 looks to be another alarming year. In a five-month period, between October 2012 and February of 2013, CBP discovered the remains of a staggering 70 human bodies in the Rio Grande Valley sector alone. By adopting some simple and low-cost measures, such as increasing the number of rescue beacons and water drums along the southern U.S. border, particularly in sectors with high numbers of migrant deaths, CBP could help to reduce the frequency of migrant deaths.  In order to address this problem, we request: ·         A detailed description of CBP programs or plans to reduce the number of migrant deaths at the border; and ·         A description of the number and location of rescue beacons and water drums currently in place along the southern U.S. border. Short-term Custody In addition, we are also concerned by reports that migrants are being subjected to inhumane conditions while in short-term CBP custody, including in holding cells at Border Patrol stations, checkpoints, ports of entry, and secondary inspection areas.  Complaints of CBP misconduct regularly include verbal and physical abuse, denial of medical care, inadequate food and water, due process violations, exposure to extreme temperatures, extended use of bright lights and  inadequate provision of space or bedding making sleep impossible, extreme overcrowding, and permanent confiscation of personal items (including legal documents, medication and personal identification).  For example, a 2013 University of Arizona survey of deported migrants in five border cities (Tijuana, Mexicali, Nogales, Ciudad Juarez, and Nuevo Laredo) found that 45% of respondents reported not receiving sufficient food while in  U.S. custody, 37% reported denial of medical attention, and 39% reported confiscation of personal property, including money and identity documents.  In the past three years alone, numerous organizations have issued similar reports documenting tens of thousands of cases of CBP abuse that are consistent with these findings.  In order to address this problem we request: ·         A list of the number of short-term custody facilities currently used by CBP, including the average number of individuals currently being held in CBP short-term custody on any given day; ·         A description of any oversight or inspection apparatus currently in place to ensure that short-term custody facilities meet basic standards; ·         Information regarding whether CBP intends to issue updated short-term custody standards or guidance; ·         A description of CBP’s plans to work with other DHS components and the Department of Justice to improve the process for returning migrants’ confiscated belongings; and ·         Information regarding CBP’s alleged use of “hieleras,” or “icebox” cells. Dangerous Deportations Current CBP deportation practices often separate families and potentially place individuals at risk.  Specifically, current CBP deportation practices include repatriating Mexican migrants to border cities with extremely high levels of violence and criminal activity.  Additionally, on numerous occasions migrants are returned to Mexico in the middle of the night when basic services are unavailable and most shelters are closed. For example, drug-related violence has exploded in the Mexican state of Tamaulipas with the homicide rate rising to approximately 46 per 100,000, twice the national average.  The city of Matamoros, Tamaulipas which borders Brownsville, Texas, has become one of the most turbulent cities in this border state. Deportations to Matamoros, Tamaulipas increased five-fold in the last four years (2009-2012), and the city received a total of 165,549 migrants in this period.  The State Department has also recognized the public security threats in this city and restricted the movement of U.S. government employees in Matamoros between 12:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. Although this is clearly a dangerous region, some migrants are deported to Matamoros in the middle of the night. Night deportations are not limited to Matamoros. The University of Arizona survey referenced above found that approximately one in five migrants interviewed was deported between 10:00 p.m. and 5:00 a.m. This practice puts deportees at the unnecessary and serious danger of being targeted by cartels and organized crime groups. Hence, ending the night deportations could significantly reduce the risks faced by migrants. In order to ensure humane deportation practices, we request that: ·         CBP immediately cease night deportations, and ensure that migrants have access to requisite shelter and services in consultation with local shelters and service providers, and that the security situation and access to basic medical care, shelter and services in Mexican border cities be taken into account in determining where to repatriate Mexican migrants; ·         CBP ensure that family units are deported together whenever possible.  Specifically, if an individual is repatriated through the Alien Transfer Exit Program (ATEP), he should be asked whether or not he is traveling with family members. If he answers in the affirmative, he should be removed from the ATEP program so that he is deported to the same location as his family members. Acting Secretary Beers, we recognize the multiple challenges in securing our southern border and the significant efforts undertaken by the Department of Homeland Security to this end.  However, U.S. border enforcement policies should not be carried out in a way that puts the lives and safety of migrants at risk. Thank you for your consideration of our concerns, and we look forward to discussing these issues with you. Sincerely,''
''Patent Trolls Harm Consumers and the Public Interest – Support H.R. 3309 Dear Colleague, We write to urge you to support HR 3309, The Innovation Act, which will help to curtail the damage done by patent trolls to the American economy and consumers.  H.R. 3309 is supported by public interest organizations like the Electronic Frontier Foundation and Public Knowledge. In recent years, the negative impact of patent trolls on America’s economy has been decisively proven, with organizations from all walks of life being attacked and facing costly licensing fees, settlements, and even court battles. The direct impact of this has been estimated at roughly $29 billion per year. Among discussions of this economic impact – significant as it is – it is also important to remember the impact that patent trolls have on America’s consumers. In one particularly egregious case, a patent troll has threatened non-profit charities in Vermont and a community choir in Nebraska asking for $1,000 per employee simply because the organizations use scanners.   The Vermont and Nebraska Attorneys General are currently using the states’ consumer protection laws to prosecute this patent troll. A patent troll based in the British Virgin Islands has been suing public transit agencies all over the country.  One of the most notorious examples of a patent troll, for example, has demanded licensing fees from more than 8,000 businesses, including coffee houses and hotels, and ultimately sued hundreds of them – all because they provide wifi to their customers. The impact of this on the consumer is significant. The expense associated with facing a patent troll would leave a small business – one with a low profit margin already – to either halt use of this service to its customers, or to offset the cost by charging for use. What’s more, the long-term impact is even more damaging for consumers. By diverting resources to fighting trolls, companies have less to spend on investment of new products, expansion to new areas, and improvement of services. The Federal Trade Commission, which is charged with protecting consumers and policing unfair and deceptive acts, recently began an investigation of patent trolls.  An investigation us a good step in the right direction, but legislation is needed to truly combat patent trolls. The effects of patent trolls are strong today, but left unchecked, they will grow worse in the future. Please join us in supporting The Innovation Act of 2013 to help maintain an economy that promotes consumer choice and tomorrow’s innovative advances. Sincerely, MICHAEL M. HONDA                   JARED POLIS Member of Congress                          Member of Congress''
''Become an Original Cosponsor of the NUMBER Act Repeal ACA if Administration’s enrollment numbers are not met Current Cosponsors:  Bridenstine (OK), Collins (GA), Duncan (SC), Graves (GA), Hall (TX), Hudson (NC), LaMalfa (CA), Massie (KY), Rice (SC), Salmon (AZ), A. Scott (GA), Weber (TX), Westmoreland (GA), Wilson (SC) Dear Colleague: Approximately 7 million people will need to enroll in the Affordable Care Act’s exchanges during the first open enrollment period in order for the exchanges to be financially viable.  Secretary Sebelius released a report with actual numbers of enrollees who have selected a marketplace plan: 106,185 people. If we continue at this rate, by the end of open enrollment, the exchanges will have only reached about 10% of the amount needed. If these target numbers are not hit, then the exchanges become too costly and will further burden the American taxpayer. That is why I am introducing the Nullifying Unconstitutional Mandate By Evaluating Results “NUMBER” Act. My bill will repeal the Affordable Care Act if those target numbers are not hit. There has been a recent flurry of news stories claiming that the Administration has failed to reach its projected enrollment numbers which could end up costing the American people more than previously estimated. The NUMBER Act will protect them from being shouldered with even more financial burdens due to the inability of the Administration to implement its own law. To sign on as an original cosponsor, or for more information, please contact James Walsh in my office at James.Walsh@mail.house.gov or 202-225-5744. Sincerely,''
''Join the House Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship’s Letter Opposing the Diversion of USPTO User Fees DEADLINE: TODAY, Dec. 4 – Noon Current signers: Peters (MI), Buchanan, Polis, Issa, Eshoo, Coble, Honda, Moran, Kilmer, Michaud, DelBene, Chu, Swalwell, Deutch, Jeffries, Richmond, Cárdenas, Carson, Perlmutter, Delaney Dear Colleague: As the co-chairs of the House Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we are focused on finding practical solutions to help our nation’s startups and small businesses grow, innovate, and create jobs.  Success in the global economy depends more and more on intellectual property (IP).  Over 55 million Americans are employed in IP-intensive industries, and these industries account for 38% of total U.S. GDP. Patents are the lifeblood of our innovation economy; trying to sell an unpatented invention is like trying to sell a house without having the deed.  This is why it is critical that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have the capacity to approve applications in a timely manner.  Currently, the USPTO has a backlog of over 500,000 applications, down from over 700,000 just a few years ago.  Even with this significant progress, it still takes upwards of three years on average to secure a patent. Unfortunately, sequestration will make this problem worse.  In response to the sequestration of an estimated $120-130 million in patent user fee collections in the last fiscal year, the agency was forced to delay hiring new examiners, delay opening and fully staffing new satellite offices, and put off critical improvements to IT. These funds that are being diverted by sequestration are not taxpayer dollars; they are user fees paid by inventors applying for patents.  The USPTO is fully funded by user fees and uses no taxpayer money.  Diverting these funds is effectively a tax on innovation.  It is also inconsistent with OMB’s decision to exempt other voluntary payments and fees from sequestration, such as those collected by the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. This is why we ask you to join us in writing OMB to urge that they reconsider this decision, stop the sequestration of USPTO user fees, and help our nation’s innovators get their products to market faster. Stand up for America’s innovators and entrepreneurs and fight this unfair tax on innovation. For more information or to sign this letter please contact David Weinberg with Rep. Peters (225-5802 and david.weinberg@mail.house.gov) or Sean Brady with Rep. Buchanan (sean.brady@mail.house.gov and 225-5015). Sincerely, Gary C. Peters                                                             Vern Buchanan                 Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress                                  Jared Polis                                                                   Darrell E. Issa                                 Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress December 5, 2013 The Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell Director Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20503 Dear Director Burwell: We write to ask OMB to reconsider its decision to sequester user fees that fund the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The ability of the agency to keep all of its user fees was a cornerstone of the America Invents Act (AIA), which was strongly supported by the Administration. Sequestration of USPTO funding represents a major step back from the commitment of the Administration to the AIA. In response to the sequestration of an estimated $120-130 million in patent user fee collections this fiscal year, the agency was forced to delay hiring new examiners, delay opening and fully staffing new satellite offices, and put off critical improvements to IT. Moreover, several bills and other proposals are directed at reducing abusive patent litigation. These proposals, which include a June 4 statement by President Obama, highlight the need to improve patent quality and prompt processing. However, it is inevitable that patent quality and processing speed will suffer if the agency is not allowed access to all of the user fees it collects. USPTO funding is different from regular government funding, because the USPTO is fully funded by user fees and uses no taxpayer money. The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, exempts from sequestration activities financed by “voluntarypayments to the Government for goods or services to be provided for such payments.”(2 U. S. C. § 905(g)(1)(A) (2012) ).   It is our view that user fees collected by the USPTO fit this description.  We understand that OMB has classified certain fees collected by the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress as voluntary.  The distinction between such Copyright Office user fees and USPTO user fees is not clear to us. Patents are a key driver of economic growth and good paying American jobs.  Trademarks, too, promote innovation by assuring producers that they will receive the financial and reputational rewards of their investment.  Withholding user fees from the USPTO, particularly when it is not mandated by law, reduces USPTO’s capacity to process applications and improve quality, thus weakening the ability of the U.S. to create new jobs and compete in the global economy. We therefore strongly urge you to reconsider whether sequestration should apply to the USPTO. Sincerely,''
''Support the Innovation Act Dear Colleague: We write to urge you to support the Innovation Act, H.R.3309, expected on the House Floor this week after receiving overwhelming bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee. The bipartisan Innovation Act would take steps to curb abusive patent litigation. The issue is this: businesses are currently facing a multitude of lawsuits of questionable merit from PAEs – earning them the nickname “patent trolls.” PAEs purchase, license, or otherwise obtain overbroad patents, and then may send letters alleging infringement on a patent – often without clearly identifying themselves or the patent at issue – to demand money. If the PAE sues, they may deliberately run up discovery costs to pressure the defendant into a settlement. PAEs may use shell companies in order to obscure ownership of the patent and avoid paying for adverse judgments. For cases that actually go to judgment, studies show that the PAE loses approximately 85% of the time, indicating that most cases are not on solid footing to begin with. The patent system was never intended to be used this way. This has become a major problem for a huge swath of diverse businesses – tech companies, small innovators and startups, retailers, manufacturers, realtors and hotels, airlines, grocers, and even coffee shops. The burden of abusive patent litigation falls disproportionately on small businesses – studies show that more than half of patent suits brought by “patent assertion entities” (PAEs) are against businesses with less than $10 million in annual revenue. The cost of PAE litigation has risen to more than $29 billion per year, with each suit costing an estimated average of $5-10 million. These are funds that companies can’t use to create jobs or innovate. The Innovation Act is designed to reform these abusive patent litigation practices. The bill would change the rules for patent lawsuits by, among other things, Requiring plaintiffs filing a complaint to identify who is really behind the suit, what patent is being asserted, and what the infringement claim is. This is so the targets of abusive patent suits will know who is accusing them of infringement and what exactly they’re being accused of. Requiring judges to shift litigation costs and fees to a non-prevailing party unless the party’s position was reasonably justified or if it would cause severe economic harm to the named inventor. This is to make it easier for defendants to fight unjustified patent suits and deter illegitimate claims, while protecting inventors and preserving courts’ discretion. Requiring the Judicial Conference to issue a rulemaking that would shift discovery costs. The details of the rulemaking are left up the Judicial Conference, but the bill provides guidance by saying that the rule should require parties to pay for their own discovery requests beyond the core documents needed to advance the suit. This is to limit broad discovery requests in patent suits that are unnecessary, unfair, and costly to the other party. Courts maintain discretion to modify the rules for good cause. Allowing manufacturers and suppliers to intervene and stay lawsuits against customers and end users of a product that allegedly infringe patents, if both the manufacturer and customer agree. Numerous companies and organizations support the Innovation Act, including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Gaming Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, App Developers Alliance, Business Software Association, Coalition for Patent Fairness, Competitive Carriers Association, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Consumer Electronics Association, Credit Union National Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Engine, Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, International Franchise Association, Internet Association, MPA – The Association of Magazine Media, National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, National Association of Realtors, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, Newspaper Association of America, Online Publishers Association, Printing Industries of America, and U.S. Travel Association. It is time to end PAEs’ misuse of the patent system. The bipartisan Innovation Act is targeted at abusive patent litigation while protecting legitimate inventors and preserving judicial discretion. With the new defenses against bogus patent suits, businesses large and small will have more resources to develop new products and services, create jobs, and innovate. We hope you’ll join us in supporting the Innovation Act. Thank you. Zoe Lofgren                                                 Bob Goodlatte Member of Congress                                    Member of Congress For more information, please contact Harley.Geiger@mail.house.gov from Rep. Lofgren’s office or Vishal.Amin@mail.house.gov from Rep. Goodlatte’s office.''
''Dear Colleague: As Returned Peace Corps Volunteer Members of Congress, we encourage you to support Peace Corps Volunteers in your district by joining the bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus. Over the past 50 years, through war and conflict, more than 210,000 Americans have served their country in the name of peace, embodying the timeless American ideals of goodwill, prosperity, and progress. Today, 8,073 Volunteers from all 50 states are working shoulder-to-shoulder with local communities in 76 countries. Peace Corps is also enhancing its ability to meet 21st century development challenges by drawing from the full spectrum of American strength. By partnering with minority-serving institutions, AARP, and over 80 universities hosting Peace Corps Masters International programs, Peace Corps has expanded the diversity and capacity of Americans serving in host countries.   Amidst war and conflict, Peace Corps has shown the world a hopeful, uplifting side of America through the best of what this country has to offer: our citizens and our ideals. We encourage you to honor current and past Peace Corps Volunteers in your district by joining the bipartisan Peace Corps Caucus. To find out how many Peace Corps Volunteers are currently serving in your district and to join the Peace Corps Caucus, please contact Caitie Whelan (Caitie.whelan@mail.house.gov) in Congressman Farr’s office. Sincerely,  SAM FARR                                                                                  TOM PETRI Member of Congress                                                                     Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Colombia (1964-66)                                Peace Corps Volunteer, Somalia (1966-67) JOHN GARAMENDI                                                                  MIKE HONDA Member of Congress                                                                     Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Ethiopia, 1966-68                                   Peace Corps Volunteer, El Salvador, 1965-67 JOE KENNEDY Member of Congress Peace Corps Volunteer, Dominican Republic, 2004-06''
''Help Students and Families with College Loan Decisions Support the Know Before You Owe Act Endorsers: National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators, National Association for College Admission Counseling, National Council of La Raza, Council for Opportunity in Education, Young Invincibles, National Consumer Law Center, The Institute for College Access & Success, National Consumers League, American Federation of Teachers, The Education Trust, U.S. Public Interest Research Group, Consumer Action, Democrats for Education Reform, American Podiatric Medical Students’ Association, American Podiatric Medical Association, Association of American Medical Colleges, Demos, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education Dear Colleague: American families face more than $1 trillion in student loan debt. About 15 percent of this debt (or $150 billion) is comprised of private loans, which often have higher interest rates and less favorable repayment terms. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), 40 percent of students with private loans have not exhausted all of their federal loan options, which is problematic because private loans are generally more costly and offer little flexibility for repayment. Moreover, two-thirds of students with private loans said that they did not understand the major differences between private and federal options. The Know Before You Owe Act would help students and families better understand their borrowing options so that they find the most affordable ways to finance their education. Specifically, the Know Before You Owe Act would require private lenders to: Certify with the borrower’s school that the student is enrolled and the amount the student is eligible to borrow before issuing a private loan. Provide the borrower with quarterly updates on their loans, including accrued but unpaid interest and capitalized interest. Report information to the CFPB about their student loans. The bill would require higher education institutions to inform students about: their federal financial aid availability and eligibility; their ability to select a private lender of their choice; the impact of a private loan on their eligibility for other forms of financial aid; their right to accept, reject or cancel a private loan as allowed by current law; and the terms and conditions of federal and private student loans. With both the cost and the labor market returns to higher education increasing, we cannot continue to let students remain uninformed about their loan options. Please join us by cosponsoring this common sense legislation. If you would like to cosponsor the bill or if you have questions, please contact Allie Kimmel in Congressman Polis’s office at allie.kimmel@mail.house.gov or 5-2161 or Sanjay Kane in Congresswoman Schwartz’s office at sanjay.kane@mail.house.gov or 5-6111. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Jared Polis                                                                                           Allyson Schwartz Member of Congress                                                                           Member of Congress''
''CREATE JOBS, SAVE BILLIONS, AND SUPPORT U.S. MANUFACTURERS Co-Sponsor the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act, H.R. 184 Dear Colleague, Are you interested in lowering taxes for industrial and commercial entities in your District?  Do you want to help save $35 Billionin energy costs over 5 years?  Do you want to reduce CO2 emissions by 170 Million metric tons over 5 years?  Are you interested in creating 89,000 immediate jobs throughout the country? If so, please consider becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 184, the Mechanical Insulation Installation Incentive Act. Commercial buildings and industrial facilities consume 2½ times more energy than homes, according to the Energy Information Administration.  Energy efficiency in homes has been a leading issue over the past couple of years, but unfortunately mechanical insulation has been largely misunderstood and ignored. That’s why we introduced legislation to help the commercial and industrial sectors reduce their costly energy bills, increase their global competiveness and create jobs.  We invite you to join us as a cosponsor of H.R. 184 which will help the commercial and industrial sectors invest in mechanical insulation — and create much-needed jobs in one of the hardest-hit industries.  Mechanical insulation systems are used on piping, equipment, vessels, HVAC, and similar equipment in industrial and commercial applications.  It is a vital component in creating and maintaining high-performance, energy-efficient buildings and increasing manufacturing efficiency. H.R. 184 would create up to a 30 percent tax deduction to encourage commercial and industrial entities—like manufacturing facilities, office buildings, schools, hospitals, power plants, hotels, and universities—to go beyond minimum mechanical insulation requirements in new construction and retrofit projects and increase their maintenance activities. The mechanical insulation industry comprises primarily small businesses and is experiencing substantially higher than the average unemployment rate.  It is also significant that over 90 percent of all mechanical insulation products used in the United States are made in the United States.  Our bill will benefit your constituents, your state, and the nation by helping to create jobs, reduce our dependency on foreign energy sources, improve our environment, and revive our economy. To sign on as a cosponsor or obtain additional information, please contact Aaron Ringel (aaron.ringel@mail.house.govor 5-3371) with Rep. Michael Grimm or Pete Spiro (pete.spiro@mail.house.govor 5-3826) with Rep. Timothy Bishop. Sincerely, Michael Grimm                                                          Tim Bishop Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: We write to urge you to support the Innovation Act, H.R.3309, which is on the House floor this week after receiving overwhelming bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee. The bipartisan Innovation Act would take steps to curb abusive patent litigation. The issue is this: businesses are currently facing a multitude of lawsuits of questionable merit from PAEs – earning them the nickname “patent trolls.” PAEs purchase, license, or otherwise obtain overbroad patents, and then may send letters alleging infringement on a patent – often without clearly identifying themselves or the patent at issue – to demand money. If the PAE sues, they may deliberately run up discovery costs to pressure the defendant into a settlement. PAEs may use shell companies in order to obscure ownership of the patent and avoid paying for adverse judgments. For cases that actually go to judgment, studies show that the PAE loses approximately 85% of the time, indicating that most cases are not on solid footing to begin with. The patent system was never intended to be used this way. This has become a major problem for a huge swath of diverse businesses – tech companies, small innovators and startups, retailers, manufacturers, realtors and hotels, airlines, grocers, and even coffee shops. The burden of abusive patent litigation falls disproportionately on small businesses – studies show that more than half of patent suits brought by “patent assertion entities” (PAEs) are against businesses with less than $10 million in annual revenue. The cost of PAE litigation has risen to more than $29 billion per year, with each suit costing an estimated average of $5-10 million. These are funds that companies can’t use to create jobs or innovate. The Innovation Act is designed to reform these abusive patent litigation practices. The bill would change the rules for patent lawsuits by, among other things, Requiring plaintiffs filing a complaint to identify who is really behind the suit, what patent is being asserted, and what the infringement claim is. This is so the targets of abusive patent suits will know who is accusing them of infringement and what exactly they’re being accused of. Requiring judges to shift litigation costs and fees to a non-prevailing party unless the party’s position was reasonably justified or if it would cause severe economic harm to the named inventor. This is to make it easier for defendants to fight unjustified patent suits and deter illegitimate claims, while protecting inventors and preserving courts’ discretion. Requiring the Judicial Conference to issue a rulemaking that would shift discovery costs. The details of the rulemaking are left up the Judicial Conference, but the bill provides guidance by saying that the rule should require parties to pay for their own discovery requests beyond the core documents needed to advance the suit. This is to limit broad discovery requests in patent suits that are unnecessary, unfair, and costly to the other party. Courts maintain discretion to modify the rules for good cause. Allowing manufacturers and suppliers to intervene and stay lawsuits against customers and end users of a product that allegedly infringe patents, if both the manufacturer and customer agree. Numerous companies and organizations support the Innovation Act, including the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, American Gaming Association, American Hotel & Lodging Association, App Developers Alliance, Business Software Association, Coalition for Patent Fairness, Competitive Carriers Association, Computer and Communications Industry Association, Consumer Electronics Association, Credit Union National Association, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Engine, Footwear Distributors & Retailers of America, International Franchise Association, Internet Association, MPA – The Association of Magazine Media, National Association of Broadcasters, National Association of Federal Credit Unions, the National Association of Realtors, National Cable and Telecommunications Association, National Restaurant Association, National Retail Federation, Newspaper Association of America, Online Publishers Association, Printing Industries of America, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and U.S. Travel Association. It is time to end PAEs’ misuse of the patent system. The bipartisan Innovation Act is targeted at abusive patent litigation while protecting legitimate inventors and preserving judicial discretion. With the new defenses against bogus patent suits, businesses large and small will have more resources to develop new products and services, create jobs, and innovate. We hope you’ll join us in supporting the Innovation Act. Thank you. For more information, please contact Harley.Geiger@mail.house.gov from Rep. Lofgren’s office or Vishal.Amin@mail.house.gov from Rep. Goodlatte’s office.''
