Joe Sestak's Legislation to Extend COBRA Assistance Passes House in "Jobs Bill"

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 20:15:19 -0500

Job Legislation Needed to Replace Stimulus Funding Removed by Sen. Specter, But Fails to also Include Sufficient Small Business Tax Incentives for Job Creation
MEDIA, PA - Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak voted to help pass the Jobs for Main Street Act, which included his legislation to extend COBRA assistance. This job creation bill will replace cuts to urgently needed state aid, as well as highway, transit and school infrastructure projects, which the Senate- led by Senator Arlen Specter- cut from the Economic Stimulus last February. However, while very supportive of the above funding initiatives, as well as extension of unemployment, child tax credit, Medicaid assistance and other items included in the legislation-- Joe emphasized his dissatisfaction with the lack of sufficient tax incentives and tax relief for small businesses, which create 70 percent of all jobs.  As one crucial measure that made the bill essential to pass, it incorporates legislation from Joe's Extended COBRA Continuation Protection Act (HR 3930), which extends six months -- from 9 to 15 -- the total time an unemployed worker can receive 65 percent COBRA premium assistance. This will allow workers who enrolled in February, when the assistance was initially provided in the Economic Stimulus Bill, to continue on until at least May 2010. Furthermore, it extends these benefits to individuals who are involuntarily terminated between January 1 and June 30, 2010. Up until now, only individuals laid off from September 2008 through December 2009 would qualify. Those previously unemployed, who already lost their COBRA subsidy coverage this December, are also eligible for the extended coverage.  Since introducing the legislation, Joe has repeatedly urged Congressional Leadership to act on this issue through meetings, letters to fellow members, floor speeches, and events with individuals losing their COBRA coverage.  "I am grateful that the legislation I introduced to extend COBRA benefits has been included in the House jobs bill," Joe added. "As we work to rebuild our economy, we have a responsibility to America's working families, who have suffered the most from the mistakes of others. They should not have to decide between trying to meet an enormous expense and going without health care. I now urge the Senate to move swiftly and follow our lead in passing this COBRA extension by year's end."  Read more about Joe's latest efforts to join with working families to support COBRA Assistance: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rep-joe-sestak/losing-health-care-famili_b_392765.html    "Although this bill needed to pass because it included critical provisions for working families as well as state aid and infrastructure funding, it did not appropriately take into full account an important part of any job creation plan -- small business growth," said Joe. "As Vice Chairman of the House Small Business Committee, I know that over the past decade, small businesses created as many as 80 percent of new jobs; and after the most recent economic recession in 2001-- firms with fewer than 20 employees created 40 percent of new jobs. The Administration and Congressional Leadership did not enact sufficient assistance for small businesses to create jobs in this time of frozen credit and high unemployment. This bill does not include the most effective ways for small businesses to create jobs, including by not providing the access to community bank loans that small businesses need."  Key small business measures which should have been included are:
A jobs-credit similar to the one Joe introduced in the JOBS Act to provide small businesses with a 15% tax credit for hiring new workers over the next year;
An increase in the maximum Small Business Administration (SBA) loan size to $5 million--$5.5 million for manufacturing companies-and a raise in the cap on SBA microloans to at least $50,000;
Extension of Stimulus provisions to allow small businesses to immediately deduct up to $250,000 of qualifying investments;
Extension of accelerated depreciation of some capital purchases;
An increase in SBA interest-rates to attract lenders; and
A raise in guarantee levels for these loans to at least 95%.
"Despite its significant flaws, this bill was absolutely needed because Arlen Specter lead the effort in the Senate to cut investment in infrastructure, strip out aid to states, and add wasteful corporate tax cuts in February's Stimulus Bill," said Joe. "At a time when leading economists from across the political spectrum were calling for more stimulus and investment in jobs, Arlen Specter bragged on his website about the $100 billion that was cut--including $1.5 billion that would have helped close Pennsylvania's $3.0 billion budget deficit this summer-- and said he preferred Senator John McCain's proposal of 'tax cuts alone' with no infrastructure/construction spending," said Joe.

