WASHINGTON, DC – A Concord High School student has won the 2012 7th District Congressional Art Contest, Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) announced. Courtney von Savoye, a freshman, won with her work “Pepper Values” (click to view) and will have her work displayed in Washington, D.C.
(NOTE: photos of von Savoye, her work, and with her art teacher are available here.)
Von Savoye will be flown, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to Washington, D.C., to attend a national reception this summer for Congressional Art Contest winners from across the country. Her artwork will be displayed for a year in the Cannon Tunnel running between the U.S. Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building alongside pieces selected from each congressional district.
Miller praised von Savoye’s work and the work of more than 60 students who participated in the this year’s Congressional Art Competition from his district.
“My colleagues and I walk past the student work on our way to votes in the Capitol and it really adds something to our day. I remain so impressed with the talent of the young people in our community and across the country,” Miller said after the winner was announced. “I’m proud to have the opportunity to share Courtney’s work with my colleagues and the tens of thousands of visitors to the U.S. Capitol. Courtney can be proud to have her work hang in the Capitol. More than 60 pieces of art were submitted to the 7th District contest this year, and each reflects the talent of the students in my district. Congratulations are due to Courtney and to all the students who submitted art this year.”
A panel of local artists judged the 61 submitted pieces and chose von Savoye’s work, a still life of various peppers done in charcoal. The judges assessed the originality, technique, medium, use of space and creative vision of the young artists to determine the winner.
In addition to announcing the winning artwork that will hang in D.C., Miller also announced that Natalie Steeley of Pinole Valley High School won the Facebook Fan competition 537 votes with her work “Floral Tranquility” which will hang in Miller’s Concord office. Clayton Valley High School student Alyssa Gavidia was also recognized as a Facebook Fan Favorite – her work “Koi Fish” will hang in Miller’s Richmond office.
The contest is part of the nationwide annual Congressional Art Competition that showcases the artistic talents of students across the country.
]]>WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Rep George Miller (D-Martinez) will be honored today by Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund (DREDF) for his many years of work to advance the rights of all people with disabilities. Miller will be honored Tuesday night at the organization’s 33rd anniversary celebration and will participate in a panel discussion on the disability rights movement and the challenges the disability rights movement currently faces.
Miller will receive the Edward M. Kennedy Award that honors individual lifetime achievements in advancing the rights of all people with disabilities. This award is named after its first recipient, the former senator from Massachusetts. Senator Kennedy’s unwavering commitment to the rights of all Americans, including the 54 million with disabilities, has produced landmark civil rights legislation, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Miller, appreciative of the award, thanked DREDF for their years of work advocating for civil rights for people with disabilities. “It is an honor to be recognized by the Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund,” Miller said of the award. “Senator Kennedy was a true champion for students and people with disabilities, and his work has made a real difference in the lives of so many. And this organization’s work in the fight for civil rights for people with disabilities is an important part of the victories we’ve seen in the last 35 years. I have worked with good people at DREDF for decades and I will continue to work them and the entire disabilities community to support smart policies that protect and improve services for children and adults with disabilities.”
Miller has a long history of fighting on behalf of people with disabilities and is a staunch supporter of civil rights for people with disabilities. Early in his career, he convened a Congressional “hearing” with protesters led by Judy Heumann and Ed Roberts at the federal Health, Education and Welfare department building (now known as HHS) in San Francisco demanding that Section 504 be implemented. At the time, Miller spoke out against proposed “separate but equal” facilities for people with disabilities.
Throughout his tenure in Congress, Miller has championed legislation of significance to people with disabilities, including the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (now known as IDEA). Working with Sen. Kennedy on what became known as the “No Child Left Behind Act,” Miller insisted that schools be held accountable for the achievement of students with disabilities.
Most recently, Miller has championed the Keeping All Students Safe Act to establish minimum standards for restraint and seclusion in schools and to keep students safe in the places where they learn. Studies show that tens of thousands of children are subject to dangerous seclusion and restraint practices in schools.
The Disability Rights Education and Defense Fund, founded in 1979, is a leading national civil rights law and policy center directed by individuals with disabilities and parents who have children with disabilities.
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WASHINGTON – Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement on Republican legislation to address the fast approaching student loan interest rate hike.
“I commend House Republicans for reversing themselves on the pending student loan interest rate hike. But I am deeply disappointed that Republicans propose extracting the price from women and children. To take health care away from middle class and low-income families in order to keep interest rates from rising for middle class and low-income college students is simply wrong. It’s robbing Peter to pay Peter. The Republican bill strips away vital funding for breast and cervical cancer screenings for women. It strips funding for increasing child immunization and for screening newborns for things like hearing loss. In other words, the Republican bill will directly hurt women and children.
“As House and Senate Democrats have demonstrated, there are many good options available on how to protect students and their families, and protect the taxpayers. The American people can see the policy choices here. They are stark. To pay for their bill, Republicans choose to take cancer prevention screenings away from women. Democrats choose to end unnecessary tax subsidies for big oil companies. If Republicans are really serious about helping our nation’s college students, then they should not be attacking the health care of those students, their mothers, or their sisters.”
