Issue Areas & Legislative Accomplishments

Economy & Jobs

• Working to strengthen intellectual property laws and protect jobs in the entertainment and hi-tech industries so important to the Southern California economy.
• Was a key negotiator in securing passage of the landmark Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA), which protects copy and access protection technologies against circumvention and creates a more secure environment for copyrighted works on the Internet.
• Led the fight in Congress for disaster relief funds after the Northridge earthquake.
• Helped Valley defense firms get tens of millions of dollars to continue vital programs and help preserve high quality jobs.
• Wrote legislation that led to the creation of Calstart, a public-private consortium dedicated to the development of advanced transportation technologies.

Related News

Crime

• Led the fight to get more cops on the beat in the Valley.
• Passed amendment to repay L.A. County and other state and local governments for the costs of incarcerating illegal aliens convicted of crimes.

Related News

Farm Labor/Immigration

Related Documents

• The Need For AGJOBS Legislation-NOW, February 2005
• AGJOBS Summary- 2005

Related News

U.S. Representative Howard L. Berman Urges Swift Senate Action On Craig/Kennedy/Cannon/Berman Farm Labor Legislation (February 10, 2005)

Health Care

We spend more per capita on health services than any other nation in the world, and yet we still have over 40 million uninsured. Responsible families that have always lived within their means are driven into bankruptcy and destitution by the costs of unexpected illnesses. And while extension of health benefits has long been stonewalled on grounds of cost, the costs of not extending universal health care are driving our manufacturers out of business. I believe that Democrats must take the lead on this issue and that a system of universal healthcare is the best solution.

• Cosponsor of HR 1200, the American Health Security Act and HR 2133, the Health Security for all Americans Act. Both of which would provide universal healthcare coverage.
• Authored legislation featured on "60" Minutes to restore legal remedies for Americans with employer-provided health benefits.
• Wrote amendment that prevented Kaiser Permanente from closing the Panorama City hospital.

Related Documents

• The Medicare Prescription Drug and Modernization Act of 2003
• An analysis (Word doc) of the recently passed Medicare legislation.
• For a breakdown of Claims vs. Facts for the recently passed Medicare Reform bill, visit the Center for American Progress.
• Use our Online Calculator to determine how your Prescription Drug costs may change.
• Medicare timeline of changes (Word doc)
• See the attached report (5.1 MB, PDF) on Medicare premiums and the inequities in the House Republican Medicare legislation. Their report summarizes what would happen to premiums in various counties around the country under the recently passed GOP legislation. The report shows that:
  • Many seniors would see increases in their Medicare premiums, some as high as 88 percent.
  • Some seniors would have to pay more than three times as much as individuals in other parts of the country for the exact same benefit. Even within a state, seniors may pay dramatically different premiums—sometimes twice as much—for the same Medicare benefit.

Related News

Education

• Cosponsored legislation that would require Congress to fully fund both the NCLB program and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
• Signed a letter to the House Appropriations Committee calling for an increase in the maximum Pell Grant award to $4,550, a $500 increase.

Related News

Retirement Security

• Strong opponent of the President's Social Security Privatization scheme
  The President's privatization plan would result in the largest middle class benefit cut in Social Security's history. Workers who opt for a private account will see their guaranteed benefits cut dramatically, leaving their retirement security to the vagaries of the stock market. Additionally, nearly 70% of workers would have their benefits cut regardless of whether they choose to have a private account. Depriving current and future retirees of an important source of retirement income is not the way to address the challenge of Social Security solvency and will jeopardize the retirements of millions of Americans.
• Introduced legislation with Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon that would repeal the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP).

Related News

Environment

• Drilling
  
  As a supporter of the congressional moratorium on offshore drilling, I find it especially upsetting that proponents have used the recent hurricanes in the Gulf region, and high energy costs that resulted, as a reason to slip a coastal drilling proposal into last year's budget reconciliation bill.
  
  I also strongly oppose oil and gas exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). This is one of the many reasons why I voted against the budget reconciliation bill when it came before the House in December and again in February, and I was deeply saddened by its passage.
• Global Warming
  
  I strongly support goals that promote the reduction of greenhouse gases, the development of renewable energy sources, and the encouragement of tighter fuel economy standards. I am a cosponsor of the Climate Stewardship Act, bipartisan legislation that would limit the combined global emissions of major polluters in the electricity, industrial, commercial, and transportation supply sectors at 2000 levels by 2010. It would create a trading market for allowances to emit global warming gases, harnessing market forces to locate the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gases and creating positive incentives for steps such as storing carbon in farm soils and improving fuel economy in cars.
• Forest management
  
  I support the permanent protection of all remaining roadless areas in national forests. Roadless areas are irreplaceable national assets, not just for their beauty, but also for the clean water supplies they protect, the wildlife habitat they provide, and the biodiversity they foster. I am once again an original cosponsor of the National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act. This legislation will ensure the protection of pristine wild forests by reinforcing the Roadless Rule. If enacted, the legislation would prohibit new road construction but is not a complete ban on road building, road reconstruction or economic utilization.
  