Congressman Sestak Votes to Support Our Troops, Fund Local Projects

Wed, 16 Dec 2009 19:28:45 -0500

Annual defense appropriations bill supports vital reform efforts initiated by the Secretary of Defense
Washington, DC — To provide our service members and their families the benefits they deserve, and to ensure our military is equipped and in a proper state of readiness to deal with 21st century challenges, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA – 07) supported the conference report of the Fiscal Year 2010 Department of Defense Appropriations Act. In total, HR 3326 appropriates $631.9 billion for the Department of Defense in Fiscal Year 2010, including $128.2 billion to support ongoing contingency operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and $6.6 billion to train and equip the Afghan national security forces.
The measure provides $6.3 billion to equip our forces in Afghanistan with the new Mine Resistant Ambush Protected All Terrain Vehicles (M-ATVs), which will better protect them from improvised explosive devices (IEDs) on rugged terrain.
It provides a 3.4% pay increase for service members. Additionally, it includes $29.2 billion, $2 billion above the President’s request, to provide health care for our troops.
“As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and a retired Admiral, providing our military with the funding it needs each year is one of my most sacred duties,” the Congressman said on Wednesday. “I was proud to support this reform budget, which mostly conforms with Secretary Gates’s desire to focus on giving our service members the tools and support they need in the field and cut wasteful spending on cold war-era weaponry, such as the F-22, that we don’t need to address the asymmetrical threats we face in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The bill matches the President’s request for funding of the SM-3 interceptor program, which is an essential component of his new sea-based missile shield for Europe, which I have long supported. I am also pleased that the bill contains language based on the Franken Amendment, which would prevent the Department of Defense from contracting with companies who force employees to agree to resolve through arbitration any claims arising out of rape, sexual assault or harassment, or other civil rights claims. In October, I wrote a letter to Rep. John Murtha, the Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, urging him to retain this language.”
Congressman Sestak’s projects which were approved in the bill include:
$800,000 for Carbide Derived Carbon for Treatment of Combat Related Sepsis - The project is to develop an advanced treatment of sepsis, which would reduce battlefield complications from blood loss and improve survivability.
Y-Carbon, Inc. of King of Prussia will be competing for that project.

$1.6 million for Quiet Drive Advanced Rotary Actuator - The immediate application will be used on submarines (such as bow planes and other structures employing actuator technology). Actuators convert energy from hydraulic, air, or electric power to achieve mechanical movement and control of heavy or remote devices. Current Navy ships have between 100 to 3,000 actuators each. At present, these actuators typically use old style hydraulic technology. Successful completion of the technology will reduce shipboard personnel and reduce repair and maintenance costs. Environmental hazards associated with hydraulic systems will also be eliminated by moving to an electric actuator. Under prior funding, there has been constructed an electric motor which is currently being evaluated. The present design does not meet the strict acoustic requirements of the US Navy. The company, using internal funding, will analyze the prototype, correcting these and other technical issues. Alternate design concepts will be developed and analyzed with the best proposed as the system solution.
Moog Inc. will be competing to have these actuators manufactured at Moog's facility in Springfield, Delaware County.

$1.2 million for Miniature Day Night Sight for Crew Served Weapons – This project provides Warfighters with a light with visible illumination for 3000m, IR illumination 1200m, non-lethal weapon, and a remote control with variable zoom. It increases safety of operator and effectiveness of the weapon.
Peak Beam Systems, Inc. of Edgmont will be competing for this project.

$1.6 million for Chemical and Biological Resistant Clothing - Funds for this project would be used to create a material capable of simultaneously being lightweight, robust, breathable, and resistant to chemical and biological agents. Chemical and biological agents unquestionably represent one of the most challenging terrorist-driven threats faced by our soldiers and civilians. This project would help enhance the protective clothing that represents a first line of defense to protect an individual at risk of exposure.
Arkema, Inc. of King of Prussia plans on bidding on this project.

$800,000 for the Beneficial Infrastructure for Rotorcraft Risk Reducation (BIRRRD) program. The BIRRRD Program will deliver aircraft and test infrastructure to the Army Research Lab (ARL) where ARL will use the test infrastructure to help develop the aircraft to emerging Army and FAA certification standards. The Unmanned Aircraft System will demonstrate technologies that can be transitioned to meet existing military requirements, including the $240 million Navy Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS), USMC Tier II, USCG National Security Cutter, Navy Maritime Domain Awareness, Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), and the Telemedicine and Advanced Technology Research Center (TATRC). The funding will help address the unmet DoD requirements for Vertical Take-Off and Landing (VTOL) systems.
Dragonfly Pictures, Inc. of Essington will bid for this project.

$3.6 million for X-49A Envelope Expansion Mods - Funding for this project is to modify the X-49A VTDP Compound Helicopter Technology Demonstrator to enable full flight envelope expansion to demonstrate significant improvements in rotorcraft performance, survivability, and life cycle cost. These modifications incorporate the Adaptive Digital Automated Pilot Technology (ADAPT) and Supplementary Power Unit (SPU) system into the X-49A to enable exploration of flying qualities, performance, and flight loads beyond the current baseline SH-60F NATOPS flight envelope limits in the FY11 timeframe. These tests are necessary to evaluate the potential of this technology to meet the Department of Defense's objective capabilities, while at the same time expanding the technology base for future rotorcraft. This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because it may lead to the validate the VTDP technology as an affordable means of (i) upgrading our existing helicopters’ speed, range, payload, altitude, survivability, and reliability, and (ii) expanding the technology base for future rotorcraft development.
Piasecki Aircraft Corporation of Essington plans to compete for these funds.

