Numbers & Notables
***September 2005***

Dear Friends:

Each year I look forward to the Dick Lugar Community Run, Walk at Butler University and this year’s 27th annual event on September 17 was again a highpoint. It was a thrill to run the 5K race with so many participants and present the Health and Fitness Award to three deserving Hoosiers.

September also provided the special privilege to introduce Judge Roberts to the Senate Judiciary Committee during his nomination hearing and to be present at the White House for his swearing-in ceremony.

These highlights are just several in the midst of much legislative activity, and I appreciate, as always, your following my activities. Please stay closely in touch.

Sincerely,

Richard G. Lugar United States Senator

Lugar Introduces Judge John Roberts to the Senate

Senator Lugar introduced Judge John Roberts at the September 12 Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for Roberts to serve as the 109th Justice of the Supreme Court and the 17th Chief Justice of the United States. The Senate confirmed Judge John Roberts on September 29 by a 78-22 vote. At the President’s invitation, Lugar attended the swearing-in ceremony at the White House the same day. Excerpts from Lugar’s introduction:

“…As one friend remarked when his nomination was first announced, “If you ask John where he’s from, he says Indiana.” One of my friends, a native Hoosier who worked alongside him in the Reagan White House Counsel’s Office, also testifies to Judge Roberts’ open appreciation of and pride in his Indiana roots. I know Committee members will understand my observing that our State takes a certain pride of its own in his nomination by the President to lead our Nation’s highest court.

“Growing up in Indiana, one learns early-on that talent and accomplishments count – but honesty and integrity count more. One learns, too, that arrogance is scorned and pomposity will quickly be punctured. Modesty about one’s gifts, and the obligation to use them responsibly and in the service of others, are lessons taught in the home and the classroom, and reinforced in the workplace and the public square. Love of country runs deep, as does profound gratitude for living in the heartland of a Nation endowed as none other in history with the blessings of liberty. For Hoosiers, the term “Midwestern values” is not a cliché but a way of life, passed-on by word and living example from one generation to the next.

“I believe most Americans realized, while listening to his thoughtful, humble remarks on the evening the President first introduced him as a Supreme Court nominee, that those values were at the core of John Roberts, both as a judge and as a man. Those introduced to him long ago – from the Hoosier neighbors, classmates and teachers of his youth, to those who later worked and served with him in the White House and other arenas – speak with one voice that this is the John Roberts they have always known.

“Judge Roberts’ intellectual and professional qualifications to serve on the Supreme Court are beyond debate. He completed Harvard College in three years, graduating summa cum laude. He was graduated magna cum laude from Harvard Law School, serving on the Harvard Law Review… His reputation for personal courtesy, fairness, decency and integrity was equally well-earned and widespread, among colleagues and opposing counsel alike and on both sides of the political aisle.

“Simply put, John Roberts is a brilliant lawyer and jurist with an extraordinary record of accomplishment and public service. On this score alone, he readily merits the American Bar Association’s “well qualified” rating, which is the highest it gives. He merits it all the more given the personal character and values that have marked each stage of that service. As the Founders observed when our Constitution was drafted, few persons “will have sufficient skill in the laws to qualify them for the stations of judges,” and “the number must be still smaller of those who unite the requisite integrity with the requisite knowledge.” Judge Roberts embodies the rare combination that the Framers envisioned.

“I know Judge Roberts is keenly and humbly aware of the large shoes he has now been asked to fill, the more so since the late Chief Justice was his own initial boss when he arrived in Washington a quarter century ago. All Americans can be grateful that Judge Roberts not only learned but has lived the lessons taught by his mentor and role model. In my judgment, he is supremely qualified to carry forward the tradition of fair, principled and collegial leadership that so distinguished the man for whom he once worked and has now been nominated to replace.“

On September 14, U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Dick Lugar introduced bi-partisan legislation to accelerate the development of vaccines for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious diseases. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) joined Lugar to author the Vaccines for the New Millennium Act of 2005. Representative Pete Visclosky (D-IN) introduced the companion legislation in the House of Representatives.