''Main Street America Supports the Innovation Act (H.R. 3309) Support Legislation to Stop Patent Litigation Abuse Dear Colleague:             American intellectual property, and patents in particular, drive innovation across all industries.  Abusive patent litigation practices, often referred to as patent troll behavior, have burdened legitimate businesses with extensive litigation costs and the choice between paying thousands of dollars to settle vague claims of patent infringement or spending millions to prove that patent infringement claims are invalid. American jobs are put at risk when companies are forced to spend money on litigation, rather than expanding their business.             Hometown businesses across America have been sued for using technology as basic as hyperlinks, online shopping carts, office scanners, and postal bar codes. That is why a large coalition of Main Street business groups, academics, retail businesses, online businesses, technology companies and others have joined together to support H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act.             In recent letters, the National Association of Realtors noted (see here for the letter): “Our members view the reforms in this bill as an important step in protecting innovations and main street businesses from broad claims of patent infringement based on patents of questionable validity all brought by non-practicing entities. … Taken together, the reforms in the Innovation Act will shift the burden of frivolous litigation from small business defendants to the trolls themselves.”             In another letter signed by 27 state lodging associations, the signatories noted (see here for the letter): “During the last year, patent trolls have sued almost 100 hotels in Texas alone, claiming the wireless Internet routers and access point devices the hotel purchased to provide Wi-Fi to guests infringe upon patents held by PAEs (patent assertion entities). … We encourage the strongest possible protections for end-users who are merely customers buying products and using them as intended, yet are being targeted by PAEs.”             When you vote on the Innovation Act, consider the support for the legislation from Main Street America groups in your district that support passage of the Innovation Act. The Innovation Act was reported out of the Judiciary Committee by an overwhelming bipartisan vote of 33 to 5.             I urge you to support the Innovation Act as well.                                                                                                                                 Sincerely,                                                                                                                                 Bob Goodlatte                                                                                                                                 Chairman                                                                                                                                 U.S. House Judiciary Committee''
''Help Community Banks Fight Money Laundering Become Original Co-Sponsor of “Building Community Banks’ Capacity to Combat Money Laundering Act.” Supported by Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) Dear Colleague, In 2012, HSBC Bank was levied a $1.9 billion fine by U.S. bank regulators for violating the Bank Secrecy Act. Ensuring that U.S. banks are not complicit in criminal activity and holding them accountable for lapses in safeguards against money laundering should be a top priority for Congress and financial regulators. Appropriately, financial regulators have recently raised their expectations with regard to Bank Secrecy Act compliance. Significant costs for training, consulting, computer programs, and auditing are all part of a proper BSA-Anti-Money-Laundering (BSA-AML) compliance plan. Large banks, acting as economies of scale, may be able to absorb these costs. However, the large, fixed costs that are needed for a robust BSA-AML program are causing great strain on community banks. To address this concern, Rep. Hinojosa will introduce a bill that will utilize a portion of BSA fines to help mitigate burdensome training and technology costs and to build community banks’ capacity to combat money laundering. Historically, our government has often utilized fines collected from law-breaking organizations to combat the misconduct’s resulting social ills. Funds realized from the Big Tobacco settlements have been used in large part to reduce the public health impact of smoking, and the funds from the big banks’ mortgage settlements have been used to mitigate the impact of harmful mortgage practices on homeowners. Fines collected from institutions that run afoul of the Bank Secrecy Act should be used in part to improve our community banks’ ability to fight money laundering on the front lines.  ‘‘Building Community Banks’ Capacity to Combat Money Laundering Act’’. Act will amend Subchapter II of chapter 53 of title 31 U.S.C. to create a BSA Compliance Fund within the U.S. Treasury. The Fund will be financed using 25 percent of all civil money penalties imposed on domestic financial institutions pursuant to the Bank Secrecy Act. Community financial institutions (banks and credit unions) with less than $10 billion in assets are eligible to apply for grants. Secretary of Treasury distributes grants on a competitive basis. Applications will include BSA Compliance Improvement Plan and costs. Grants will be $200,000 or 75% of BSA Compliance Improvement Plan costs, whichever is the lesser. Institutions that serve high unemployment counties will be given priority. Given that grants are for capacity building and not for recurring costs, program will sunset October 2018, with remaining funds deposited into General Fund. Administrative costs for program are capped at 4 percent of funds in the Fund. Please join me as an original co-sponsor of the “Building Community Banks’ Capacity to Combat Money Laundering Act.” For more information and bill language, please contact Holly Bullard, holly.bullard@mail.house.gov; 5-2531. Deadline to become original co-sponsor, December 3rd. Sincerely, Rubén Hinojosa TX-15 Member of Congress''
''December 3, 2013 Become an Original Cosponsor of the Wild Game Donation Act Dear Colleague, Hunger is a chronic problem in America. Many people believe that the problems associated with hunger are confined to small pockets of society, certain areas of the country, or certain neighborhoods, but the reality is very different.  Feeding America estimates that one in six Americans and nearly 15.9 million children live in food insecure households. In fact, an estimated 3.1 million rural households are food insecure.  Currently, food banks all across the nation are struggling to keep up with the increasing demand for food. Last year 37 million Americans, one in eight, required help from food banks; this is an increase of 45 percent since 2005. Hunters across the U.S are ready to do their part and donate their wild game meat to help feed the hungry. The Wild Game Donation Act will: Make hunters who donate meat to food-based charities eligible for a tax credit for the processing cost of their wild game. Provide a tax deduction for processors who take part in charitable donation programs. Protect against the use of spoiled meat for charitable contributions. Many Americans are in dire need and hunters are ready to help food banks fill an ever widening food gap.  Please join us in the fight against hunger in America and support the charitable donations of wild game meat by co-sponsoring the Wild Game Donation Act. If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact Jason Suslavich at 5-5765 or Jason.Suslavich@mail.house.gov with Congressman Don Young or Derek Torrey with Congresswoman Ann Kuster at 5-5206 or Derek.Torrey@mail.house.gov.                                                                                                                                                     Sincerely,                                                                                        Don Young                                                                                                Ann McLane Kuster                                                                               Member of Congress                                                                                     Member of Congress''
''SUPPORT H.R. 3309, THE INNOVATION ACT Dear Colleague, This week, the House is expected to vote on H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act. As inventors, we urge you to support this important piece of legislation to combat abusive patent litigation. Our patent system is indispensible to American competitiveness, and we must protect innovators and small businesses from costly litigation practices that undermine economic growth. One of the greatest challenges innovators face is warrantless litigation by patent assertion entities (PAEs)- or “trolls.” These trolls don’t innovate or create- they simply use low-quality patents to fuel high-cost litigation against small businesses, tech innovators, and end users like retailers or grocery stores that have no patent portfolios of their own. Congress has taken prospective steps to ensure high-patent quality, but many low quality patents issued before reform measures are still used to fuel litigation, such as patents covering online shopping carts or emails that track package delivery. Patent troll cases have increased fourfold since 2005 and are a drain on our economy, costing productive businesses $29 billion in 2011 alone. Faced with millions of dollars in litigation costs, many innovators or small businesses are forced to settle with PAEs for large sums that could be used to grow business. A majority of companies targeted by PAEs are small businesses, while half are non-tech companies. The Innovation Act passed the Judiciary Committee on November 20th by a bipartisan vote of 33-5. Key components of the Innovation Act include: • Target Abusive Patent Litigation: The bill targets abusive patent litigation behavior and not specific entities with the goal of preventing individuals from taking advantage of gaps in the system to engage in litigation extortion. It does not attempt to eliminate valid patent litigation. • Protects the Patent System: The patent system is integral to U.S. competitiveness. This legislation does not diminish or devalue patent rights in any way. • Increases Transparency: This legislation includes heightened pleading standards and transparency provisions. Requiring parties to do a bit of due diligence up front before filing an infringement suit is just plain common sense. It not only reduces litigation expenses, but saves the court’s time and resources. Greater transparency and information is a good thing and it makes our patent system stronger. • Modernizes Fee Shifting: The legislation includes a modernized version of Section 285 fee shifting that is fair, clear and will ensure consistent judicial determinations. • Provides Greater Clarity: The legislation provides for more clarity surrounding initial discovery, case management, joinder and the common law doctrine of customer stays. The bill works hand-in-hand with the procedures and practices of the Judicial Conference and the courts. • Small Business Education: The bill provides for small business education and outreach by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  We encourage you to support the Innovation Act and protect small entrepreneurs from abusive litigation. For information on H.R. 3309, the Innovation Act, please contact Ellen Dargie at 5-3906 or Ellen.dargie@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, DARRELL E. ISSA                                                       TRENT FRANKS Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress''
''Current Cosponsors: Norton, Eleanor Holmes; Edwards, Donna; Huffman, Jared; Polis, Jared; Tonko, Paul; Esty, Elizabeth; Takano, Mark; Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho; Lofgren, Zoe; Conyers, John; Kaptur; Marcy; Chu, Judy; Ruiz, Raul; Holt, Rush; Lee, Barbara; Keating, William; Capps, Lois; Wilson, Fredrica; Rangel, Charlie; Honda, Mike Support Green Jobs and Green Education Dear Colleague: Our nation is changing and new and exciting technologies have the potential to move us towards a more sustainable energy future. The development and operation of new energy resources will require a highly skilled work force, and our country has the opportunity to create an entire spectrum of high-quality green jobs. That is why I introduced H.R. 2368, the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation (GREEN) Act. This legislation will create unique partnerships in the renewable and sustainable energy fields that will train young Americans to develop, operate, and maintain clean energy systems. This legislation is supported by theAssociation for Career and Technical Education and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. The GREEN Act fulfills a key need by creating a bridge between secondary and postsecondary schools so that students can transition from high school with technical knowledge that will be expanded and honed in a postsecondary environment.  Specifically, the bill provides funding for partnerships between secondary schools, career and technical schools or community colleges, and industry partners to develop new curricula and teaching programs in the renewable energy field. The legislation also provides opportunities for technical schools to upgrade their own energy systems to serve as model training facilities. Innovative green energy educational programs will allow young Americans to better compete in today’s changing economy. I encourage you to become a cosponsor of the GREEN Act. For questions or to cosponsor, please contact Teresa Frison of my staff at teresa.frison@mail.house.gov or extension 5-1947. Sincerely, /s/Jerry McNerney Member of Congress''
''Record Holiday Video Message for Troops Tomorrow, Wednesday, Dec. 4th We would like to make you aware of an important opportunity to express holiday greetings to our men and women in uniform.  On December 4, 2013 from 9:30AM to 3:30PM, (Break from 12:30PM – 01:00PM) the American Forces Network (AFN) will have a camera crew at the Cannon Rotunda for Members of Congress to tape holiday greetings for troops serving overseas. These messages should be 10-15 seconds in length and will be taped on a first come first served basis; you do not need to reserve a specific time. Your holiday message will be seen by service members and their families on AFN in over 170 countries. We look forward to seeing you on December 4th. If you have any questions please contact the House Armed Services Committee Communications Office at (202)-225-2539. What:Record Holiday Video Message for Troops Date: Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 4, 2013 Time: 9:30AM to 3:30PM, (Break from 12:30PM – 01:00PM) Location: Canon Rotunda Sincerely, /s/ Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-CA) Chairman, House Armed Services Committee /s/ Rep. Adam Smith (D-WA) Ranking Member, House Armed Services Committee''
''December 3, 2013 Co-sponsor H.R. 3590 – The Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act *Supported by the Congressional Sportsmen’s Foundation* Dear Colleague: As leadership of the Congressional Sportsmen’s Caucus, we invite you to cosponsor H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational (SHARE) Act.  This legislation includes various pro-sportsmen’s and sportswomen’s bills that will help ensure our outdoor traditions are protected and advanced, and addresses some of the most current concerns of American hunters, recreational anglers and shooters and trappers.  By enacting H.R. 3590, we will ensure that America’s hunting and conservation heritage remain a top priority in the federal government for years to come.  Specifically, this legislative package includes the following important authorizations: Hunting, Fishing and Recreational Shooting Protection Act (H.R. 322) Target Practice and Marksmanship Training Support Act (H.R. 2463) Public Lands Filming (H.R. 2798) Polar Bear Conservation and Fairness Act (H.R. 1818) Permanent Electronic Duck Stamp Act (H.R. 1206) Access to Water Resources Development Projects Act (H.R. 2046) Wildlife and Hunting Heritage Conservation Council Advisory Committee (H.R. 2799) Recreational Fishing and Hunting Heritage and Opportunities Act (H.R. 1825) Please join us in cosponsoring this important legislation to promote and preserve the values and traditions that sportsmen and sportswomen enjoy in the United States.  To receive additional information, or to sign on as a cosponsor, please contact Allison Witt in the office of Congressman Bob Latta at 225-6405 or allison.witt@mail.house.gov or Cory Horton in the office of Congressman Bennie Thompson at 225-5876 or chorton@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s/                                                                                             /s/ Robert E. Latta                                                                         Bennie Thompson Member of Congress                                                                Member of Congress Co-Chair                                                                                  Co-Chair          /s/                                                                                             /s/ Rob Wittman                                                                            Tim Walz Member of Congress                                                                Member of Congress Vice-Chair                                                                               Vice-Chair''
''Become a Cosponsor of Legislation to Ensure Transplant Recipients Keep their Kidneys! Supported by: the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Transplant Surgeons, the American Society of Transplantation, the Association of Organ Procurement Organizations, the American Society of Pediatric Nephrology, the Renal Support Network, Dialysis Patient Citizens, the Renal Physicians Association, and the American Society of Nephrology. Dear Colleague: We have introduced H.R. 1428, the “Comprehensive Immunosuppressive Drug Coverage for Kidney Transplant Patients Act of 2013,” bipartisan, bicameral legislation to help kidney transplant recipients maintain Medicare Part B coverage of immunosuppressive drugs that are necessary to avoid organ rejection. As you may know, those with end stage renal disease (ESRD) are entitled to Medicare coverage for kidney dialysis or transplantation if they or their spouse have paid into Social Security for a minimum of 40 quarters. Kidney transplant recipients then qualify for Medicare immunosuppressive drugs coverage, regardless of age. However, unless they are also eligible for Medicare due to age or disability (receiving SSDI), their Medicare coverage ends 36 months post transplant and they are forced to find other ways to pay for these expensive medications. Conversely, Medicare coverage for dialysis is indefinite. This disjoined coverage increases the chance that transplant recipients will lose their kidney and return to dialysis at tremendous cost to the government. Our bill simply corrects this inequity, and would provide coverage of immunosuppressive drugs for kidney recipients who were ESRD beneficiaries at the time of the transplant and have no other source of coverage. The bill would cover transplant anti-rejection medications only – all other Medicare coverage would cease 3 years after the transplant, as under current law. This legislation will help save lives and is a cost effective use of taxpayer dollars. In 2010, Medicare spent $24,612 on a beneficiary with a functioning kidney transplant (after the year of transplant), compared to $86,316 annually on a beneficiary who was on hemodialysis. This bill has received strong support from numerous transplant and patient organizations. If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor of H.R. 1428, please contact Sarah Johnson at Sarah.Johnson@mail.house.gov in Rep. Burgess’ office or Elizabeth Stower at Elizabeth.Stower@mail.house.gov in Rep. Kind’s office.                                                                         Sincerely, ________________________                                                            ________________________ Michael C. Burgess, M.D.                                                               Ron Kind                                              Member of Congress                                                                        Member of Congress''
''THE FACTS ABOUT “THE INNOVATION ACT” Dear Colleague: The Innovation Act itself is the product of a lengthy, deliberate, open and transparent process that has actively engaged countless interested Members from both sides of the aisle in the House and the Senate, stakeholders from all areas of our economy, and was developed in consultation with and thoughtful consideration to the views of the public, the judiciary and the administrative agencies of expertise. The bill’s provisions result from many years of dedicated work. The legislation itself was introduced only after the Judiciary Committee provided public notice and conducted two oversight hearings and then posted and circulated two public discussion drafts in May and September of this year. The Committee then conducted a legislative hearing on H.R. 3309 in October before scheduling an open markup that resulted in numerous amendments being considered and accepted to the bill before it was reported by an affirmative vote of 33-5 last month. In sum, The Innovation Act is the product of a thoughtful, deliberate and inclusive oversight and legislative process that culminated in earning overwhelming bipartisan support. The Innovation Act represents much-needed progress in the fight against unjust lawsuits. When the bill is considered by the House, I encourage you to stand with the numerous conservative groups, main street businesses, entrepreneurs, innovators, consumer groups and university professors who recognize the need to reign in abusive patent lawsuits and against those who are working to preserve the ability to extract extortionate settlements.                                                                                                                          Sincerely,                                                                                                                          Bob Goodlatte                                                                                                                          Chairman                                                                                                                          U.S. House Judiciary Committee''
''University Professors Support the Innovation Act (H.R. 3309) Support Legislation to Stop Patent Litigation Abuse Dear Colleague:           American intellectual property, and patents in particular, drive innovation across all industries.  Abusive litigation practices, often referred to as patent troll behavior, have burdened legitimate businesses with extensive litigation costs and the choice between paying thousands of dollars to settle vague claims of patent infringement or spending millions to prove that patent infringement claims are invalid. American jobs are put at risk when companies are forced to spend money on litigation, rather than expanding their business.           Hometown businesses across America have been sued for using technology as basic as hyperlinks, online shopping carts, office scanners, and postal bar codes. That is why a large coalition of academics, retail businesses, online businesses, technology companies and others have joined together to support H.R. 3309, the “Innovation Act.”           In a recent letter signed by 61 university professors, they emphasized:           “We all share concern that an increasing number of patent owners are taking advantage of weaknesses in the system to exploit their rights in ways that on net deter, rather than encourage, the development of new technology.”           The letter further noted:           “However, empirical evidence strongly suggests that many PAEs (patent assertion entities) have a net negative impact on innovation.”           When you vote on the “Innovation Act,” please consider the support for the legislation from these 61 university professors and the many others who support enactment of the “Innovation Act.”           I urge you to support passage of the “Innovation Act” as well.                                                                                                                              Sincerely,                                                                                                                              Bob Goodlatte                                                                                                                              Chairman                                                                                                                              U.S. House Judiciary Committee''
''Stop Improper Payments to the Deceased SUPPORT THE IPACE ACT Current Sponsors (14): Bustos, Gibson, Murphy (FL), Enyart, Quigley, Ribble, Fortenberry, Cooper, Carney, Owens, Welch, Kelly (IL), Kuster, Braley Dear Colleague, Each year, federal payments are erroneously made to individuals who are deceased, and should obviously no longer be eligible under program rules. This issue was recently highlighted in a Washington Post article. Improving the collection of information on deceased beneficiaries has the potential to save the government hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars. Examples of past improper payments for deceased individuals include: ·         A total of $601 million in improper payments were made from 2006 to 2010 to federal retirees later found to have already died; ·         More than $1 billion in farm program payments to farmers who were dead for more than three years; and ·         Medicare prescription drug plans were paid approximately $3.6 million for drugs provided to 1500 dead beneficiaries. Improper payments are largely caused by inadequate sharing among federal agencies of death data managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA maintains the Death Master File (DMF), which contains the most complete information on who has died. However, most federal agencies rely on a slimmed down, incomplete version of the DMF. The Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement (IPACE) Act would take several steps to improve the information that is available to federal agencies including: ·         Improving the Death Master File; ·         Requiring use of death data to curb improper payments; ·         Allowing federal agencies access to the complete Death Master File database; and ·         Ensuring that federal agencies managing retirement programs share best practices. Please join us in supporting this common-sense legislation to improve the collection of information, cut down on fraud, and save the government money. If you would like to cosponsor the IPACEAct, or if you would like more information, please contact todd.wolf@mail.house.gov with Rep. Cheri Bustos or rebecca.shaw@mail.house.gov with Rep. Chris Gibson. Sincerely, _________________________                                              ________________________ Cheri Bustos                                                                             Chris Gibson Member of Congress                                                              Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: We are writing to draw your attention to the attached letter of support sent by 25 groups representing the members of the Friends of Indian Health. H.R. 3391 would amend the tax code to provide fairness for health professionals who receive awards from the Indian Health Service (IHS) Health Professions programs.  Making those awards exempt from federal income tax will create parity between IHS programs and similar National Health Service Corps (NHSC) programs. We hope you will join us by becoming a cosponsor of H.R. 3391, the Indian Health Service Health Professions Tax Fairness Act of 2013.  To cosponsor, please contact Chris Marklund in Rep. Valadao’s office at Chris.Marklund@mail.house.gov or Ken Montoya in Rep. Kirkpatrick’s office at Ken.Montoya@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, David Valadao                           Ann Kirkpatrick Member of Congress                 Member of Congress Friends of Indian Health November 1, 2012 Dear Representative: Our organizations, as members of the Friends of Indian Health, are writing to urge you to cosponsor HR 3391, the “Indian Health Service Health Professions Tax Fairness Act of 2013”. This bill would amend the tax code to provide health care professionals who receive student loan repayments from the Indian Health Service (IHS) the same tax free status enjoyed by those who receive National Health Service Corps (NHSC) loan repayments. Under the IHS and NHSC programs, health care professionals provide needed care and services to underserved populations. However, the IHS uses a large portion of its resources to pay the taxes that are assessed on its loan recipients. Currently, the Service is spending 29.7 percent of its Health Professions’ account for taxes. Making the IHS loan repayments tax free would save the agency $7.21 million, funding an additional 232 awards. The loan repayment program has proven to be the IHS’s best recruitment and retention tool to ensure an adequate health workforce to serve in the many remote IHS locations. In Fiscal Year 2012, the IHS had 1,226 requests for loan repayment, and awarded 504 new contracts and 316 contract extensions. Due to a lack of funds, 406 requests were denied. Changing the tax status of the IHS loans to make them tax free would enable the agency to fill two-thirds or more of the loan repayment requests without increasing the IHS Health Professions’ account. The President’s FY 2014 budget recommendation for the Indian Health Service supported this approach noting, “The IHS Health Professions Scholarship and the IHS Loan Repayment Programs are very similar to other programs that receive preferred tax treatment, and should therefore receive similar tax treatment.” Please contact Chris Marklund in Rep. David Valadao’s office at Chris.Marklund@mail.house.govor Ken Montoya in Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick’s office at Ken.Montoya@mail.house.govif you would like to cosponsor HR 3391. Thank you for considering this request. American Academy of Family Physicians American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry American Academy of Physician Assistants American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy American Association of Colleges of Nursing American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy American Association of Nurse Anesthetists Association of American Medical Colleges American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists American Dental Association American Dental Education Association American Heart Association American Medical Association American Nurses Association American Optometric Association American Osteopathic Association American Pharmacists Association American Physical Therapy Association American Podiatric Medical Association American Psychiatric Association American Psychological Association Association of Women’s Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses Friends Committee on National Legislation International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium''
''Dear Colleague: The Dept. of Defense, CIA, Dept. of Justice, and Dept. of Homeland Security each have independent Inspectors General (IG), and all have to undergo a formal Senate confirmation process before they can take their position. This process does not apply to the NSA. It is the most prominent security agency without an independent IG, and in their case, appointment comes at the agency’s Director’s discretion. As noted in a recent Washington Post op-ed by the former IG of the CIA, Britt Snider, this lack of independence creates an environment where employees of the IG’s office worry about their careers if their findings and conclusions are critical of the agency. How can one give an independent assessment of a problem if their job may be determined by their assessment? The NSA Inspector General Act of 2013 addresses these problems by requiring the NSA’s IG to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, mirroring the changes made to oversight of the CIA years ago. Additionally, this legislation also requires the Director to undergo the same formal confirmation process.   Please join me in working to give the NSA’s IG office more independence to fulfill their mandate of oversight by becoming a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which was introduced on Wednesday, October 30th. For more information, or to become a co-sponsor, please contact my office and speak with Chris Stevens, at 202-225-3176 or chris.stevens@mail.house.gov. Original Cosponsors: Paul C. Broun, Mick Mulvaney, Alan Grayson, Kerry L. Bentivolio, Tom Rice, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Justin Amash, Thomas Massie, Trey Gowdy, Jeff Duncan, Joe Wilson, and James F. Sensenbrenner.    Sincerely, Mark Sanford Member of Congress''
''Cosponsor the “Our Daughters Are Not for Sale” Resolution about Child Sex Trafficking in the U.S. Dear Colleague: We invite you to cosponsor the bipartisan “Our Daughters Are Not for Sale” resolution that we are sponsoring and that will be introduced later this week. This important resolution will draw attention to the complex issue of child sex trafficking in the U.S. Researchers have estimated that hundreds of thousands of American children are at risk of commercial sexual exploitation. Many of these youth have been in foster care or been part of the child welfare system. For example, 59 percent of youth arrested for prostitution in Los Angeles County in 2010 were in foster care. Similarly, 60 percent of children reported missing to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as likely child sex trafficking victims were in foster care or group homes when they ran away. We owe it to these youth to treat them as victims, not as criminals, and to ensure that traffickers and buyers are prosecuted. We also need to ensure that our nation’s foster care system does all it can to protect vulnerable youth so they can live safe, happy, and successful lives. For too many kids in foster care, we are not living up to that promise. We urge you to join us in supporting this important legislation. Sincerely, Congressman David Reichert (R-WA)? Congressman Rick Nolan (D-MN) House Concurrent Resolution Expressing the sense of the Congress that children trafficked in the United States be treated as victims of crime, and not as perpetrators. Whereas, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, it is estimated that hundreds of thousands of American children are at risk for commercial sexual exploitation; Whereas this risk is even greater for the up to 30,000 young people who are emancipated from foster care each year; Whereas many of these children are girls previously or currently living in foster care or otherwise involved in the child welfare system; Whereas flaws in the child welfare system in the United States, such as an over-reliance on group homes and barriers to youth engaging in age-appropriate activities, contribute to children’s vulnerability to domestic sex trafficking; Whereas the average age of entry into sex trafficking for girls is between just 12 and 14 years old; Whereas many child sex trafficking victims have experienced previous physical and/or sexual abuse—vulnerabilities that traffickers exploit to lure them into a life of sexual slavery that exposes them to long-term abuse; Whereas many child sex trafficking victims are the “lost girls”, standing around bus stops, in the runaway and homeless youth shelters, advertised online—hidden in plain view; and Whereas many child sex trafficking victims who have not yet attained the age of consent are arrested and detained for juvenile prostitution or status offenses directly related to their exploitation: Now, therefore, be it                    Resolved, That the Congress — (1) finds that law enforcement, judges, child welfare agencies, and the public should treat children being trafficked for sex as victims of child abuse; (2) finds that every effort should be made to arrest and hold accountable both traffickers and buyers of children for sex, in accordance with Federal laws to protect victims of trafficking and State child protection laws against abuse, in order to take all necessary measures to protect our Nation’s children from harm; (3) supports survivors of domestic child sex trafficking, including their efforts to raise awareness of this tragedy and the services they need to heal from the complex trauma of sexual violence and exploitation; (4) recognizes that most girls who are bought and sold for sex in the United States have been involved in the child welfare system, which has a responsibility to protect them and requires reform to better prevent domestic child sex trafficking and aid the victims of this tragedy; (5) believes that the child welfare system should identify, assess, and provide supportive services to children in its care who are the victims of sex trafficking, or at risk of becoming victims; and (6) supports an end to demand for girls by declaring that our Nation’s daughters are not for sale and that any person who purchases a child for sex should be appropriately held accountable with the full force of the law.''