$3.2 million for Distribution Mission Interoperability Toolkit (DMIT) - DMIT is a suite of tools that enables an enterprise architecture for on-demand, trusted, interoperability among and between mission-oriented Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence (C4I) systems based on lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom. Additional spending will allow DMIT to be extended to Joint and coalition requirements, as well as address current strategic weaknesses in Air Force AOC management years ahead of current schedules. This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because DMIT provides the Air Force with an adaptable process and rich toolkit for increasing interoperability at an enterprise level without major impact to existing systems. It provides the ability to incorporate network-centric processes and missions using today’s C4I programs providing an early beacon on successful application before billions are spent in the Air Force, Army, Marines, and Joint Forces. The toolkit leverages best practices from the commercial sector to positively impact the DoD C4I programs.
Accenture National Security Services of King of Prussia will be competing for a part of that funding.

$1.2 million for the Intelligent Remote Sensing for Urban Warfare Operations II National Applied Software Engineering Center (NASEC) - The Urban Sensing project will develop radio frequency (RF) technology for sensors to be deployed on ground and autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). These sensors will collect data for imaging of city canyons and building interiors, combined with tracking and localization of targets in urban settings and underground areas. This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because the face of battle changing daily, and with hostile situations being managed by rotating forces, decision cycles are shorter than ever. These reduced decision cycles require situation awareness tools applicable to urban settings. The project will combine new technologies for (1) airborne collection of urban situation data with (2) the ability to visualize that urban data and rapidly plan a response. These interlinked technologies will efficiently convey critical situation analyses and decision support to the commanders in those situations and to their superiors.
Villanova University will be receiving these funds.

$3.2 million for the Portable Mobile Emergency Broadband System. Currently available portable wireless communication systems have bandwidth limitations and force compromises that are unacceptable for high quality video and other information sources necessary for military situational awareness. Direct benefits of this work are improved operational efficiencies and lowered costs for military units due to the network's ability to carry comprehensive maintenance and health monitoring applications that will dramatically reduce the maintenance cycle for vehicles, and the equivalent of placing more vehicles in production roles. This project is a valuable use for taxpayer dollars because situational awareness and operational efficiency of military forces on the battlefield will continue to be greatly improved with the PMEBS project. This in turn will cut operational costs, save, time, resources and most importantly the lives of military personnel.
Rajant Corporation of Malvern will compete for this funding to continue their work in this area.

$2.4 million for 3D Bias Woven Preform Development to develop a bias woven preform manufacturing capability to enhance the performance, while lowering the cost and weight of the structures under consideration for the Joint Strike Fighter, sustainment of the F-16, the unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) operational system (UOS), space operations vehicles (SOVs), the ACCA program, the Vulture program, and other advanced weapon systems. This is to address the primary limiting factor in applying composites in airframe structure, the poor damage tolerance and ballistic survivability of conventional 2D joints.
V Systems of Chester will be one of the first competing for part of this contract.

$1 million for Mismatch Repair Derived Antibody Medicines to Treat Staphylococcus-derived Bioweapons. The funding will be used to develop new therapies to treat patients against exposure to biowarfare agents. Staphylococcal-based bioweapons are considered one of the highest risk to our national security and protection of our military personnel due to ease of development by terrorist groups and rogue nations. New potent medicines are needed to reduce this threat and make their use as agents of terror or weapons minimal. Medicines appear effective in animal studies and require additional development for final validation before use in the field.
Morphotek, Inc. of Exton will be bidding for the contract.