“Combined, AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria kill an estimated 5 million people a year. Yet there are no vaccines for these diseases. While we must remain committed to current prevention and treatment programs, we must also look toward the future to see what hope science has for preventing the spread of these diseases,” said Lugar.

Lugar's bill would require the United States to develop a comprehensive strategy to accelerate research and development in vaccines for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other infectious diseases that are major killers in the developing world. The strategy would require an increase in public-private partnerships, whereby public entities such as governments, team up with companies or private foundations to conduct research or vaccine trials. In addition, the bill would require the United States government to commit to purchase vaccines for these diseases once they are developed through “advance market commitments” and create a tax credit for companies that invest in research and development for vaccines for these diseases.

“Despite efforts through programs like the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to treat those living with HIV/AIDS and to prevent new infections, the disease is outpacing us. While prevention programs are critical in the struggle to slow the spread of the disease over the long term, the most effective way to defeat this pandemic is through the development of an effective HIV vaccine,” said Lugar.

According to the latest figures from UNAIDS, there are approximately 40 million people living with HIV/AIDS around the world. An estimated 4.9 million people were newly infected last year. This means that every day, some 14,000 people contract HIV/AIDS. Last year, an estimated 3 million people died from AIDS.

Under Lugar’s chairmanship, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has examined many subjects related to HIV/AIDS, including the intersection of AIDS and hunger, the AIDS orphan crisis, the impact of the disease on women and girls in the developing world, and the implementation of the PEPFAR. Lugar has introduced legislation to provide assistance for orphans and vulnerable children in regions affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic and a resolution supporting efforts to accelerate research and global coordination to develop an HIV vaccine.

Lugar recognized by YouthAIDS

On September 14, Lugar was recognized for his efforts to raise international attention to the HIV/AIDS crisis by YouthAIDS. YouthAIDS also recognized Rev. Desmond Tutu and Senator Mary Landrieu.

YouthAIDS works to educate and protect young people from HIV/AIDS in more than 60 countries.

"I am deeply honored to share this recognition from YouthAIDS in the company of Bishop Tutu and my colleague, Senator Landrieu. The spread of HIV/AIDS has profound implications for political stability, development and human welfare in the world. Turning the tide on this crisis requires a coordinated, comprehensive and swift response, and the work of YouthAIDS exemplifies the commitment, creativity and optimism that is required if we are to prevent HIV/AIDS," Lugar said.

Actress and Global Ambassador for YouthAIDS, Ashley Judd, testified at a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing chaired by Lugar to examine the magnitude of the AIDS pandemic and the urgent need to develop an effective HIV vaccine.

“As Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Lugar continues to make HIV/AIDS a priority. At his request, I was honored to testify before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee about why women and young people are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection. I applaud his dedication and consistent effort to bring HIV/AIDS relief into the forefront of the international debate,” said Judd.

Senator Lugar with Hoosier Hispanic Leadership Summit attendees in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Room of the U.S. Capitol Building. The 11 Hoosiers were among a total of 44 nominated by Lugar to participate in the Senate Hispanic Leadership Summit on September 27-28 in Washington, DC. From left to right: Homero Del Bosque of Indianapolis, Julie Graves of Indianapolis, Deborah Graves of Indianapolis, Albert Brown-Gort of South Bend, Esther Barber of Indianapolis, Ralph Garcia of Bluffton, Sen. Dick Lugar, Martha Rivas-Ramos of Munster, J. Guadalupe Valiterra of Gary, Lorraine Guillen-Wentz of Gary, Elva Torres of Gary, Irma Herrera of Gary.

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

Lugar legislation included in Hurricane Katrina Tax Relief Package
Additional legislation doubles school nutrition program funding

Provisions of Senator Lugar’s Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Act were included in the Grassley-Baucus tax relief package for individuals affected by Hurricane Katrina that passed the Senate unanimously on September 22. President Bush approved the Act on September 26.

“I believe the enactment of this legislation would be a great incentive to redirect food from being discarded to being distributed to hungry families,” Lugar said.