''Help Community Banks Fight Money Laundering Become Original Co-Sponsor of “Building Community Banks’ Capacity to Combat Money Laundering Act.” Deadline to become original co-sponsor, December 3rd. Dear Colleague, In 2012, HSBC Bank was levied a $1.9 billion fine by U.S. bank regulators for violating the Bank Secrecy Act. Ensuring that U.S. banks are not complicit in criminal activity and holding them accountable for lapses in safeguards against money laundering should be a top priority for Congress and financial regulators. Appropriately, financial regulators have recently raised their expectations with regard to Bank Secrecy Act compliance. Significant costs for training, consulting, computer programs, and auditing are all part of a proper BSA-Anti-Money-Laundering (BSA-AML) compliance plan. Large banks, acting as economies of scale, may be able to absorb these costs. However, the large, fixed costs that are needed for a robust BSA-AML program are causing great strain on community banks. To address this concern, Rep. Hinojosa will introduce a bill that will utilize a portion of BSA fines to help mitigate burdensome training and technology costs and to build community banks’ capacity to combat money laundering. Historically, our government has often utilized fines collected from law-breaking organizations to combat the misconduct’s resulting social ills. Funds realized from the Big Tobacco settlements have been used in large part to reduce the public health impact of smoking, and the funds from the big banks’ mortgage settlements have been used to mitigate the impact of harmful mortgage practices on homeowners. Fines collected from institutions that run afoul of the Bank Secrecy Act should be used in part to improve our community banks’ ability to fight money laundering on the front lines. Please join me as an original co-sponsor of the “Building Community Banks’ Capacity to Combat Money Laundering Act.” For more information and bill language, please contact Holly Bullard, holly.bullard@mail.house.gov; 5-2531. Deadline to become original co-sponsor, December 3rd. Sincerely, Rubén Hinojosa TX-15 Member of Congress''
''Current Cosponsors: Bass, Bachmann, Black, Bonamici, Braley, Brooks, Cooper, Diaz-Balart, Doggett, Franks, Israel, Jackson-Lee, Eddie Bernice Johnson, Langevin, Murphy, O’Rouke, Olson, Richmond, Schiff, Schwartz, Sensenbrenner, Sires, Takano, Wilson, and Wolf Dear Colleague: Around the world, millions of children are stuck and forgotten, living in institutions or on the streets, struggling to survive.  Decades of social science and neuroscience confirms children need families to thrive.  At the same time, international adoptions to the U.S. have plummeted for nine straight years by over 62%, from 22,000 to now only about 8,000 each year. To make sure that U.S. policy and foreign assistance align with the priority of placing children in need with caring families, we have introduced a landmark piece of legislation — HR 3323, the Children in Families First Act of 2013 (“CHIFF”) and the companion bill to S. 1530 by Senators Landrieu and Blunt. CHIFF prioritizes the value of family-based care in U.S. international adoption and in our foreign assistance, and also streamlines and simplifies the bureaucracy to better support American families that wish to adopt internationally. CHIFF creates a leadership position in the State Department to prioritize child welfare diplomacy, helping foreign governments strengthen their capacity to identify and protect their vulnerable children, and to continue the Department’s diplomatic role on international adoption. CHIFF establishes a USAID Center of Excellence to implement the U.S. Action Plan for Children in Adversity and target foreign assistance to ensure strong, ongoing commitment to the priority of family in our U.S. foreign assistance. CHIFF strengthens protections while also removing unnecessary bureaucratic barriers to international adoption, ensuring high standards for evaluating and training prospective adoptive parents, streamlining and simplifying the adoption process, and eliminating duplicative responsibilities across different federal agencies. CHIFF enjoys bipartisan support in Congress and is widely supported by child welfare and advocacy organizations from all across our country (please see the list of endorsing organizations at the bottom).  Please join us in supporting CHIFF’s important reforms. To become a cosponsor or receive additional information, please contact Joe Wang (joe.wang@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Kay Granger, Jenny Wood (jenny.wood@mail.house.gov) with Rep. Karen Bass, or Bethany Haley (bethany.haley@mail.house.gov) with Reps. Michelle Bachmann and Trent Franks. Sincerely, Kay Granger Member of Congress Karen Bass Member of Congress Organizations Endorsing CHIFF ·         ABBA Fund ·         Adoption Ministry of YWAM – Ethiopia ·         Adoption STAR ·         Adoptions of Indiana ·         All God’s Children International ·         American Academy of Adoption Attorneys ·         Baker Victory Services ·         Barker Foundation ·         Bethany Christian Services ·         Buckner International ·         Center for Adoption Policy ·         Children’s Home Society ·         Children’s Hope ·         Children’s House International ·         Christian Alliance for Orphans ·         Crossroads Adoption Services ·         Dillon International ·         Dillon Southwest ·         Equality for Adopted Children ·         European Adoption Consultants ·         Focus on the Family ·         Futuro de los Ninos ·         Gladney Center for Adoption ·         Golden Cradle Adoption ·         Harvard University Child Advocacy Program ·         Hopscotch Adoption ·         International Adoption Net ·         International Child Advocacy Network ·         Joint Council on International Children’s Services ·         KidSave ·         LOVE Acadiana ·         Lutheran Social Services of the South, Inc ·         Lutherans Social Service of Minnesota ·         Miriam’s Promise ·         MLJ Adoptions ·         National Council for Adoption ·         Patch Our Planet ·         Rainbow Kids ·         Reece’s Rainbow Down Syndrome Adoption Grant Foundation ·         Saddleback Church ·         Seeds of Love ·         The Cradle ·         University of Minnesota, International Adoption Clinic ·         World Association for Children and Parents''
''Support the Back to Basics Jobs Creation Act of 2013 Dear Colleague:             I invite you to cosponsor H.R. 2109, the Back to Basics Jobs Creation Act of 2013.   This legislation responds to the frustrations I heard from my constituents time and time again.  It is a simple, common-sense proposal to create jobs now.             H.R. 2109 is an intensive, one-year program where local governments can immediately compete to provide self-employment and small business support for the long-term unemployed, those who have exhausted their benefits, and low-income individuals.             Similar to proposals included in the President’s jobs bill and the original intent of the TANF Emergency Contingency Fund, the Back to Basics Jobs Creation Act establishesan immediate $5 billion grant program to deliver job creation funds directly to the hardest hit communities.  These grants may be used to develop programs which provide seed funds for self-employment opportunities, small business development, and any related costs towards the costs of creating gainful employment and getting Americans back to work.             Notably, this legislation does not subsidize existing jobs or administrative costs.  H.R. 2109 immediately jumpstarts the economy by overcoming those first hurdles new entrepreneurs experience – seed funds, business training, financial literacy, additional certifications, small business plan development, and patent and copyright processes.  It gives them all the tools they needto create jobs now, not in six months, not next year – now.             I hope you will join me in supporting this simple bill.  For more information, or to cosponsor, please contact Jamila Thompson on my staff at Jamila.thompson@mail.house.gov or x5-3801.                                                 Sincerely,                                                 /s                                                 John Lewis                                                 Member of Congress''
''Current Signers: Clarke, Wasserman-Schultz, Lee, Waters, Frederica Wilson, Lewis, Hank Johnson, Dear Colleague, In October 2010, UN peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti from a UN base camp some 40 kilometers northeast of Port au Prince. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that the epidemic resulted from the UN’s use of inadequate and outdated protocols that failed to prevent its peacekeepers from bringing cholera into Haiti, as well as its reckless disposal of waste into Haiti’s largest river system. UN culpability was recently detailed in reports released by Yale University Law School and School of Public Health, and by the UN’s own Panel of Expertson the Haiti cholera epidemic. The UN’s response to date has been wholly inadequate. The UN continues to refuse to take responsibility for the outbreak, and the fund established by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to provide resources to the Cholera Elimination Plan sits at only 10 percent of the total sought. Secretary-General Ban claimed, in a July 5 letter to eighteen members of Congress who had expressed concern about the UN response, that the UN has built two wastewater treatment facilities in Haiti. But the UN was only one of many donors who contributed to the plants’ construction and both have faced operational difficulties due to a lack of funding.” Please join me in sending a letter to UN Ambassador Power that urges the U.S. Mission to intensify its efforts to get the UN to accept responsibility for its role in establishing the cholera outbreak in Haiti and to remedy the situation in a timely and comprehensive manner.  If you would like to sign the letter, please contact Michael Darner (michael.darner@mail.house.gov) at 5-5126. Sincerely, John Conyers, Jr. MEMBER OF CONGRESS November X, 2013 The Honorable Ambassador Samantha Power U.S. Permanent Representative to the United Nations United States Mission to the United Nations 799 United Nations Plaza New York, N.Y. 10017 Dear Ambassador Power, We write to draw your attention to the United Nations’ response to Haiti’s cholera epidemic – a response that threatens to undermine the UN’s mandate to promote human rights and peace around the globe. In October 2010, UN peacekeepers introduced cholera to Haiti from a UN base camp some 40 kilometers northeast of Port au Prince. Overwhelming evidence demonstrates that the epidemic resulted from the UN’s use of inadequate and outdated protocols that failed to prevent its peacekeepers from bringing cholera into Haiti, as well as its reckless disposal of waste into Haiti’s largest river system. UN culpability was recently detailed in reports released by Yale University Law School and School of Public Health, and by the UN’s own Panel of Expertson the Haiti cholera epidemic. The UN’s response to date has been wholly inadequate. The UN continues to refuse to take responsibility for the outbreak, and the fund established by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki Moon to provide resources to the Cholera Elimination Plan sits at only 10 percent of the total sought. Secretary-General Ban claimed, in a July 5 letter to eighteen members of Congress who had expressed concern about the UN response, that the UN has built two wastewater treatment facilities in Haiti. But the UN was only one of many donors who contributed to the plants’ construction and both have faced operational difficulties due to a lack of funding.” We appreciate that the U.S. Mission to the UN has demonstrated its interest in remedying the massive harm caused by the UN cholera epidemic in Haiti. We urge you to continue the Mission’s focus on the issue and to intensify efforts to find a just solution to this outbreak. The benefits of such a focus and the implementation of just remedies are evident. Most critically, full funding of the Cholera Elimination Plan, along with improved water and sanitation infrastructure in Haiti, will reduce or eliminate cholera on the island of Hispaniola and help to combat a range of other diarrheal diseases and public health concerns. It bears emphasis that the right to clean water and adequate sanitation are rights guaranteed to the Haitian people by the UN General Assembly in July 2010 by Resolution 64/292. Moreover, as the Washington Post Editorial Board noted on August 11, “by refusing to acknowledge responsibility, the United Nations jeopardizes its standing and moral authority in Haiti and in other countries where its personnel are deployed.” In addition, failure to accept responsibility for its actions will make it significantly more difficult for MINUSTAH to fulfill its mandate to build the rule of law in Haiti. Exhortations to submit to the law, to police officers, judges, government officials and citizens in Haiti will be undermined by the UN’s own actions in regards to accepting legal responsibility for the cholera epidemic. Resources that may continue to be required for peacekeeping operations could instead be used to save lives and allow the Haitian people to realize their basic rights. The United Nations has a moral and legal obligation to redress the harm resulting from the actions of its peacekeeping operations. It is time for the UN to accept responsibility to prevent needless additional tragic deaths and illness among Haitians. The United States, due its standing as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council and its significant financial and diplomatic investments in Haiti, must be a strong voice for justice.  We appreciate your support in this noble and urgent endeavor. Sincerely,''
''Comprehensive Fossil Fuel Subsidy Repeal To Save Taxpayers Over $110 Billion Dear Colleague, At a time when we have a massive debt, we cannot afford to continue to give away taxpayer money to the established, highly profitable fossil fuel industry.  The five largest oil companies in the United States earned roughly $1 trillion in profits over the past decade.  Meanwhile, from 2002 to 2008, the U.S. Government gave the fossil fuel industry over $72 billion in subsidies. The End Polluter Welfare Act would eliminate all oil, coal, and natural gas production subsidies.  The measure would do away with over $110 billion in planned federal tax breaks, financial assistance, royalty relief, direct federal research and development, and many loopholes that benefit the fossil fuel industry. Please join me in cosponsoring the End Polluter Welfare Act.  To co-sponsor, contact Vic Edgerton at vic.edgerton@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Keith Ellison Member of Congress''
''Become an Original Cosponsor of the AAAS Policy Fellowship’s 40th Anniversary Resolution Current Original Cosponsors: Blumenauer, Costa, Davis, DeLauro, Fattah, Fortenberry, Foster, Grijalva, Holt, Honda, Israel, Jasckson-Lee, Levin, Lewis, McCollum, McNerney, Nunes, Peters, Ranger, Rohrabacher, Sessions, Shea-Porter, Slaughter, Valado, Wilson Dear Colleague: Please join us in cosponsoring a resolution recognizing the 40th Anniversary of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program. Forty years ago, in 1973, Congress hosted the first AAAS Congressional Science and Engineering Fellows. The program was the first of its kind to provide doctoral level scientists and engineers with an opportunity to learn about policymaking, while bolstering the technical expertise available to Members of Congress. Since its inception, nearly 100 Congressional offices and committees, as well as the Congressional Research Service, Government Accountability Office, and the former Office of Technology Assessment have hosted nearly 1,200 Congressional Science & Engineering Fellows in the legislative branch. As you well know, Congress legislates frequently on public policy issues of a scientific and technical nature, and many members have recognized the need to develop additional in-house expertise in the areas of science, technology and engineering. AAAS fellows are selected through a rigorous process that represents the full range of biological, behavioral and social, computational, earth, health and medical, and physical sciences and engineering. They provide support to the Congressional offices where they work by meeting with constituents and outside groups, analyzing issues, writing speeches and press releases, developing legislation, serving asliaisons to committees, and organizing hearings on legislative issues. Over four decades AAAS has partnered with more than 60 professional societies and organizations to sponsor more than 2,600 Science and Technology Policy Fellows in the legislative and executive branch. The outcome is a growing corps of policy-savvy leaders in science and engineering working across sectors to help address societal challenges and serve the nation and citizens around the world. We hope you can join us as an original cosponsor of the resolution recognizing the significance of the 40th Anniversary of the AAAS Science and Technology Policy Fellowship program.  Please contact Sean Gallagher of Rep. Holt’s staff (sean.gallagher@mail.house.gov; 202-225-5801) or Caitlin Shannon of Rep. Nunes’ staff Caitlin.Shannon@mail.house.gov; 202-225-2523) with questions or to sign on as an original cosponsor. Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely, Rush Holt                                                                    Devin Nunes Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: I write to ask for your support of my amendment to H.R. 1965, the Federal Lands Jobs and Energy Security Act. My amendment would allow the Interior Department to continue reviewing proposed energy projects for possible “extraordinary circumstances,” such as violations of state, federal or tribal law. My amendment would strike language from the underlying bill that would prevent the Interior Department from checking for the following extraordinary circumstances before bypassing NEPA through a Categorical Exclusion: •                    Significant impacts on public health or safety; •                    Violations of a Federal, State, local, or tribal law; •                    Limits to access and ceremonial use of Indian sacred sites; •                    The introduction, continued existence, or spread of noxious weeds or non-native invasive species; •                    And eight other potential significant problems. Source: Title 43 Section 46.215 of the Code of Federal Regulations HR 1965 eliminates those protections; my amendment would preserve them. If you have any questions, please contact Devin Helfrich at Devin.Helfrich@mail.house.gov or x57924. Sincerely, Alan Lowenthal (CA-47) Member of Congress''
''Dear Members, Resident Commissioner, Delegates, House Officers, and Staff: As previously noted, the CAO’s Office of Payroll and Benefits has extended its daily open houses for congressional staff with questions concerning their healthcare options. The location for the November 20 – 22 sessions will be Room 1036A Longworth. Representatives from Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, and United Healthcare will be on hand from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to answer your questions. Please contact the Office of Payroll and Benefits at 202-225-1435 with questions. Sincerely, /s/ Dan Strodel Chief Administrative Officer''
''Dear Colleague, The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently revealed a five-year road map for integrating Unmanned Aircraft Systems (drones) into the National Airspace System. Though the plan is a step forward in addressing this emerging technology, the announcement made clear that the FAA has no intention of addressing the serious privacy concerns raised by drone integration. Please join me in cosponsoring H.R. 2868, the Drone Aircraft Privacy and Transparency Act, which would require the FAA to address privacy concerns related to domestic drone operation. H.R. 2868 would: Prohibit the FAA from issuing drone licenses unless the application includes a data collection statement that explains who will operate the drone, where the drone will be flown, what kind of data will be collected, how that data will be used, whether the information will be sold to third parties and the period for which the information will be retained. Require law enforcement agencies to include an additional data minimization statement that explains how they will minimize the collection and retention of data unrelated to the investigation of a crime. Ensure that any surveillance involving drones by law enforcement agencies require a warrant or extreme exigent circumstances. Require the FAA to create a publicly available website that lists all approved licenses and includes the data collection and data minimization statements, any data security breaches suffered by a licensee, and the times and locations of drone flights. The FAA has a responsibility to protect privacy while it works to incorporate drones into national airspace. H.R. 2868, which I am pleased to have introduced with Senator Markey, ensures the FAA cannot ignore the privacy rights of Americans.  For additional information or to sign on, please contact Glynna Kerr on my staff at glynna.kerr@mail.house.gov.                                                                                                                         Sincerely,                                                                                                                         Peter Welch                                                                                                                         Member of Congress''
''Dear Members, Resident Commissioner, Delegates, House Officers, and Staff: The Chief Administrative Officer is pleased to announce the launch of a new online self-service website for initiating and tracking service requests – Service Request Management (SRM). Developed in-house, SRM lets users submit and track their service requests online. The requests are routed directly to CAO service providers, and the status of those requests can be viewed at any time. The self-service site includes several popular services provided by the CAO, such as information technology, office furniture, telephones, and equipment requests. For more information, visit HouseNet or email the CAO Remedy Team at remedyteam@housemail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s/ Dan Strodel Chief Administrative Officer''
''REWARD HARDWORKING AMERICANS WITH EQUAL TREATMENT UNDER THE TAX CODE Become a Cosponsor of the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2013 Current Cosponsors: Reps. Blumenauer, Brady, Cartwright, Conyers, Doggett, Foxx, Grijalva, Green, Honda, Loebsack, McCollum, McGovern, Moore, Nadler, Pascrell, Peterson, Schiff, Simpson, Slaughter, Titus, and Yarmuth November 18, 2013 Dear Colleague: I invite you to join me as a cosponsor of the Artist-Museum Partnership Act of 2013, H.R. 2482 (formerly H.R. 1190 in the 112th Congress). This bill encourages American artists – including writers, composers, and the like – to donate their work to public institutions (such as schools, museums, and libraries), thus ensuring the preservation of American art for future generations.  The Artist-Museum Partnership Act would correct an imbalance in the tax code and allow the artists to take a tax deduction for the fair market value of the works that they donate. Over the past thirty-five years, there has been a dramatic decline in the number of original works of art offered to institutions.  One of the biggest contributors to this decline in gift giving has been an inequity in our tax code, one that unnecessarily discourages artists from donating their work directly to non-profit institutions.  Art collectorsmay claim a tax deduction for the fair market value of an artistic work, but the artists themselves may only deduct the cost of supplies – ink, paper, canvas, etc. – that, in nearly all cases, is a nominal amount.  This completely discounts the value of the time and effort spent in creating their work. Prior to 1969, the tax code allowed artists to claim a tax deduction when they donated their works to public institutions.  Since the repeal of this provision, our libraries, universities, museums, and other public institutions have suffered the consequences.  The Library of Congress, for example, has experienced one of the most significant declines of gifts.  Prior to 1969, the Library of Congress received 15-20 large gifts of manuscripts and letters every year.  In the four years after the law was changed, the Library of Congress received only one such gift. The Artist-Museum Partnership Act would right this wrong, and put back in place the law that allowed hardworking American artists to claim a tax deduction for the fair market value of works they donate to public institutions. The Artist-Museum Partnership Act will make a critical difference in an artist’s decision to donate his or her work. I hope that you will stand with me and encourage American artists, once again, to share their work with the American public and inspire future generations.  If you would like to become a cosponsor or for additional information, please contact DeCarlo S. McLaren on my staff at 225-3801 or DeCarlo.McLaren@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s John Lewis Member of Congress''
''Dear Members, Resident Commissioner, Delegates, and Staff: The CAO’s Office of Payroll and Benefits has extended its daily open houses for congressional staff with questions concerning their healthcare options. From Monday, November 18th until Friday, November 22nd, representatives from Aetna, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Kaiser Permanente, and United Healthcare will be on hand from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in 1310 Longworth to answer your questions.* Contact the Office of Payroll and Benefits at 202-225-1435 with questions. *Please note that the open house will move to another location on Wednesday, November 20th.  A notification will be sent prior to Wednesday with the new location. Sincerely, /s/ Dan Strodel Chief Administrative Officer''
''Codify a Successful Workplace Safety Program Cosponsor the Voluntary Protection Program Act (H.R. 632) Dear Colleague: Please consider cosponsoring H.R. 632, which would authorize and improve one of the federal government’s most successful workplace health and safety programs, the Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), operated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The VPP program recognizes and rewards employers who voluntarily work to improve the health and safety of their worksites.  Employers — working together with employees — apply for certification of VPP status from OSHA.  Once approved, VPP worksites must commit to continuously improving the safety and health of their worksites.  VPP sites are reevaluated and monitored by OSHA to ensured continued compliance with program requirements.  Participating workplaces have an illness and injury rate that, on average, is 50 percent below that of their industry. Since the VPP was created in 1982, it has grown to more than 2,300 worksites and roughly one million employees.  Furthermore, 83 percent of VPP worksites have fewer than 500 employees and 46% have fewer than 100 employees.  Please review the testimony of a small employer from Colorado before the Senate HELP Committee to understand what a difference VPP certification can make for small businesses. The cost of VPP is more than recouped by the savings it creates.  VPP costs federal taxpayers about $3.125 million, annually.  In 2007 alone, federal agency VPP participants saved the government more than $59 million by avoiding injuries and private sector VPP participants saved more than $300 million.  The Department of Defense has estimated that it saves between $73,000 and $8.8 million per site because of VPP.  When workplaces make the significant commitment to safety required by VPP, it allows OSHA to focus its resources where they are most needed. This program has never been authorized in law and was proposed to be cut by the Obama administration’s fiscal year 2011 budget.  While the administration backed away from those cuts in its fiscal year 2012 budget proposal, its fiscal year 2013 budget proposed a 40 percent reduction in new VPP sites from 2012 levels. H.R. 632 would not increase spending.  It would simply put this highly successful program on a solid foundation and would implement changes recommended by GAO to strengthen the program going forward.  For more information, please contact Kevin James in Rep. Petri’s office (x52476) or Anthony Hinojosa in Rep. Green’s office (x51688). Sincerely, Tom Petri                                                              Gene Green Member of Congress                                           Member of Congress''
''Co-Sponsor Congresswoman Renee Ellmers’ “Health Insurance Freedom Act of 2013”  Under Obamacare, “Essential Health Benefits (EHB’s)” are required in all individual and small group health plans.  EHB’s include (at a minimum) 10 general categories such as pediatric care for older Americans, and maternity & newborn care for single men and women, who may not be physically able to have children or choose not to.  H.R. 3450, the Health Insurance Freedom Act, creates an “other” category outside the metallic plans, where folks can opt out of the EHB’s and choose a plan that is right for them.                                              Folks should not be forced into a one- size-fits-all plan.  EHB’s are the primary reason premiums are sky rocketing and over 5 million people have received cancellation notices from their insurance companies.  Contact Mitch Vakerics at Mitchell.Vakerics@mail.house.gov to join as a co-sponsor.''
