July 2005 Archives

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Rep. Miller calls for urgent oversight hearings on decline in Bay-Delta fish populations.

These disturbing developments in California necessitate increased Committee oversight at this time, given the Resources Committee’s jurisdiction over the CALFED Bay-Delta Program,” Miller wrote in a three-page letter sent Wednesday to Committee Chairman Richard Pombo (R-CA), whose district includes portions of the Delta, and to the committee’s senior Democrat, Nick Rahall (D-WV). The House Resources Committee is the key committee in the House with jurisdiction over California water issues. Miller was chairman and former senior Democrat on that committee and continues to serve on the committee today.

Miller’s letter continued: “The Bay-Delta ecosystem is experiencing an ecological crisis at levels never previously experienced. According to Federal and State agencies and numerous press accounts, the Delta's fish populations up and down the food chain are in decline, and the most recent data show that the threatened Delta smelt population is at a historic low. While the agencies are beginning to respond to the situation, I have been advised that it will take a considerable time before it is known which of the several possible factors is causing the species decline. At the same time, serious questions are being raised about how Federal agencies have discharged their responsibilities regarding the operation of the Central Valley Project (CVP).”

The Inspector General investigation was requested by Miller last fall after it was learned that a preliminary draft of a federal biological opinion concluded that a long-term federal plan to manage California’s complex water systems – including pumping more water out of the Delta – would hurt threatened and endangered salmon and steelhead populations, but the final version of the opinion concluded that the plan would not hurt those species. The IG report concluded that standard practices for reaching that conclusion were not followed.

Miller’s letter to the Committee concluded: “I strongly urge that the oversight hearings recommended be convened at the earliest possible date. The integrity of state and federal actions – including the CALFED program and the operations and programs of the Bureau of Reclamation and the National Marine Fisheries Service – have been called into question, and full and complete explanations need to be publicly presented. We have an obligation to find out what happened, impose accountability, and design appropriate solutions – for the benefit of all those in California who depend on the health of the Delta.”

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Posted by Intern, CA07 at 09:37PM | Comments ()

New Study: Bush Social Security plan would cause deep benefit cuts for Bay Area workers

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Social Security benefits for today’s East Bay workers would be cut by as much as – and in some cases more than – 20 percent under President Bush’s proposal to change the way benefits are calculated, according to a new report released today by Rep. George Miller (D-Martinez).

Miller is holding public town meetings in Vallejo and Martinez this Saturday to discuss the Social Security study and other issues, such as the war in Iraq, terrorism, education and pensions.

“This study clearly shows that the President’s plan would not strengthen Social Security,” said Miller. “In fact, just the opposite is true. His proposal would cause deep cuts in benefits that workers in our community are earning.”

The study looks at the plan President Bush unveiled this spring to calculate Social Security benefits based on the growth in inflation instead of wages, which is how benefits have historically been calculated. Under Bush’s proposal, the study shows:

Over 200,000 workers between the ages of 16 and 55 living in Miller’s congressional district would experience deep Social Security benefit cuts upon retirement under Bush’s plan.

More than 50,000 of those workers would experience benefit cuts of 20 percent or greater.

Among workers aged 35 to 55, benefit cuts would average $2,940 per year.

Among workers aged 16 to 35, benefit cuts would average $5,400 per year.

Today’s workers in Miller’s district would collectively suffer a $16.7 billion reduction in benefits over their expected lifetimes.

Individuals now earning between $30,000 and $90,000 per year will bear the brunt of the benefit cuts – 76 percent of the $16.7 billion overall cut.

Miller’s district includes parts of central and western Contra Costa and southern Solano counties.

Miller said that the benefit cuts affect not only the quality of each worker’s retirement, but also the entire Bay Area economy.

“Cutting $16.7 billion from East Bay families’ retirements will hurt them individually and will deprive local businesses of consumer spending. That reduced spending will cut local business profits and make it less likely for businesses to hire new workers,” said Miller.

Throughout California, the study shows, older workers would have their benefits cut by an average of $2,460 per year, while younger workers would have their benefits cut by $5,520 per year. The hit to the California economy would be an astounding $812 billion over the expected lifetimes of today’s California workers. The President’s proposal does not apply to workers earning less than $20,000 per year or workers born before 1950.