Bill Summary
KEEPING OUR COMMITMENTS TO OUR TROOPS AND THEIR FAMILIES
Military Pay: The bill provides a 3.4% military pay increase, 0.5% above the request.
First Class Medical Care: $29.2 billion, $3 billion above 2009 and $1 billion above the request, for the Defense Health Program to provide quality medical care for servicemembers and their families and funding to address the serious financial challenges facing the Defense Health Program; including fully funding the Department of Defense request of $372 million for military medical research; in addition $120 million is included for Traumatic Brain Injury and Psychological Health Research.
Supporting Military Families: $472.4 million for Family Advocacy programs and full funding for Family Support and Yellow Ribbon to provide support to military families, including quality child care, job training for spouses, and expanded counseling and outreach to families experiencing the separation and stress of war.
Readiness and Training: $154 billion, $1.5 billion above 2009, for the Defense Operation and Maintenance Account to increase readiness and training of our troops. The bill rebalances funding from preparing for Cold War-era type conflicts to the highest priority readiness requirements for the hybrid operations that our military will be facing for the foreseeable future.
INCREASING OVERSIGHT TO IDENTIFY WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE
Recognizing that the Department of Defense has the largest share of the federal budget, the bill includes a dramatic increase in funding to increase oversight to rein in waste, fraud, and abuse, and makes a concerted effort to in-source inherently government functions.
Reining in Outsourcing: $5 billion, greater than the previous year, to allow defense personnel, not contractors, to perform critical department functions. The Department estimates that every position that is converted from contract to federal civilian saves on average $44,000 per year. Additionally, the bill reduces contracted advisory and assistance services by $51 million, and includes general provisions to stop further conversions by the Department of Defense from government functions to contractors.
The bill also directs DoD to in-source the task of vetting and issuing Common Access Cards and report on planned improvements of access control because the Committee found that about 212,000 contractors had been mistakenly been given Common Access Cards, causing a potential security risk.
Inspector General Oversight: $288 million, $16 million above the request, for the Inspector General to hire additional investigators to ensure proper oversight of DoD acquisition and contracting.
Undefinitized Contracts: The bill contains a provision restricting the use of funds in certain aircraft programs until prior year contracts are fully negotiated and definitized so that we know what exactly we are buying; this restores much needed discipline to the contracting process and providing leverage for the department to achieve the best possible pricing for the taxpayer.
IMPROVING MILITARY EQUIPMENT
The bill includes $104.4 billion for procurement, $3.46 billion above 2009 and $816 million below the request, and $80.5 billion for research and development, $17 million above 2009 and $1.9 billion above the request, to develop and field the weapons and equipment our troops need.
Bradley Fighting Vehicles: $526 million as requested for Situational Awareness upgrades to 353 vehicles.
Stryker Combat Vehicles: $364 million in the base bill, $25 million below the request due to excessive program management costs.
E-2D Hawkeye: $649 million, $142 million above the request, for 3 E-2D Hawkeye aircraft, one above the request; and $362.5 million for the continued development of the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft.
F-18 Super Hornet: $1.5 billion for 18 F/A-18E/F Super Hornet Tactical aircraft, nine above the request; and $1.6 billion for 22 EA-18G Growler electronic attack aircraft.
F-35 Lightning: $6.2 billion, matching the requested, for the procurement of 30 F-35 Lightning Aircraft, including 16 Short Take-off and Vertical Landing (STOVL) variants for the Marine Corps, 4 Carrier variants for the Navy, and 10 conventional variants for the Air Force. The bill also includes $465 million, not requested, to continue development and initial procurement of the Alternative Engine for the Joint Strike Fighter.
V-22 Osprey: $2.7 billion for the procurement of 30 MV-22 and five CV-22 Osprey aircraft, equal to the President’s request.
E-8 JSTARS: $62 million, $46 million above the request, for JSTARS re-engineering research and development and $54 million for continued procurement.
Air Force Cargo Aircraft: $2.5 billion for 10 additional C-17s above the budget request; $905 million for five C/HC/MC-130Js and advance procurement for 20 C/HC/MC-130s; $319 million, matching the request, for eight C-27J Joint Cargo Aircraft; and $202 million, $49 million above the request, for Infrared Missile Countermeasures for the C-17 and C-130 aircraft.
Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft: $1.2 billion for the continued development of the Multi-mission Maritime Aircraft.
Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft: $306 million for the development of the Next Generation Aerial Refueling Aircraft.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs): $554 million, matching the request, to procure RQ-4 Global Hawk UAVs; and $489 million for 24 MQ-9 Reapers.
Military Helicopters: $3.34 billion to increase and improve the military’s fleet of helicopters, including $326 million, as requested, for 54 Light Utility Helicopters; $1.26 billion as requested for 79 UH-60 Blackhawk Helicopters; $882 million for 27 CH-47 Chinook Helicopters; $584.8 million for 24 UH-1Y Huey/AH-1Z Cobra Helicopters; and $145 million for five HH-60M helicopters and modifications to the existing HH-60G fleet.
Presidential Helicopter: $130 million, of which $100 million is for technology capture to recoup investments in research and development of the VH-71, an increase of $44.8 million above the request.
Tactical Wheeled Vehicles: $498 million for the procurement of Medium Tactical Vehicles, and $613 million for the procurement of Heavy Tactical Vehicles. The Overseas Contingency Operations portion of the bill includes additional funding for tactical vehicles.
Targeting pods: $68 million, $18.5 million above the request, for targeting pods to increase the combat effectiveness and precision strike ability of U.S. military aircraft.
Guided MLRS Rockets: $293.6 million, as requested, for 2,628 Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System Rockets, to enhance the precision strike ability for U.S. artillery.
Shipbuilding: $15 billion, $120 million above the request, for the procurement of 7 Navy ships, including: one DDG-51 Guided Missile Destroyer; one SSN-774 Attack Submarine; two Littoral Combat Ships; one Intra-theater Connector Ship; and two T-AKE Auxiliary Dry Cargo/Ammunition Ships.
