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| Friday, June 22, 2007 | ||
| Congressman Clay’s Capitol Hill Report | ||
| By Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay Member of Congress |
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This week, the House passed several key appropriations bills for FY2008, which begins on October 1, 2007. These spending priorities reflect our new Democratic Majority’s commitment to restore fairness to the federal budget, a renewed focus on helping middle class families, and investing in a cleaner environment and a stronger economy. Along with most of my colleagues, I was deeply disappointed by the President’s veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, which I cosponsored. It was a clear choice between hope and partisan politics, and once again, the President turned his back on millions of patients. And finally, after congressional pressure, the Department of Homeland Security has decided to delay some changes in passport rules which have created tremendous delays and aggravation for travelers. I hope you enjoy this week’s update. - Lacy
Bush Veto of Expanded Stem Cell Research Is Disgraceful Vital Research Must Continue to Help Close Healthcare Disparities Gap On Wednesday afternoon, I condemned President Bush’s veto of the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, a bill that I was proud to co-sponsor. The President had a clear choice, and he turned his back on millions of Americans who suffer from chronic illnesses and sacrificed their hopes on the altar of partisan politics. It is really tragic that the President would reject this bipartisan act, which enjoys tremendous support from the American people. Democrats and Republicans have come together twice to vote for hope. And instead of embracing that spirit of hope and cooperation, the President chose to pander to narrow-minded politics. Almost every family has someone who suffers from a debilitating illness like diabetes, cancer, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, heart disease or other chronic ailments. Expanding embryonic stem cell research is not only the right thing to do; it may help us close the healthcare disparities gap, which adversely affects African Americans, Latinos and other minorities. Congress Demands Delay on DHS officials have announced that until September, travelers returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda may now reenter the United States with a government issued ID (such as a driver’s license or birth certificate) and a copy of a completed U.S. passport application. Like congressional offices across the county, we were swamped with hundreds of calls from worried travelers who had sent in their passport applications weeks, or sometimes months in advance, without a response. Nation-wide, the average waiting time for passports soared from six weeks to more than three months, delaying or ruining the travel plans of thousands of Americans. Thankfully, my staff was able to provide emergency assistance to many travelers who were departing immediately. DHS now projects that by next summer, all travelers will be required to show a valid U.S. passport to reenter the country. So if you’re planning a trip, and you don’t already have a passport, I would advise you to apply now. Appropriations HighlightsDefending Freedom, Fighting AIDS/HIV, Opposing Genocide in Dafur, Reducing Global Warming & Keeping Our Promises to Veterans Congress’ most critical job is the appropriations process, which begins in the House. Each year, we have the responsibility to pass 11 appropriations bills that cover all operations of the federal government. The previous Republican Congress failed in that duty. But our new Democratic majority is committed to passing spending bills that restore fiscal sanity and reflect the common sense values of most Americans. In the 2008 State and Foreign Operations appropriations bill, we voted to step up the fight against AIDs and HIV, particularly in Africa, to push hard to end the genocide in Dafur, and to continue our strong support for key strategic partners, like the State of Israel. According to the United Nations, 2.9 million people died of AIDS in 2006. Worldwide, more than 39.5 million people are living with the disease, and the problem is a pandemic in Africa. This bill provides $5.1 billion for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care programs including $550 million for the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria. The legislation also provides $210.5 million for critical humanitarian and peacekeeping programs in Darfur – 90 percent more funding than the President requested. The genocide in Darfur has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and has displaced more than 2.5 million people since the crisis began in 2003. It is a slow-motion African holocaust. And we have a moral obligation to stop it. The bill also includes $2.4 billion in direct aid to Israel. That investment in our strategic partnership has never been more important. The Energy and Water Appropriations bill is designed to lessen our dependence on foreign oil, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and greatly increase the research and development of new clean energy technologies. The bill includes a 50 percent increase in energy efficiency and renewable energy, including solar, biofuels, hydropower, and geothermal energy, as well as new vehicle technology and energy efficient buildings and homes. It invests $3 billion to research global warming and work on new technologies and renewable energy to slow it down. It also restores weatherization and energy assistance grants that are critically important to lower income families. In the coming weeks, I will have much more news about our complete Energy Independence Package. We also made a solemn commitment to care for the brave men and women who defend our freedom. And this year’s VA appropriation keeps faith with that promise and it addresses some critical problems. This Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations provides for the largest increase in veterans’ health in 77 years. It funds more than 1,100 VA claims processors to reduce the backlog of over 400,000 cases. This funding will ensure quality health care for 5.8 million patients, including about 263,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. It will also allow us to hire more qualified doctors and nurses to improve medical services to our veterans, reduce waiting times for medical appointments, and provide additional assistance for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury, post traumatic stress disorder, mental health issues, and lost limbs. Honoring an American Treasure: Miss Katherine DunhamOn Monday, I was honored to go across the Mississippi to East St. Louis to join my good friend Congressman Jerry Costello as we participated in a wonderful community ceremony to honor the late artistic legend, Miss Katherine Dunham. Congressman Costello and I cosponsored a bill to rename the East St. Louis post office in Miss Dunham’s honor, and I think it’s a fitting tribute in the heart of the community that she loved so much.Miss Dunham was one of those very rare individuals whose talent, grace, courage and passion transcended race, geography, language and time. She was, quite simply, a unique American treasure.
Media contact is Steven Engelhardt, @ 314.383.5240 (office), 314.504.4029 (cell) or at steven.engelhardt@mail.house.gov # # |
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