photo of Rep. Berman with Capitol dome in the background Congressman Howard Berman - Representing the 28th District of California photo of San Fernando Valley

Issue Areas & Legislative Accomplishments

Economy & Jobs | Crime | Farm Labor/Immigration | Health Care | Education | Retirement Security | Environment | Transportation | Fighting Government Waste

Economy & Jobs

  • Working to strengthen intellectual property laws and protect jobs in the entertainment and hi-tech industries so important to the Southern California economy.
  • Was a key negotiator in securing passage of the landmark Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which protects copy and access protection technologies against circumvention and creates a more secure environment for copyrighted works on the Internet.
  • Led the fight in Congress for disaster relief funds after the Northridge earthquake.
  • Helped Valley defense firms get tens of millions of dollars to continue vital programs and help preserve high quality jobs.
  • Wrote legislation that led to the creation of Calstart, a public-private consortium dedicated to the development of advanced transportation technologies.

Related News

Congressman Berman Backs Trade Agreements That Will Spur Economic Growth in California (10/13/2011)

Congressman Howard Berman on President Obama’s Address to Congress on Job Creation (9/8/2011)

Congressman Howard Berman Supports 11th Hour Debt Deal (8/1/2011)

Wall Street Reform Bill Passes House--Rep. Berman Votes to Rein in Wall Street, Protect Consumers (6/30/2010)

Rep. Berman Votes to Continue American Job Creation, Economic Growth (5/28/2010)

Related Statements

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Crime

  • Led the fight to get more cops on the beat in the Valley.
  • Passed amendment to repay L.A. County and other state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating illegal aliens convicted of crimes.

Related News

Related Statements

Berman Introduces Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 (3/1/2004)

Rep. Berman's Remarks on International Copyright Piracy: A Growing Problem with Links to Organized Crime and Terrorism (3/13/2003)

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Farm Labor/Immigration

Related Documents

Related News

U.S. Representative Howard L. Berman Urges Swift Senate Action On Craig/Kennedy/Cannon/Berman Farm Labor Legislation (February 10, 2005)

Related Statements

Berman Introduces Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 2004 (3/1/2004)

Rep. Berman's Remarks on International Copyright Piracy: A Growing Problem with Links to Organized Crime and Terrorism (3/13/2003)

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Health Care

  • Wrote amendment that prevented Kaiser Permanente from closing the Panorama City hospital.
  • Authored legislation featured on "60 Minutes" to restore legal remedies for Americans with employer-provided health benefits.

Related Documents

  • The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003
  • An analysis (Word doc) of the recently passed Medicare legislation.
  • For a breakdown of Claims vs. Facts for the recently passed Medicare Reform bill, visit the Center for American Progress.
  • Use our Online Calculator to determine how your Prescription Drug costs may change.
  • Medicare timeline of changes (Word doc)
  • See the attached report (5.1 MB, PDF) on Medicare premiums and the inequities in the House Republican Medicare legislation. Their report summarizes what would happen to premiums in various counties around the country under the recently passed GOP legislation. The report shows that:
    • Many seniors would see increases in their Medicare premiums, some as high as 88 percent.
    • Some seniors would have to pay more than three times as much as individuals in other parts of the country for the exact same benefit. Even within a state, seniors may pay dramatically different premiums—sometimes twice as much—for the same Medicare benefit.

Related News

Related Statements

The False Claims Act and Medicare and Medicaid Fraud (6/3/2003)

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Education

  • Created summer internship program in Washington, DC office for San Fernando High School students.
  • Sponsored financial aid forum for Valley students.

Related News

Congressman Berman: Students to Get Additional Relief, Interest Rates on Subsidized Students Loans Go Down Again (7/1/2011)

Rep. Berman lauds House action on the DREAM Act (12/8/2010)

Congressman Berman's Statement on Progress of DREAM Act (12/3/2010)

Rep. Berman Votes to Enhance America's Competitiveness through Education and Innovation (5/28/2010)

Rep. Berman Votes for Health and Education Programs (7/24/2009)

Related Statements

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Retirement Security

  • Organized Senior Advisory Committee to provide input on social security and other issues of concern to senior citizens.
  • Supported legislation to fix loophole in Social Security to ensure that public school teachers are not harmed by the government pension offset.