Enhanced Radar Technology: $32 million, $30 million above the request, for advanced radar technology.
Electronic Warfare: $248.5 million, as requested, for continued development of electronic warfare devices to protect our troops.
Advanced Communications: $880 million, as requested, for continued development of the Joint Tactical Radio System; and $50 million for Digital Communications, $50 million above the request. The recommendation provides $1.8 billion, matching the request, for a fourth Advanced Extremely High Frequency communications satellites.
Missile Defense: $589 million, matching the request, for the Theater High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and the Standard Missile 3 (SM-3); $569 million, matching the request, for the continued development of the Patriot/MEADS Combined Aggregate Program; $638.8 million, matching the request, for Ballistic Missile Defense Sensors Capability; $50.5 million, matching the request, for Ballistic Missile Defense European Capability; $202 million, $82.8 million above the request, for the Israeli Cooperative Program; and $80 million, not requested, for the Early Interceptor Program.
Future Combat Systems: $2.2 billion for continued development of the restructured Future Combat Systems Program. The recommendation is $330 million below the request due to excessive termination liability and $1.1 billion below 2009.
SPACE: $292 million, $97.4 million below the request, for the Global Positioning System III, operational control segment (OCX), plus $50 million for next generation military satellite communications system.
Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA): $3 billion, $246 million below the request for research and development programs because of chronic under-execution.
OVERSEAS CONTINGENCY OPERATIONS
The bill does not contain any portion of the Administration’s expected request for additional funds for operations in Afghanistan. The bill does include funding for existing operations and maintenance.
Ongoing Military Operations: $100.1 billion, $2.5 billion below the request, for operations and maintenance, and military personnel requirements for ongoing military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and to support preparations to continue withdrawal from Iraq, including:
• $15 billion for military personnel;
• $5 billion for the Overseas Contingency Operations Transfer Fund, to respond to the highly variable nature of the costs to rebalance US forces between Iraq and Afghanistan, and to begin the redeployment from Iraq. This account carries protections so that the Congressional defense committees have the opportunity to review and approve any funding actions in this account;
• $1.2 billion for defense health programs to provide medical care to active forces as well as mobilized Reserve Components, and their family members. This funding also provides care for combat injuries and other additional support requirements including communications, telemedicine, public health support, and post deployment health assessments.
Equipment and Force Structure: $23.36 billion, $1.71 billion above the request, for equipment used by our service members in Iraq and Afghanistan, including:
• $6.3 billion, $825 million above the request, for the Mine Resistant Ambush Protected (MRAP) Vehicle Fund to procure over 6,600 new MRAP all-terrain vehicles to protect our troops;
• $80 million for the procurement of MQ-1 Predator Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, a reduction of $170 million due to request in excess of capacity;
• $1.1 billion, $187 above the request, for the procurement of High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs);
• $863 million, $577 million above the request, for the procurement of Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles;
• $803 million, $180 million above the request, for the procurement of Family of Heavy Tactical Vehicles.
IMPORTANT POLICY PROVISIONS
No Permanent Bases: Continues a general provision prohibiting the establishment of permanent bases in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Torture: Continues a general provision prohibiting the torture of detainees held in US custody.
CERP: Provides $1.2 billion, a reduction of $300 million from the request, for the Commanders Emergency Response Program (CERP), and withholds $500 million in funding until the department develops and submits a comprehensive spending plan.
Guantanamo Bay Detention Facility: Provides no funds for the closure of the detention facility at Guantanamo Naval base.
OTHER ITEMS
Small Business Loans: Allows the Small Business Administration (SBA) to continue two temporary enhancements to its loan guarantee program through February 28, 2010 to make loans more attractive to borrowers and lenders and to free up capital, with one raising the percentage of loan amounts that the SBA can guarantee to 90%; the other allows it to waive or reduce loan fees. Small businesses represent a major engine for the U.S. economy, but many small business owners have had a difficult time securing needed loans in these tight economic times.
Patriot Act: Extends authorizations through February 28, 2010.
Flood Insurance: Extends the National Flood Insurance Program through February 28, 2010.
Medicare Physician Payments Extension: Delays, through February 28, 2010, a scheduled 21.2% cut in Medicare physician payments.
Surface Transportation Authorization Extension: Extends the authorization for the highway, transit, highway safety and motor carrier safety programs of the Department of Transportation until February 28, 2010.
Unemployment Insurance: Extends expanded unemployment benefits, including increased payouts and longer duration of benefits, through February 28, 2010.
Healthcare Premium Subsidy Extension: Extends through February 28, 2010 the 65% COBRA health insurance subsidy for individuals who have lost their jobs. The job lost eligibility date is also extended. Approximately seven million people benefited from the premium subsidy provided in the Recovery Act.
Satellite Television Extension and Localism: Extends the compulsory copyright license used by satellite television providers, which expires on December 31, 2009, through February 28, 2010.
Nutrition Assistance: Includes language ensuring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) will have sufficient funding to meet the growing demand for nutrition assistance from modest-income families and provides $400 million in additional funding for state administrative expenses, to speed up processing of applications. SNAP participation increased 18% in the last year to over 37 million people.
Assistance Eligibility: Freezes Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) poverty guidelines at 2009 levels through February 28, 2010 in order to prevent a reduction in eligibility for certain means-tested programs, including Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), and child nutrition.