Earlier today, House Democrats announced that they will introduce new legislation today that will both keep college students’ loan rates from doubling on July 1st and reduce the deficit. The House Democratic bill “Stop the Rate Hike Act of 2012” will keep interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year, saving borrowers an average of $1,000 in loan repayment costs. The bill is fully paid for by ending unwarranted tax subsidies to big oil and gas companies. Additional savings achieved by ending these subsidies to big oil will go to reduce the deficit.
Earlier this year, Democrats wrote to the Republican Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee John Kline (R-MN) asking the committee to take action. Thus far, Republicans have taken no action. Last week, House Republicans instead passed a $46 billion tax bill providing the wealthy with an average of $58,000 in new tax breaks next year.
More information on the July 1st increase in some student loan interest rates.
Read the “Stop the Rate Hike Act of 2012” bill here.
I've joined several of my colleagues and Rep. Raul Grijalva on a "friend of the court" brief on the case arguing that Arizona's law is unconstitutional, citing the fact that as courts have held consistently, federal immigration law pre-empts any state-level standards.
Yesterday, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on immigration held a hearing on the law. From the New York Times:
... Mr. Schumer called the hearing as a showcase for the Democrats’ opposition to the law, which has been intensely unpopular among Latinos nationwide. He announced that if the Supreme Court upheld part or all of Arizona’s statute in its ruling, which is expected in June, he would introduce a bill to expressly prevent states from enacting their own immigration enforcement laws....
None of the Republicans on the subcommittee attended the hearing.
...
Mr. Pearce, a fierce opponent of illegal immigration, wrote the statute, which passed in 2010. Caught in the uproar the law provoked among some voters, especially Latinos, he lost his Senate seat in a recall election last November.
Persistent questioning from Mr. Schumer put Mr. Pearce on the defensive at times, as the senator bore down on sections of the bill he said could lead the Arizona police to engage in racial profiling. The senator pointed to a training manual showing that the police were instructed to consider how a person was dressed and whether his vehicle was “heavily loaded” in developing a “reasonable suspicion” that he was an illegal immigrant.
The bitterness that the bill has provoked was on display. Dennis DeConcini, who was a Democratic United States senator from Arizona from 1977 to 1995, issued an apology to Latinos for the “harm” of the law. “I am embarrassed for my state,” he said.
Around the country, immigrant advocate organizations were gearing up for protests and vigils. Immigrant groups in Los Angeles held a small rally on Tuesday in front of a federal court building downtown.
In a letter released Tuesday afternoon, religious leaders from a number of faiths called on President Obama to “reassert your authority” to stop states from enacting a patchwork of immigration laws, by working with Congress to pass a broad federal overhaul of the immigration system. Among those signing were Cardinal Timothy M. Dolan of New York, president of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops; Leith Anderson, president of the National Association of Evangelicals; and the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference.
...
Read more about the case before the Supreme Court and SB 1070 from Think Progress.
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WASHINGTON – House and Senate Democrats announced today that they will introduce legislation to keep college students’ loan rates from doubling on July 1st. The “Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012” keeps interest rates on need-based student loans at 3.4 percent next year for the more than 7 million borrowers. This will save the average borrower $1,000 in loan repayment costs. The bill will be fully paid for by closing a tax loophole that some of the wealthiest Americans use to avoid taxes.
“We should be doing everything we can to put higher education within reach for every American,” said Rep. George Miller (D-CA), the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “But last month, House Republicans voted for a budget that relies on hiking student loan interest rates while this month they voted to cut taxes again for millionaires and billionaires. I urge them instead to join me and my Democratic colleagues in standing up for students by stopping the hike. The clock is ticking. The time to act is now.”
Earlier this year, Miller and Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX), the senior Democrat on the Higher Education and Workforce Training Subcommittee, wrote the Republican Chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee John Kline (R-MN) asking the committee to take action. Thus far, Republicans have taken no action. Last week, House Republicans instead passed a $46 billion tax bill providing the wealthy with an average of $58,000 in new tax breaks next year.
“We cannot let more than 7 million students nationwide see their student loan interest rates double on July 1st . That is why we are introducing a common sense, fiscally responsible bill that would extend the 3.4% interest rate for an additional year. We must protect middle-class students from these higher loan rates. Congress should act quickly and pass this bill,” said Rep. John Tierney (D-MA).
“Congress must not allow student loan rates for college students to double, adding an extra $1,000 to the debt of the average borrower. I appreciate the President’s focus on this critical issue for middle class families and hope Republicans will join Democrats to provide relief to 7.4 million students in a responsible way, which is especially important in this tough job market for recent graduates and for our long-term economic recovery,” said Rep. Tim Bishop (D-NY).
"I am deeply concerned about the cost of higher education and the ever-increasing amount of debt that students are being saddled with. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, total outstanding student loan debt surpassed $1 trillion late last year, exceeding credit card debt for the first time. Congress can help students and families afford the cost of a college education now by freezing interest rates for need-based loans for more than 7 million students and keeping them from doubling to 6.8 percent on July 1st," said Rep. Ruben Hinojosa (D-TX).
“In 2007, the College Cost Reduction and Access Act, which enacted the 3.4-percent rate, was signed into law with strong bipartisan support,” said Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT). “I am disappointed that at this point, not a single Congressional Republican has stepped up to support the effort to keep rates there. With just 67 days remaining to prevent this rate hike from going into effect, I am pleased to join my colleagues in support of a one-year fix; however, I remain committed to finding a long-term solution that helps working-class families avoid piling on additional student-loan debt.”