Changing the way benefits are calculated is highly significant. Benefits have always been calculated based on the rate of growth of wages. Calculating the benefits based on inflation – or price increases – reduces benefits because over long periods of time wages rise much faster than prices.

The Democratic staff of the House Government Reform Committee, under the direction of Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Los Angeles), prepared the report at Miller’s request. Miller asked for the report because he wanted to determine how his constituents would fare under the President’s proposal. The report uses U.S. Census Bureau data and Congressional Budget Office projections to arrive at its estimates.

The President made Social Security reform a top priority starting in January. But his proposals have failed to garner public support. Rather than address the long-term solvency of Social Security, the President has instead focused on creating private investment accounts and changing the way benefits are calculated.

The study does not include an assessment of the effect on Bay Area workers of the President’s plan to create private accounts within Social Security, which would further cut benefits, according to Miller and many experts in the field.

Miller is holding two town meetings this Saturday, July 23, to discuss a variety of issues with his constituents, including Social Security, Iraq, terrorism, education, and the problems in the private pension system, such as at United Airlines.

The first town meeting is at Martinez City Hall from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.

The second town meeting is at Vallejo City Hall from 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

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Posted by Intern, CA07 at 09:48PM | Comments ()

Reps. Miller, Tauscher secure support for East Bay water programs

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Reps. Ellen O. Tauscher (CA-10) and George Miller (CA-07) supported the Water Resources Development Act of 2005, as it passed the House 406 - 14. Reps. Tauscher and Miller were able to secure support for several water programs important to the East Bay.

“Projects like these, to modernize our ports, ease water and flood concerns, and improve our environment, are vital to California, the Bay Area, and the Delta. I’m pleased that my colleagues recognized these critical projects and I hope we’ll continue to make significant progress on them in the future,” said Rep. Tauscher.

“This bill has been pending for several years, and I am glad it's moving forward today. The projects we have secured for the Bay-Delta region will improve our communities' quality of life, help our economy, and will have environmental benefits as well,” said Miller.

The projects in the East Bay include:

San Francisco Bay, Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Beneficial Reuse of Dredged Materials Study (continuation of current project): the Secretary of Transportation shall conduct a study to determine the feasibility of the beneficial use of dredged material from the San Francisco Bay, along the Carquinez Strait, in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, including the benefits and impacts of salinity in the Delta and the benefits to navigation, flood damage reduction, ecosystem restoration, water quality, salinity control, water supply reliability, and recreation.

Making Environmental Improvements to Existing Projects (continuation): modifications may be made to these flood control projects to provide for environmental improvements along the project without harming the flood control improvements.

Pinole Creek Project and Wildcat/San Pablo Creek Phase I

Aquatic Ecosystem Restoration Projects (continuation): these projects will provide both flood control and environmental restoration.

Wildcat/San Pablo Creek Phase II, Walnut Creek Channel, and Grayson/Murder’s Creek Project

Contra Costa Canal and Mallard Slough Projects (continuation): the projects will allow for flood mitigation as well as improved water conveyance.

East Bay MUD Desalination Project (new project): the House bill includes a $4 million authorization to assist the San Francisco Bay area in developing and constructing a regional desalination facility. The authorization will allow the interested regional partners (East Bay, San Francisco Santa Clara) to begin exploring the feasibility of developing such a project.

Contra Costa Water District Alternative Intake Project (new project): the House bill includes an authorization of $23 million for the Contra Costa Water District to evaluate adding a new drinking water intake for the District in the central Delta. This intake will access better quality water than CCWD’s current Delta intakes and improve water quality for the District’s customers – especially during periods of drought.

East Bay MUD Richmond Recycled Water Facility (new project): the House bill includes an authorization of $25 million for the East Bay Municipal Utilities District for the development of a feasibility study and subsequent construction of a water production facility to provide a highly treated water supply for industrial production activities in Richmond, California. Once constructed, the project will supply 3 million gallons a day of industrial water supply limiting demands on potable water supplies and protecting the supply of such waters for in-stream flows for fisheries and wildlife.

In June, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee’s Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment, on which Rep. Tauscher serves, marked up the bill and included the above projects for the East Bay.

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Posted by Intern, CA07 at 10:45PM | Comments ()