Losing Health Care: Families on the Brink

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 22:18:39 -0500

This past weekend, I met at the Philadelphia Unemployment Project with a conference room full of men and women, all with much to be proud of about their careers, families and accomplishments. All have been laid off in a historically difficult economic environment created in large part by past government failures to reign in Wall Street, have proper oversight of the housing market, and be generally accountable to working families.
A middle-aged gentleman had lost his manufacturing job after two decades at the same company. One woman spoke of her 65-year-old out-of-work husband who could not find employment or afford retirement. Another with a half dozen preexisting conditions was emptying her 401K to pay for medical expenses.

Losing one's job is difficult enough. But losing one's health care along with it -- and worrying about being able to get treatment for oneself and one's family, or fearing bankruptcy in the event of injury or illness -- is something Americans should not have to cope with in this difficult time.
I was proud to be part of the effort that included nine months of COBRA premium assistance in last February's Economic Stimulus Bill. This measure has eased the burden of skyrocketing health costs on those who have lost their jobs during the economic downturn.
More than nine months later, as we continue to dig ourselves out of a devastating recession with unemployment at 10 percent, that benefit is expiring. A crowded legislative agenda, even with importance of passing health insurance reform, is no excuse for inaction. We must extend this assistance and a bill I have sponsored in the House (HR 3930) would provide the 65 percent subsidy for six more months (up to 15), and allow those laid off in the first six months of 2010 to qualify as well.
Hundreds of Americans from all across the country have contacted my office because they cannot afford the expense of COBRA on their own. If forced to drop their health care, many with preexisting conditions will not be able get coverage again in the individual market.
A 63-year old Veteran from California wrote to me that, with his benefits having run out, COBRA costs $1,600 a month for him and his wife. Laid off in early February, he and his wife are still trying to put their youngest son through college, while his preexisting condition (prostate cancer) has driven up the price of healthcare.
One Pennsylvania woman at the event spoke to our group about the peace of mind it would bring her and her family if the COBRA subsidy was extended, keeping their premiums from ballooning from $400 a month to more than $1,000 a month.
A gentleman from Virginia traveled more than two hours to have his voice heard after his assistance expired December 1. He described extending COBRA benefits as a lifeline for millions of Americans trying to avoid the pain of foreclosure and/or bankruptcy.
Just watch the video above and you will see some of the faces of the 15 million Americans looking for work, 5.4 million of whom have been without a job for at least 27 weeks. These are middle class, hardworking people who want to provide for themselves and their loved ones, but have been victims of a treacherous economy. They have suffered the most from the mistakes of others and should not have to decide between trying to meet an enormous expense or going without health care. With the end of the year approaching, time is running out.
Please sign our petition; write and call you Senators and Representatives; contact the Congressional leadership on both sides of the aisle; and tell your friends and family to do all of the above. This is not a Democrat or Republican, progressive or conservative, issue. Extending COBRA represents part of an often-forgotten responsibility to America's working families, who were the engine driving our prosperity, but now, through no fault of their own, still bear the brunt of this recession.