“The Stop the Student Loan Interest Rate Hike Act of 2012 achieves two important goals. We need to close the S corporation loophole that allows wealthy, self-employed lawyers and lobbyists to slash their tax liability, which is why I originally introduced the Narrowing Exceptions for Withholding Taxes (NEWT) Act in the House. We must also ensure that a college education is both accessible and affordable for all young Americans. These critical matters of fairness are both addressed by this legislation,” said Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA).
More information on the July 1st increase in some student loan interest rates.
]]>WASHINGTON, DC - Citing the need for urgent action on behalf of small businesses and national park visitors, California Democratic lawmakers today called on the leadership of the House Natural Resources Committee to act to reopen Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks to pack and saddle animals this spring. A recent court order prohibited the National Park Service from allowing pack animals into the parks’ wilderness areas until further notice, meaning that without congressional action, summer trips to the parks may be canceled or postponed.
The Democratic members noted that the situation is already causing economic harm to outfitters, packers, guides, and other permit holders who rely on the income that park visitors bring to the area. Without congressional action, visitors and families from across California — and the nation — may be denied access to the high country wilderness in the Sierras, one of the premier experiences the National Park system has to offer.
The letter is addressed to Committee chairman Doc Hastings (R-WA), whose committee has jurisdiction over national park policy. The letter recommends that Chairman Hastings and his colleagues introduce clean legislation allowing the small businesses who manage the pack and saddle stock to continue to operate this season. The court’s ruling did not determine that the horses and mules had caused any harm to the park, only that the National Park Service had not conducted a legally required study. The legislation suggested in the letter would allow the Park Service to continue issuing permits for the next year while the Park Service finalizes the necessarily information.
Recently, a group of Republican lawmakers from California wrote the Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar, requesting that he ask the court for authority to issue permits. However, the Interior Department has no authority to issue permits until a final court ruling is made. With the remedy hearing for this case not scheduled until May, any final ruling would be likely be too late for summer visitors to make plans, disappointing visitors and furthering the economic harm to the area.
“This is about whether Congress is going to act to allow summer trips into the Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks,” Rep. George Miller (D-CA) said. “We can complain about the ruling, or we can do something to resolve a situation that’s already affecting families and businesses and harming the regional economy. I’m urging my Republican colleagues to take action. If the committee leadership introduces a clean, simple bill to allow access this year at historical levels, we will support that bill. We’ve got to work together to keep access to our national parks open and keep small businesses operating.”
“Many of us, along with our families and friends, have enjoyed the incredible sites that only be found in the High Sierra Nevadas in the summer,” Rep. Jim Costa (D-CA) said. “For many the only way to experience this is through the use of pack animals. Congress should act on a clean, bipartisan bill. If we can’t agree on this, what can we agree on?”
“Americans of all political stripes derive great enjoyment from exploring the great outdoors,” said Rep. John Garamendi (D-CA), a Member of the House Natural Resources Committee. “Rather than sit on our hands, our Committee should work together with the National Park Service to ensure that recreationalists and small businesses can continue to reap the benefits of these natural wonders.”
“The Sequoia and Kings Canyon National Parks have served as a vacation destination for generations of families,” said Rep. Sam Farr (D-CA). “Closing the gates of these parks to pack and saddle animals will not only interrupt countless family vacations this spring, but it will deliver a heavy blow to the local economies that depend on tourism dollars. I want to urge my Republican colleagues to act swiftly and responsibly in support of a clean bill that reopens the doors to visitors and delivers relief for local businesses.”
“Congress needs to act so that families and small businesses can plan for the summer vacation months,” said Rep. Mike Thompson (D-CA). “Every day we wait is a day too long. Our outfitters, packers and guides face economic uncertainty. And trips American families were hoping to take to these parks are threatened. The House Natural Resources Committee needs to introduce, and Congress needs to pass clean legislation that ensures permits can be issued for pack and saddle animals at these parks. This will allow families to move forward with their summer vacation plans and small businesses to continue to operate.”
The Democratic lawmakers wrote:
[The] “order is already causing economic harm to outfitters, packers, guides, and other permit holders, and it has the potential to significantly affect Americans’ enjoyment of the parks’ wilderness areas this year.”
[The Republican] “letter to Secretary Salazar offers no solutions to the immediate problem.”
“[T]his situation cannot be fixed without congressional action, and it is a disservice to businesses and visitors to suggest that the NPS can change the facts on the ground until the court rules.”
“The solution is simple: the Natural Resources committee, under your leadership, should introduce and take up clean legislation providing the NPS with authority to issue permits for the use of commercial services in designated wilderness within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks…”
The full letter is available here.
BACKGROUND:
Some Republican members of Congress have argued that the Department of the Interior could issue permits despite the court ruling, or that the National Park Service had chosen to end the wilderness trips. However, the judge’s ruling found that the National Park Service was in violation of the law by issuing the packer permits, meaning that congressional action is necessary to allow for summer trips this year.
The National Park Service will be submitting its proposed remedy to the court tomorrow (April 24), as required by the Court’s schedule. A remedy hearing is not scheduled until May 23, and the Court has no deadline for issuing final ruling.