''Dear Colleague: On Wednesday, November 6, 2013, HHS Secretary Sebelius told the Senate Finance Committee that it was ‘possible’ for a convicted felon to become an ObamaCare navigator. Despite this revelation, Obama’s navigators have been unleashed into communities across American to enroll individuals and families into health care plans. There is no way for the public to know who these individuals are or what these individuals will do with their personal and financial information.  H.R. 3429, the Consumer Protection Act, ensures that at a minimum consumers’ personal information is protected and at a minimum convicted felons won’t be enrolling Americans in health care plans.  Thirteen Attorneys General made clear in a letter to Secretary Sebelius that the navigator program poses significant risks to consumer privacy. The Federal Trade Commission is concerned. The Administration should be concerned too. Yet, it’s made clear that enrolling individuals in exchanges is their number one priority – even if it makes Americans and their personal information less secure.  We encourage you to join us in protecting Americans by cosponsoring H.R. 3429, the Consumer Protection Act.  Please contact Karen Summar in Congresswoman McMorris Rodgers’ office or Kevin Kincheloe in Congressman Lankford’s office for more information or to cosponsor.                                                                         Sincerely, Cathy McMorris Rodgers                                                                   James Lankford Member of Congress                                                                           Member of Congress''
''Support Additional Public Input for FSMA DEADLINE EXTENDED TO THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 21st. American Farm Bureau and the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture support a second comment period on a new set of proposed regulations. They have engaged their state organizations in support of this letter. Current House Cosigners: Courtney, Gibson, Kuster, Pingree, Michaud, Enyart, McGovern, Langevin, Welch, and Blumenaur. Dear Colleague, Please join us in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the FDA to allow robust public input for two proposed rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  This bicameral letter is also being led by Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate. As directed under FSMA, the FDA has drafted rules for Produce Safety and Preventive Controls for agricultural producers and processors.  In their current form these rules leave a range of questions unanswered that are of significant consequence for the agricultural sector.  Our letter requests that Commissioner Hamburg propose and submit for public comment a second draft of these rules before issuing the final regulations. We believe that this step will improve the law’s implementation while protecting public input in the process and preventing undue hardship on our nation’s farmers and processors. Under FSMA, FDA was granted expanded authority to focus on preventing food safety problems rather than reacting to problems after they occur. Through an increased frequency of inspections at food facilities, tighter record-keeping requirements, extended oversight on certain farms, and additional requirements related to product recalls, FDA is looking to combat instances of food borne illness. The Preventive Controls Rule will apply to many domestic and foreign companies that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for human consumption. These companies will be required to develop plans that identify hazards, incorporate steps that will minimize or prevent those hazards, identify monitoring and recording procedures, and demonstrate actions to be taken to correct problems that arise. The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on domestic and foreign farms. These standards will determine harvesting procedures that will apply to fruits and vegetables that can be consumed raw. We are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.  We have heard from producers, producer advocacy groups, and processors that they have a number of concerns related to testing frequency for agricultural waters, restrictions on biological soil amendments, compliance issues for mixed-use facilities, definitions related to “farm” and “small and very small business,” and the lack of consideration over the various complexities related to various farm ownership entities. Given such a range of uncertainty, we believe producers, processors, and consumers will benefit from a second draft of these rules and the opportunity to provide input on the second draft before FDA issues the final regulations. For more information or to sign on to the letter please contact Zack Clark (Courtney) at Zachary.Clark@mail.house.gov, Rebecca Shaw (Gibson) at Rebecca.Shaw@mail.house.gov, or Derek Torrey (Kuster) at Derek.Torrey@mail.house.gov. Deadline to sign is close of business on Thursday, November 21st.                                   Sincerely, Joe Courtney        Chris Gibson           Ann McLane Kuster November __, 2013 The Honorable Margaret Hamburg, M.D. Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 Dear Commissioner Hamburg: We appreciate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA)efforts to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the agency’s willingness to seek input and guidance from producers and processors, which is of great value to our constituents.  We are confident that the rulemaking process for the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls Rule (Docket Nos. FDA-2011-N-0920 and FDA-2011-N-0921) will bolster the overall process of the law’s implementation. Despite your agency’s efforts to engage with stakeholders during the rulemaking process, we remain concerned about the ambiguity surrounding many aspects of these proposed rules.  In order to improve the law’s implementation, we are writing to request that the FDA propose and submit second proposed rules for public comment before issuing the final rules. After hearing many reservations from our farmers and businesses, we are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.  Food producers and processors in our states are concerned with a number of issues, including: The testing frequency required for certain agricultural waters; Restrictions placed on the usage of biological soil amendments; Compliance issues at mixed-use facilities; New requirements that conflict with existing conservation and environmental standards and practices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; The limiting definitions used in the rule for “farm”, “small and very small business”; and, The lack of consideration of the complexity of various farm ownership entities. We believe the rules as currently proposed would result in a multitude of unintended consequences that would be severely detrimental to national, regional, and local agriculture.  By seeking additional input through second proposed rules for public comment before final rules, we believe that producers’ concerns can be addressed and unintended consequences can be greatly mitigated. We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to your response. Sincerely,''
''JOIN CONGRESSMAN TURNER AND TSONGAS IN THEIR BIPARTISAN EFFORTS TO PROTECT SEXUAL ASSAULT SURVIVORS AND MAKE MEANINGFUL CHANGE TO THE MILITARY’S ARTICLE 32 INVESTIGATIVE PROCESS H.R. 3360 has been endorsed by the Service Women’s Action Network (SWAN) Cosponsors:  Michael Turner, Tsongas, Calvert, Coffman, Duckworth, Joe Heck, Kuster, Pocan, Tim Ryan, Takano Before serious crimes, such as sexual assault cases, can be referred to general courts-martial in the military justice system, these cases must go though the Article 32 pre-trial investigative process.  The proceedings are often presided over by officers who are not attorneys.  The current Article 32 process has turned into a “mini-trial” where victims are questioned at length, sometimes on subjects that would not be admissible at trial.  Too often in military sexual assault cases, as evident from the recent United States Naval Academy case, survivors of sexual assaults are subjected to irrelevant, grueling and degrading cross-examinations and defense tactics designed to cause embarrassment and intimidate them from participating in the prosecution of these crimes. It is time to stop putting sexual assault victims on trial. The reforms proposed in this legislation are long overdue and mark another positive and constructive step toward ensuring that survivors of sexual assault are protected from revictimization as they work through the process to have their attackers brought to justice. Recent cases have demonstrated that  inadequacies in the current system leave military sexual assault survivors extremely unprotected and exposed to further revictimization and character assassination. H.R. 3360’s reforms to the Article 32 process:  (1) Limit the scope of the investigation to a probable cause determination of the alleged offense(s);  (2) Require that an experienced judge advocate be assigned as the investigating officer;  (3) Allow the victim of a crime to personally elect not to attend and subject themselves to questioning and cross-examination at the investigatory hearing; and  (4) Establish a governmental discovery requirement to provide certain evidentiary materials and documents to the accused and defense counsel prior to the Article 32 hearing. If you would like to co-sponsor the Article 32 Reform Bill or have any questions regarding the legislation, please contact Kelly Repair at kelly.repair@mail.house.gov (Rep Turner) or Sara Outterson at sara.outterson@mail.house.gov (Rep. Tsongas). Sincerely, Michael R. Turner                               Niki Tsongas Member of Congress                           Member of Congress''
''Current Cosponsors: Norton, Eleanor Holmes; Edwards, Donna; Huffman, Jared; Polis, Jared; Tonko, Paul; Esty, Elizabeth; Takano, Mark; Sablan, Gregorio Kilili Camacho; Lofgren, Zoe; Conyers, John; Kaptur; Marcy; Chu, Judy; Ruiz, Raul; Holt, Rush; Lee, Barbara; Keating, William; Capps, Lois; Wilson, Fredrica; Rangel, Charlie Support Green Jobs and Green Education Dear Colleague: Our nation is changing and new and exciting technologies have the potential to move us towards a more sustainable energy future. The development and operation of new energy resources will require a highly skilled work force, and our country has the opportunity to create an entire spectrum of high-quality green jobs. That is why I introduced H.R. 2368, the Grants for Renewable Energy Education for the Nation (GREEN) Act. This legislation will create unique partnerships in the renewable and sustainable energy fields that will train young Americans to develop, operate, and maintain clean energy systems. This legislation is supported by theAssociation for Career and Technical Education and the National Association of State Directors of Career Technical Education Consortium. The GREEN Act fulfills a key need by creating a bridge between secondary and postsecondary schools so that students can transition from high school with technical knowledge that will be expanded and honed in a postsecondary environment.  Specifically, the bill provides funding for partnerships between secondary schools, career and technical schools or community colleges, and industry partners to develop new curricula and teaching programs in the renewable energy field. The legislation also provides opportunities for technical schools to upgrade their own energy systems to serve as model training facilities. Innovative green energy educational programs will allow young Americans to better compete in today’s changing economy. I encourage you to become a cosponsor of the GREEN Act. For questions or to cosponsor, please contact Teresa Frison of my staff at teresa.frison@mail.house.gov or extension 5-1947. Sincerely, /s/Jerry McNerney Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: I invite you to join me as an original cosponsor of the Silent Skies Act. If there’s an airport in or near your district, chances are your constituents have complained to you about the noise of low-flying aircraft taking off and landing near their homes. There are far too many communities where I come from in Queens, New York, that are impacted by constant, thunderous engine noise all day long. The sound isn’t merely a nuisance – it disrupts sleep, distracts students in our community’s schools and drowns out the joys of daily life. I have always said that airports can never be perfect neighbors, but we can take steps to make them better neighbors. The bill I am introducing will help achieve that goal by requiring airlines to begin stocking their fleets with newer, quieter aircraft. In 2006, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued regulations requiring all new aircraft designs to meet Stage 4 noise standards, which is a considerably lower decibel level than those currently in use. While these new rules were a significant step toward improving the quality of life for those who live near airports, the FAA was silent on whether airlines would need to phase out older, louder airplanes or retrofit them with quieter engines. In order to introduce quieter planes into the market, the Silent Skies Act will require the FAA to issue regulations by the end of 2015 requiring commercial airplanes operating in the U.S. to meet Stage 4 noise standards. The requirements will be phased in at a rate of 25 percent every five years, so that all commercial airplanes meet these quieter standards by at least 2035. In addition to fleet update requirements, the Silent Skies Act authorizes a new partnership program for the development of technologies to help meet Stage 4 or better standards and result in quieter airplane engines. The partnership is a grant program that requires a portion of revenues from the sale of successful, new technologies to be paid back into the program. It will give the FAA flexibility in setting up the terms of the agreements it enters into with entities who participate in the program. While commercial aircraft can never be truly silent, we can make sure they are less disruptive to our constituents and improve the quality of life in our communities. Through fleet replacement and investment in new technologies, quieter airplanes are an achievable goal. To become and original cosponsor of the Silent Skies Act, please contact Todd Sloves of my staff at 5-3965 or email him at todd.sloves@mail.house.gov by noon on Thursday. Sincerely, Joe Crowley Member of Congress''
''Cosponsor the BREATHE Act, H.R. 1154 Dear Colleague: Twenty-three years ago today, November 15, 1990, President George H. W. Bush signed into law important amendments to strengthen the Clean Air Act. As President Bush said, these amendments curbed emissions of toxic chemicals and acid rain because “every American expects and deserves to breathe clean air.” Unfortunately, since then, our nation’s clean air has been under attack. The so-called “Halliburton Loopholes” carved into the 2005 energy bill prevent the Environmental Protection Agency from regulating a process called hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”). Fracking can release toxic air pollutants that threaten the health of nearby communities. Fracking is becoming increasingly prevalent—taking place close to homes and schools—but because of these loopholes, oil and gas operators are now exempt from basic provisions in the Clean Air Act. We need to close these loopholes now to protect our air and our future. The BREATHE Act, H.R. 1154, presents a balanced approach that recognizes both the importance of developing new sources of energy without harming our health and quality of life. The BREATHE Act prevents toxic air pollution by: ·  Reversing the exemption of oil and gas exploration and production activities from the Clean Air Act’s aggregation requirement; and ·  Adding Hydrogen Sulfide to the federal list of hazardous air pollutants. Celebrate the anniversary of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 by cosponsoring the BREATHE Act today. Please contact Courtney Krause at 5-2161 or courtney.krause@mail.house.gov if you have questions or if you would like to cosponsor. Sincerely, Jared Polis Member of Congress''
''DEADLINE: Wednesday, Nov. 20 COB Current signers: Peters (MI), Buchanan, Polis, Issa, Eshoo, Coble, Honda, Holding, Moran, Kilmer, Michaud, DelBene, Chu, Swalwell, Deutch, Jeffries, Richmond, Cárdenas, Carson, Patrick Murphy Dear Colleague: As the co-chairs of the House Caucus on Innovation and Entrepreneurship, we are focused on finding practical solutions to help our nation’s startups and small businesses grow, innovate, and create jobs.  Success in the global economy depends more and more on intellectual property (IP).  Over 55 million Americans are employed in IP-intensive industries, and these industries account for 38% of total U.S. GDP. Patents are the lifeblood of our innovation economy; trying to sell an unpatented invention is like trying to sell a house without having the deed.  This is why it is critical that the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) have the capacity to approve aplications in a timely manner.  Currently, the USPTO has a backlog of over 500,000 applications, down from over 700,000 just a few years ago.  Even with this significant progress, it still takes upwards of three years on average to secure a patent. Unfortunately, sequestration will make this problem worse.  In response to the sequestration of an estimated $120-130 million in patent user fee collections in the last fiscal year, the agency was forced to delay hiring new examiners, delay opening and fully staffing new satellite offices, and put off critical improvements to IT. These funds that are being diverted by sequestration are not taxpayer dollars; they are user fees paid by inventors applying for patents.  The USPTO is fully funded by user fees and uses no taxpayer money.  Diverting these funds is effectively a tax on innovation.  It is also inconsistent with OMB’s decision to exempt other voluntary payments and fees from sequestration, such as those collected by the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress. This is why we ask you to join us in writing OMB to urge that they reconsider this decision, stop the sequestration of USPTO user fees, and help our nation’s innovators get their products to market faster. Stand up for America’s innovators and entrepreneurs and fight this unfair tax on innovation. For more information or to sign this letter please contact David Weinberg with Rep. Peters (225-5802 and david.weinberg@mail.house.gov) or Sean Brady with Rep. Buchanan (sean.brady@mail.house.gov and 225-5015).   Sincerely,   Gary C. Peters                                                             Vern Buchanan Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress   Jared Polis                                                                   Darrell E. Issa Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress November 22, 2013   The Honorable Sylvia Mathews Burwell Director Office of Management and Budget 725 17th Street, NW Washington, DC 20503   Dear Director Burwell:   We write to ask OMB to reconsider its decision to sequester user fees that fund the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The ability of the agency to keep all of its user fees was a cornerstone of the America Invents Act (AIA), which was strongly supported by the Administration.   Sequestration of USPTO funding represents a major step back from the commitment of the Administration to the AIA. In response to the sequestration of an estimated $120-130 million in patent user fee collections this fiscal year, the agency was forced to delay hiring new examiners, delay opening and fully staffing new satellite offices, and put off critical improvements to IT. Moreover, several bills and other proposals are directed at reducing abusive patent litigation. These proposals, which include a June 4 statement by President Obama, highlight the need to improve patent quality and prompt processing. However, it is inevitable that patent quality and processing speed will suffer if the agency is not allowed access to all of the user fees it collects.   USPTO funding is different from regular government funding, because the USPTO is fully funded by user fees and uses no taxpayer money. The Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, as amended, exempts from sequestration activities financed by “voluntarypayments to the Government for goods or services to be provided for such payments.”(2 U. S. C. § 905(g)(1)(A) (2012) ).   It is our view that user fees collected by the USPTO fit this description.  We understand that OMB has classified certain fees collected by the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress as voluntary.  The distinction between such Copyright Office user fees and USPTO user fees is not clear to us.   Patents are a key driver of economic growth and good paying American jobs.  Trademarks, too, promote innovation by assuring producers that they will receive the financial and reputational rewards of their investment.  Withholding user fees from the USPTO, particularly when it is not mandated by law, reduces USPTO’s capacity to process applications and improve quality, thus weakening the ability of the U.S. to create new jobs and compete in the global economy. We therefore strongly urge you to reconsider whether sequestration should apply to the USPTO. Sincerely,''
''NSA Inspector General From: The Honorable Mark Sanford Sent By: chris.stevens@mail.house.gov Bill: H.R. 3436: The NSA Inspector General Act of 2013 Date: 11/14/13 Dear Colleague: The Dept. of Defense, CIA, Dept. of Justice, and Dept. of Homeland Security each have independent Inspectors General (IG), and all have to undergo a formal Senate confirmation process before they can take their position. This process does not apply to the NSA. It is the most prominent security agency without an independent IG, and in their case, appointment comes at the agency’s Director’s discretion. As noted in a recent Washington Post op-ed by the former IG of the CIA, Britt Snider, this lack of independence creates an environment where employees of the IG’s office worry about their careers if their findings and conclusions are critical of the agency. How can one give an independent assessment of a problem if their job may be determined by their assessment? The NSA Inspector General Act of 2013 addresses these problems by requiring the NSA’s IG to be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate, mirroring the changes made to oversight of the CIA years ago. Additionally, this legislation also requires the Director to undergo the same formal confirmation process.   Please join me in working to give the NSA’s IG office more independence to fulfill their mandate of oversight by becoming a cosponsor of this bipartisan legislation, which was introduced on Wednesday, October 30th. For more information, or to become a co-sponsor, please contact my office and speak with Chris Stevens, at 202-225-3176 or chris.stevens@mail.house.gov. Original Cosponsors: Paul C. Broun, Mick Mulvaney, Alan Grayson, Kerry L. Bentivolio, Tom Rice, Eleanor Holmes Norton, Justin Amash, Thomas Massie, Trey Gowdy, Jeff Duncan, Joe Wilson, and James F. Sensenbrenner.    Sincerely, Mark Sanford Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, The current enlistment statute, 8 U.S. Code Section 504(b), states that U.S. citizens are permitted to join the military.  However, it has recently come to our attention that certain U.S. Armed Service branches may be using an exclusionary policy that prohibits U.S. citizens from enlisting in their ranks if that enlistee has an undocumented dependent (spouse or children). There are significant concerns if this regulation is indeed being utilized by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps.  Therefore, Rep. Gutierrez and I urge you to join our efforts in obtaining answers from the Secretary of the Navy so that we can fully understand and be clear about the reasons for and practical effects of this policy. If you would like to be added as a cosigner please contact Evan Armstrong at evan.armstrong@mail.house.gov or Alice Lugo at alice.lugo@mail.house.gov.  The deadline to sign the letter is COB on Wednesday (11/20/2013). The Honorable Ray Mabus Secretary of the Navy 1000 Navy Pentagon Washington, D.C. 20305 11/XX/2013 Dear Secretary Mabus, It has recently come to our attention that the U.S. Department of the Navy and Marine Corps has been refusing enlistment to applicants who have dependents (spouses or children) who are undocumented or unauthorized even if the applicant is a U.S. Citizen.  A report posted on the Lexis Nexis website quotes the Navy and Marine Corps regulations as follows: U.S. Navy- “Applicants with foreign alien dependents residing in the United States illegally are not enlistment eligible until their dependents become properly admitted into the United States and obtain a social security card, or no longer reside unlawfully in the United States.” – COMNAVCRUITCOMINST 1130.8H – VOLUME II U.S. Marine Corps- “Applicants with dependents (spouse and/or children) will not be enlisted … if any dependent (spouse and/or children) is an undocumented illegal alien.  An illegal alien is defined as; an alien who enters and/or remains in the United States without complying with procedures established in Title 8, United States Code, and the USCIS immigration or visitation process.” – MCRCO 1100.1 We are concerned that under these regulations, branches of the U.S. Military are denying U.S. citizens the opportunity to serve their country – an opportunity which is permitted by the current enlistment statute, 8 U.S. Code Section 504(b).  For this reason, we request answers to the following questions so that we can understand and be clear about the reasons for this exclusionary policy.   1.)    When did the U.S. Department of the Navy and Marine Corps begin enforcing these regulations? 2.)    Do the other branches of the U.S. Armed Services (Army and Air Force) have similar enlistment regulations as the ones listed above? 3.)    How many American citizens and green card holders have been denied the opportunity to enlist because their spouses or other family members were determined by a U.S. Department of the Navy and Marine Corps recruiter to be “illegal aliens”? 4.)    How do recruiters in the U.S. Department of the Navy and Marine Corps determine whether a potential enlistee has undocumented dependents? 5.)    Finally, we request copies of any training materials, instructions, or other implementing guidance put out by the U.S. Department of the Navy and Marine Corps regarding how to determine whether a family member is an “illegal alien.” We appreciate your immediate consideration of this matter and your prompt response.  Sincerely, _______________________                                                              ______________________ Rep. Mike Coffman (CO-06)                                                                 Rep. Luis Gutierrez (IL-04)''
''Cosponsor the Revitalize Our Cities Act   The deadline to be an original cosponsor is Tuesday, November 19, 2013   Dear Colleague: Cities across the country are grappling with high unemployment rates, and families are struggling to make ends meet. Millions of high quality jobs have been lost during the economic downturn, and many communities have struggled to revitalize business activity. That’s why I am introducing the Revitalize Our Cities Act. This bill would extend the federal empowerment zone designations for three years; the current program is scheduled to expire at the end of this year. Empowerment zones are federally designated regions that have high levels of poverty and economic hardship. Cities selected as federal empowerment zones can receive various tax benefits, as can local businesses and school districts, in order to promote economic growth. The Revitalize Our Cities Act seeks to help the cities that have been hit the hardest as a result of the economic downturn. Specifically, the legislation would allow an additional 20 cities to participate in the federal empowerment zone program. Eligibility is limited to cities where unemployment and foreclosure rates are higher than their respective states’ averages. Providing common sense resources to some of our country’s most economically distressed cities will attract increased investment from the private sector and expand employment opportunities. By extending this economic development program, we can put distressed communities on the track to success. I hope that you will join me as a cosponsor of the Revitalize Our Cities Act. To become an original cosponsor of the Revitalize Our Cities Act or for more information, please contact Exodie Roe III in my office at x5-1947 or exodie.roe@mail.house.gov.   Sincerely,     /s/Jerry McNerney Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: With the 2014 elections fast approaching, the Committee would like to remind you that federal regulations and House rules prohibit Members from sending mass mailings and mass communications less than 90 days before an election (primary, general, special, or runoff) in which the Member’s name will appear on the ballot. A mass mailing is defined as an unsolicited mailing of 500 or more pieces of substantially identical content – whether mailed individually or in bulk – over the course of a legislative year. To help offices comply with the blackout restrictions, the Committee created a map of state primary election blackout dates available on its website at www.cha.house.gov. Since primary and blackout dates may change as a result of state actions, offices are strongly encouraged to check the website regularly for updates.  Notifications will also be sent to each state delegation prior to the start of their primary blackout period. For all Members running in the November 4, 2014, general election, the last day to send mass mailings and communications is August 6, 2014.    If you or your staff have any questions regarding the pre-election blackout periods, please contact the Franking Commission staff at 6-0647 (Majority) or 5-9337 (Minority). Sincerely, /s/                                                       /s/ Candice S. Miller                             Robert A. Brady Chairman                                         Ranking Member''
''Protect Tenants from Sudden Eviction: 40% of the units in foreclosure are occupied by tenants Current list of original co-sponsors: Butterfield, Capuano, Cicciline, Clarke, Conyers, Grijalva, Hinojosa, McDermott, McGovern, G. Miller, Rangel, Rush, Sanchez, Schakowsky and F. Wilson Dear Colleague: Please join me in becoming an original cosponsor of the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act.  This critical piece of legislation will ensure that the current federal protections for renters living in foreclosed properties do not expire. While much of the response to the foreclosure crisis has focused on homeowners, 27% of properties and 40% of the units in foreclosure are actually renter-occupied. These renters often have no idea that their landlord has fallen behind on mortgage payments, and usually have continued to pay their rent even as their landlord has failed to pay the mortgage. Prior to the passage of the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA) in May 2009, tenants were often required to move with as little as a few days notice. Now, the law ensures that most tenants can stay in their home for the remainder of their lease or for at least 90 days post-foreclosure. However, if Congress does not take action to extend the law, the PTFA will expire on December 31, 2014. As the foreclosure crisis is ongoing and renters continue to be impacted by it, I will soon introduce a bill to make the PFTA permanent and add an enforcement mechanism for the law’s provisions. My legislation would take two important steps to help renters in foreclosure: Remove the 2014 sunset date, thereby making the law permanent. Renters should be protected irrespective of when a foreclosure takes place. Add a private right of action to provide tenants with more and clearer tools against violations of the PTFA. Currently, the PTFA has no enforcement mechanism. The addition of a private right of action is important to ensure compliance with the law. It is critical that Congress act now to ensure that renters, faced with foreclosure through no fault of their own, are ensured a basic level of protection after a foreclosure occurs. Please do not hesitate to contact Carol Wayman of my staff at carol.wayman@mail.house.govor 5.4755 if you have any questions or if you would like to cosponsor this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Keith Ellison MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''Support Additional Public Input for FSMA Endorsed by the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture. Deadline to sign is close of business on Tuesday, November 19th. Dear Colleague, Please join us in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the FDA to allow robust public input for two proposed rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  This bicameral letter is also being led by Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate. As directed under FSMA, the FDA has drafted rules for Produce Safety and Preventive Controls for agricultural producers and processors.  In their current form these rules leave a range of questions unanswered that are of significant consequence for the agricultural sector.  Our letter requests that Commissioner Hamburg propose and submit for public comment a second draft of these rules before issuing the final regulations. We believe that this step will improve the law’s implementation while protecting public input in the process and preventing undue hardship on our nation’s farmers and processors. Under FSMA, FDA was granted expanded authority to focus on preventing food safety problems rather than reacting to problems after they occur. Through an increased frequency of inspections at food facilities, tighter record-keeping requirements, extended oversight on certain farms, and additional requirements related to product recalls, FDA is looking to combat instances of food borne illness. The Preventive Controls Rule will apply to many domestic and foreign companies that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for human consumption. These companies will be required to develop plans that identify hazards, incorporate steps that will minimize or prevent those hazards, identify monitoring and recording procedures, and demonstrate actions to be taken to correct problems that arise. The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on domestic and foreign farms. These standards will determine harvesting procedures that will apply to fruits and vegetables that can be consumed raw. We are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.  We have heard from producers, producer advocacy groups, and processors that they have a number of concerns related to testing frequency for agricultural waters, restrictions on biological soil amendments, compliance issues for mixed-use facilities, definitions related to “farm” and “small and very small business,” and the lack of consideration over the various complexities related to various farm ownership entities. Given such a range of uncertainty, we believe producers, processors, and consumers will benefit from a second draft of these rules and the opportunity to provide input on the second draft before FDA issues the final regulations. For more information or to sign on to the letter please contact Zack Clark (Courtney) at Zachary.Clark@mail.house.gov, Rebecca Shaw (Gibson) at Rebecca.Shaw@mail.house.gov, or Derek Torrey (Kuster) at Derek.Torrey@mail.house.gov. Deadline to sign is close of business on Tuesday, November 19th.                                   Sincerely, Joe Courtney        Chris Gibson           Ann McLane Kuster November __, 2013 The Honorable Margaret Hamburg, M.D. Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 Dear Commissioner Hamburg: We appreciate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA)efforts to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the agency’s willingness to seek input and guidance from producers and processors, which is of great value to our constituents.  We are confident that the rulemaking process for the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls Rule (Docket Nos. FDA-2011-N-0920 and FDA-2011-N-0921) will bolster the overall process of the law’s implementation. Despite your agency’s efforts to engage with stakeholders during the rulemaking process, we remain concerned about the ambiguity surrounding many aspects of these proposed rules.  In order to improve the law’s implementation, we are writing to request that the FDA propose and submit second proposed rules for public comment before issuing the final rules. After hearing many reservations from our farmers and businesses, we are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.  Food producers and processors in our states are concerned with a number of issues, including: The testing frequency required for certain agricultural waters; Restrictions placed on the usage of biological soil amendments; Compliance issues at mixed-use facilities; New requirements that conflict with existing conservation and environmental standards and practices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; The limiting definitions used in the rule for “farm”, “small and very small business”; and, The lack of consideration of the complexity of various farm ownership entities. We believe the rules as currently proposed would result in a multitude of unintended consequences that would be severely detrimental to national, regional, and local agriculture.  By seeking additional input through second proposed rules for public comment before final rules, we believe that producers’ concerns can be addressed and unintended consequences can be greatly mitigated. We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to your response. Sincerely,''
''Deep Sea Exploration and Biodiversity Smithsonian Ocean Science Discussion Series SVC 215 1:00-2:00pm Friday, November 22nd, 2013 Hosted by the House Oceans Caucus and the Senate Oceans Caucus You are cordially invited to a discussion with Dr. Karen Osborn, a Research Scientist with the Smithsonian’s National Museum of Natural History.  She will discuss her work studying deep, open-ocean biodiversity. The deep, open ocean accounts for 99% of the living space on earth and yet we have everything to learn about the myriad animals that live there.  Without knowledge of the organisms and their function in this vast habitat, we can’t begin to understand the interaction between our oceans, atmosphere, and land masses that make up our planetary system. Dr. Osborn’s work, from an invertebrate biologists perspective, seeks to get a handle on the diversity of animals living in this largest habitat on earth and to determine how the animals function there.  Such research is useful to identify the impacts further changes will have on the function of the oceans and to determine the most important elements of the oceanic community to safeguard. About the Smithsonian Ocean Science Discussion Series: Hosted by the House Oceans Caucus and the Senate Oceans Caucus, the purpose of the Smithsonian Ocean Science Discussion Series is to provide a regular forum for Congressional staff to learn about and discuss marine science issues with experts from the Smithsonian Institution in an interactive and informal setting.  About Dr. Karen Osborn: Karen Osborn heads the National Museum of Natural History’s growing Pelagic Biology research group. She is also an adjunct scientist at the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute in Moss Landing, CA where she uses remotely operated vehicles to explore the deep, open ocean, discovering and describing new species with each expedition. Her research focuses on a wide variety of gelatinous animals, documenting the diversity found in the open ocean, determining how they function in open ocean communities, and studying their evolutionary history and adaptations to open water.  Osborn received her Ph.D. in Integrative Biology from the University of California, Berkeley, she has a master’s degree in Marine and Estuarine Science from Western Washington University, and worked as a postdoctoral fellow at Scripps Institution of Oceanography for 3 years.''
''Stop Improper Payments to the Deceased SUPPORT THE IPACE ACT Dear Colleague, Each year, federal payments are erroneously made to individuals who are deceased, and should obviously no longer be eligible under program rules. This issue was recently highlighted in a Washington Post article. Improving the collection of information on deceased beneficiaries has the potential to save the government hundreds of millions, if not billions of dollars. Examples of past improper payments for deceased individuals include: ·         A total of $601 million in improper payments were made from 2006 to 2010 to federal retirees later found to have already died; ·         More than $1 billion in farm program payments to farmers who were dead for more than three years; and ·         Medicare prescription drug plans were paid approximately $3.6 million for drugs provided to 1500 dead beneficiaries. Improper payments are largely caused by inadequate sharing among federal agencies of death data managed by the Social Security Administration (SSA). SSA maintains the Death Master File (DMF), which contains the most complete information on who has died. However, most federal agencies rely on a slimmed down, incomplete version of the DMF. The Improper Payments Agency Cooperation Enhancement (IPACE) Act would take several steps to improve the information that is available to federal agencies including: ·         Improving the Death Master File; ·         Requiring use of death data to curb improper payments; ·         Allowing federal agencies access to the complete Death Master File database; and ·         Ensuring that federal agencies managing retirement programs share best practices. Please join us in supporting this common-sense legislation to improve the collection of information, cut down on fraud, and save the government money. If you would like to cosponsor the IPACEAct, or if you would like more information, please contact todd.wolf@mail.house.gov with Rep. Cheri Bustos or rebecca.shaw@mail.house.gov with Rep. Chris Gibson. Sincerely, _________________________                                              ________________________ Cheri Bustos                                                                             Chris Gibson Member of Congress                                                              Member of Congress''
''MAKE SURE VETERANS HAVE THE INFO THEY NEED TO SUCCEED IN SCHOOL COSPONSOR H.R. 3399 – THE VETERANS EDUCATION COUNSELING ACT Original cosponsors: Takano, Cook, Denham * Endorsed by VFW, the American Legion, Student Veterans of America, the American Council on Education, the National Association of Veteran’s Program Administrators, the National Association for College Admission Counseling, the Association of Private Sector Colleges and Universities, the National Association of State Approving Agencies. Dear Colleague: I urge you to join me as an original cosponsor of the Veterans Educational Counseling Act of 2013.  This simple, low cost bill helps empower veterans seeking an education by making sure they know that they are entitled to basic educational counseling through the VA, and makes it easier for them to apply. All veterans using GI Bill benefits are already entitled to educational counseling through the VA.  This is known as Chapter 36 counseling.  But there is little information available about this service or how to apply.  Instead, the VA’s Vocational Rehabilitation program – or Chapter 31 counseling – is emphasized prominently.  While Vocational Rehabilitation has helped many veterans, it is aimed primarily at those with an “employment handicap,” defined as the inability to prepare for, obtain, or retain employment due largely to a service related disability of 10% or more.  Many veterans get a 10% disability rating simply from training injuries.  Unfortunately, at this time there is no clear differentiation available between Chapter 36 Educational Counseling, and Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation.  But there should be, because many veterans who are seeking to use their GI Bill benefits do not need rehabilitation; they just need guidance and information.  Most don’t have an “employment handicap,” they just want to go to school and get their degree or professional certification.  The Veterans Educational Counseling Act asks the VA to make clear the differentiation between Chapter 36 Educational Counseling – which all GI Bill users are entitled to – and the Chapter 31 Vocational Rehabilitation program.  It also requires the VA to provide information to veterans letting them know BEFORE they apply for the GI Bill, 1) that they are entitled to Chapter 36 Educational Counseling; 2) how to apply for this counseling.  This is in keeping with Congress’ and the Administration’s recent efforts to provide more complete and transparent information to veterans about their educational benefits, options, and outcomes. The Veterans Educational Counseling Act also allows veterans to apply for Chapter 36 Educational Counseling online, such as through the eBenefits portal, which is gradually becoming a one-stop-shop for veterans as the VA continues to transition to electronic records. Currently, veterans must apply through an antiquated and complicated mail-in system. Transition from military to civilian life is already difficult enough.  The Veterans Educational Counseling Act makes small but meaningful changes to make it a little easier for our nation’s heroes, and continues the effort to make veterans benefits more clear and transparent.  This is a critical step in ensuring our veterans’ academic success. To inquire about the bill or become a cosponsor please email Mariana.Maguire@mail.house.govor call x55464.''