  I support the shifting of forest management from its focus on destructive, taxpayer-subsidized logging to scientifically based protection and restoration. That is why I am a cosponsor of the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act (NFPRA), legislation that would end the wasteful federal timber sales program which costs the taxpayer over $1 billion annually. The bill would redirect logging subsidies to the ecological restoration of forests and streams damaged by destructive logging practices.

Legislative action on these issues

• Original cosponsor of HR 3420, the National Forest Protection and Restoration Act
• Cosponsored HR 759, the Climate Stewardship Act
• Cosponsor of HR 3563, National Forest Roadless Area Conservation Act
• Obtained federal funding in 2004 and 2005 for the Sun Valley Watershed - a project that will address the chronic flooding in the area and also create recreational spaces, aesthetics, and wildlife habitat.

Related News

Transportation

• Led the fight to limit aircraft noise at Burbank Airport.
• Strongly supported funding for North Hollywood subway line and a more efficient Valley bus system.

Related News

Foreign Affairs

• Led fight to reduce international arms sales and the proliferation of ballistic missiles and nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
• Authored law "reinventing" the State Department and foreign affairs agencies by eliminating duplication and consolidating departments.
• Chief Whip for many years on House foreign aid bills; leader in Congress for a strong U.S.-Israel relationship.
• Awarded an A+ with extra credit by Citizens for Global Solutions in their 2006 Congressional Report Card.

Citizens for Global Solutions offers voters a detailed assessment of their members' positions on a range of global issues from the genocide in Darfur to international AIDS and development funding. The extra credit is awarded to legislators for outstanding work on behalf of global issues. Rep. Berman was one of thirty-seven Members of Congress recognized by Citizen for Global Solutions with extra credit.

CONGRESSMAN HOWARD BERMAN'S POSITION ON THE CURRENT SITUATION IN IRAQ

I have grave concerns about the direction of the current involvement in Iraq. The casualties, the on-going violence(inter-communal as well as insurgent), the failure so far to forge a broad-based coalition government, the lagging pace of reconstruction (coupled with massive waste and evidence of corruption), and a presidential leadership characterized by an Alfred E. Neuman-like "what me worry" surrealistic optimism -- all compel a continuing reassessment of our position and our presence.

I voted to authorize the war in Iraq for one reason only -- because I was convinced that Saddam had chemical and biological weapons and was seeking a nuclear weapon capability, and that the sanctions regime then in place would not contain him. I can't blame Bush for that. It was my conclusion, based on twenty years of watching Saddam closely, his earlier acquisition of such an arsenal, his behavior (blocking the UN inspection team), a conclusion reaffirmed by numerous top national security and Iraq specialists in the Clinton Administration and in outside think tanks. I was clearly wrong.

While I hoped that his removal would lead to a pluralistic, democratic Iraq where human rights and rule of law were respected, and that there would be a positive spillover effect on other countries in the region, and that this would provide an effective counter-force to the spread of radical Islamic regimes and terrorist bases, my vote was not based on this hope. I was never swayed by claims of strong ties between Saddam and Al Qaeda, nor any reckless and cheap efforts to implicate Saddam in 9/11.

IF I HAD KNOWN THEN THAT HE DID NOT HAVE WMD, NOR A MEANINGFUL PROGRAM TO OBTAIN NUCLEAR WEAPONS, I WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED TO AUTHORIZE THE WAR.

But now we are in Iraq. Al Qaeda is dedicated to defeating us there. The fate and future of millions of Iraqis (Shiites and Sunnis, Kurds and Turkamen, religious and secular) are dependent on stabilizing the situation there. The stability of the rest of the region and the avoidance of a wider conflict are also dependent on that. The irony notwithstanding, Iraq, as a center of radical Islamic terrorism (both because of its location and its resources), represents a national security threat to the United States. I hope we can achieve our goals, and thereby avoid those consequences.

In war, mistakes are inevitable - and this administration certainly has made far more than its share. Still, I believe the consequences of a precipitous withdrawal are calamitous. HOWEVER, THE COSTS OF AN ON-GOING AMERICAN PRESENCE IN THE ABSENCE OF SERIOUS PROGRESS TOWARDS A STABLE IRAQI GOVERNMENT THAT CAN DEFEND ITSELF ARE UNTHINKABLE.