As described in today’s letter, the legislation necessary to resolve this problem should:
• Provide the National Park Service with clear authority to issue permits for specified commercial services.
• Be limited to the designated wilderness within the Sequoia and Kings Canyon parks.
• Ensure the level of commercial services does not exceed the levels authorized by the park service in 2011.
• Limit permits through the end of 2013, or until the Secretary of the Interior issues an “extent necessary” determination that addresses the violations found in the court decision.
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Miller encourages the artists’ friends, family, classmates, teachers and principals to “like” their “fan favorite” piece of artwork. The artwork receiving the most Fan Favorite votes will be displayed in Miller’s Concord district office.
High school student artists in the 7th District were invited earlier this spring to submit an original painting, drawing or other art form for the competition; this year 61 pieces were submitted to Miller's office.
In addition to the Facebook Fan Favorite competition that will hang in Miller's office, one student’s work will be selected by a judging panel of local artists to hang in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The student whose artwork is selected by the judging panel will be flown to D.C. in June for the Annual Congressional Art Competition Reception.
Miller speaks highly of the art submitted to the Congressional Art Competition, saying “Every year I am so impressed with the high caliber and diversity of student art work that hangs in the U.S. Capitol. Art is a critical component of a well-rounded education for young people, not to mention an important influence on the fabric of our society. There are so many talented young people in my district and I’m proud to have the opportunity to share their work with my colleagues and visitors to the Capitol. This contest is a great opportunity for students to receive recognition for their artistic talent and I’m honored to support it.”
These contests are part of the nationwide annual Congressional Art Competition that showcases the artistic talents of students across the country. The winning artwork, selected by the judging panel of local artists, will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel running between the Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building. The piece selected as the Facebook Fan Favorite will hang in Miller's office.
You can view the art below, but only the LIKES at Facebook.com/RepGeorgeMiller will count as votes.
]]>A copy of our letter is below or see the final version of the letter in PDF form.
March 22, 2012
The Honorable Eric Holder, Jr.
Attorney General of the United States
U.S. Department of Justice
950 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20530-0001
Dear Attorney General Holder:
We are writing to express our support for the Department of Justice’s decision to open an investigation into the devastating killing of Trayvon Martin. There are many unresolved questions about this seemingly unnecessary killing and the events that led up to it and transpired in its aftermath. It is in the best interest of our constituents and the country that you conduct a thorough investigation that also determines whether this was motivated by racial bias and therefore a hate crime.
Reports indicate that on February 26th in Sanford, Florida, Trayvon Martin, a 17 year-old black youth, was walking back to his home from a 7-Eleven convenience store when a neighborhood watch leader on patrol, George Zimmerman, began following him. Zimmerman called 911 to report what he deemed suspicious activity and against the advice of the dispatcher, continued to pursue Martin. What happened next is unclear, but several minutes later Trayvon Martin had been fatally wounded.
According to news reports, the Sanford Police Department decided not to test Mr. Zimmerman’s blood alcohol level nor conduct a background check. The police department decided not to arrest Mr. Zimmerman after he claimed to have acted in self-defense. However, according to news reports, multiple 911 audio tapes seem to contradict Zimmerman’s claim. This incident must be thoroughly investigated to determine what happened and why Mr. Zimmerman was cleared so easily.
Additionally, the question remains whether the shooting was racially motivated, and therefore a hate crime. An investigation of this issue is imperative. The FBI’s 2010 Hate Crime Statistics indicate that 6,628 criminal incidents involving 7,699 offenses were reported in 2010 as a result of bias toward a particular race, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity/national origin, or physical or mental disability. Of the 6,624 single bias incidents, 47.3 percent were motivated by a racial bias. The California Office of the Attorney General indicates that in 2010 there were 1,107 hate crime incidents reported statewide. Hate crimes with a race/ethnicity/national origin bias are the most common type of hate crime and since 2001, have accounted for nearly 60 percent of all hate crime incidents in California. History has shown that investigating these crimes and enforcing our laws against them bring the issue to light and help our society progress.
The incident that took place on February 26th did not receive immediate media attention. Instead, local outrage after the incident prompted by social media finally piqued the interest of the national media. It is alarming that so little attention was paid to the death of a teenager.
Again, we thank you for your decision to bring light to the events that led to the killing of an innocent teenager, and we urge you to determine whether this was a hate crime. The family of Treyvon Martin deserves to know the truth and the American people expect justice to be served.
On March 23, 2010, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law historic health care reform legislation: the Affordable Care Act. At the two-year anniversary of this landmark law, new data demonstrates the benefits that the law has already provided to seniors, young adults, small businesses, and many others in Rep. George Miller’s district, the 7th Congressional District of California. As a result of the law:
In addition, the consumer protection provisions of the Affordable Care Act have ended some of the worst abuses of health insurers. These provisions have helped protect 160,000 residents of the district from excessive rate increases by limiting the amount of money that health insurers can spend on administrative expenses and profits and requiring health insurers to post and justify rate increases of 10% or more; they have eliminated the threat of health coverage rescissions for more than 440,000 residents; and they have banned insurance companies from establishing lifetime coverage limits for 230,000 residents.