''JOIN THE CONGRESSIONAL STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS CAUCUS Focus on the Health and Welfare Needs of Injured Victims November 14, 2013 Dear Colleague:             We are writing to encourage you to become a member of the newly formed Congressional Structured Settlements Caucus, which will highlight one of Congress’ great bipartisan policy successes during the past 30 years.  This bipartisan Caucus will help educate the congressional community about the important role that structured settlements play in assisting injured victims in living their lives with economic security, confidence and dignity after a serious physical injury.             Structured settlements have been recognized and encouraged by the federal tax code since 1982.  The public policy goal of a structured settlement is to help disabled persons and injured victims to stay financially independent and avoid the need for public assistance.  Under a structured settlement, payments are exempt from income taxes and other taxes such as interest, capital gains or the AMT.  For the past 30 years, structured settlements provided a voluntary option for physical injury victims to take all or some of their claim settlement in a series of long-term payments tailored for their personal needs.              Over the years, more than 500,000 Americans have voluntarily chosen to protect their financial future–and their family’s future–with a structured settlement.  Even during the financial emergencies during the past few years, every structured settlement check has gone out on time, and in full.  With the American people clamoring for common-sense solutions to serious problems, structured settlement stand out as a shining success.  It is a clear-cut example of congressional policy working, as intended, to protect the long-term economic security and health of accident survivors and avoid the need for public assistance. We hope that you will join us in this effort to educate and inform others of the importance of structured settlements in this new and important Caucus.  If you would like more information about the Congressional Structured Settlements Caucus, or would like to become a member, please contact DeCarlo McLaren with Congressman Lewis at DeCarlo.McLaren@mail.house.gov or x5-3801, or Amy Bos with Congressman Sensenbrenner at Amy.Bos@mail.house.gov or x5-5101. Sincerely,                   /s                                                                                       /s John Lewis, Co-chair                                                        F. James Sensenbrenner, Co-chair Member of Congress                                                         Member of Congress''
''LEADERSHIP FORUM ON BIOMEDICAL TECHNOLOGY COMMERCIALIZATION  Thursday, November 14 2:30-3:45pm Rayburn House Office Buidling, Room 2325 Speakers: John Flavin, Executive Director, Chicago Innovation Exchange, University of Chicago Barbara Goodman, Senior Vice President, iBIO Institute Nancy Sullivan, CEO & Senior Managing Director, Illinois Ventures, LLC Tim Walbert, President & CEO, Horizon Pharma Dear Colleague: Federally funded research and a robust avenue for technology commercialization have helped dramatically improve the health of the citizens of the United States. Through this research, American life spans have increased exponentially, many diseases that use to be life threatening are now relics of the past, and health related deaths are at an all time low.  With the help of federal funding and our research universities there are a number of ways to improve and accelerate our innovation ecosystem for the benefit of the consumers and the economy. Please join these experts and the Illinois Science and Technology Leadership Forum for an informal leadership forum regarding federal research and development about biomedical research. If you have any questions, please contact Roxanne Atienza (roxy@ISTcoalition.org). Sincerely, Randy Hultgren Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, ENERGY STAR has been a successful government program. ENERGY STAR standards have pushed countless products to be energy efficient and saved consumers on energy bills.   The success of ENERGY STAR has built upon careful balance between energy efficient technologies and affordability. EPA is in the process of creating new rules for ENERGY STAR Windows, Doors and Skylights.  Unfortunately, the new standards risk pushing energy efficient products out of range for many consumers. Please join us in asking EPA to review the proposed guidelines for Version 6 of ENERGY STAR for Windows, Doors and Skylights and ensure payback, affordability and consumer access are carefully considered in the equation. The deadline is November 21. To sign please contact Jake.Oster@mail.house.gov (Welch) or Jennifer.Loraine@mail.house.gov (Gardner).                                                          Sincerely, PETER WELCH                                                                         CORY GARDNER Member of Congress                                                                   Member of Congress Dear Administrator McCarthy, We are writing to express concerns about the proposed Version 6 of the Energy Star program for Windows, Doors and Skylights. The success of the Energy Star program has been built upon a framework of pairing energy savings with consumer value.  We are concerned Version 6 may push energy efficient products beyond an affordable level for many consumers and fail to account for an achievable payback period for an average homeowner. According to EPA, ENERGY STAR has a set of six key “guiding principles” in establishing or revising a product performance specification.  While all the principles are important, in the Version 6 process the balance between energy savings and reasonable payback has been the most challenging to achieve.  We believe that a “reasonable” payback period on customer investment must be ensured when the new standards are finalized, and we are concerned that EPA is not taking this issue seriously enough.   We are also concerned about comments from EPA that a primary objective of the proposed revisions is to dramatically reduce the market share of Energy Star products. EPA recently released a revised payback analysis, introducing a completely new analysis which made the proposed standards appear more affordable. However, in taking this approach, EPA is highlighting low-cost areas of the country where the paybacks are marginally lower and saddling other areas – including many Midwestern and Northern states -with products that do not provide a reasonable payback.  In this way, the Agency is ignoring the real world implications of their new standards. We are also concerned with the transparency of the process used to reach the proposed guidelines.  The proposed standards for much of the nation do not appear to be supported by the public record.  EPA has not been forthcoming with information regarding consumer affordability, payback periods, and stakeholder support for the standard. Although the Agency continues to insist that its proposals are reasonable for consumers, its own record confirms that stakeholders have expressed concern about the affordability of products under Version 6. EPA should demonstrate that consumers will see both significant energy savings and reasonable paybacks from their investment in Energy Star. We urge the EPA to review the proposed Energy Star specifications for windows, doors, and skylights to bring them more in line with realistic consumer expectations and reflect the public record. Sincerely,''
''Current Co-Signers: Meeks, Tierney, Schiff Dear Colleague:      The Veterans Affairs claims backlog remains the greatest challenge currently facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Although progress has been made, significant hurdles between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA database exchanges still exist.  At the crossroads of this technical challenge are the veterans currently waiting a minimum of 125 days, and often longer, for a claim to be processed.  In fact, there are more the 400,000 claims that are 125 days or older in the system.      While VA and DoD have reached an agreement to improve the technology necessary for the adjudication of claims, much of this is still done by hand-delivering paper records in a process that is inefficient for the departments and burdensome for veterans.  Until there is an operational electronic health record exchange, our former service members will continue to experience delays as they transition their health care from DoD to VA.      The FY14 House-passed DoD and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations bills and their accompanying reports include language clearly expressing concerns with the progress and costs of the integrated electronic health records system.  In addition, the FY14 House-passed National Defense Authorization Act also included language expressing concerns and provided explicit design concept guidelines for the integrated electronic health records architecture.      It is imperative Congress continue steadfast oversight for resolution of this ongoing problem.  Please join me in sending the letter below to Secretaries Hagel and Shinseki to urge an expeditious fix to the veterans’ claims backlog.      To co-sign or inquire about this letter, please contact Kasey Butler or Shira Siegel of my staff at kasey.butler@mail.house.gov,  shira.siegel@mail.house.gov or by telephone at (202) 225-6506.  The deadline to sign on is Tuesday, NOVEMBER 18th. Sincerely, Nita M. Lowey Member of Congress DATE Chuck Hagel                                                                                                  Eric Shinseki Secretary of Defense                                                                                     Secretary of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense                                                                                              Department of Veterans Affairs 1000 Defense Pentagon                                                                                              810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20301-1000                                                                         Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Hagel and Secretary Shinseki, We are writing to inquire about the status of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) coordinated effort on the development of an integrated electronic health record. Although the VA has made progress on providing timely and accurate claims decisions, this issue still remains one of the largest challenges confronting the VA.  The Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations Budget Hearing in April 2013 discussed the relationship between VA and DoD.  Continued collaboration and cooperation between these two agencies is vital to making a lasting impact on the adjudication of compensation claims. We were pleased to learn that VA and DoD have reached an agreement to improve the delivery of evidence necessary for the adjudication of claims, but much of this is still done by hand-delivering paper records in a process that is inefficient for the departments and burdensome for service members.  Until there is an operational electronic health record system, our service members will continue to experience delays as they transition their health care to the VA. The House-passed DoD Appropriations bill, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill (and their accompanying reports) include language clearly expressing concerns with the progress and costs of the integrated electronic health records system.  In addition, the FY 2014 House passed National Defense Authorization Act also included sense of Congress and report language expressing concerns, including specific guidelines for the design concepts for the integrated electronic health record, to include guidance with respect to open architecture standards.  We are deeply concerned that your decision to move forward with a commercial electronic health record software solution may not take into account Congressional guidance. We look forward to receiving an update about the progress that has been made within the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans’ Affairs to create an integrated electronic health record. Sincerely, Nita M. Lowey''
''Dear Colleague: I recently introduced the American Job Opportunity Act (H.R. 3394), which would make permanent the Work Opportunity Tax Credit (WOTC). The WOTC is a Federal tax credit available to employers who hire and retain individuals from certain target groups who have consistently faced significant barriers to employment.  The maximum tax credit ranges from $1,200 to $9,600, depending on the employee hired.  Under the WOTC, eligible new hires include: ·         Service-connected disabled veterans ·         Long-term unemployed veterans ·         Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) recipients ·         Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) recipients ·         Certain individuals in a federally designated Rural Renewal County or Empowerment Zone ·         Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients ·         Summer Youth Employees within a federally designated Empowerment Zone ·         Formerly-incarcerated individuals By providing a tax credit for businesses to hire these individuals, the WOTC incentivizes workplace diversity, facilitates access to good jobs for American workers, helps targeted workers move from economic dependency into self-sufficiency, and allows participating employers to reduce their income tax liability.  Under the WOTC, employers claim about $1 billion in tax credits each year, making the tax credit a win-win for both business and workers. Please join me in supporting the WOTC by co-sponsoring H.R. 3394.  If you have questions or would like to co-sponsor, please email Sharon.Wagener@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, //s// JULIA BROWNLEY Member of Congress''
''November 14, 2013 AMENDMENT PROCESS FOR H.R. 1900 – Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act Dear Colleague:             The Committee on Rules may meet the week of November 18th to grant a rule that could limit the amendment process for floor consideration of H.R. 1900, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act.             Any Member wishing to offer an amendment must submit a searchable electronic copy of the amendment, which should be provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel, via the Rules Committee’s website. Members must also submit 30 hard copies of the amendment, one copy of a brief explanation of the amendment, and an amendment login form to the Rules Committee in room H-312 of the Capitol by 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, November 19, 2013.  Both electronic and hard copies must be received by the date and time specified.  Members should draft their amendments to the text of Rules Committee Print 113-25, which contains the text of H.R. 1900 as ordered reported and is available on the Rules Committee website.              Members should use the Office of Legislative Counsel to ensure that their amendments are drafted in the most appropriate format.  Members should also check with the Congressional Budget Office for a preliminary assessment of their amendments’ budgetary effects.  Finally, members should check with the Office of the Parliamentarian and the Committee on the Budget to be certain their amendments comply with the rules of the House and the Congressional Budget Act.  If you have any questions, please contact myself or Karas Pattison of the Committee staff at 225-9191. Sincerely, PETE SESSIONS''
''Cosponsor H.R. 3481, the “Do Not Track Kids Act of 2013” Dear Colleague, Kids today enjoy unprecedented access to the Internet on their computers, cell phones, and tablets.  While the Internet remains an incredible tool for learning and sharing, it has also become a way for companies and strangers to track and target our children.  Tracking the online movements of children and teens – and collecting their personal data – has quickly become widespread.  Companies collect this information about children and teens then sell the information to advertisers and data brokers, compiling detailed digital dossiers.  Although Congress passed the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) in 1998, a law that took major steps towards protecting the personal information of children online, this law does not reflect what the Internet looks like today.  Accordingly, Congress must act to update COPPA to ensure that children and teens are protected online.  The Do Not Track Kids Act of 2013 (H.R. 3481), strengthens online safeguards for children and teens. Why This is a Problem Teens are sharing more information about themselves on their social media profiles than they did when we last surveyed in 2006: 91% post a photo of themselves, up from 79% in 2006. 71% post the city or town where they live, up from 61%. 53% post their email address, up from 29%. Children and teens are less able to understand the potential long-term consequences from having their information available to advertisers, colleges, and potential employers.  Over 25% of college admissions officers now Google and review the Facebook pages of applicants, and that percentage is growing every year. What Parents and Teens are Saying: 94% of parents agree that advertisers should receive the parent’s permission before putting tracking software on a child’s computer; 94% of parents believe individuals should have the ability to request the deletion of all their personal information held by an online search engine, social networking site, or marketing company after a specific period of time; 70% of teens have sought outside advice about how to manage some aspect of their privacy online. What Our Bill Would Do: Prohibit Internet companies from collecting personal and location information from anyone under 13 without parental consent and anyone 13 to 15 years old without the user’s consent; Require consent of the parent or teen prior to sending targeted advertising to children and teens; Require website operators to have an “eraser button” capability that enables the deletion or elimination of information about children and minors, to the extent technologically feasible; and Add a new listing of protections for teens ages 13-15 called the “Digital Marketing Bill of Rights for Teens” while reinforcing COPPA protections for those 12 and under. Cosponsors: Barton (R-TX), Rush (D-IL), Cassidy (R-LA), Farenthold(R-TX), Cohen (D-TN), DeLauro (D-CT), Ellison (D-MN), Norton (D-DC), Schakowsky (D-IL), Tierney (D-MA), Tsongas (D-MA) Endorsing Groups: American Academy of Children and Adolescent Psychiatry, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Family Association, American Psychoanalytic Association, Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, Center for Digital Democracy, Center for Science in the Public Interest, ChildHelp, Children Now, Common Sense Media, Communication Workers of America, Consumer Federation of America, Consumer Watchdog, Consumers Union, Conversation Media, Electronic Privacy Information Center, Islamic Society of North America, Massachusetts Medical Society, National Collaboration for Youth, Parent Teacher Association, Safe Communications, United Church of Christ, US Conference of Catholic Bishops, US PIRG, Virtual World Computing, and Voices of America’s Children. Sincerely, Joe Barton                                                                   Bobby Rush Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Current Co-Signers: Meeks, Tierney, Schiff, Higgins, Crowley, Farr, McCollum Dear Colleague:      The Veterans Affairs claims backlog remains the greatest challenge currently facing the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).  Although progress has been made, significant hurdles between the Department of Defense (DoD) and VA database exchanges still exist.  At the crossroads of this technical challenge are the veterans currently waiting a minimum of 125 days, and often longer, for a claim to be processed.  In fact, there are more the 400,000 claims that are 125 days or older in the system.      While VA and DoD have reached an agreement to improve the technology necessary for the adjudication of claims, much of this is still done by hand-delivering paper records in a process that is inefficient for the departments and burdensome for veterans.  Until there is an operational electronic health record exchange, our former service members will continue to experience delays as they transition their health care from DoD to VA.      The FY14 House-passed DoD and Military Construction-Veterans Affairs Appropriations bills and their accompanying reports include language clearly expressing concerns with the progress and costs of the integrated electronic health records system.  In addition, the FY14 House-passed National Defense Authorization Act also included language expressing concerns and provided explicit design concept guidelines for the integrated electronic health records architecture.      It is imperative Congress continue steadfast oversight for resolution of this ongoing problem.  Please join me in sending a letter to Secretaries Hagel and Shinseki to urge an expeditious fix to the veterans’ claims backlog.      To co-sign or inquire about this letter, please contact Kasey Butler or Shira Siegel of my staff at kasey.butler@mail.house.gov,  shira.siegel@mail.house.gov or by telephone at (202) 225-6506.  The deadline to sign on is Tuesday, NOVEMBER 18th. Sincerely, Nita M. Lowey Member of Congress DATE Chuck Hagel                                                                                                  Eric Shinseki Secretary of Defense                                                                                     Secretary of Veterans Affairs Department of Defense                                                                                              Department of Veterans Affairs 1000 Defense Pentagon                                                                                              810 Vermont Avenue NW Washington, DC 20301-1000                                                                         Washington, DC 20420 Dear Secretary Hagel and Secretary Shinseki, We are writing to inquire about the status of the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) coordinated effort on the development of an integrated electronic health record. Although the VA has made progress on providing timely and accurate claims decisions, this issue still remains one of the largest challenges confronting the VA.  The Subcommittee on Defense Appropriations Budget Hearing in April 2013 discussed the relationship between VA and DoD.  Continued collaboration and cooperation between these two agencies is vital to making a lasting impact on the adjudication of compensation claims. We were pleased to learn that VA and DoD have reached an agreement to improve the delivery of evidence necessary for the adjudication of claims, but much of this is still done by hand-delivering paper records in a process that is inefficient for the departments and burdensome for service members.  Until there is an operational electronic health record system, our service members will continue to experience delays as they transition their health care to the VA. The House-passed DoD Appropriations bill, Military Construction-Veterans Affairs bill (and their accompanying reports) include language clearly expressing concerns with the progress and costs of the integrated electronic health records system.  In addition, the FY 2014 House passed National Defense Authorization Act also included sense of Congress and report language expressing concerns, including specific guidelines for the design concepts for the integrated electronic health record, to include guidance with respect to open architecture standards.  We are deeply concerned that your decision to move forward with a commercial electronic health record software solution may not take into account Congressional guidance. We look forward to receiving an update about the progress that has been made within the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans’ Affairs to create an integrated electronic health record. Sincerely, Nita M. Lowey''
''Dear Members, Resident Commissioner, Delegates, and Staff: The CAO will host both the House Equipment Fair and the Subscription Services Fair next week. Subscription Services Fair Thursday, November 21 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Rayburn Foyer The Subscription Services Fair provides House offices with information and pricing on news and research subscriptions. Representatives from popular news and research services will be on hand to demonstrate their products, explain pricing, and answer questions. The fair will also provide important information on free services offered by Office of the Clerk and the House Library, such as HouseLive and TVEyes, and the Library of Congress. For more information on the House Subscriptions Fair, please contact CAO Communications at 202-226-6660. House Equipment Fair Friday, November 22 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Cannon Caucus Room (345) The latest equipment and technology available to help increase office efficiency will be on display at the House Equipment Fair. Employees can learn about the latest technology and see product demonstrations of software, wireless devices, photocopiers, printers, scanners, and teleconferencing equipment. Representatives from over 30 companies will be available to consult with House staff regarding current and future software and hardware needs. For more information on the House Equipment Fair, please contact the CAO Technology Service Desk at 202-225-6002. Sincerely, /s/ Dan Strodel Chief Administrative Officer''
''“WE FUMBLED THE ROLL OUT…” SIGN ON TO THE GLITCH ACT TO HOLD THE ADMINISTRATION ACCOUNTABLE Become an Original Cosponsor of the Government Lacks Insight To Choose Healthcare “GLITCH” Act Dear Colleague: As Secretary Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged during the Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on October 30th, she is accountable for the many flaws plaguing the Obamacare website amidst its disastrous rollout.  Americans who are being forced to enroll in these health plans have encountered countless difficulties with the HealthCare.gov website, leaving the only thing Americans can count on is the inability of the Secretary to administer this deeply flawed law.  So far 118 million taxpayer dollars have been spent on the Healthcare.gov website, with an additional $56 million going towards technical support.  As more and more taxpayer money is wasted, it is only right that we in Congress hold accountable those responsible for these failings.  That is why I am introducing the Government Lacks Insight To Choose Healthcare Act (GLITCH Act). The GLITCH Act will deduct 5% each month from the HHS Secretary’s baseline salary. The first month will be 5%, the second month will be 10%, and so on until the GAO certifies that HealthCare.gov is fully operational. The GAO will check the website’s functionality mid-way through each month and then submit their findings to Congress. Only when the website is certified to be fully functional will the Secretary’s salary be made whole. Please join me as an original cosponsor so that we might hold those who made the HealthCare.gov website a monument to federal government mismanagement and ineptitude responsible. To sign on as an original cosponsor, or for more information, please contact James Walsh in my office at James.Walsh@mail.house.gov or 202-225-5744. Sincerely, Ted S. Yoho, D.V.M.''