Joe Sestak Pushes for School, First Responder Investments in Jobs Bill

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 20:01:33 -0500

Writes Letter to Committee Chairs of Education and Labor, Ways and Means
MEDIA, PA - As we work to rebuild our economy, just months after passing an economic stimulus bill needed to rescue America from the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Congressman Joe Sestak wrote a letter to Congressman George Miller, Chairman of the Education and Labor Committee, and Congressman Charlie Rangel, Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee urging them to boost infrastructure investments in jobs legislation under consideration in the House of Representatives. In his letter, Joe points out that the construction of high-performance schools and first responder facilities would be key to creating new jobs while increasing energy efficiency, improving learning environments, and enhancing first responder services for our communities.  "As we work to develop a comprehensive jobs bill, I urge you to make infrastructure and construction funding-- especially for schools and first responders-- a major part of the bill," Joe wrote in his letter. "We missed an opportunity to stimulate real job growth when Congress allowed a few Senators to highjack the Economic Stimulus Bill, cutting billions for state aid and job-creating infrastructure projects. As I pointed out at the time, independent economic modeling clearly showed that those additional funds would have created millions of needed jobs. That money should have been included in the original package, and now we must move quickly to repair the mistake."  In his letter, Joe outlined five additional proposals for this legislation that will help rebuild our economy:
• A 15% tax credit to small businesses that hire new workers over the next year
• An expansion of the Small Business Administration (SBA) maximum loan size to $5 million-- $5.5 million for manufacturing companies-- and an increase of the cap on SBA microloans to at least $50,000
• An increase investment in state work-share programs
• Providing additional aid to state and local governments to close the $160 billion gap in state budgets
• Extend COBRA health care coverage subsidies for worker from 9 to 15 months and provide an extra six months of undiscounted coverage.
 Below is the full text of Congressman Joe Sestak's letter to Chairman Miller and Chariman Rangel:   Dear Chairman Miller and Chairman Rangel,  At 10 percent, the unemployment rate is the second-highest since World War II. 8 million Americans have lost their job since the recession began and more than 5 million have been out of work for over six months. If we do not immediately implement an aggressive national plan to create jobs by providing a hiring tax credit and access to credit for small businesses, state job-share programs, targeted relief for workers, and a major investment in state and local governments-- including infrastructure spending-- our recovery efforts will not succeed. Without work, consumer spending will fall, businesses will close and the economy will fall back into recession.  As we work to develop a comprehensive jobs bill, I urge you to make infrastructure and construction funding-- especially for schools and first responders-- a major part of the bill. While our recovery efforts have helped to cut job losses from a monthly average of 700,000 in the first quarter of 2009 to 11,000 in November, we missed an opportunity to stimulate real job growth when Congress allowed a few Senators to highjack the bill, cutting billions for state aid and job-creating infrastructure projects. As I pointed out at the time, independent economic modeling clearly showed that those additional funds would have created millions of needed jobs. That money should have been included in the original package, and now we must move quickly to repair the mistake.  In addition to creating $1.57 in economic benefit for every dollar invested, infrastructure spending for high-performance schools and first responder facilities would immediately put Americans to work while increasing energy efficiency, improving learning environments, and enhancing first responder services for our communities.  The need for new school and first responder construction is clear. Nationwide, school construction projects have been slashed 25% since 2008 and are projected to remain at those reduced levels for at least the next three years. Similarly, demand for the $210 million provided in the final Economic Stimulus bill for first responder construction projects, did not come close to satisfying the $10 billion in unmet funding requests from fire companies around the country. Nor did it include Emergency Medical Services companies, which, despite being eligible for other fire fighter assistance funding, were not eligible for stimulus funding.  If we're serious about restoring the job market we have to make a serious investment in infrastructure spending. However, this alone will not restore economic security to working families. That is why, in addition to a major focus on infrastructure spending for schools and first responder facilities, I strongly encourage you to incorporate five additional methods to job creation:  First, as employers remain hesitant to begin hiring again, we need a jobs-credit to soak up lost jobs and return us to pre-recession employment levels by the end of 2011. The JOBS Act, which I recently introduced, provides a 15% tax credit to small businesses that hire new workers over the next year. This investment, according to the Economic Policy Institute, will create millions of new jobs and will help boost our GDP.  Second, expanding Small Business Administration (SBA) lending is essential to unlocking credit for small firms. We should increase the maximum SBA loan size to $5 million-- $5.5 million for manufacturing companies-- and increase the cap on SBA microloans to at least $50,000. Then, to attract lenders, we should increase the interest rate cap and guarantee level for SBA loans. Extending these incentives for small business lending through the end of 2010 would help alleviate the credit crunch that many small businesses continue to face.  Third, state work-share programs are proven methods to save jobs. Instead of laying off workers, employers reduce their weekly hours and pay and then states make up the difference with unemployment benefits. Seventeen states operate some form of a work-share program, keeping Americans in their jobs and saving employers the cost of rehiring and training new employees.  Fourth, we must invest in state and local governments to close the $160 billion gap in state budgets. Economists estimate that state cut backs will severely reduce economic growth and cost the nation approximately 700,000 jobs. This must be avoided by extending federal Medicaid assistance, among others.  Finally, relief for workers who lose their jobs through 2010 will protect working families who are struggling and is critical to ensure consumer spending and confidence. Beyond extending unemployment insurance benefits, we should also expand COBRA health care coverage subsidies for workers. Legislation that I have introduced would temporarily extend coverage from 9 to 15 months and provide an extra six months of undiscounted coverage.  The success of our economic recovery will be measured by the security we provide working families. To stabilize our economy and return security to families and small businesses, we must make job creation our highest economic priority.   I urge you to make infrastructure spending a major part of the job creation bill currently being developed and thank you for your attention to this critically important matter.   Warmly,  /s/  Joe Sestak