Starting in September of this year, health insurers and employers will be required to provide 440,000 district residents with an easy-to-understand summary of benefits and coverage under their health care plan, providing them with clear and consistent information so they can easily compare health care options. And when the health care reform law goes fully into effect, 23,000 residents who now lack health care coverage will have access to affordable coverage for the first time, and everyone in the district will be
protected from discrimination by insurers based on a preexisting health condition.
Health Care Benefits in Rep. Miller’s District
Health insurance coverage for young adults to age 26. Starting in September 2010, the Affordable Care Act required health insurers to permit parents to retain coverage for their children until they reach the age of 26. The result has been a significant increase in health insurance coverage for young adults, who have traditionally been the age group that is most likely to be uninsured. A new analysis by the Department of Health and Human Services found that the Affordable Care Act has allowed 2.5 million young adults nationwide to gain insurance coverage, reducing the percentage of young adults without coverage by nearly 25%. This report estimates that in Rep. Miller’s district, 5,800 young adults have gained health care coverage because of the new Affordable Care Act provisions.
Prescription drug discounts for seniors. Beginning on January 1, 2011, the Affordable Care Act provided a 50% discount for prescription drugs for Medicare beneficiaries who enter the Medicare Part D “donut hole” and lose coverage for their drug expenses. The law increases the discount for brand and generic drugs for Medicare beneficiaries each year until 2020, when the donut hole is finally eliminated. Nationwide, more than 3.6 million seniors have already saved more than $2.1 billion on their prescription drugs since this provision went into effect, an average savings of $604 per person. This report calculates that in Rep. Miller’s district, 5,800 seniors have saved $2.4 million in drug costs, an average savings of $420 per person.
Preventive care and services for seniors with no cost sharing. Beginning on January 1, 2011, the Affordable Care Act provided all Medicare beneficiaries with access to preventive care and services without any co-pay, coinsurance, or deductible. This change to Medicare has allowed more than 32.5 million seniors nationwide to take advantage of free preventive services. Available services include annual wellness visits, cholesterol and other cardiovascular screenings, mammograms, cervical cancer screenings, and colorectal and prostate cancer screenings, all of which are provided with no out-of-pocket cost to seniors. This report estimates that in Rep. Miller’s district, 54,000 seniors have benefited from these free preventive services.
Preventive care and services for children and adults with no cost sharing. Beginning on September 23, 2010, the Affordable Care Act required new private insurance plans to cover preventive care services without any co-pay, coinsurance, or deductible. These insurance policies must cover services such as regular pediatrician visits for children; cholesterol and blood pressure screening for adults; flu shots and other immunizations; cancer screening like mammograms, pap smears, and colonoscopies; and many more. Nationwide, this change has allowed 54 million Americans to receive preventive services without cost-sharing. This report estimates that in Rep. Miller’s district, 120,000 residents have benefited from this change, including 30,000 children, 45,000 women, and 62,000 residents who are African American, Latino, or a part of other minority groups for whom preventative care can reduce health disparities.
Tax credits for small businesses. Starting on January 1, 2010, the Affordable Care Act provided new tax credits to small businesses worth 35% or more of the cost of providing health insurance to their employees.(The Affordable Care Act provides a 35% tax credit for coverage provided between 2010 and 2013 and a 50% tax credit for coverage provided from 2014 to 2020. The tax credit can be used in two of the years between 2010 and 2020.) Nationwide, the IRS reported that 228,000 businesses used these tax credits in 2010. This report estimates that in Rep. Miller’s district, there were an estimated 420 small businesses that used the tax credits in 2010.
Consumer Protection Benefits in Rep. Miller’s District
Stopping abuses by health insurers. The Affordable Care Act ended the most egregious insurance company abuses. Under the Act, health insurers are barred from denying children insurance on the basis of pre-existing conditions like diabetes, heart disease, or cancer; they can no longer rescind coverage for individuals who become ill; and they are prohibited from imposing annual and lifetime limits on coverage. This report estimates that in Rep. Miller’s district, there are 8,000 to 38,000 children with preexisting health conditions who are now protected against insurer denials; there are 440,000 residents with private health insurance coverage who are protected from rescission of their health coverage if they become ill; and there are 230,000 people in health care plans that previously imposed lifetime limits but are now prohibited from doing so.
Lowering health insurance costs. The Affordable Care Act protects individuals from soaring health insurance costs by requiring insurers to post and justify proposed rate increases of 10% or more. It also limits the amount that insurance companies can spend on administrative expenses and profits. This report estimates that in Rep. Miller’s district, 160,000 residents who have individual coverage or employer coverage are benefitting from these provisions.
Future Benefits in Rep. Miller’s District
Starting in September of this year, all new individual and group health insurance policies will be required to provide consumers with an easy-to-understand summary of their health benefits and coverage, including a standardized “coverage examples” section that uses a format modeled on the nutrition facts label for food. The summaries will give the 440,000 district residents with private insurance clear, consistent, and comparable information about their health plans and the coverage they can expect to receive from these plans.