I will be reassessing my position on Iraq on a regular basis to see if progress that is necessary to justify our on-going presence is forthcoming.

Related News

Fighting Government Waste

• Authored False Claims Act Amendments which have saved taxpayers over $12 billion through whistleblower lawsuits.

Related News

Homeland Security

Port security is vital to the safety of all Americans. Therefore, when a transaction involving the operations of U.S. ports is proposed, it should have been reviewed carefully, in strict compliance with the law and in close consultation with Congress. In this case, none of that happened.

After the 62-2 vote in the House Appropriations Committee against the sale of port operations to DPW, it appears that Congressional concerns were finally acknowledged by the Bush Administration. As a result, on Thursday, March 9, 2006, DPW announced that despite their purchase of P&O;, they would “transfer” control of U.S. port operations to a “U.S. entity”. Further, on March 15, 2006, DPW clarified that the “American port operations will be sold as one group, and to a company that is clearly American controlled.” They also said that until such a sale could be finalized, the U.S. ports would continue to be independently operated by P&O.;

Resolving this particular case does not, however, resolve the national security issues at our ports. We need to ensure that there is adequate funding and personnel to implement the necessary security measures, such as cargo screening, at all of our ports. Therefore, I have cosponsored the United States Seaport Multiyear Security Enhancement Act that increases funding for port security and creates a permanent port security grant program within the Department of Homeland Security. I will continue to work to ensure our ports are protected.

Related News

Politics

• Ethics reform

I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 4682, a bill drafted by the Democratic leadership of the House that would enact stricter guidelines for ethical conduct. The Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2006 would tighten gift and travel rules; bar the practice of adding special interest provisions in the dead of night; toughen public disclosure of lobbying activities; mandate public disclosure of earmark sponsorship; extend the lobbying ban to two years; and prohibit cronyism and contracting abuses. The bill would also establish the House Office of Public Integrity to audit and investigate compliance with the new regulations.

This legislation cannot undo the harm that corrupt politicians like those who did Jack Abramoff's bidding have inflicted, but it can make a statement that this conduct will not be tolerated. In the past year the House leadership has been plagued with scandal in some of this country's highest offices and this is unacceptable.

Legislative action on these issues:

Original cosponsor of HR 4682, the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act.

Veterans

• Introduced the "Assure our Veterans and Surviving Spouses a Life in Dignity Act" in March 2006. This legislation raises earned income limits to make more veterans and surviving spouses eligible for the VA's Improved Pension.
Cosponsor of several pieces of legislation focused on addressing the medical, educational, and homeownership needs of our veterans.
• • Assured Funding for Veterans Health Care Act of 2005 - HR 515 and the New GI Bill of Rights for the 21st Century Act - HR 2131
  • Resuming Education After Defense Service Act of 2005 - HR 772
  • American Veterans Homeownership Act of 2005 - HR 2952
• Founder of the annual "San Fernando Valley Veterans Day Parade", which began in 2004 and has included the participation of approximately 60 veteran groups and thousands of local residents

Energy

Ending America's dependence on oil - especially from the volatile Middle East and other foreign sources - is one of the most important issues facing our country today. Yet the Bush administration's energy policy, as reflected in the recent energy bills passed by Congress, is totally out of touch with our nation's environmental and security needs. By offering short term solutions for long term problems, the White House and the Republican leadership in Congress have missed a critical opportunity to help wean America from its dependence on oil and promote alternative energy sources.

In 2005 the Republican-controlled Congress passed an energy bill that did little to ensure an energy independent future for our country. Although Republicans hailed it for "addressing" rising gasoline prices and our dependency on foreign oil, the bill actually did more to maintain the status quo. For example, the vast majority of tax incentives granted by the legislation will be doled out to traditional energy sources, such as oil, natural gas, nuclear power and electricity transmission, instead of renewable energy and conservation. Seeking to fill the gaps in its energy policy, the House leadership has embraced the drilling of oil in environmentally sensitive areas like the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR). Championing such controversial and ineffective measures only emphasizes how out of touch their policy is with our nation's environmental and security needs.

I strongly support raising CAFE standards, providing meaningful incentives for the production of hybrid, flexible fuel and other energy efficient vehicles, and doing more to encourage the use of public transportation.

Legislative action on these issues

• Cosponsor of HR 4409, the Fuel Choices for American Security Act of 2005
• Working with IRS to make solar systems more accessible to non-profits. Click here for the text of a letter I recently wrote to the IRS Commissioner regarding tax incentives for the production of solar energy.