''Health Insurance Freedom Act Cosponsor H.R. 3450 Dear Colleague: Beginning January 1, 2014, courtesy of Obamacare, individuals are required to enroll in a health insurance plan that covers (at a minimum) 10 general categories referred to as “Essential Health Benefits (EHB’s).” Americans should have the ability to decide what is “essential” for themselves and their families.  After all, individual families know what’s best according to their unique circumstances and the distinctive needs of each family member.  Folks should not be forced into a “one size fits all” plan mandated by the federal government. This is not how healthcare is supposed to work. That’s why I introduced H.R. 3450, the Health Insurance Freedom Act, to ensure that the American people have an option to choose what services they need for their health insurance.  This will provide them with the ability to opt out of coverage they will neither need nor want. EHB’s are the primary reason premiums are sky rocketing for millions of Americans. Expanded benefits have to be paid for with higher premiums.  Common sense dictates the more comprehensive a plan, the more expensive it will be. Further, since no insurance plans offered the 10 EHB’s prior to Obamacare, this mandate is the reason 5 percent of Americans, up to 15 million people, are receiving cancellation notices from their insurance companies. To sign on as an original co-sponsor, or for more information, please contact Mitch Vakerics in my office at Mitchell.Vakerics@mail.house.gov or 202-225-4531. Sincerely, RENEE ELLMERS Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Today marks the day 12 long years ago that President George W. Bush authorized the detention of suspected al-Qaida members at Guantanamo bay prison and stood up military commissions to try these individuals. As The Guardian noted today, “only 7 of the 779 men ever held at Guantanamo have been convicted and sentenced.”  Today, too many detainees still remain at the prison with no hope of ever facing trial. This is a disgrace to the values America stands for. Furthermore it is an outrageous waste of tax dollars at a time of severe budget constraints and uncertainty. I commend you to read the complete article that is reprinted below. Twelve years ago, on 13 November 2001, President George W Bush signed an orderauthorizing the detention of suspected al-Qaida members and supporters, and the creation of military commissions. To borrow a line from the Grateful Dead: “What a long, strange trip it’s been.” The order was modeled on one issued by President Franklin D Roosevelt on 2 July 1942, authorizing a military commission to try eight Nazi saboteurs apprehended in the United States. The men were captured, convicted and six of the eight executed in a span of 43 days. Roosevelt’s military commission was swift, secret and severe, so some urged President Bush to dust it off and use it again. A total of seven detainees out of the779 menever held at Guantánamo have been convicted and sentenced. Five of the seven are no longer at Guantánamo creating a paradox: you have to lose to win. Those lucky enough to get charged and convicted of a war crime have good odds of getting out of Guantánamo, but those who are never charged could spend the rest of their lives in prison. The seven men tried in military commissions were all convicted of providing material support for terrorism. Two of the seven – Salim Hamdanand David Hicks– were convicted solely of providing material support. In October 2012, a three judge panel of the US Court of Appeals for the Washington DC Circuit – all appointed by Republican presidents – overturned the conviction of Salim Hamdan, Osama Bin Laden’s driver. Writing for the court, Judge Brett M Kavanaugh said that before Congress passed the Military Commissions Act in September 2006, “the international law of war did not proscribe material support for terrorism as a war crime”. Since nearly all of the men held at Guantánamo have been there since long before 2006 and most were at best low-level flunkies, the government’s inability to charge them with providing material support for terrorism means they likely will never face a military commission for a trial that might have enabled them to find a way out of Guantánamo. Proponents of military commissions argue that the United States is in a war on terrorism, a point they claim mandates that those captured face trial in a war court rather than federal court. In September 2006, 14 high-value detainees held in CIA black sites were transferred to military custody at Guantánamo. Only one has been tried and convicted. Ahmed Ghailaniis the only detainee ever transported from Guantánamo to the United States where he was convicted in federal court for his role in the 1998 bombings of US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania.Ghailani was tried in 2010 and sentenced to life in prison, and the US Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit recently affirmed his conviction. Meanwhile, some of Ghailani’s travel companions remain mired in the military commission morass where the parties argue over whether an accused is required to come to court, whether Khalid Sheikh Mohammedcan wear a camouflage vest, whether the judge or some secret CIA monitor controls the courtroom’s audio system, and how the government gained access to defense counsels’ files. As Chief Judge Colonel James Pohl slogs through these novel issues, the prosecution says it wants a trial date in late 2014. By then, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed will have been in US custody for more than 11 years. Attorney general Eric Holder said recently that the trial would be over and KSM waiting on death row had the case been prosecuted in federal court in New York City instead. Americans are oblivious to the high pricethey pay for Guantánamo. By the end of the current fiscal year, nearly $5.25bn(pdf) will have been spent on detention operations. At a cost estimated at over $2.5m per year for each detainee, the price is about 75 times higher than federal prison. The law that has evolved from Guantánamo has been a black eye for the country; from the supreme court ruling that President Bush’s military commissions were illegal to the Washington DC circuit ruling all of the men convicted in military commissions were charged with an offense that was not a legitimate war crime. America’s enemies and allies alike, in their criticism of US war on terrorism practices, cite Guantánamo as an example of failed leadership. About the only positive thing that can be said for Guantánamo is it gives fearmongers a talking point to try andpaint a distorted picture of President Obama as soft on terrorists because he wants to close it. In his 2008 bid for the White House, Senator John McCain said: ‘We should close Guantánamo. Our great power does not mean that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want.’ President Obama has argued repeatedly that Guantánamo needs to close, saying in a speech in May, “there is no justification beyond politics for Congress to prevent us from closing a facility that should never have been opened”. Now, a dozen years after President Bush signed the order that led to Guantánamo and the military commissions, there is still no end in sight. It is time to end this wasteful embarrassment that undermines what the United States purports to stand for. The United States cannot afford to allow Guantánamo to “just keep truckin’ on”. http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/nov/13/guantanamo-still-open-12-year-anniversary Sincerely, James P. Moran''
''Support Additional Public Input for FSMA Dear Colleague, Please join us in sending a letter to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) urging the FDA to allow robust public input for two proposed rules under the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).  This bicameral letter is also being led by Senators Shaheen (D-NH) and Blunt (R-MO) in the Senate. As directed under FSMA, the FDA has drafted rules for Produce Safety and Preventive Controls for agricultural producers and processors.  In their current form these rules leave a range of questions unanswered that are of significant consequence for the agricultural sector.  Our letter requests that Commissioner Hamburg propose and submit for public comment a second draft of these rules before issuing the final regulations. We believe that this step will improve the law’s implementation while protecting public input in the process and preventing undue hardship on our nation’s farmers and processors. Under FSMA, FDA was granted expanded authority to focus on preventing food safety problems rather than reacting to problems after they occur. Through an increased frequency of inspections at food facilities, tighter record-keeping requirements, extended oversight on certain farms, and additional requirements related to product recalls, FDA is looking to combat instances of food borne illness. The Preventive Controls Rule will apply to many domestic and foreign companies that manufacture, process, pack or hold food for human consumption. These companies will be required to develop plans that identify hazards, incorporate steps that will minimize or prevent those hazards, identify monitoring and recording procedures, and demonstrate actions to be taken to correct problems that arise. The Produce Safety Rule establishes science-based standards for growing, harvesting, packing and holding produce on domestic and foreign farms. These standards will determine harvesting procedures that will apply to fruits and vegetables that can be consumed raw. We are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.  We have heard from producers, producer advocacy groups, and processors that they have a number of concerns related to testing frequency for agricultural waters, restrictions on biological soil amendments, compliance issues for mixed-use facilities, definitions related to “farm” and “small and very small business,” and the lack of consideration over the various complexities related to various farm ownership entities. Given such a range of uncertainty, we believe producers, processors, and consumers will benefit from a second draft of these rules and the opportunity to provide input on the second draft before FDA issues the final regulations. For more information or to sign on to the letter please contact Zack Clark (Courtney) at Zachary.Clark@mail.house.govor Rebecca Shaw (Gibson) at Rebecca.Shaw@mail.house.gov. Deadline to sign is close of business on Tuesday, November 19th.                                   Sincerely, Joe Courtney        Chris Gibson           Ann McLane Kuster November __, 2013 The Honorable Margaret Hamburg, M.D. Commissioner U.S. Food and Drug Administration 10903 New Hampshire Avenue Silver Spring, MD 20993 Dear Commissioner Hamburg: We appreciate the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA)efforts to implement the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) and the agency’s willingness to seek input and guidance from producers and processors, which is of great value to our constituents.  We are confident that the rulemaking process for the proposed Produce Safety Rule and the Preventive Controls Rule (Docket Nos. FDA-2011-N-0920 and FDA-2011-N-0921) will bolster the overall process of the law’s implementation. Despite your agency’s efforts to engage with stakeholders during the rulemaking process, we remain concerned about the ambiguity surrounding many aspects of these proposed rules.  In order to improve the law’s implementation, we are writing to request that the FDA propose and submit for public comment a second draft of these rules before issuing the final regulations. After hearing many reservations from our farmers and businesses, we are concerned that the rules as currently proposed, and the heavy cost of complying with them, will force some producers and processors to shutter their operations.  Food producers and processors in our states are concerned with a number of issues, including: The testing frequency required for certain agricultural waters; Restrictions placed on the usage of biological soil amendments; Compliance issues at mixed-use facilities; New requirements that conflict with existing conservation and environmental standards and practices of the U.S. Department of Agriculture; The limiting definitions used in the rule for “farm”, “small and very small business”; and, The lack of consideration of the complexity of various farm ownership entities. We believe the rules as currently proposed would result in a multitude of unintended consequences that would be severely detrimental to national, regional, and local agriculture.  By lengthening the rulemaking process and seeking additional input through a second round of comments, we believe that producers’ concerns can be addressed and unintended consequences can be greatly mitigated. We appreciate your consideration of this request and look forward to your response. Sincerely,''
''Honor the Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman Cosponsor H.R. 664, the biparisan Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act Cosponsors (90):  Bass, Beatty, S. Bishop, T. Bishop, Brown, Bustos, Butterfield, Carson, Cartwright, Christensen, Chu, Clarke, Clay, Cleaver, Clyburn, Cohen, Collins, Connolly, Conyers, Crowley, Cummings, D. Davis, DeFazio, Delaney, Edwards, Ellison, Engel, Enyart, Fattah, Fudge, Gibson, Grayson, Al Green, Grijalva, Grimm, A. Hastings, Hanna, Higgins, Horsford, Hoyer, Israel, Jackson Lee, Jeffries, E.B. Johnson, H. Johnson, Kaptur, R. Kelly, P. King, Kirkpatrick, Lee, Lewis, Lowenthal, Lowey, C. Maloney, S.P. Maloney, Markey, C. McCarthy, McCollum, Meeks, Meng, Moore, Nadler, Napolitano, Norton, Owens, Payne, Pocan, Rangel, Reed, Richmond, Ruppersberger, Rush, Linda Sanchez, Sarbanes, D. Scott, R. Scott, Serrano, Sewell, Sires, Slaughter, Speier, B. Thompson, Tonko, Van Hollen, Vargas, Veasey, Velazquez, Waters, Watt, F. Wilson Dear Colleague: Few Americans have fought as courageously for freedom and equality as Harriet Tubman.  As an escaped slave, she dedicated her life to helping others find their way to freedom as the architect of the Underground Railroad.  She then served her nation as a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, and finally as a caregiver for the elderly by establishing the ‘Tubman Home for the Aged’ in Auburn, NY where she lived out her life. March 10, 2013 marked the one hundredth anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s death.  To pay tribute to her life and legacy, I introduced H.R. 664, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act.  This bill commemorates the life of Harriet Tubman by establishing two National Historic Parks in her honor: The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  The bill establishes the two National Parks and authorizes appropriations to support the parks. I hope you will consider cosponsoring this important piece of legislation to establish these two National Parks celebrating the legacy of Harriet Tubman.  It is an important step in honoring her life and acknowledging her place in our nation’s history.  If you have any questions or would like to cosponsor the bill, please contact Becky Cornell at Becky.Cornell@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s Dan Maffei Member of Congress''
''Support Back Pay for Low-Wage Contractor Employees Hurt by Shutdown Call for Originals Closing COB Today 11/13/2013 Dear Colleague, Please join me as an original cosponsor of a bill that will provide back pay to low-wage federal contractor employees who were furloughed or subjected to reduced hours as a result of the recent federal government shutdown.  The only contractor employees who would be covered provide retail, food, custodial, and security services in federal buildings.  Federally contracted service workers could least afford the loss of pay during the shutdown, and should not now have to go to work every day with everyone else in their federal buildings having received back pay except for them. To cosponsor this bill, please contact Lauren Dudley at Lauren.Dudley@mail.house.gov or x5-8050. Sincerely, Eleanor Holmes Norton''
''40% of the units in foreclosure are occupied by tenants Current list of original co-sponsors: Butterfield, Capuano, Cicciline, Clarke, Conyers, Grijalva, Hinojosa, McDermott, McGovern, G. Miller, Rangel, Sanchez, Schakowsky and F. Wilson Dear Colleague: Please join me in becoming an original cosponsor of the Permanently Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act.  This critical piece of legislation will ensure that the current federal protections for renters living in foreclosed properties do not expire in the midst of the ongoing foreclosure crisis. While much of the response to the foreclosure crisis has focused on homeowners, 27% of properties and 40% of the units in foreclosure are actually renter-occupied. These renters often have no idea that their landlord has fallen behind on mortgage payments, and usually have continued to pay their rent even as their landlord has failed to pay the mortgage. Prior to the passage of the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act (PTFA) in May 2009, tenants were often required to move with as little as a few days notice. Now, the law ensures that most tenants can stay in their home for the remainder of their lease or for at least 90 days post-foreclosure. However, if Congress does not take action to extend the law, the PTFA will expire on December 31, 2014. As the foreclosure crisis is ongoing and renters continue to be impacted by it, I will soon introduce a bill to make the PFTA permanent and add an enforcement mechanism for the law’s provisions. My legislation would take two important steps to help renters in foreclosure: Remove the 2014 sunset date, thereby making the law permanent. Renters should be protected irrespective of when a foreclosure takes place. Add a private right of action to provide tenants with more and clearer tools against violations of the PTFA. Currently, the PTFA has no enforcement mechanism. The addition of a private right of action is important to ensure compliance with the law. It is critical that Congress act now to ensure that renters, faced with foreclosure through no fault of their own, are ensured a basic level of protection after a foreclosure occurs. Please do not hesitate to contact Carol Wayman of my staff at carol.wayman@mail.house.govor 5.4755 if you have any questions or if you would like to cosponsor this bill. Sincerely, /s/ Keith Ellison MEMBER OF CONGRESS''
''November 13, 2013 AMENDMENT PROCESS FOR H.R. 2728 – Protecting States’ Right to Promote American Energy Security Act Dear Colleague:             The Committee on Rules may meet the week of November 18th to grant a rule that could limit the amendment process for floor consideration of H.R. 2728, the Protecting States’ Right to Promote American Energy Security Act.             Any Member wishing to offer an amendment must submit a searchable electronic copy of the amendment, which should be provided by the Office of Legislative Counsel, via the Rules Committee’s website. Members must also submit 30 hard copies of the amendment, one copy of a brief explanation of the amendment, and an amendment login form to the Rules Committee in room H-312 of the Capitol by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, November 18, 2013.  Both electronic and hard copies must be received by the date and time specified.  Members should draft their amendments to the text of Rules Committee Print 113-27, which reflects the text of H.R. 2728 as reported by the Committee on Natural Resources and H.R. 2850 as reported by Committee on Science, Space, and Technology.  Rules Committee Print 113-27 is available on the Rules Committee website.          Members should use the Office of Legislative Counsel to ensure that their amendments are drafted in the most appropriate format.  Members should also check with the Congressional Budget Office for a preliminary assessment of their amendments’ budgetary effects.  Finally, members should check with the Office of the Parliamentarian and the Committee on the Budget to be certain their amendments comply with the rules of the House and the Congressional Budget Act.  If you have any questions, please contact myself or Nathan Blake of the Committee staff at 225-9191. Sincerely, PETE SESSIONS''
''Support Commercial Space Innovation Cosponsor the SOARS Act (H.R. 3038) Dear Colleague, The coming commercialization of outer space could well be the most historically significant development of the modern era, yet American companies may be left behind if current government regulations continue to hinder their work. That is why we introduced H.R. 3038, the Suborbital and Orbital Advancement and Regulatory Streamlining Act or SOARS Act. Its purpose is to streamline the process of commercial space launch licensing and to establish demonstration projects involving the use of experimental aircraft in support of commercial space launch activities. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which was established a half century ago with the mission of ensuring the safety of the flying public, is currently required by law to treat any aircraft flying in support of space transportation as if it is a commercial airline.  That means the FAA must impose its highest safety restrictions on some parts of this brand new industry, without regard to the unique differences posed by aircraft designed to enable space activities, including space launch. The nascent commercial space industry needs the support of a flexible regulatory approach that will allow it to continue to innovate and grow. The SOARS Act solves this problem in two ways.  First, it enables the Secretary of Transportation to authorize flights of aircraft that are part of launch systems using the same “informed consent” regime as launch systems.  Second, it directs the Secretary to establish a demonstration program at several spaceports around the country to authorize the use of experimental aircraft in support of the space transportation industry.  The legislation improves safety by enabling the Secretary to regulate new vehicle types in one seamless process, without altering the FAA’s existing authority to protect the safety of the uninvolved public. We must ensure that American entrepreneurs have the freedom to innovate, and the government regulations do not snuff out the American pioneer spirit. The SOARS Act will help do that by streamlining the law while ensuring an appropriate level of government oversight so the rest of the world will not have a competitive advantage as our outdated regulations hobble our most innovative companies in this new field. To co-sponsor the SOARS Act to allow American commercial space companies the flexibility to grow and potentially lead the world into this new frontier, please contact Brandon Eden with Congressman Kevin McCarthy at brandon.eden@mail.house.gov or John Knox with Congressman Bill Posey at john.knox@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, KEVIN McCARTHY                           BILL POSEY Member of Congress                      Member of Congress''
''Bipartisan Legislation Would Ensure Support for Grieving Families is Never Subject to Congressional Inaction   Dear Colleague: Like you, we were outraged by reports during the government shutdown that the families of more than a dozen U.S. service members who were killed in action after October 1, were initially denied death benefits as a result of the federal government shutdown. When a man or woman dons the uniform in defense of our nation, a sacred bond is formed. These brave citizens live up to their end of the bargain by leaving their families to serve their country, often in harm’s way. The rest of us must ensure our nation always fulfills its solemn obligation to the grieving families of our fallen service members. The longstanding purpose of the death benefit is to assist families of deceased service members in meeting their financial needs during the period immediately following a service member’s death and before other survivor benefits become available. These payments are delivered within three days of a service member’s death so families do not have their grief compounded by worrying about the financial stress of covering the immediate expenses of flying to meet their loved one’s remains at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware or arranging funeral and burial services. These benefits should never be subject to Congressional inaction. The sacrifices made by our men and women in uniform and their families do not cease just because Congress cannot do its job and neither should this important financial support for them. The Connolly-Rooney bill (H.R. 3352) would provide a permanent appropriation of funds for immediate payment of military death benefits to survivors of deceased military service members during any period of lapsed appropriations, which is often referred to as a “government shutdown.” We invite you to join us in cosponsoring our bipartisan legislation that will ensure our nation always meets its sacred obligation to the families of our fallen soldiers. For more information or to cosponsor this important bipartisan legislation, please contactBenjamin.Rhodeside@mail.house.gov with Congressman Connolly orJessica.Moore@mail.house.gov with Congressman Rooney. Sincerely,   Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11)                                      Thomas J. Rooney (FL-17) Member of Congress                                                  Member of Congress''
''END TAX PENALTIES ON DISCRIMINATION CASE SETTLEMENTS & REDUCE LITIGATION COSTS FOR AMERICAN BUSINESSES November 12, 2013 Dear Colleague,             We invite you to become a cosponsor of the Civil Justice Tax Fairness Act of 2013, H.R. 2509 (Civil Rights Tax Relief Act in previous congresses).  This important legislation helps remedy the excessive tax treatment of settlements and damage awards from employment discrimination cases, civil rights cases, and cases involving whistleblowers.              Under current law, both economic and noneconomic damages awarded in these types of cases are counted as gross income for the taxpayer and subject to taxation. This is different tax treatment than other types of suits. Since 1919, noneconomic damages received due to personal injury or sicknesses have been excluded from gross income for tax purposes.             The current tax treatment of civil rights and employment cases both increase the cost of settlement for America’s businesses and decrease the ultimate amount of recovery for victims. As a result, citizens have been faced with unfair tax burdens, and it has become increasingly more costly and difficult to settle these cases.             The Civil Justice Tax Fairness Act of 2013 would work to resolve these issues by reducing the taxes that artificially increase settlement awards.  Specifically, this bill would exclude noneconomic damages from gross income and permit income averaging for back pay received in a lump sum. This would make settlements cheaper and easier to achieve and reduce the number of employment and civil rights cases that ultimately tie up precious court resources in trial.             The Civil Justice Tax Fairness Act of 2013 will promote more reasonable settlements, reduce the cost of litigation for American companies, and eliminate the unfair tax treatment currently faced by victims of discrimination.              If you have any questions or would like to become a cosponsor, please contact DeCarlo McLaren with Congressman Lewis at DeCarlo.McLaren@mail.house.gov, Amy Bos with Congressman Sensenbrenner at Amy.Bos@mail.house.gov, Mark Roman with Congressman Schock at Mark.Roman@mail.house.gov, or Rashage Green with Congressman Scott at Rashage.Green@mail.house.gov. Sincerely,                   /s                                                                                           /s            John Lewis                                                                F. James Sensenbrenner    Member of Congress                                                           Member of Congress                                     /s                                                                                           /s         Bobby Scott                                                                         Aaron Schock   Member of Congress                                                            Member of Congress''
''JOIN THE CONGRESSIONAL STRUCTURED SETTLEMENTS CAUCUS Focus on the Health and Welfare Needs of Injured Victims November 12, 2013 Dear Colleague:             We are writing to encourage you to become a member of the newly formed Congressional Structured Settlements Caucus, which will highlight one of Congress’ great bipartisan policy successes during the past 30 years.  This bipartisan Caucus will help educate the congressional community about the important role that structured settlements play in assisting injured victims in living their lives with economic security, confidence and dignity after a serious physical injury.             Structured settlements have been recognized and encouraged by the federal tax code since 1982.  The public policy goal of a structured settlement is to help disabled persons and injured victims to stay financially independent and avoid the need for public assistance.  Under a structured settlement, payments are exempt from income taxes and other taxes such as interest, capital gains or the AMT.  For the past 30 years, structured settlements provided a voluntary option for physical injury victims to take all or some of their claim settlement in a series of long-term payments tailored for their personal needs.              Over the years, more than 500,000 Americans have voluntarily chosen to protect their financial future–and their family’s future–with a structured settlement.  Even during the financial emergencies during the past few years, every structured settlement check has gone out on time, and in full.  With the American people clamoring for common-sense solutions to serious problems, structured settlement stand out as a shining success.  It is a clear-cut example of congressional policy working, as intended, to protect the long-term economic security and health of accident survivors and avoid the need for public assistance. We hope that you will join us in this effort to educate and inform others of the importance of structured settlements in this new and important Caucus.  If you would like more information about the Congressional Structured Settlements Caucus, or would like to become a member, please contact DeCarlo McLaren with Congressman Lewis at DeCarlo.McLaren@mail.house.gov or x5-3801, or Amy Bos with Congressman Sensenbrenner at Amy.Bos@mail.house.gov or x5-5101. Sincerely,                   /s                                                                                       /s John Lewis, Co-chair                                                          F. James Sensenbrenner, Co-chair Member of Congress                                                          Member of Congress''
''Rep. Long’s legislation would simply provide a one-year exemption from Obamacare’s individual mandate for those who have lost their current coverage. Current co-sponsors: Reps. Long, Bachus, Calvert, Meehan, Bill Jonson, Duffy Dear Colleague: Across the country, in my district and yours, millions of our constituents are beginning to receive notice from their health insurance carriers saying that the coverage they currently enjoy will be terminated at the end of their current plan year. As a direct result of Obamacare, these individuals and families are being notified that they will lose the coverage they currently have and were promised they could keep.  Additionally, they will be penalized by the law for not obtaining new coverage on their own.  Like many aspects of this law, this is simply not fair. To address this situation and give these individuals and families a break from Obamacare, I encourage you to sign on as a co-sponsor of the Fairness for Lost Coverage Act, H.R. 3376.  My bill would simply grant a one-year exemption from the law’s individual mandate to those whose individual or employer-sponsored coverage is being terminated. Please join me in helping those already hurt by this law and in standing up for fairness under Obamacare.  If you have any questions on the bill or would like to sign on as a co-sponsor please contact Pete Stehouwer at pete.stehouwer@mail.house.govor 5-6536.''
''ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION ON INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS AND SUPER POLLUTANTS TOMORROW, Wednesday, November 13 1:30-2:30pm Russell Senate Office Building, Room 188 Speakers: Durwood Zaelke, President, Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development Kevin Fay, Special Counsel, Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy David Doniger, Policy Director, Climate and Clean Air Program at NRDC Dear Colleague: Please join us for an informal roundtable discussion regarding ongoing efforts to phase down hydroflourocarbons (HFCs), including recent developments at the Meeting of the Parties (MOP) to the Montreal Protocol in Bangkok, Thailand, which concluded on October 25. The Montreal Protocol is the highly effective international treaty that saved the ozone layer by phasing out ozone-depleting substances such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs).  In addition, eliminating those chemicals is one of the most effective steps yet taken to slow global warming and climate change. The Montreal Protocol has provided climate protection more than ten times greater than that of the Kyoto Protocol. Currently, more than 100 parties to the Montreal Protocol are debating whether to amend the treaty to phase down a third set of chemicals called HFCs. Developed as alternatives to CFCs and HCFCs, these substances are not ozone depleting compounds, but have global warming potentials that are hundreds to thousands more times higher than carbon dioxide — and their emissions are quickly rising as the demand for air conditioning and chilling appliances grows globally. At the recent meeting in Bangkok, there was broad support for HFC phase-down proposals sponsored by the U.S. and other countries.  But India blocked progress on an HFC proposal, despite India Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s recent G-20 commitment to pursue such an amendment. Come join three experts who attended the Bangkok meeting, and learn more about the next steps and continuing challenges surrounding Montreal Protocol revisions. If you have any questions, please contact Jesse Young in Senator Murphy’s office (jesse_young@murphy.senate.gov) or Lumay Wang in Congressman Peters’ office (lumay.wang@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, CHRIS MURPHY                 SCOTT PETERS U.S. Senator                            Member of Congress''
''Support ‘Reshoring’ and Job Creation at Home – Stop Electronic Waste Dumping on Developing Nations Co-sponsor H.R. 2791, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act Cosponsors: G. Green, M. Thompson, Coffman, McCaul, Slaughter, Stivers, Ruppersberger, S. Brooks, F. Wilson, Benishek, Nugent Dear Colleague, Today, rapid advances in technology mean that electronic products are becoming obsolete quicker. Shorter product life-spans, coupled with explosive sales in customer electronics, mean that more products are being discarded. Discarded computers, TVs, phones and other consumer electronics—commonly referred to as electronic waste or “e-waste”—now comprise the fastest growing waste stream in the U.S. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimated that in 2011, the U.S. generated over 3.4 million tons of e-waste. The management of used electronics presents a number of significant environmental, health, and national security concerns. Much of the e-waste collected in the U.S. for alleged “recycling” or “reuse” is actually exported to developing nations such as China, Ghana, India, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Thailand. The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) has determined that most of these receiving countries lack the capacity to safely recycle and dispose of these discarded and used electronics. In towns like Guiyu, China, toxic e-waste is burned in open fires with no safety equipment and often by children, creating extremely toxic conditions. Although many countries, including those in the European Union, have developed laws to address electronic waste disposal and management, the United States does not have a comprehensive national approach for the export of used electronics. In order to correct these issues, we have introduced bipartisan legislation, H.R. 2791, the Responsible Electronics Recycling Act of 2013, to provide the regulatory framework necessary to address this dire situation. The Responsible Electronics Recycling Act would create a new section in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) that would prohibit the export of “restricted electronic waste” from the U.S. to countries that are not members of the Organization of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the European Union. While tested and working equipment can still be exported to promote reuse, other consumer electronic equipment, parts, and material derived from them that contain toxic chemicals could not be exported to developing nations. This approach is consistent with the policy most other developed nations have adopted via international treaties – the Basel Convention and Basel Ban Amendment. This legislation would also create a competitive grant program to promote the recovery and recycling of critical minerals and rare earth elements found in electronic waste. H.R. 2791 would also help bring recycling jobs back to the U.S.  According to a recent study by the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling, restrictions on e-waste exports could create up to 42,000 direct and indirect new jobs with a total payroll of more than $1 billion. This legislation is supported by Apple, Dell, Samsung, Hewlett Packard, Best Buy, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, Natural Resources Defense Council, the Electronics TakeBack Coalition, and the Coalition for American Electronics Recycling. For more information or to cosponsor H.R. 2791, please contact Sergio Espinosa in Rep. Gene Green’s office at Sergio.Espinosa@mail.house.gov or Tom Pauling in Rep. Mike Thompson’s office at Tom.Pauling@mail.house.gov. Sincerely,    Gene Green                                                   Mike Thompson Member of Congress                                       Member of Congress''
''Become an Original Cosponsor of the Government Lacks Insight To Choose Healthcare “GLITCH” Act Dear Colleague: As Secretary Kathleen Sebelius acknowledged during the Energy and Commerce Committee hearing on October 30th, she is accountable for the many flaws plaguing the Obamacare website amidst its disastrous rollout.  Americans who are being forced to enroll in these health plans have encountered countless difficulties with the HealthCare.gov website, leaving the only thing Americans can count on is the inability of the Secretary to administer this deeply flawed law.  So far 118 million taxpayer dollars have been spent on the Healthcare.gov website, with an additional $56 million going towards technical support.  As more and more taxpayer money is spent, it is only right that we in Congress hold those responsible for these failings accountable.  That is why I am introducing the Government Lacks Insight To Choose Healthcare Act (GLITCH Act). The GLITCH Act will deduct 5% each month from the HHS Secretary’s baseline salary. The first month will be 5%, 10% the second month and so on until the GAO certifies that HealthCare.gov is fully operational. The GAO will check the website’s functionality mid-way through each month and then submit their findings to Congress. Only when the website is certified to be fully functional will the Secretary’s salary be made whole. To sign on as an original cosponsor, or for more information, please contact James Walsh in my office at James.Walsh@mail.house.gov or 202-225-5744. Sincerely, Ted S. Yoho, D.V.M.''