Small businesses will be able to claim an enhanced deduction equal to the lesser of: (1) basis plus one-half of the item’s appreciated value (i.e., basis plus one half of fair market value in excess of basis) or (2) two times basis. Under present law, a taxpayer’s deduction for charitable contributions of inventory generally is limited to the taxpayer’s basis (typically cost) in the inventory. Currently, large corporations may receive a full market value tax deduction for contributed products, but not small businesses. The provision would last only for this tax year to increase assistance for Hurricane Katrina victims.

“Over the years, I have had the opportunity to visit numerous Hoosier food banks and have been especially impressed by the remarkable work of these organizations. In many cases, they are partnered with churches and faith-based organizations and are making a tremendous difference in our communities. We should support this private sector activity, which not only feeds people, but also strengthens community bonds and demonstrates the power of faith, charity, and civic involvement.

“In addition to donations by small businesses, each citizen can make an important contribution to the fight against hunger at a local level. I encourage individuals to continue donating as much as possible to their local food banks to ensure that victims of Katrina and local residents have sufficient supplies,” Lugar said.

During the previous Congress, the Good Samaritan Hunger Relief Act was incorporated into the Charity, Aid, Recovery, and Empowerment Act of 2003 (CARE Act) and passed the Senate by a vote of 95-5 on April 9, 2003. The House passed similar legislation, but the bill did not make it out of the conference committee. The original Good Samaritan Act provisions will facilitate farmers and small business owners contributing products to food banks, pantries and homeless shelters by allowing the deduction of the full market value of food donated.

Lugar is also an inaugural member of the Senate Hunger Caucus, which has more than 30 members. The Senate Hunger Caucus provides a forum for Senators and staff to discuss and debate important hunger issues facing the United States and the rest of our world. Lugar joined the Hunger Caucus to further promote issues that he has long supported, such as incentives to promote charitable food donation, elimination of childhood hunger, foreign food aid, and health promotion.

For more information, please contact your local food bank.

Lugar doubles funding for school nutrition program

On September 22, Dick Lugar and Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) introduced an amendment to the Agriculture Appropriations Bill that passed 66-29 to double funding for the Team Nutrition program. The funding will increase from $10.025 million to $20.025 million.

Twenty-one states, including Indiana, have grants and funding through the Team Nutrition (TN) program that helps combat childhood obesity, improve child nutrition and promote physical activity in schools.

According to the TN website, Indiana's TN has used the grant to offer two types of mini-grant opportunities, in the past. One of the mini-grant projects was to collaborate with the Action for Healthy Kids and work with approximately 250 after school programs in Indiana to promote good nutrition and physical activity. Training and instructional materials were provided to the participating schools. The second mini-grant project was for Family and Consumer Science teachers. TN planned to help teachers educate students on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the new USDA Food Guidance System (MyPyramid). The middle and high schools students conducted promotions on these two topics to other students so that the majority of the school was reached with this project.

The other states with TN grants are: Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.

The additional funding will expand the grants in those states and expand the program to North Carolina and New Mexico.

The goal of TN is to improve children's lifelong eating and physical activity habits through nutrition education based on the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Food Guide Pyramid.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture's TN program is an integrated, behavior based, comprehensive plan for promoting the nutritional health of the nation's children. This plan involves schools, parents and the community in efforts to continuously improve school meals and promote the health and education of 50 million school children in more than 96,000 schools nationwide.

Lugar is a member and former Chairman of the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. His efforts in child nutrition were recognized nationally by the National Council of La Raza in 2004 with a Capitol Award highlighting his efforts to promote nutrition programs for low-income Americans, especially children. Lugar also has been recognized by FRAC and the School Nutrition Association, among others for his work in child nutrition.

Internationally, Lugar has been honored by the Friends of the U.N. World Food Program with the Leaders in the Fight Against Hunger award for his work to strengthen the U.S. school breakfast and lunch programs, to expand food stamps, to support food banks, and to advance international food aid operations.