By 2014, virtually all of the important benefits of the Affordable Care Act will come into effect. Health insurers will be prohibited from discriminating against all adults and children with pre-existing conditions, which will protect the 120,000 to 310,000 individuals in the district with a pre-existing health condition. When the law is fully implemented, 23,000 residents who now lack health insurance will receive coverage for the first time. The 440,000 residents with private insurance coverage will no longer face annual limits on coverage. Residents of the district who buy their health insurance on the private market will be able to shop for health insurance in transparent and competitive marketplaces called exchanges, where insurers will be required to publish the prices and benefits of their policies in simple, plain language.
Along with all these benefits, the Affordable Care Act will reduce the federal deficit by more than $100 billion over the next decade and by more than $1 trillion in the decade after that.
This analysis is based upon the following sources: the U.S. Census (data on the number of small businesses, population of young adults, and insurance coverage); the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (data on Medicare enrollment, Medicare preventive care utilization, and the number of seniors who entered the Part D donut hole); the Department of Health and Human Services (Affordable Care Act grants, estimates of coverage for young adults and the number of individuals in plans that receive new protections under the Affordable Care Act, and estimates of the number of individuals with preexisting conditions); the Internal Revenue Service (data on use of tax credits by small businesses in 2010), and the Kaiser Family Foundation’s Employer Health
Benefits Survey (data on employer based insurance coverage).
At the two-year anniversary of this landmark law, new data demonstrates the benefits that the law has already provided to seniors, young adults, small businesses, and many others. Reforms in the law have also decreased or slowed Medicare costs:
Two years after health care reform was signed into law, beneficiaries have expanded benefits and choices:
Beneficiaries are paying less for prescription drugs, as the “donut hole” closes completely by 2020:
WASHINGTON, DC – Are you a high school artist? Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez) is accepting entries for the 2012 Congressional Arts Contest for California’s 7th Congressional District until March 26, 2012.
With the deadline fast approaching, High School student artists are encouraged to submit their work to Miller’s office for a chance to win a trip to Washington, D.C. High school student artists in the 7th District are invited to submit an original painting, drawing or other art form for the competition. One student’s work will be selected by a judging panel of local artists to hang in the U.S. Capitol Building for one year. The student will also be flown to D.C. in June for the Annual Congressional Art Competition Reception.
Miller announced today that he’ll host a “Fan Favorite” Art competition at Facebook.com/RepGeorgeMiller from April 16 to April 27 with all of the artwork submitted to the Congressional Art Competition from his district. Miller encourages the artists’ friends, family, classmates, teachers and principals to “like” their “fan favorite” piece of artwork. The artwork receiving the most Fan Favorite votes, or the runner up, will be displayed in Miller’s Concord district office, provided it is not also selected by the judging panel.
“I encourage high school artists in my congressional district to enter this contest. Every year I am so impressed with the high caliber and diversity of student art work that hangs in the U.S. Capitol,” said Miller. “Art is a critical component of a well-rounded education for young people, not to mention an important influence on the fabric of our society. There are so many talented young people in my district and I’m proud to have the opportunity to share their work with my colleagues and visitors to the Capitol. This contest is a great opportunity for students to receive recognition for their artistic talent and I’m honored to support it.”
The contest is part of the nationwide annual Congressional Art Competition that showcases the artistic talents of students across the country. The winning 7th District student and a guest will be flown, courtesy of Southwest Airlines, to Washington, D.C. to attend a national reception in June. The winner’s artwork will be displayed in the Cannon Tunnel running between the Capitol and the Cannon House Office Building and the winning student will have the opportunity to receive an art scholarship to the Savannah College of Art and Design, in Savannah, Georgia.
The 2011 winner from the 7th Congressional District was Yulan Ma from Vacaville Christian High School. Her piece, a drawing, entitled "Whimsical Sandwich Travel,” will be returned to her. In its place will hang the art by the 2012 winner.
Artwork is due to by March 26, 2012, no later than 5:00 pm PST.
Artwork must be accompanied by the Student Release Form.
Entries must be original and submitted in one of several categories:
Prints: lithographs, silkscreen, etc.;
Drawings: colored pencils, charcoal, etc;
Paintings: oil, water colors, etc.;
Mixed Media: ink, pencil, marker, etc.;
Computer Generated Art;
Collages created with non-original artwork;
Asian Calligraphy: (black ink on rice paper) with translation, and
Photography: all types.
All artwork must be framed prior to submission. Artwork must be no larger than 28 x 28, and 4 inches deep, and weigh no more than 15 pounds including the frame.
For more information, please contact Adrienne Ursino at (925) 602-1880.
“Rush Limbaugh cannot escape his hateful, hurtful and deliberately misleading attack on Georgetown Law Student Sandra Fluke on the issue of insurance coverage for contraception. I believe that Rush Limbaugh chose his words carefully when he called her a slut and a prostitute for using contraception. And in doing so, he called every woman who uses contraception a slut and a prostitute and as a result has lost what little credibility he might possibly have retained after his many years of intentionally inflammatory and hateful commentary.
“I applaud the growing group of sponsors who have announced they are pulling their support from the Rush Limbaugh show and I urge remaining advertisers to follow suit. It is incomprehensible to me how any company could remain associated with his hateful and hurtful attack on women.
“Time will not redeem Rush Limbaugh and there is no acceptable apology given his history of hateful and hurtful speech. He chose his malicious words carefully and now he must take full responsibility and face the consequences for them.”
Click here for news on the most recent advertisers to drop Rush.