''Honor the Life and Legacy of Harriet Tubman Cosponsor H.R. 664, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act Cosponsors (74):  Bass, Beatty, Bishop, Brown, Bustos, Butterfield, Carson, Cartwright, Chu, Clarke, Clay, Cohen, Collins, Connolly, Conyers, Crowley, Cummings, DeFazio, Delaney, Edwards, Engel, Enyart, Fudge, Gibson, Grayson, Grijalva, Grimm, Hanna, Higgins, Horsford, Hoyer, Israel, Jackson Lee, Jeffries, E.B. Johnson, Kaptur, P. King, Kirkpatrick, Lee, Lowenthal, Lowey, C. Maloney, S.P. Maloney, Markey, C. McCarthy, McCollum, Meeks, Meng, Moore, Nadler, Napolitano, Norton, Owens, Pocan, Rangel, Reed, Richmond, Ruppersberger, Rush, Linda Sanchez, Sarbanes, R. Scott, Serrano, Sires, Slaughter, Speier, Tonko, Van Hollen, Vargas, Veasey, Velazquez, Waters, Watt, F. Wilson Dear Colleague: Few Americans have fought as courageously for freedom and equality as Harriet Tubman.  As an escaped slave, she dedicated her life to helping others find their way to freedom as the architect of the Underground Railroad.  She then served her nation as a spy for the Union Army during the Civil War, and finally as a caregiver for the elderly by establishing the ‘Tubman Home for the Aged’ in Auburn, NY where she lived out her life. March 10, 2013 marked the one hundredth anniversary of Harriet Tubman’s death.  To pay tribute to her life and legacy, I introduced H.R. 664, the Harriet Tubman National Historical Parks Act.  This bill commemorates the life of Harriet Tubman by establishing two National Historic Parks in her honor: The Harriet Tubman National Historical Park in Auburn, NY and the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.  The bill establishes the two National Parks and authorizes appropriations to support the parks. I hope you will consider cosponsoring this important piece of legislation to establish these two National Parks celebrating the legacy of Harriet Tubman.  It is an important step in honoring her life and acknowledging her place in our nation’s history.  If you have any questions or would like to cosponsor the bill, please contact Becky Cornell at Becky.Cornell@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s Dan Maffei Member of Congress''
''Dear  Colleague: The national patchwork of knife laws is complex, confusing, and in constant flux, and law-abiding travelers with knives are presently at their mercy. It is virtually impossible for any citizen to be fully cognizant of all knife laws in all states where they may travel. The current situation with knives is similar to the circumstances with guns that existed prior to the passage of the Firearms Owner Protection Act, 18 USC 926A (“FOPA”) in 1986, when Congress acted to protect law-abiding gun owners from a similar inconsistent patchwork of laws by insulating their travels if firearms possession was lawful at both the origination and destination points of travel. Unfortunately, FOPA does not protect knife owners.  As a result of this massive oversight, it is entirely possible that a sportsman traveling with both firearms and knives who follows FOPA’s requirements to the letter and also locks up his knives in an abundance of caution, could be protected from prosecution for firearms possession, yet be arrested and prosecuted for knife possession. This is unreasonable. It is time that we correct this massive oversight that subjects a traveling, law-abiding American to arrest and imprisonment for the possession of a simple pocket tool. The Knife Owners Protection Act will protect the sovereignty of state and local governments, while also protecting citizens’ right to lawfully travel with a knife. A citizen’s right to travel from one place to another with a legal product should be protected, and preventing Americans from being wrongfully targeted should be of primary concern to Congress. I hope you will join me in cosponsoring this important bill. If you have any questions or would like to be added as an original cosponsor, please contact Greg Safsten at greg.safsten@mail.house.govor x69744 by 11:30 am tomorrow (Wednesday, November 13th, 2013)''
''Curren Cosigners:  Blumenauer, Corrine Brown, Conyers, DeFazio, Ellison, Grijalva, Hastings, Honda, Huffman, Levin, McCollum, Scott Peters, Pocan, Schakowsky, Shea-Porter, Slaughter, Titus, Welch Dear Colleague: As was recently highlighted by an article in Time Magazine, our nation’s honeybee population is dramatically declining. Please join us in sending a letter to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to request that its FY 15 budget request include significant additional resources to address the disappearance of one of our nation’s most important pollinators. Honeybees are the most economically valuable pollinators of agricultural crops worldwide.  The monetary value of honeybees as commercial pollinators in the United States is estimated at about $15-20 billion annually.  USDA estimates that honeybees pollinate about one-third of the human diet. Generally speaking, the honeybee population has been declining by about 15 percent but recent data shows a disturbing acceleration in the decline of the honeybees.  A USDA survey shows a decline of 31.1 percent of honeybee colonies during the 2012/2013 winter, which is an increase of 42 percent over the previous winter.  On average, beekeepers lost 45.1 percent of their colonies during the winter. USDA is the lead agency in attempting to discover what is causing such massive losses.  Given that an agency’s budget request is the first step in setting research priorities, below please find the letter we are sending to the Secretary urging him to request additional resources in FY 15 to address the decline in honeybee population. If you have any questions or would like to sign on to the letter, please contact John Latini (john.latini@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Kaptur’s office or Ian Wolf (ian.wolf@mail.house.gov) in Rep. Hastings office. Sincerely, MARCY KAPTUR                              ALCEE L. HASTINGS Member of Congress                     Member of Congress The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack Secretary U.S. Department of Agriculture Jamie L. Whitten Federal Building 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, DC 20250 Dear Secretary Vilsack: As the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) develops its fiscal year (FY) 2015 budget request, we urge you to request significant additional resources to address the bee health decline challenges facing American beekeepers, including those experiencing Colony Collapse Disorder (CCD).  Thank you in advance for your consideration of our views. Agriculture as we know it today in the United States may not exist without honeybee pollination.  In order for the country to have a healthy and plentiful food supply, honeybee pollination is necessary.  USDA has estimated that honeybees pollinate about one-third of the human diet.  In addition, pollination is responsible for up to $20 billion in added crop value, particularly for specialty crops such as nuts, berries, fruits, and vegetables. The nation’s beekeepers are facing numerous challenges that pose a threat to our food supply.  The most significant challenge that USDA has the ability to address is bee health.  We are losing honeybees at an alarming rate.  In 1947, the United States had 6 million honeybee colonies.  Today, there are only about 2.5 million.  Since 2006 alone, 10 million beehives with a value of roughly $2 billion have been lost, most of which has been attributed to CCD alone. More recently, preliminary results for the national survey of honeybee colony losses show that the disturbing trend continues.  The survey shows a decline of 31.1 percent of honeybee colonies during the 2012/2013 winter, which is an increase of 42 percent over the previous winter.  On average, beekeepers lost 45.1 percent of their colonies during the winter.  That is an increase of 78.2 percent from the previous winter.  It is our understanding that a normal loss rate is only around 15 percent. While we appreciate the work of USDA’s CCD Steering Committee, we believe that more needs to be done before it is too late.  From our perspective, we should be making significant investments in research activities in the laboratory and in the field.  It is our hope that the FY 15 budget request includes increased honeybee research funding at the Agricultural Research Service and National Institute of Food and Agriculture, including funds specifically dedicated to researching the role pesticides may play in overall bee health decline.  In addition, we believe it is important that the Economic Research Service have the needed resources to undertake an official study to establish the economic value of honeybees.  An economic analysis of this type will help policymakers better understand the value of honeybees and prioritize federal resources accordingly. Again, thank you for consideration of our views.  We look forward to working with you and reviewing USDA’s FY 15 budget request.                                                                         Sincerely, Cc:       Dr. Catherine E. Woteki             Under Secretary for Research, Education and Economics             Dr. Edward B. Knipling             Administrator, Agricultural Research Service             Dr. Sonny Ramaswamy             Director, National Institute of Food and Agriculture             Dr. Mary Bohman             Administrator, Economic Research Service''
''IN REMEMBERANCE OF FORMER SPEAKER THOMAS S. FOLEY October 21, 2013 Dear Colleague: The House mourns the death of former Speaker Thomas S. Foley in the time-honored tradition of our institution. Since the 19thcentury, the portraits of Speakers have been draped in black and a fitting tribute made within the Chamber itself. On Friday, October 18, the Speaker’s chair was covered in black, the same mark of respect first made upon the death of Michael Kerr of Indiana, Speaker of the House in the 44thCongress. A gavel, the symbol and tool of the Speaker’s authority, rests on the rostrum. Just outside the Chamber where Speaker Foley served faithfully for 30 years, his portrait has likewise been draped in black.  A book of condolence will be placed beneath the portrait, for the remembrances of his friends and colleagues. Additional information regarding plans for a memorial service will be forthcoming. Sincerely, Karen L. Haas Clerk of the House''
''Dear Colleague, I invite you to join me as an original cosponsor of the “Spouses of Heroes Education Act.” This legislation would expand educational benefits to the spouses of members of the Armed Services who make the ultimate sacrifice for our country. Many military spouses put their careers and educational plans on hold to support their family while a loved one is overseas. Our nation should provide for these families when they lose a husband, wife, or parent in combat. The Spouses of Heroes Education Act amends the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill to expand the Fry Scholarship by making surviving spouses of members of the Armed Services eligible for this benefit program. This scholarship provides full in-state tuition, fees, a monthly living stipend and a book allowance to children of service members who have died in the line of duty. This change would allow spouses to receive the same benefits. If you would like to be an original cosponsor, or have any questions, please contact David Rosenbaum in my office at 5-5965. Sincerely, Dina Titus Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Since the passage of the Foreign Assistance Act in 1961, foreign aid programs have spread across 12 departments, 25 agencies, and almost 60 federal offices. Funding levels have likewise swelled, doubling in the last 10 years alone. However, according to the conclusions of an independent study commissioned by USAID, “current monitoring and evaluation of most U.S. foreign assistance is uneven across agencies, rarely assesses impact, lacks sufficient rigor, and does not produce the necessary analysis to inform strategic decision making.” Many programs simply have no monitoring and evaluation procedures in place at all. What’s more, most foreign assistance programs still operate in the dark. A recent study on aid transparency compared the transparency of U.S. programs to other large donors and found “the U.S. performs relatively poorly…in fact, U.S. organizations occupy five of the bottom seven ranks.” On January 11, 2011 the Administration launched “The Foreign Assistance Dashboard,” a public, online resource that allows users to examine foreign assistance in an accessible and easy-to-understand format. Nevertheless, by its own admission, the site is incomplete, with information from only five of the twenty-two federal agencies that administer aid posted and even then only a fraction of the information promised is posted. Finally, without a statutory requirement to maintain the data, any Administration can just as easily take it down as it was put up. H.R.2638, the “Foreign Aid Transparency and Accountability Act,” gets at both these problems. First, it requires the President to establish and the heads of federal agencies to implement guidelines on measurable goals, performance metrics, and monitoring and evaluation plans for all foreign assistance programs. Second, it codifies what is currently being done through the Dashboard Initiative and increases the amount of information required to be posted, including congressional budget justifications, actual expenditures, and reports and evaluations. It is especially important during these difficult economic times to ensure we are spending our money wisely. Lack of transparency and accountability invites corruption and waste, and the losers are both those whom the programs aim to truly help and the hardworking Americans whose taxpayer dollars fund our foreign assistance programs. If you have any questions or would like to cosponsor H.R.2638, please contact Luke Murry at luke.murry@mail.house.govin Rep. Ted Poe’s office or Hera Abbasi at hera.abbasi@mail.house.gov in Rep. Gerald Connolly’s office. Sincerely, TED POE                                                                    GERALD CONNOLLY Member of Congress                                                   Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, I invite you to cosponsor this resolution recognizing the third Tuesday of every November as National Entrepreneurs’ Day. The spirit of entrepreneurship in America is stronger than ever: Over the last two decades, small business openings have accounted for 40% of new jobs Venture-backed startups employ 10% of American workers and are responsible for 21% of the GDP – that’s 12 million jobs and $3 trillion in revenue Despite the economic uncertainty in today’s markets, Americans still firmly believe in the power of entrepreneurship: 56% of adults were confident that they had the abilities to start a business 82% of entrepreneurs in 2012 used their own savings to finance their businesses as budding startups 70% of young Americans envision starting new businesses or pursuing entrepreneurial endeavors as adults American entrepreneurs have inspired a broad coalition of organizations to collaborate in an exchange of innovative proposals. Nonprofit incubators, angel investors, venture capitalists, crowd-funding initiatives, and other early-stage investors give aspiring entrepreneurs access to capital, thereby catalyzing groundbreaking initiatives. The success and growth of these initiatives prove how entrepreneurship is the backbone of the American economy. We hope that you will join us in cosponsoring this resolution that pays tribute to America’s original pioneers, and educates, invigorates, and inspires America’s next generation to successfully pursue new ventures. In turn, this bill will bolster America’s position as a global economic leader and innovator. For more information or to cosponsor this resolution, please contact Kate Lyon in Rep. Scott Peters’ office at kate.lyon@mail.house.gov or Jessica Talbert in Rep. Michael Grimm’s office at jessica.talbert@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, SCOTT PETERS                                MICHAEL GRIMM Member of Congress                          Member of Congress PATRICK MURPHY Member of Congress''
''The NEA in collaboration with Congressman Chaka Fattah Invite you to a discussion about “Closing the Opportunity Gap: What America Must Do to Give Every Child an Even Chance” By Kevin G. Welner, JD, PhD Wednesday, October 23 at 1:00p.m. 2456 Rayburn HOB What is Needed in Today’s Classrooms? Exploring Ways to Improve Our Classrooms For our Most Vulnerable Students Background Professor of Education and Director of the Colorado University-Boulder National Education Policy Center (NEPC), Dr. Kevin Welner will present research examining the opportunity gap in access to education in the U.S. today.  The “opportunity gap,” as opposed to the more commonly studied “achievement gap,” is caused by a number of indicators in and outside of school that impact whether a child will have a fair access to education in the U.S.  These factors include: poverty and economic inequality; the well-being of children and families (well nourished, well trained, well equipped); adequacy of school resources; investments in community needs; access to high-quality early childhood education; narrowed focus on high-stakes testing; school accountability; exposure to strong math, science literacy skills and college preparatory classes; teacher quality; and financial access to education and related factors.  The discussion will focus on gap indicators and how to overcome obstacles to children’s achievement in education.''
''Current Signers: Barrow, Blackburn, Blumenauer, Capps, Cartwright, Coffman,Connolly, Eshoo, Fincher, Gibson, Gingrey, Gosar, Guthrie, Hanna, Huffman, Hultgren, Kinzinger, Kuster, Lee, Lofgren, Lowenthal, McKinley, Moran, Mulvaney, Owens, Pascrell, Peters, Pocan, Polis, Price, Ribble, T. Ryan, Schakowsky, Simpson, Terry, Tonko, Tsongas, Van Hollen,  Walden, Waxman, Webster, Whitfield, J. Wilson,Yarmuth Dear Colleague, Federal agencies spend over $6 billion a year on energy.  Through the utilization of Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPCs) and Utility Energy Service Contracts (UESCs) we can lower the federal energy bill and save taxpayer dollars without additional appropriations. Under these contracts, an energy service company negotiates a contract with a federal agency that specifies the amount of energy savings it will achieve through retrofits and other measures.  The company is then paid for its performance out of the savings it achieves rather than through appropriated funds. In 2011, the President created a two year, $2 billion goal for the federal government to enter into performance contracts.  At the end of 2013 the current federal initiative will come to an end.  Join us in calling on the Administration to extend the goal and achieve greater energy and cost savings for the taxpayer. To sign on please contact Joe.Williamson@mail.house.gov (Gardner), Jake.Oster@mail.house.gov (Welch) or Franz_Wuerfmannsdobler@coons.senate.gov (Coons).  The deadline to sign is Friday, October 25. Sincerely, CORY GARDNER                            PETER WELCH                                CHRIS COONS Member of Congress                          Member of Congress                           U.S. Senator Dear Mr. President, Your 2011 Presidential Memorandum directed federal agencies to use $2 billion of private-sector financing and expertise to make efficiency upgrades over two years.  Through the use of energy savings performance contracts and utility energy service contracts (ESPCs and UESCs) we have witnessed a substantial increase in federal facility upgrades carried out by private-sector entities without any upfront cost to the taxpayer.  This two-year commitment has allowed agencies to retrofit buildings, reduce maintenance expenses and cut energy costs without any new appropriated dollars. We see significant opportunities for the continued utilization of ESPCs and UESCs in federal facilities.  Audits completed by federal agencies have identified more than $9 billion in achievable energy conservation measures.  There is still substantial potential for achieving more savings and the success of the past two years’ effort has created important momentum that should now be continued. As the original two year time frame of the federal building initiative draws to a conclusion, we urge you to extend the goal for performance contracting by the federal government.  Specifically, we request a new Presidential initiative setting a goal of $1 billion a year for the next five years for the federal government to utilize performance contracts to achieve energy savings. We appreciate the work your Administration has done to increase energy efficiency in federal facilities and we look forward to working with you to achieve more. Sincerely,''
''Dear Colleague: We urge you to cosponsor the Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreement Act, H.R. 1982.  This bipartisan legislation aims to resolve delays and provide clear and consistent standards for an administrative process that offers reasonable protections for injured workers and Medicare.  Currently, workers’ compensation settlements that overlap with Medicare coverage are subject to a lengthy, cumbersome review by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to determine appropriate “set-aside” coverage amounts for future medical expenses.  Our proposal would: Establish clear criteria for when a future medical set-aside may be reviewed by Medicare; Create certainty for calculating the amounts to be included in set-asides; Provide a reasonable time frame in which CMS is to review set-aside submissions; Provide an appeals process for parties to CMS determinations; Provide an optional direct payment of set-aside amounts to Medicare; Assure that settlements that meet the terms of federal statute at the time of settlement are not disapproved based on later changes in law, regulations or administrative interpretations by CMS; Provide for an alternative “safe harbor” option under which the parties to a workers’ compensation settlement could make payment of a percentage of a total settlement amount directly to CMS to cover Medicare set-aside responsibilities related to the settlement. The Medicare Secondary Payer and Workers’ Compensation Settlement Agreement Act  is supported by the American Insurance Association; American Bar Association; National Council of Self-Insurers; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; UWC – Strategic Services;the Workers Injury Law and Advocacy Group (WILG); and National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies (NAMIC). To cosponsor please contact Colin Swanson in Rep. Reichert’s office (colin.swanson@mail.house.gov or ext. 5-7761), orLakesia Foster in Rep. Thompson’s office (lakesia.foster@mail.house.gov or ext. 5-3311). Sincerely, DAVE REICHERT                                                MIKE THOMPSON Member of Congress                                     Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: We urge you to cosponsor H.R. 1148, the Medicare Access to Radiology Care Act, bipartisan legislation that addresses the shortage of physicians able to care for our growing Medicare population by increasing the use of qualified non-physician providers like radiologist assistants (RA’s). In the mid-1990s, all stakeholders in the radiology community – radiologists, technologists, and certifying bodies – came together to address the increased demand for complex medical imaging services as well as the shortage of radiologists.  They collaborated to develop a comprehensive, advanced education and training program for radiologist assistants (RAs) so that they could expertly and safely perform many assessments and procedures (excluding interpretations) that traditionally were performed by radiologists. Twenty-nine states already license or otherwise recognize RAs, and many more states are working on licensure legislation.  RAs always practice under the on-site supervision of a radiologist, but their ability to perform certain procedures allows the radiologist to devote more time to interpretations and more complex or urgent cases. This team approach improves the quality of care and ensures timely access to diagnostic and interventional imaging procedures. Unfortunately, the Medicare program does not currently recognize the RA profession and imposes the same physician supervision requirements on RAs that it applies to technologists who have not satisfied the same rigorous education and training standards. This promotes inefficiencies in health care delivery and jeopardizes access to care for beneficiaries – particularly in rural areas – and ignores potential cost savings.  As a direct result of the current policy, RAs are losing their jobs, and university RA training programs are on the verge of suspending or terminating their programs. Our common sense legislation will amend the Medicare statute to recognize the RA as a non-physician provider under Medicare.  Under the bill, state law would govern scope of practice and physician supervision levels for procedures performed by RAs.  Only radiologists would bill the Medicare program for RA services, but the services performed by an RA would be reimbursed at a lower rate than that of radiologists.  This would enable Medicare to realize savings and should ensure that there is no adverse impact on the federal budget. This legislation is supported by over 40 national, state, and local organizations including the American College of Radiology (ACR), American Registry of Radiologic Technologists (ARRT), and the American Society of Radiology Technologists (ASRT).  If you would like more information about the bill or would like to cosponsor, please contact Colin Swanson in Rep. Reichert’s office at 5-7761 or Sarah Whiting in Rep. Olson’s office at 5-5951 or Joel Bailey in Rep. Matheson’s office at 5-3011 or Kristen Molloy in Rep. Pascrell’s office at 5-5751. Sincerely, _______________________                                                                   _______________________ Rep. Dave Reichert                                                                                         Rep. Pete Olson _______________________                                                                   _______________________ Rep. Jim Matheson                                                                                         Rep. Bill Pascrell, Jr.''
''Stand Up for Human Rights in China, Cosponsor H. Res. 327 Current cosponsors:  Chris Smith, Lynn Jenkins, James Sensenbrenner, Randy Weber, James Lankford Dear Colleague: As you may be aware, the Government of the People’s Republic of China has announced its candidacy for the United Nations Human Rights Council elections on November 12th, 2013.  This is concerning as China has committed gross human rights violations against its own people.  There has been much opposition to the candidacy of Iran for the UN Human Rights Council, especially considering what is happening in the Middle East.  However, we cannot forget what is going on in China, despite what is happening elsewhere in the world.  It would be inexcusable to not oppose China’s candidacy for election to the UNHRC. China continues to suppress internationally recognized human rights and freedoms, including the freedoms of expression, press, and religion.  People are subjected to a judicial system that imprisons dissidents, petitioners, and protestors without trial or legal counsel, and uses vague language in laws that serve to suppress peaceful pro-democracy and human rights advocates.  The government continues to persecute ethnic minorities and religious groups, such as Uyghurs, Tibetans, Mongolians, various Christian denominations, and Falun Gong practitioners, as well as human rights lawyers and advocates. As a member of the UNHRC, we must hold the Chinese government accountable for their actions. We cannot credit them as a dignified member of the UNHRC while we let the gross mistreatment of these groups continue without any objection. I have introduced H.Res.327, Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives regarding China’s membership in the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC).  This resolution lays out the ongoing abuses by the People’s Republic of China, citing specific cases and incidences of abuse.  As a result of their human rights abuses, the United States government should strongly oppose and vote against the People’s Republic of China regaining United Nations Human Rights Council membership, encourage other members to similarly vote against its election, and encourage a another suitably qualified member to stand for election as alternate candidates from the Asia-Pacific region. I sincerely hope you will join me in this effort by cosponsoring H.Res.327.  If you have any questions or would like to cosponsor this resolution, please contact Cole Ginther in my office at cole.ginther@mail.house.govor x5-8171. Sincerely, Kerry Bentivolio''
''Dear Colleagues: There is growing concern about the rise of “patent assertion entities” and their effect on innovation. PAEs, or “patent trolls” as some deride them, are companies that don’t sell, produce, or invent anything, but acquire or purchase patents and then demand licensing fees from other companies that develop a similar technology or adopt it without knowledge of the original patent. The Washington Legal Foundation recently published an article I wrote about how PAEs have increasingly sued public agencies over the use of technology. The article, “Trolling for a Public Trough: How Patent Assertion Entities Cost American Taxpayers,” documents how PAEs have sued transit agencies, cities, utilities, and even the U.S. Postal Service. These lawsuits have cost public agencies at least hundreds of thousands of dollars—and possibly millions—often without testing the validity of the claims or the patents in question. The article is a shorter version of a report prepared by my staff to call attention to this issue. Patent litigation is risky and expensive, and publicly-funded agencies can least afford to pay to defend themselves. Metra, a rail commuter agency in my district in Northeast Illinois, was among 20 public transit agencies to be sued or threatened with litigation over a vehicle-tracking system used to improve transit service for taxpayers. Many transit agencies purchase these systems from another company, and are not marketing or selling the technology.  This type of litigation undercuts the purpose of the U.S. patent system and exploits the fact that public agencies are at a financial disadvantage to fight these allegations in court. I urge you to consider these issues as Congress takes steps to improve the patent system. A copy of the original report can be found on my website, along with a letter I sent to the Federal Trade Commission encouraging it to investigate the PAE industry and its impact on the public sector. The report also summarizes proposals in the House of Representatives that could better protect our taxpayer-funded agencies from abusive patent litigation. Sincerely, DANIEL LIPINSKI Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, I am writing to encourage you to become a cosponsor of H.R. 784, the States’ Medical Marijuana Property Rights Act. This legislation would exempt property from civil forfeiture under the Controlled Substances Act due to medical marijuana-related conduct when it is authorized by state law. Thousands of small business owners have invested millions of dollars in building their companies, creating jobs, and paying their taxes. The federal government should not be prosecuting them if they are complying with the laws of their states and are providing medicine to patients in need. In August of this year, Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole issued updated Guidance Regarding Marijuana Enforcement, saying that “in jurisdictions that have enacted laws legalizing marijuana in some form and that have also implemented strong and effective regulatory and enforcement systems to control the cultivation, distribution, sale, and possession of marijuana, conduct in compliance with those laws and regulations is less likely to threaten the federal priorities.” This updated guidance was a productive step forward but much uncertainty still remains and my legislation would help address some of the concerns. If you would like to cosponsor this legislation or have any questions, please contact Pablo Castro of my staff at pablo.castro@mail.house.gov or at 52661. Sincerely, /s/ Barbara Lee Member of Congress''
''While we disagree on many issues before the Congress, we have joined together to introduce this legislation to ensure that citizens have an advocate to protect their constitutional rights before the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court.  We believe that our intelligence agencies must have the tools necessary to help protect our national security.  We also believe these tools must be employed in a manner consistent with the fundamental principles in our Constitution to protect the civil liberties of all Americans. The FISA Court is a body that meets in secret to review requests from the National Security Agency and other intelligence agencies to engage in various surveillance activities.  At present, the Court hears only from the advocates for engaging in surveillance activities.  This is different from other courts, where the government’s argument is balanced by an advocate for the opposing views.  We believe we must end the FISA Court’s one-sided system.  We believe that there should be an advocate to present, when applicable and appropriate, the arguments in support of individual privacy and individual liberty.  Simply put, the FISA Court should hear both sides of the argument. The current one-sided system has resulted in the FISA Court approving the overwhelming majority of these government requests.  Clearly, as recent disclosures have made evident, this process would benefit from providing FISA judges with the opportunity to hear an adversarial point of view.  As the presiding judge of the FISA Court, U.S. District Judge Reggie B. Walton recently told the Washington Post, “The FISC is forced to rely upon the accuracy of the information that is provided to the Court.” We ask you to join us in cosponsoring the FISA Court Reform Act (H.R. 3228), a companion version of S.1467, which was introduced by Senator Richard Blumenthal.  This legislation is also incorporated in the Intelligence Oversight and Surveillance Reform Act (S.1551), which was recently introduced by Senators Blumenthal, Paul, Udall, and Wyden.  H.R. 3228 will ensure that the information provided to the FISC is vetted and challenged by a citizens’ advocate who is tasked with the duty of protecting the civil liberties of all Americans. This bill would create an independent Judicial Branch office, led by a Constitutional Advocate who is appointed by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from a nomination list provided by the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board.  This Constitutional Advocate would not work for the President, and could not be fired by any Executive Branch official.  The Constitutional Advocate will analyze every government request for increased surveillance, and will advocate before the FISC to ensure that the surveillance meets constitutional requirements.  The Constitutional Advocate will also be authorized to assist communications companies (upon request) whose records or assistance are compelled by the government.  This assistance would involve evaluating the orders, certificates, and directives and offering legal assistance if the company decides to challenge the request before the FISC petition pool of judges. To ensure that time-sensitive and emergency requests by the government are not unduly delayed, the FISA judges will have the discretion to deny a request to appear by the Constitutional Advocate; however, the Advocate has the ability to appeal any FISA Court decision to the FISA Court of Review, which must hear and decide on every appeal by the Constitutional Advocate.  The standards of review are de novo with respect to issues of law and clearly erroneous with respect to determination of facts—providing the FISA Court of Review with significant discretion. This legislation would also require the FISA Court to accept amicus curiae briefs from interested parties in court proceedings.  In addition, it would require the disclosure of FISA Court opinions and decisions that significantly construct or interpret the law.  These provisions will ensure a more transparent process in these consequential decisions. We must make sure that our intelligence agencies have the authorities they need to protect the safety and security of the American people.  But those authorities must be subjected to more oversight and accountability.  Establishing a Constitutional Advocate is a common-sense first step to strengthening this important process and further protecting the privacy and civil liberties of all Americans. If you are interesting in cosponsoring this legislation, please contact Ben Cook (benjamin.cook@mail.house.gov, x55341) in Rep. Van Hollen’s office, or Jared Dilley (jared.dilley@mail.house.gov, x52676) in Rep. Jordan’s office.   Sincerely,                                                                                Sincerely,   Chris Van Hollen                                                                    Jim Jordan Member of Congress                                                               Member of Congress''
''Cosponsor H.R. 3103: The Intelligence Oversight and Accountability Act of 2013 Cosponsors (44): Mike Thompson, LoBiondo, Gutierrez, Forbes, Bachmann, Bachus, Bass, Calvert,Chu, Conaway, Conyers,DelBene, Deutch, Enyart,Eshoo, Farenthold,Hanabusa, Heck, Himes, Hunter, Jackson Lee, Jones, Peter King,Langevin, Lofgren, McNerney, Jeff Miller, Nadler,Nunes, Pastor, Poe, Pompeo, Quigley, Mike Rogers (MI),Rooney, Ruppersberger,Schakowsky, Schiff, Bobby Scott, Sewell, Simpson, Thornberry, Westmoreland,Wolf Dear Colleague, Please join us in cosponsoring H.R. 3103, the Intelligence Oversight and Accountability Act of 2013.  This bipartisan legislation will strengthen Congressional oversight and improve accountability of the Intelligence Community (IC) by ensuring that Congress receives detailed information regarding any decision, order or legal analysis made by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC). When it comes to our country’s national security, protecting our citizens’ lives and civil liberties are not mutually exclusive.  That’s why it is essential that following recent disclosures about national security collection programs, Congress must reexamine the laws authorizing these tools and consider necessary changes that will maintain this balance. Already, Congress has exercised aggressive oversight over all elements of the IC.  Programs like the National Security Agency’s (NSA’s) collection of telephony metadata require close and thorough Congressional scrutiny because of the civil liberty implications associated with their use, combined with the need to keep most of these programs secret so that they do not fall into our enemies’ hands. Currently, when the FISC or a Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review issues a decision, order, or opinion; by law the Attorney General (AG) must determine if the issue considered by the FISC includes a “significant construction or interpretation of the law.”  If the AG determines that the decision is significant, that information must be shared with Congress.  However, if the AG determines that the decision is not “significant,” the AG has the discretion not to share this information. Congress needs to be able to properly assess whether information collected pursuant to, or programs authorized by, the PATRIOT Act or the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), are being implemented in a manner consistent with Congressional intent, compliant with Congressional notice requirements, and allow for actual and effective Congressional oversight of these programs.  To ensure that Congress receives reasonable notice when the FISC considers important issues of our national security, our legislation requires a number of long overdue provisions that significantly enhance Congressional oversight and improve accountability across the entire IC.  More specifically, H.R. 3103: ·         Removes discretionary elements by requiring that all FISC opinions involving any substantive decision regarding core FISA provisionsbe shared with Congress; and for the first time requires the Department of Justice to include enhanced summaries of the FISC’s decisions to make the facts, issues, and legal reasoning involved in these matters more accessible to Congress; and ·         Removes discretionary elements regarding what Congress should and should not receive from the FISC, which in turn will increase the Congressional oversight of these programs to ensure their proper use. Should you have any questions regarding H.R. 3103 or would like to cosponsor our bipartisan legislation, please contact Tim Daly in the Rep. Mike Thompson’s office at (202) 226-7367 or by email at Tim.Daly@mail.house.gov or Mark Aitken in Rep. Frank LoBiondo’s office at (202) 225-6572 or by email at Mark.Aitken@mail.house.gov. Thank you for your consideration of this important matter. Sincerely, /s                                                          /s                                                          /s                                                          /s MIKE THOMPSON                         FRANK LOBIONDO                      LUIS GUTIERREZ                         J. RANDY FORBES Member of Congress                           Member of Congress                           Member of Congress                           Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague: As a proud original cosponsors of HR 3210, the Pay Our Military Act, we are disheartened to see the administration and specifically the Secretary of Defense taking an unnecessarily narrow view of which personnel are covered by this legislation.  Recent direction from the DoD Comptroller has undermined the intent of this law, needlessly leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians and National Guard dual status military technicians in emergency furlough status when the law has so clearly permitted them to return to their jobs and continue their service to our country.  The same administration that is barricading open air national monuments, in effect creating more work for the government to overtly amplify what would otherwise be a non-existent impact to the country, is playing political games with the livelihoods of our civilian and National Guard defense personnel.  We encourage members to call the Secretary of Defense and inquire how and why the Department of Defense has taken such a limited interpretation of the authority contained in this bill.       If you have questions about the intent of this bill please contact Edward Rothgery at edward.rothgery@mail.house.gov x50119 or Austin Smithson at austin.smithson@mail.house.gov x53035 Sincerely, Jack Kingston                                                    Louie Gohmert Member of Congress                                         Member of Congress''
''October 2, 2013 Tell Secretary Hagel to Follow the Law Dear Colleague: The Senate Majority Leader today admitted that 1,100 individuals employed at Nellis AFB were at home today, assumedly furloughed.  They are not alone; around the country, thousands of Department of Defense civilian employees are not at work today.  Of course, this would not be the case if the Secretary of Defense were following the law set forth in H.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act, which the President signed two days ago. I sponsored H.R. 3210 to ensure that no DoD civilians would be furloughed due to the inability to come to agreement on the FY14 budget.  Unfortunately, the Secretary is ignoring the law, leaving thousands without pay unnecessarily and leaving our national security weakened.  As a result, many Members of Congress, myself included, have written to Secretary Hagel, asking him to follow the law and allow these hard-working Americans to come back to work.  Pasted below is a copy of my letter.  I urge all of my colleagues to inquire as to the status of DoD civilian employees in their own Congressional districts and send their own letter to the Secretary of Defense. Dear Secretary Hagel: In the late hours of September 30, 2013, President Obama signed H.R. 3210, the Pay Our Military Act, into law.  This law, which I sponsored, specifically gives the Department of Defense (DoD) the authority to continue providing pay to our Armed Forces, and the DoD civilians and contractors who support them, despite any lapse in FY14 appropriations. However, hours after Congress passed H.R. 3210, Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller) Robert F. Hale sent all DoD staff stating, “Non-excepted civilians will begin a process of orderly shutdown.  That will include acknowledging receipt of a furlough letter and other activities…Earlier today the Senate passed the Pay Our Military Act, and the President has signed the Act.  The Act will permit us to pay military personnel and excepted civilian personnel on time and in full.” We are now in the second day of a government shutdown and to best of my knowledge, DoD civilians are still under furlough. With all due respect, that email is a complete and utter misrepresentation of the law.  H.R. 3210 makes no mention of non-excepted or excepted personnel.  The legislation purposely casts as wide a net as possible to ensure that Department of Defense civilian personnel, all of which are necessary to sustain military operations, can report to work.  Frankly, I am frustrated by what appear to be attempts by your Department to use these men and women, who so ably support our Armed Forces, to paint our efforts in Congress in the most negative light possible.  Mr. Secretary, I truly hope that is not the case.  It would be most unfortunate if your Department ignores H.R. 3210, causing our DoD civilian workforce to pay a political price with their paychecks. Thank you for your attention to this matter and I look forward to your prompt reply.  Please feel free to contact me or my staff directly should you require any additional information related to this request.                                                                                                  Sincerely,                                                                                                  Mike Coffman                                                                                                  Member of Congress''
''Dear Colleague, Millions of Americans are eagerly awaiting the start of fall hunting seasons.  However, the government shutdown in impacting thousands of hunters and fishermen who will be turned away from National Wildlife Refuges. 364 National Wildlife Refuge units have active hunting programs—closed. 303 units have active fishing programs—closed. An average of 19,000 fishermen per day will be turned away from fishing at our Refuges. An average of 6800 hunters per day will be turned away. 47 million visits a year to our Refuges generate $2.1 billion to the local economies. 85% of the Fish and Wildlife Service workforce is furloughed.  Staff cannot volunteer and volunteers cannot volunteer. Restoring funding for National Parks still denies access to Americans looking to hunt and fish on National Wildlife Refuge lands. Sincerely, Peter DeFazio Ranking Member House Committee on Natural Resources''
''Republican Gun Control? The Government Shutdown is Closing Areas for Hunters and Fisherman As a Member of the House Committee on Natural Resources I felt it was important to highlight some important impacts of the government shutdown.  Indeed, across the nation, communities are feeling the adverse effects of the government shutdown. For communities that depend on tourist dollars from area National Wildlife Refuges, the refuge closures are especially difficult. Fall migration is well underway and hunting season is just beginning. The nation’s National Wildlife Refuge System, with nearly 46 million annual visitors, offers prime wildlife viewing, hunting and fishing opportunities, so this time of year is particularly important to local merchants, outfitters, guides and other businesses that rely on refuge visitors. Adding insult to injury, volunteers are unable to contribute their time, skills and expertise – volunteers nationwide provide an additional 20% of work on refuges – the equivalent of almost 700 full time staff. While each of the 561 refuges is affected, here are the Top 5 National Wildlife Refuges impacted by the government shutdown: Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge in Virginia generates a whopping $155 in local economic activity for every $1 Congress appropriates to run it. Over 1.4 million Americans annually visit its scenic shoreline and historic lighthouse. A celebration to commemorate the re-opening of the Assateague Lighthouse, located on the Chincoteague NWR was scheduled for Saturday, October 5th but has been cancelled. Volunteers at the Chincoteague Natural History Association have spent six years raising funds for its repair, and the re-opening ceremony was expected to draw hundreds of visitors Ding Darling National Wildlife Refuge in Sanibel, Florida has 700,000 annual visitors.  The 24th annual Ding Darling Days festival, set to take place Oct 20-26, is in jeopardy and they cancelled a ceremony October 1st to re-open their Wildlife Drive after repairs. The refuge returns $30 to the local economy for every $1 appropriated. Wichita Mountains National Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma attracts almost 2 million visitors, many of whom come to participate in bugling elk tours and elk hunts, all of which have been cancelled until further notice. Sportsmen wait years for a permit to hunt elk on the refuge. The Wichita Mountains NWR returns $44 to the local economy for every $1 appropriated. Kenai National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska welcomes over 1.1 million annual visitors and is one of the most popular tourist destinations on the Kenai Peninsula welcoming hunters, anglers, wildlife watchers and photographers. Popular fall hunt programs are currently on hold. The refuge returns $22 to the local economy for every $1 appropriated. Sherburn National Wildlife Refuge in Minnesota draws over 100,000 visitors and is a popular destination for nearby residents of the Twin Cities.  The 20th Annual Fall Wildlife Festival with a first ever 5K run, anticipated to bring 2000 attendees, scheduled for October 5, has been cancelled. State by State Economic Impacts Available HERE.''
