House of Representatives

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON D.C. -- On Saturday, November 7, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a comprehensive healthcare reform bill that will improve healthcare for Long Islanders and all Americans. The bill provides access to the health insurance market for the currently uninsured, provides important protections for those who currently have insurance, brings down the costs of healthcare for our families, businesses and the nation, and sets us on a sustainable path to providing affordable, quality healthcare choices for all Americans.    » read more »

In Letter to Obama, Markey encourages President to Dramatically Alter our Nuclear Weapons Mission

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Representative Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment and the founder of the House Bipartisan Task Force on Nonproliferation, today wrote to President Obama encouraging him to dramatically rethink the way nuclear weapons are used in our country.

Markey urged President Obama to continue his strong leadership on nuclear arms control and nonproliferation with the administration’s forthcoming Nuclear Posture Review, which formally defines the missions and requirements for the U.S. nuclear arsenal.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON - U.S. Rep. Mary Jo Kilroy has announced that the City of Worthington, OH has received $500,000 in appropriation funds to be used for the improvement of sewer systems for a cleaner watershed in the city. The funds for the project, which were requested by Rep. Kilroy, were included in the 2010 Interior and Environment Appropriations Bill.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, General Motors announced that it plans to start repaying its government loans more than five years ahead of schedule and that it generated $3.3 billion in cash in the third quarter. Although the automaker did not post a profit, it exceeded expectations and increased revenue by 21 percent from the second quarter.

As Co-Chair of the Congressional Automotive Caucus and a native of Flint, MI, the birthplace of G.M., Congressman Dale E. Kildee (D-MI) has worked tirelessly to return the company to productivity and profitability and welcomed this encouraging news. Congressman Kildee released the following statement:    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman Paul Hodes announced his support for legislation that would make health insurance more affordable for unemployed families in New Hampshire. Currently, unemployed individuals and families receive 9 months of COBRA premium assistance under the jobs and recovery plan that passed earlier this year, but this assistance is beginning to run out this month.

Congressman Hodes is a cosponsor of H.R. 3966, which would extend this assistance for another 6 months. The premium assistance helps New Hampshire families to afford health insurance while they continue to search for a job.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) announced the application window for grants provided through the Department of Homeland Security Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Services (SAFER) program is now open.

SAFER grants are aimed at increasing the number of firefighters and enhancing a department’s ability to ensure that their communities have adequate protection from fire and fire related hazards. This year Congress appropriated approximately $210 million for the SAFER program.

“I encourage local companies to apply for funding through this federal grant to help support outreach and recruitment of the next generation of first responders,” said Higgins.    » read more »

$8,000 Tax Credit for First Time Homebuyers, $6,500 for Current Homeowners Purchasing New Homes

November 16, 2009 -- Monroe, NY – U.S. Rep. John Hall (D-Dover) stood with Orange County realtors and a family who will benefit from both an $8,000 and a $6,500 homebuyer tax to detail how an expanded and extended Homebuyers’ Tax Credit enacted by Congress will help new and current homeowners in Orange County and stimulate the local economy.    » read more »

Says Recovery Act Will Create Local Jobs

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Rep. Raúl M. Grijalva today applauded the Department of Energy’s newly announced award of more than $5 million in federal Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grants to the City of Tucson. The grant, one of thousands given to communities around the country, is funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC – House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) and Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) congratulated National Administration of Space and Aeronautics (NASA) on making TIME’s List of 50 Best Inventions of 2009. NASA’s Ares rockets placed number one among the best inventions of the year.

The Ares rockets placed before several remarkable inventions – the Smart Thermostat (#4), the AIDS vaccine (#8), and Tweeting by Thinking (#9), among others.    » read more »

11/16/09 -- WASHINGTON D.C. -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-PA), chairman of the bipartisan Congressional Urban Caucus, urged colleagues to support federal and private initiatives that provide venture capital in urban markets and minority communities.

“The greatest untapped market for American business can be found right here at home in the economic shadows,” Fattah said today at an Urban Caucus briefing for House members and staff.

“If the urban markets catering to African Americans and Hispanics were a separate country, those markets would represent the world’s ninth largest economy – and it’s an underserved market that can be developed to jumpstart our broader national economy.”    » read more »

Veteran Congressman Asks: Why Are Republicans Rooting for GM To Fail?

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC - Congressman John D. Dingell (D-MI15) made the following remarks after General Motors (GM) announced the company would repay the United States more than $1 billion dollars next month, years earlier than required.

“Today, General Motors has come forth with good news. The company is on its way to fulfilling its promise to America’s taxpayers – much sooner than expected or required. The new GM has a healthier balance sheet, reduced inventories and a competitive cost structure, putting it on a path towards repaying its debts and rebuilding the company’s value. The company is better situated to deal with economic hardship.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, DC -- Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (CT-3) released the following statement today on the USDA’s report on Household Food Security in the United States, 2008, which showed 49 million Americans lack dependable access to adequate food. This is the highest number since the government began keeping records, and underscores the need for further action from Congress. Congresswoman DeLauro said:

“The new hunger figures released today by the USDA are deeply disturbing, especially given that food and fuel costs were rising so dramatically during 2008. It is even more disturbing to think that these numbers are probably worse today due to the economy.    » read more »

November 16, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. - Recently, the Small Business Administration (SBA) proposed a series of changes to existing regulations concerning the 8(a) Business Development program. The 8(a) Program provides participating small businesses with training, technical assistance, and contracting opportunities in the form of set-asides and sole-source awards. Small businesses owned by socially and economically disadvantaged individuals are eligible for the program.

“This rulemaking -in the first year of the Obama Administration- is proof positive that Administrator Mills is writing a new chapter in SBA history,” stated Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke.    » read more »

Russ Carnahan Is Co-Sponsor of Bipartisan Bill to Enact Closer Monitoring of TARP Program

November 16, 2009 -- (WASHINGTON, DC) - Congressman Russ Carnahan (MO-03) today urged the U.S. House of Representatives to pass bipartisan legislation that will create strong new accountability measures to monitor the Troubled Assets Relief Program (TARP).

Carnahan is a co-sponsor of the legislation, which amends the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act with stricter accountability and monitoring measures to ensure that financial institutions are effectively utilizing funds provided under TARP.    » read more »

Sends Letter to the President Urging Action

November 16, 2009 -- Representative Mike Capuano today called on President Barack Obama to use the remaining funds from the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to create jobs.

In a letter to the President, Rep. Capuano noted that the unemployment rate is at a "26 year high" and asked the President to "direct the remaining TARP funds towards projects that put more Americans back to work." With $210 billion in TARP funds currently unspent, and another $50 billion expected to be repaid in the next year, Rep. Capuano urged that these funds should be used for job creation.

"TARP was established to address the financial crisis," state Rep. Capuano in his letter. "I do not believe we can reasonably say that the job of TARP is complete."    » read more »