March 03, 2012
For over 20 years, I have illustrated the absurd with absurdity, three hours a day, five days a week. In this instance, I chose the wrong words in my analogy of the situation. I did not mean a personal attack on Ms. Fluke.
I think it is absolutely absurd that during these very serious political times, we are discussing personal sexual recreational activities before members of Congress. I personally do not agree that American citizens should pay for these social activities. What happened to personal responsibility and accountability? Where do we draw the line? If this is accepted as the norm, what will follow? Will we be debating if taxpayers should pay for new sneakers for all students that are interested in running to keep fit? In my monologue, I posited that it is not our business whatsoever to know what is going on in anyone's bedroom nor do I think it is a topic that should reach a Presidential level.
My choice of words was not the best, and in the attempt to be humorous, I created a national stir. I sincerely apologize to Ms. Fluke for the insulting word choices.
Rewriting the outdated No Child Left Behind law will only happen through bipartisan consensus that serves the interests of all the nation’s children. Unfortunately, Education Committee Republicans recently released two highly partisan draft pieces of legislation in place of a whole-scale rewrite of NCLB that do not live up to our nation’s commitment to all of our children. This move likely means that the rewrite of the law won’t happen this year and millions of schoolchildren will have to remain under the current broken system.
Five decades after Brown v. Board of Education, there is still work to be done to ensure that all children have access to world-class educational opportunities. Democrats on the committee are committed to ensure that the rewrite of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act lives up to our nation’s commitment to all of our children, regardless of their background or the zip code they may live.
Democratic Principles for the Reauthorization of ESEA.
Key Problems with the Republican bills.
Letters of opposition and concerns about the GOP's legislation.
Letters of support for the Democratic amendments to the Republican legislation.
Real Relief for Schools: A Report on Accomplishing Effective Flexibility
Highlighted blog posts:
Washington, D.C. – Amid the continuing national foreclosure crisis that has impacted millions of Americans, a unilateral decision by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to block all forms of principal write-down for loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has prevented the housing market from recovering more quickly, said U.S. Reps. George Miller (D-Martinez) and Mike Thompson (D-St. Helena), who today ramped up pressure on the FHFA to reverse the decision that has stymied a more buoyant housing recovery.
Miller and Thompson joined Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-San Jose) and over 110 Democratic Members of Congress in writing to FHFA Acting Director Ed DeMarco today urging him to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to engage in principal forgiveness in cases where it benefits both homeowners and taxpayers. DeMarco has categorically prevented principal reduction on Fannie- and Freddie-backed loans despite the fact that his own analysis shows that a properly structured principal reduction program could save billions of taxpayer dollars compared to sending underwater homeowners into foreclosure.
The lawmakers wrote, “Despite this weight of expert opinion, you have refused to permit Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to write down the principal balances of any underwater mortgages, even in cases where it can be demonstrated that doing so would yield the greatest long-term savings for taxpayers… Your unilateral decision to block all forms of principal write-down has prevented the housing market from recovering more quickly.”
Miller, who helped lead the charge on the issue among his colleagues, said “We cannot allow this crisis to continue. It’s time for Director DeMarco to get to work on stabilizing the housing market and providing real help to homeowners. It makes no sense to send families in the Bay Area and across the country into foreclosure simply because one regulator is ideologically opposed to solutions that work better for everyone. This is a serious issue for too many families and for our country – the FHFA should take it seriously as well.”
“The FHFA’s refusal to help underwater homeowners is slowing our economic recovery and costing taxpayers billions of dollars as more and more homes are sent into foreclosure,” said Thompson. “We need a responsible principal reduction plan that will help keep people in their homes and keep neighborhood values up – it is good for homeowners, good for communities and good for our economy.”
“Our country faces a national foreclosure crisis,” the lawmakers also wrote in the letter. “The American people expect government officials, whether elected or part of the civil service, to solve the complex problems that our nation confronts. We therefore urge you to harness your agency’s powers, resources, and financial expertise to prevent more foreclosures and reduce negative equity.”
The letter sent today is part of ongoing efforts by California Democrats pressuring the FHFA to make the best decisions on behalf of homeowners. Most recently, the lawmakers wrote to President Obama asking for a recess appointment of a new FHFA director.
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WASHINGTON, D.C. – Ten Northern California representatives are today calling on the House Committee on Natural Resources to oppose H.R. 1837, the so-called San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act. As written, the legislation would divert additional water from the Sacramento-San Joaquin Bay Delta to South-of-Delta water users, running counter to established economic and environmental policies.
In a letter to the Committee on Natural Resources, U.S. Representatives Mike Thompson (CA-1), George Miller (CA-7), Doris Matsui (CA-5), Jerry McNerney (CA-11), John Garamendi (CA-10), Jackie Speier (CA-12), Mike Honda (CA-15), Lynn Woolsey (CA-6), Zoe Lofgren (CA-16) and Anna Eshoo (CA-14) wrote that the bill grossly dismisses the best available science, would cause job losses, repeals environmental protections, damages local tourism, hurts fishers and farmers, and should be rejected.