''AmeriCorps volunteers improve the lives of our nation’s most vulnerable citizens, protect the environment, contribute to public safety, respond to disasters, and strengthen our educational system. Each year, AmeriCorps members serve thousands of nonprofit organizations, schools, and faith-based and community organizations each year. AmeriCorps Week is celebrated each year to honor the important work that AmeriCorps volunteers provide to our communities. This year, we celebrated National AmeriCorps Week with a renewed sense of purpose after the passage of the Senator Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act. As a result of the great work of these volunteers, extraordinary things are happening all around America. The service programs and new initiatives help address some of our nation’s toughest problems, from poverty and unmet education needs, to natural disasters. I urge my colleagues to continue to support AmeriCorps volunteers and take this opportunity to thank them for their dedication to our country and to their communities. Sincerely, Doris O. Matsui Member of Congress Co-Chair, National Service Caucus''
''Sent By: jackie.sheltry@mail.house.gov  Date: 6/10/2009 June 10, 2009 Dear Colleague: As the Energy and Water Development (E&W) Appropriations Subcommittee reviews the Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Request for Department of Energy, we would like to express our deep concern over the lack of funding for the hydrogen program, which has been cut to zero. Compared to FY 2009, the hydrogen and fuel cell program has been reduced by 66%, or $132,387,000. Hydrogen funding was cut completely, leaving only fuel cells, which were placed on a caretaker footing. This means that other related programs will suffer, like the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (-$8 M), the Fuels work on hydrogen from coal (-$10 M, or a 67% reduction), and the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA), which lost $4 M (-8%). We believe these are short-sighted errors, as hydrogen programs have had strong bipartisan support over the years and have made great technical and economic progress since 2002. DOE’s own planning, advised by a comprehensive report from the National Academy of Sciences and codified in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, has set critical goals for 2015 and 2020. Ending these programs now would make it impossible to reach these widely agreed goals and milestones and will waste over $1.4 billion in publically funded investments and $4 billion in private investments. Moreover, cutting hydrogen programs now will severely damage our international leadership. We urge you to sign on to the attached letter and support funding for this advanced renewable energy. For questions or to sign on, please contact Jackie Sheltry (Larson) at 5-2265 or at Jackie.Sheltry@mail.house.gov, Pat Cavanagh (Doyle) at 5-2135 or at Pat.Cavanagh@mail.house.gov, Garth Van Meter at 5-6030 or at Garth.VanMeter@mail.house.gov, or Collin Long (Dent) at 5-6411 or at Collin.Long@mail.house.gov. Sign on deadline is COB Friday, June 12. Page 1 Sincerely, /s/ _________________ ___________________ JOHN B. LARSON BOB INGLIS Member of Congress Member of Congress _________________ ___________________ MICHAEL F. DOYLE CHARLES W. DENT Member of Congress Member of Congress June 15, 2009 Honorable Ed Pastor Vice Chairman Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development 2362-B Rayburn House Office Building Page 2 Washington, DC 20515 Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen Ranking Member Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development 2362-B Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515 Dear Vice Chairman Pastor and Ranking Member Frelinghuysen: As you review the fiscal year 2010 Energy & Water Development Appropriations bill, we are writing to express our great concern over the lack of funding for the hydrogen program, which has been reduced to zero. While we commend the Department of Energy (DOE) for crafting an aggressive energy budget, we are worried that DOE’s restructuring of its hydrogen and fuel cell program will disrupt the commercialization of these technologies just as they are gaining market traction. We urge you to closely review this decision, as it would curtail very promising research and development on a critical zero-emission option for our transportation sector, while wasting several years of truly productive effort by government and industry. Compared to FY 2009, the hydrogen and fuel cell program has been reduced by 66%, or $132,387,000. Hydrogen funding was cut completely, leaving only fuel cells, which were placed on a caretaker footing. DOE had a much better and more balanced portfolio in FY 2008. DOE also zeroed the Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative (-$8 M) and dropped the Fuels work on hydrogen from coal (-$10 M, or a 67% reduction), while the Solid State Energy Conversion Alliance (SECA) lost $4 M (-8%). We believe these are short-sighted errors, as hydrogen and fuel cell programs have had strong bipartisan support over the years and have made great technical and economic progress since 2002. DOE’s own planning, advised by a comprehensive report from the National Academy of Sciences and codified in the Energy Policy Act of 2005, has set critical goals for 2015 and 2020. Ending these programs now would make it impossible to reach these widely agreed goals and milestones and will waste over $1.4 billion in publically funded investments and $4 billion invested by our industrial partners. Page 3 Hybrid electric drive hydrogen fuel cell and advanced battery electrics are our only Zero Emission Vehicle options. If we want to eliminate greenhouse gases from the transportation sector and use domestic feedstocks, the hydrogen option will be critical; therefore, abandoning this program is unwise. We should not waste our considerable public investment, end the productive momentum or dissolve the knowledge resources and the industry partnerships we have built. In a tough global economy, the U.S. can ill afford to encourage yet another advanced technology to wander off our shores. DOE has promptly issued Funding Opportunity Announcements (FOAs) under the stimulus legislation especially transportation electrification and alternative fuels that will move key technologies closer to commercial reality. We urgently need to ramp up our progress in fuels, autos and electricity. One of our most promising options is Hydrogen and Fuel Cells. In transportation, these electric drive hybrids dramatically improve efficiency as well as eliminate end-use emissions. Hydrogen and fuel cells can be used in everything from passenger cars to heavy trucks. In the longer run, our auto and fuel industries need to be able to commercialize a family of technologies that gets the auto out of the environmental equation. Hydrogen can be used as storage for variable renewable energy sources, like wind and solar. We need distributed generation, portable and backup power. We need to be able to make a sizable share of our fuel domestically from a wider variety of feedstocks, and create more diversity in our fuel resources. And we need to sharply diminish our carbon footprint and the offshore drain of wealth that comes from our oil import bill. With the strong support of Congress over the last few years, Hydrogen and Fuel Cells have had a prominent place in DOE’s balanced portfolio of energy alternatives. This is ensured in Titles VII and VIII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 (EPAct 05), and subsequently in the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA 07) and the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA 09). During the Senate E&W hearing on May 19th, Chairman Byron Dorgan confirmed Congress’ support, stating that DOE had made a significant mistake& and we are going to do everything we can to continue [these projects]. In arriving at these decisions, DOE had very little discussion with stakeholders, experts and its program, and ignored the advice of its own Hydrogen Fuel Cell and Technical Advisory Committee (HTAC). We depend upon the technical expertise of the DOE to set our energy policy in motion, and expect more thoughtful action. We ask that you take the appropriate action to restore this budget. Sincerely,''
''Sent By: sarah.ethington@mail.house.gov Date: 6/10/2009 June 10, 2009 Make a Difference by Joining The Congressional School Health and Safety Caucus Dear Colleague: As the co-chairs of the Congressional School Health and Safety Caucus, we are writing to invite you to join our bi-partisan caucus. Academic achievement is a key mission for schools, but it is not the only goal. Public schools also often serve as the sole place for safety and access to healthcare in many children’s lives. Healthy, properly nourished students who feel safe have proven to be more successful academically as they are better able to concentrate on their work and attend school on a regular basis. By providing a supportive environment, schools help students develop physically, socially, emotionally, and cognitively, as well as academically. The School Health and Safety Caucus currently has 49 members. The caucus recognizes the special needs of children in schools and the importance of advocating for school health and safety in Congress. The caucus has three main goals: 1. To build awareness of the issues of school health and safety among House members. 2. To create a voice within Congress on the issue of school health and safety, and to introduce legislation that would strengthen community and school-based efforts to improve the health of school children and keep students safer while they are at school. 3. To identify ways to work effectively in our districts to raise awareness of school health and safety issues. By developing cooperative efforts between school administrators, teachers, school nurses, parents, students and community groups we can heighten awareness of these issues for the purpose of improving health among children and reducing accidents in schools. If you have any questions or if you would like to join this caucus, please contact Sarah Ethington in Rep. Capps’ office at sarah.ethington@mail.house.gov or Aimee Hartlage in Rep. Cassidy’s office at aimee.hartlage@mail.house.gov. Page 1 Sincerely, LOIS CAPPS BILL CASSIDY Member of Congress Member of Congress BI-PARTISAN SCHOOL HEALTH & SAFETY CAUCUS MEMBERS: Lois Capps, Bill Cassidy, Joe Baca, Earl Blumenauer, Robert Brady, Andre Carson, Mike Castle, Donna Christensen, Susan Davis, Peter DeFazio, Rosa DeLauro, Lloyd Doggett, Keith Ellison, Eliot Engel, Anna Eshoo, Bob Etheridge, Bob Filner, Gabrielle Giffords, Bart Gordon, Raul Grijalva, Luis Gutierrez, Tim Holden, Mike Honda, Jim Langevin, Rick Larsen, Daniel Lipinski, David Loebsack, Zoe Lofgren, Nita Lowey, Doris Matsui, Carolyn McCarthy, Jim McGovern, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Adam Putnam, Nick Rahall, Charles Rangel, Silvestre Reyes, Dutch Ruppersberger, Linda Sanchez, Loretta Sanchez, Jan Schakowsky, Adam Schiff, Betty Sutton, Ellen Tauscher, Ed Towns, Diane Watson, Henry Waxman, Lynn Woolsey''
''I write to bring to your attention a CNN article regarding the relationship between increased teen dating violence and the economic pressure on American families. The Family Violence Prevention Fund and Liz Claiborne, Inc. commissioned the survey. Unfortunately, teen dating violence is one of the most concerning rising trends across the country. Few realize that teen dating violence is prevalent regardless of race, gender, or income; an estimate one in three teens report some sort of abuse in a romantic relationship. It is important that all Americans recognize how name-calling, excessive control, threats, and overall relationship inexperience can be key indicators to the development of seriously unstable and violent relationships. I hope that you will join me in cosponsoring H.R. 789, the Teen Dating Violence Prevention Act of 2009, legislation to establish a national teen dating violence prevention initiative. To cosponsor or learn more about this bill, please contact Jamila Thompson on my staff at x5-3801 or Jamila.thompson@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, /s John Lewis Member of Congress''
''Sent By: allison.hite@mail.house.gov <mailto:allison.hite@mail.house.gov?subject=RE: Support the Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act> Bill: H.R. 1261 Date: 3/10/2009 March 10, 2009 There is a better approach to regulating tobacco and preventing minors from using tobacco products than the Waxman/Platts legislation Save Lives and Support H.R. 1261, the Youth Prevention and Tobacco Harm Reduction Act Dear Colleague: This Congress, you have the chance to significantly address the public health problems attributable to tobacco smoking that claim the lives of more than 400,000 Americans each year. For over a decade, Congress has considered only one option to implement tobacco regulation: The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act authored by Congressman Henry Waxman. While this legislation has not changed in over a decade, there have been numerous events such as the Master Settlement Agreement and evolving views within the public health community which should impact the approach we take in regulating tobacco. Considering these issues, we introduced bipartisan legislation to promote a harm reduction strategy, a scientifically proven method of moving smokers away from the dangers of cigarettes and toward less harmful tobacco products such as smokeless tobacco and nicotine replacement therapies. According to Applied Economics, the use of smokeless tobacco by an average U.S. male smoker would increase the average probabi! lity of smoke cessation by over 10%. The Waxman/Platts bill, H.R. 1256, relies exclusively on a Quit or die methodology to reducing the tobacco epidemic in the U.S. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that, when implemented, this legislation would only decrease smoking by 0.2% annually. The historical annual decline in smoking in the United States is 2% to 4%. According to experts in the United States and internationally, the inclusion of significant harm reduction policies is critical for those Americans who won’t, or can’t, quit smoking. As we have done in many other behavior areas, accurately informing consumers of the levels of risks among consumer products is imperative. Experts believe that smokeless tobacco products have approximately 1% to 2% of the risk for diseases associated with smoking. Migrating smokers who will not, or cannot quit, smoking to less harmful nicotine products has the promise of saving millions of lives. In practical terms, enhancement of current policies based on the premise that all tobacco products are equally risky will yield only small and barely measurable reductions in tobacco-related illness and death. Addition of a harm reduction component, however, could yield a 50% to 80% reduction in tobacco-related illness and death over the first ten years, and a likely reduction of up to 90% within 20 years. -Nitzkin and Rodu, American Association of Public Health Physicians, 2008 Additionally, our legislation specifically addresses youth tobacco use by encouraging states to penalize minors for purchasing and possessing tobacco products. Under current law, retailers are prohibited from selling tobacco products to minors, but unlike with the purchase of alcohol, minors are not penalized for underage purchase and possession of tobacco products. Our legislation also calls upon states to increase the percentage of their Master Settlement Agreement dollars to fund tobacco cessation and public health programs. In the last 10 years, states have spent just 3.2% of their total tobacco generated revenue on tobacco prevention and cessation programs. We must ensure more of these dollars are targeted at public health initiatives designed at informing the public of the dangers of tobacco use. Finally, H.R. 1261 protects our family farms and expressly prohibits any tobacco regulations from impacting today’s farming practices. The Waxman/Platts bill will directly and indirectly impact the way tobacco is cultivated and cured, increasing farmers’ fixed costs and increasing their liability exposure. Today, we encourage you to support H.R. 1261, the Youth Prevention and Harm Reduction Act and promote the discussion of science-based information which can profoundly affect the health of our nation. Please contact Allison Hite (Cong. Buyer) at 5-5037 or Kim McClellan (Cong. McIntyre) at 5-2731 to cosponsor this legislation or to receive more information. Regards, /s Steve Buyer Member of Congress /s Mike McIntyre Member of Congress''
''Sent By: katy.dawson@mail.house.gov  Date: 3/9/2009 Dear Colleague: The continued volatility in the price of oil has caused continued increases in the price of asphalt. In fact, the price of asphalt is rising at a faster pace than gasoline, as refineries are foregoing asphalt production to instead produce more profitable products. Due to this increase in cost cities and states across the country are having a hard time affording the asphalt needed to repair their streets. In fact many are putting off road work until transportation departments can better allocate funds without breaking their budgets. What if we could convert biomass, such as manure, wood, and plants, into a crude oil product that could replace petroleum in the production of asphalt? Not only would this cut street repair costs for cities and towns across the country, but it would also reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the amount of biomass left to rot. That is why we have introduced H.R. 1167, the Green Streets Act, which would promote the research of alternative asphalt binders made from biomass. Specifically, the Green Streets Act would look at the potential cost savings associated with asphalt made from an alternative binder, the durability of this asphalt, and reduction greenhouse gas emissions. Please join us helping ease the budgetary burden the rising cost of asphalt is causing cities and states across the country. If you have any questions or would like to cosponsor the Green Streets Act, please contact Katy Dawson (Carnahan) 5-2671 or at katy.dawson@mail.house.gov or Aaron Smith (Schock) 5-6201 or at aaron.smith@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Russ Carnahan Aaron Schock Member of Congress Member of Congress''
''Sent By: stevens.berry@mail.house.gov  Bill: H.R. 864 Date: 3/7/2009 Cosponsor the Renewable Fuel Pipeline Act (H.R. 864) Dear Colleague: Today, more than 70 percent of the nation’s gasoline supply is transported via pipelines, a method which has been found to be safe, reliable and cost effective. With more and more biofuels coming onto the market and the industry reliant on more costly forms of transportation, biofuels are not often an affordable choice in some of the largest population centers in the United States. That is why we plan to reintroduce the Renewable Fuel Pipeline Act (H.R.864). This legislation would amend the loan guarantee program for innovative technologies’ under Title XVII of the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to specifically qualify a renewable fuel pipeline as an eligible project, along with increasing the loan guarantee rate to 90 percent. Across the nation there is a broad agreement on the need to do all we can to break our dependence on foreign oil while ensuring American’s have access to affordable energy and creating good paying, non-exportable jobs. Production of renewable fuels and consumer demand is growing, but we need to ensure the proper infrastructure is in place to mobilize new supplies to meet this expanding demand. Page 1 If you would like to cosponsor this bill or if you have any questions, please contact Alexis Taylor with Rep. Boswell at 5-3806 or alexis.taylor@mail.house.gov or Stevens Berry with Rep. Terry at 5-4155 or stevens.berry@mail.house.gov. Sincerely, Leonard L. Boswell, M.C. Lee Terry, M.C.''
''Sent By: tyler.frisbee@mail.house.gov <mailto:tyler.frisbee@mail.house.gov?subject=RE: Support the Captive Primate Act> Bill: H.R. 80 Date: 2/20/2009 February 20, 2009 Dear Colleague, This week’s tragic attack by a chimpanzee, leaving a woman in very critical condition brings renewed urgency to Congress to pass H.R. 80, the Captive Primate Safety Act. Below is a New York Times article which details the attack. We are writing to ask your support for the Captive Primate Safety Act,which will protect public health and safety as well as animal welfare by prohibiting interstate commerce in primates as pets. As this incident demonstrated, primates can inflict serious injuries. Chimpanzees are many times stronger than humans, but even a small monkey poses a significant risk. Primates can also carry life-threatening diseases, such as Herpes B and tuberculosis. These risks are increased by interstate transport of the animals. The Captive Primate Safety Acthas received strong support from the Association of Zoos and Aquariums, The Humane Society of the United States, BornFree USA and many other organizations. Renowned primatologist Dr. Jane Goodall urged passage at a hearing, saying: In doing so, you will be promoting public health and safety, as well as taking a reasonable and sound step toward protecting these amazing wild creatures. Currently, twenty states prohibit keeping primates as pets, and the importation of such animals into the United States for the pet trade has been prohibited by Federal regulation since 1975. However these animals are bred in the United States and are readily available for purchase from exotic animal dealers and even over the Internet. Our bill provides the appropriate federal response to complement state and local laws by adding primates to the list of animals that cannot be purchased or transported as pets across state lines by individuals. The bill targets the pet trade and does not affect trade or transportation of animals between zoos, research facilities, or other federally licensed and regulated entities. It is similar to the Captive Wildlife Safety Act,which Congress passed unanimously in 2003 to ban interstate commerce in lions, tigers, and other big cats for the pet trade. We hope this bill will move quickly. For more information or to cosponsor the Captive Primate Safety Act,please contact Tyler Frisbee in Congressman Blumenauer’s office (6-1057) or Randy Hirsch in Congressman Kirk’s office (5-4835). Thank you for your consideration. Sincerely,''
''Sent By: Randy.Hirsch@mail.house.gov  Bill: H.R. 305 Date: 2/11/2009 Sign on to Ensure the Safe Transport of Horses Cosponsor H.R. 305, the Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009 Scored by the Animal Welfare Institute – http://www.compassionindex.org  Current Cosponsors: Bordallo, Capps, Cohen, Foster, Gonzalez, Gutierrez, Hinchey, Hirono, Jackson-Lee, Jones, Kaptur, Lipinski, Maloney, Miller, Moore, Moran, Olver, Rahall, Rangel, Reichert, Schakowsky, Serrano, Whitfield, Woolsey Dear Colleague: In October 2007, a double decker cattle truck carrying 59 Belgian draft horses overturned when the driver ran a red light and hit another vehicle on Route 41 in Illinois. Residents at the scene could hear the animals kicking and screaming, panicked by their inability to escape. Eight horses died on the scene while another ten had to be euthanized. Unfortunately, we know that accidents like this one occur once a year. After the crash, Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States said, “What a gory mess we saw recently in Illinois. It must never happen again& ” This bipartisan legislation is endorsed by the Humane Society, Animal Welfare Institute, Hooved Animal Rescue and Protection Society (HARPS), and Communication Alliance to Network Thoroughbred Ex-Racehorses (CANTER). The Horse Transportation Safety Act of 2009 would also address the issue of horse slaughter. While it is illegal to transport horses directly to slaughter in a double decker trailer, the United States Department of Agriculture has received numerous reports of companies exploiting a loophole in the law putting horses at higher risk for inhumane treatment. Truckers who wish to continue using double-deck trailers for slaughter horses have an incentive to transport them to assembly points feedlots or stockyards where the horses could then be reloaded onto straight-deck trailers for the final leg of the trip to the slaughtering plant. While it has not been confirmed, it can be assumed that the horses involved in the accident in Illinois were on route to slaughter. This legislation would: 1. Prohibit interstate transportation of horses in a motor vehicle containing 2 or more levels stacked on top of one another. 2. Create civil penalties of at least $100 but not more than $500 for each horse involved. For more information or to become a cosponsor, please contact Randall Hirsch with Rep. Mark Kirk (5-4835 or Randy.Hirsch@mail.house.gov). Sincerely, s/ s/ Mark Steven Kirk Steve Cohen Member of Congress Member of Congress''