Congressman Sestak Supports Sanctions against Iran

Tue, 15 Dec 2009 19:25:48 -0500

House passes Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009
WASHINGTON, DC – In seeking to prevent Iran, a state-sponsor of terrorism, from attaining a nuclear weapons capability, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) cosponsored, and today voted for, H.R. 2194, the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act of 2009. The legislation provides a mandate that the Obama Administration investigate and penalize foreign individuals and companies that attempt to sell or ship gasoline to Iran or invest in its energy infrastructure. Presently, although Iran is oil-rich, its refinery infrastructure cannot meet the demand for refined petroleum products and it is heavily reliant on foreign imports. To date, although U.S. energy trade with Iran is banned, the United States has never sanctioned foreign entities that provide these imports.  “Iran cannot be permitted to acquire nuclear weapons as this would pose a direct threat to our forces in the region and our ally Israel while potentially triggering a regional arms race,” said Congressman Sestak. “I believe the Obama Administration took the proper initial steps in engaging with Iran diplomatically, with some progress made this fall. It did so by offering Iran a chance to participate in negotiations about its nuclear activities and intentions, or face new international sanctions for not making sufficient progress toward greater transparency.  “While the Obama Administration succeeded in establishing the firmest international opposition to Iran’s nuclear weapon program yet -- as seen in the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) recent vote of censure against Iran -- unfortunately, Iran has, by all measurable indications, chosen to decline the offer to ship abroad Iranian low-enriched uranium for processing.
“Under this deal, enough of Iran’s supply of low-enriched uranium to effectively prevent them from creating an atomic bomb for at least the near term would have been shipped to Russia and France, where it would be processed into fuel rods for a medical research reactor in Tehran. This deal would have provided additional time for more comprehensive negotiations.  “Iran’s continuing defiance of the international mainstream appears to be the product of its current internal political situation, which has been in a state of crisis since the election fraud which occurred in June. Nonetheless, President Obama gave a deadline of December for diplomatic progress, and that deadline has nearly passed. It remains my firm conviction that, at this time, Congress should weigh in on the strategy and vigorous sanctions should be pursued”
Summary:
The measure amends the Iran Sanctions Act to restate the requirement that the president impose two or more current sanctions if a person has "knowingly" made an investment of $20 million or more that directly and significantly contributed to Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources.  The sanctions apply to persons who knowingly:
Sell, lease, or provide to Iran any goods, services, technology, information or support — or enter into a contract for those activities — that would allow Iran to maintain or expand its domestic production of refined petroleum products, including any assistance in the construction, modernization, or repair of refineries that make refined petroleum products.
Provide Iran with refined petroleum products or engage in an activity that could contribute to Iran's ability to import refined petroleum resources; including providing ships, vehicles, or other means of transportation to deliver refined petroleum products to Iran or insurance or financing services for such activities.
The sanctions include denial of Export-Import Bank assistance for any exports; denial of licenses for exports of military or military-related technology; a prohibition against serving as a primary dealer in U.S. government bonds or as a repository for U.S. government funds; a prohibition on any U.S. financial institution issuing loans over $10 million per year; a prohibition on the sale of goods or services by the entity to the U.S. government; and a ban (or partial ban) on the importation of the affected entity's products into the United States. The sanctions remain in effect until the president has certified to Congress that Iran has dismantled its weapons of mass destruction.
The measure requires the president to immediately investigate a person once the United States receives credible information that the person has supplied refined petroleum products to Iran or supported the domestic production of such products in Iran.
The bill also prohibits new agreements for civil nuclear cooperation with a country that has not taken action against an individual within its jurisdiction who has contributed to Iran's nuclear weapons and missile programs.
The bill allows the president to waive sanctions if he determines the waiver is "vital to the national security interest of the United States."
Finally, this measure extends the Iran Sanctions Act's expiration date from Dec. 31, 2011, to Dec. 31, 2016.