The lawmakers responded today as the legislation is being considered by the House Committee on Natural Resources:
“This legislation is nothing more than an attempt by well-funded south-of-Delta water contractors to steal water from the North with no regard for the fishers, farmers, families and businesses who depend on the Delta for their livelihoods” said Thompson. “This bill puts politics ahead of a half-century of established science, guts environmental protections and kills local jobs. It should be rejected, and solutions to California’s water challenges should be based on sound science so that our Delta communities, wildlife and environment are not harmed.”
"Last summer, we said that this bill would do serious damage to California’s water future. Republicans took their extreme bill behind closed doors for the rest of the year, tinkered with it, and emerged with an equally radical and damaging bill. Their bill undermines water policy throughout the west, including state policy, federal policy, and court approved settlements. Their bill takes years of collaboration and compromise and just blows it all up. Their bill is nothing more than a deliberate special interest attack by a small group of well funded water agencies, their lobbyists, and Republican members of Congress to undermine a sound, workable and equitable solution to our state’s serious water problems. Californians should recognize this bill for what it is and Congress should reject it,” said Miller.
“This bill is a brazen move by the water contractors and their allies who want to steal water from the Delta. The farmers, families, and business owners in our region rely upon a healthy Delta for their livelihoods. The bill before the committee today has been crafted without the input of stakeholders from the Delta and should not move forward. It would have a disastrous effect on the Delta communities and cause countless jobs to be lost. To steal from one community to benefit another is completely unacceptable,” said McNerney.
“H.R. 1837 is a shameless attempt to draw water from the farmers and urban areas of Northern California for the use of junior water right holders in the Central Valley,” said Matsui. “Further, the bill would preempt the state from passing any stricter laws needed to protect endangered and native species, and restrict California’s ability to pass tougher legislation to restore the San Joaquin River. This would dramatically undermine our state’s authority to monitor, allot, and safeguard its own natural resources, as well as set a dangerous precedent for government interference in the ability of states to protect local agricultural and environmental interests. At a time when we should be working together to solve California’s water problems through a balanced approach, H.R. 1837 is anything but balanced and will only create further discord.”
“H.R. 1837 would alter the entirety of California’s water laws,” said Garamendi, former Deputy Secretary of the Interior. “We have had only one day to understand its implications. This could be disastrous for California’s water interests. I strongly urge we step on the brakes before running roughshod over state law, threatening jobs, the environment, and our public health.”
Please find the full text of the letter below.
February 16, 2012
The Honorable Doc Hastings
Chairman
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Tom McClintock
Chairman, Subcommittee on Water and Power
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Edward J. Markey
Ranking Member
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
The Honorable Grace Napolitano
Ranking Member, Subcommittee on Water and Power
Committee on Natural Resources
United States House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515
Dear Chairman Hastings, Ranking Member Markey, Chairman McClintock, and Ranking Member Napolitano:
We are writing today to express our strong opposition to Representative Nunes’s so-called San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act (H.R. 1837). As Northern Californians, we believe this legislation fundamentally runs counter to our established economic and environmental policies. These broadly supported policies were established to protect natural resources, promote conservation efforts, and foster economic development within the San Joaquin Valley region. This bill would repeal environmental protections and lead to catastrophic impacts to our valuable coastal resources, damage local businesses and tourism that rely on these resources, and could harm local farmers.
This bill grossly dismisses the best available science and further jeopardizes iconic salmon and steelhead that are the focal point of many California State regulations. We have seen what happens when science is ignored for the sake of politics – this became devastatingly clear during a Northern California salmon fish kill in 2002 and fishery disaster in 2006 that were a result of too little water being delivered to critical habitat. These disasters diminished a valued natural resource and harmed associated economies. H.R. 1837 sets the stage for a similar disaster in the Bay-Delta by reverting environmental protections back to 1994 levels, undermining the Endangered Species Act, and – equally important – countering the desires of community members, elected officials, and current State policies.
Aside from gutting environmental protections, H.R. 1837 does the exact opposite of what it claims: it kills local jobs. The diversion of water south of the Delta takes it from northern farmers who rely on this supply for successful harvests and livelihoods. Economic losses to the farming industry are added to those due to a decline in tourism and local business following the decline in the natural resources that support them.
The San Joaquin Valley Water Reliability Act is nothing more than an attempt by powerful water districts south of the Sacramento River Delta to abscond with water from the north. This was highlighted in the two hearings on the bill, during which the majority of the witnesses’ testimony indicated that it was seriously flawed. And yet, the Committee is voting on it with no further hearings, discussion, or collaboration.
For all of these reasons, we strongly urge your reconsideration of H.R. 1837.
Sincerely,
¬
MIKE THOMPSON GEORGE MILLER
Member of Congress Member of Congress
DORIS MATSUI JERRY McNERNEY
Member of Congress Member of Congress
_______________________________________
JOHN GARAMENDI JACKIE SPEIER
Member of Congress Member of Congress
MIKE HONDA
Member of Congress
LYNN WOOLSEY
Member of Congress
ZOE LOFGREN
Member of Congress
ANNA ESHOO
Member of Congress
Congressman Mike Thompson is proud to represent California’s 1st Congressional District, which includes the Counties of Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Sonoma, Napa, and Yolo. He is a senior member of the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. Rep. Thompson is also a member of the fiscally conservative Blue Dog Coalition and sits on the bipartisan, bicameral Congressional Wine Caucus.
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