Related News

Information on the Social Security COLA Formula (11/30/2009)

Rep. Berman speaks in support of his Social Security Fairness Act, H.R. 82 (1/16/2008)

Reps. Berman, McKeon Introduce the Social Security Fairness Act (1/4/2007)

New Calculator Shows Dangerous Cost Of Privitizing Social Security (3/7/2005)

Related Statements

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Environment

  • As member of the California Assembly, passed legislation to create the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy; In Congress, fought for funds to increase land acquisition.
  • Led efforts to construct Hansen Dam recreation area.
  • Obtained federal funding for the William O. Douglas Outdoor Classroom which teaches disadvantaged children about the environment.

Related News

Rep. Berman Pleased at EPA's Announced Efforts to Preserve Valley Water Supply (3/11/2011)

House Votes to Lift Oil Spill Liability Cap: Oil Companies Will Pay More for Cleanup (6/10/2010)

Chairman Berman on Ending the Intolerable Practice of Commercial Whaling (5/6/2010)

Rep. Berman Votes for Landmark Clean Energy Bill (6/26/2009)

Rep. Berman Acts to Save Jobs, Save on Gas, and Reduce Pollution with "Cash for Clunkers" Vouchers (6/9/2009)

Related Statements

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Transportation

  • Led the fight to limit aircraft noise at Burbank Airport.
  • Strongly supported funding for North Hollywood subway line and a more efficient Valley bus system.

Related News

Rep. Berman Requests the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee To Review Helicopter Related Safety and Noise Complaints Above Los Angeles (9/28/2011)

Congressman Howard Berman Announces New Upgrade to San Fernando Valley Transportation (7/25/2011)

Related Statements

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Foreign Affairs

  • Led fight to reduce international arms sales and the proliferation of ballistic missiles and nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
  • Authored law "reinventing" the State Department and foreign affairs agencies by eliminating duplication and consolidating departments.
  • Chief Whip for many years on House foreign aid bills; leader in Congress for a strong U.S. - Israel relationship

Related News

Congressman Berman Introduces Bipartisan E-2 Investor Visa Legislation for Israel, Will Spur Investment and Create Jobs in the United States (2/9/2012)

Congressman Howard Berman Calls for Increased Pressure on Iran (12/8/2011)

Ranking Member Berman Applauds President Obama’s Announcement to Protect LGBT Community Abroad (12/6/2011)

Rep. Howard Berman's Amendment To Sanction The Central Bank Of Iran Receives Committee Approval (11/2/2011)

Congressman Berman Awarded Armenian Presidential Medal (10/26/2011)

Related Statements

Statement of Rep. Berman on H.R. 5682, The U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Promotion Act (7/26/2006)

Statement of Rep. Berman on H.Res. 921, In Support Of Israel's Right to Defend Itself (7/18/2006)

Rep. Berman's Statement on the India Nuclear Deal (5/8/2006)

Statement of Rep. Berman on HR 282, the Iran Freedom Support Act (4/27/2006)

Letter from Rep. Berman to Richard Newcomb, Director of OFAC (3/3/2004)

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Fighting Government Waste

  • Authored False Claims Act Amendments which have saved taxpayers over $12 billion through whistleblower lawsuits.

Related News

Congressman Berman Announces $1 Billion False Claims Act Settlement (2/10/2012)

Rep. Berman’s Whistleblower Bill Returns Over $30 Billion to Taxpayers (1/31/2012)

Congressman Berman introduces False Claims Act Corrections Act of 2007 (12/19/2007)

Justice Department Recovers $2 Billion in 2007 from Rep. Berman's Bill (11/7/2007)

Justice Department Recovers Record $3.1 Billion in 2006 from Rep. Berman's Bill (11/22/2006)

Related Statements

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Congressman Howard Berman
2221 Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, DC 20515
Phone: 202-225-4695 Fax: 202-225-3196
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