Legislative Priorities

Congress works on legislation that covers a sweeping range of topics, and as a Member of the House of Representatives, I have the privilege of working on issues that make a difference in the daily lives of Oregonians. My legislative priorities are geared towards directing our limited resources to solving problems and creating and sustaining opportunities for Northwest Oregonians.

Improving the quality of our children's education and strengthening our economy are critical to Oregon's future. We must work diligently to secure opportunities for the coming decades, and as a member of the Education Committee, I am working to increase the federal investment in education and job training. At the same time, we have promised that Social Security and Medicare will help senior citizens live out their later years free from poverty. We must strengthen Social Security and Medicare - to do otherwise is to neglect those who built our great nation into a world leader. Health care, particularly the soaring price of prescription medicine, has businesses, families and senior citizens alike struggling to make ends meet. Increasing the availability of generic drugs and enacting a Patients' Bill of Rights are just part of my efforts to address this growing problem.

Education | Cutting Taxes | Environment | Economy | Health Care

Education

Access to quality education has long been a top priority of mine, both before running for office and now, as a member of Congress.

Through my service on the House Education Committee I have worked to shape federal education policy, from class size reduction initiatives to programs designed to make college more affordable. And I have worked to ensure that our federal education laws are structured so that our public schools can provide a high quality education for all.

The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB), which was enacted in 2002, was a bipartisan effort containing many good and essential reforms for our nation's schools. I supported this law because it provides the building blocks for quality and accountability in all schools -- a fully-qualified teacher in every classroom and better teacher training to make it happen; more after-school tutoring and supplemental services to help students with the greatest needs; special programs for English language learners; expanded support for reading in early grades; high academic standards in reading, math, and science; and school report cards to provide information to parents and motivate them to be part of their children's education. I still believe that these reforms can ultimately make our public education system an even better place to educate our children. Unfortunately, these reforms are being undermined by an implementation that is inflexible, unreasonable, and unhelpful to our educators.

Accordingly, I have introduced the No Child Left Behind Flexibility and Improvement Act. This bill helps get the reforms of NCLB back on track. It will better assess how well our children are doing. It will help schools ensure they have highly qualified teachers. And it will better equip rural schools to handle the demands of this new law. But it does not change the intent or the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Legislation. The No Child Left Behind Improvement and Flexibility Act, builds flexibility into the law so that it can be better implemented while still maintaining its strong standards and accountability provisions.

As I visit schools in Oregon, students also tell me that they want and need more adult involvement. This means encouraging more parental involvement but it also means helping schools to hire additional teachers and teacher's aides so that students can get more individual attention. When students are successful, our economy benefits.

I am also working on legislation to make a higher education more affordable and more accessible for all. According to the Department of Education, more than 7 million students will take out a federal student loan this year to help finance their college education. As tuition costs swell and grant-aid fails to keep pace, students and their families are increasingly turning to loans as the primary mechanism to finance a higher education. While student loans make the college dream a reality for millions, they all too often turn into a nightmare of debt.

Over the past eight years the typical student loan debt has almost doubled to $16,928. In addition, 39 percent of all student borrowers now graduate with unmanageable debt levels. Too many student borrowers struggle to make their monthly loan payments, and many must forgo savings, public service careers, and major purchases.

Borrowing for higher education should be a sound investment for the future, both for the student, and society. Yet, today we are asking far too many students to mortgage their future at too high a cost.

This is unacceptable, and we must do better by delivering sound legislation that helps Americans to make the college dream a viable reality.

I have been working in Congress to do just that. For instance, I have introduced seven bills that will not only make student financial aid more flexible for students but it will also ease the financial burden of student loans.

• Student Loan Interest Fairness Act (H.R. 1029): My first bill would allow individuals to refinance their student loans. Many recent graduates seek out consolidation loans to reduce their monthly student loan payments and simplify the payment process. However, current law inexplicably prevents a student from reconsolidating or refinancing their student loans to seek out a lower interest rate. Current law also denies students the right to seek out the lowest cost consolidation loan. The Single Lender Rule, as it is called, precludes the borrower from receiving a consolidation loan from another lender -- even if that other lender offers preferable terms and conditions -- if the current holder of their loans offers a consolidation loan with an income sensitive repayment option. This is comparable to a situation in which homeowners would be required to refinance only with their current mortgage holder. And again, current law doesn't even allow these individuals to refinance. You can refinance your home. You can refinance your car. You can even refinance your credit card debt. We should give students the same right to refinance their student loan debt as well. The Student Loan Fairness Act would remove these inequitable restrictions and as a result ease the financial burden of those who must rely on student loans to help finance their education.



• Student Loan Interest Full Deductibility Act (H.R. 1033): The Student Loan Interest Full Deductibility Act would also ease the financial burden of student loans by allowing eligible taxpayers to deduct the full amount of their student loan interest and would remove the current income cap limiting the deduction. Current law only allows for $2,500 to be deducted, even though many students pay thousands more each year in student loan interest, and phases out this deduction if a taxpayer's income is greater $50,000 a year.



• Pell Grants (H.Res. 132): The Pell Grant program is the cornerstone of federal student financial aid, providing aid to nearly 4.6 million students. Approximately 85% of Pell Grant assistance goes to students from families with annual incomes below $30,000, and half goes to students from families with incomes below $15,000. Because this federal financial aid program is arguably the most important for students who need help the most, I have introduced this resolution calling for full funding of Pell Grants at its maximum authorized amount -- $5,800. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration does not agree. It's recent budget only increases Pell Grant by a $100 despite the fact that these small increases in the maximum Pell Grant award have not kept pace with the growing cost of postsecondary education. Today's maximum amount of $4,050 is worth nearly $800 less than the maximum scholarship nearly 30 years ago.



• Earning and Learning Act (HR 1030): I have also introduced legislation to make current federal financial aid programs more flexible. The current Federal Work-Study Program provides jobs for undergraduate and graduate students with financial need, allowing them to earn money to help pay education expenses. Typically, the jobs are on-campus jobs, such as working in the administrator's office or for the school library. However, you can work off campus, but those jobs are limited to community service or non-profit work, and the work performed must be in the public interest. My legislation, the Earning and Learning Bill, will require colleges and universities to establish agreements with private for-profit employers so students who are eligible for Federal Work-Study aid can work for a for-profit business within their course of study. This will allow students to gain valuable experience while also receiving much-needed financial assistance.



• Community College Partnerships (H.R. 1031): The Community College Partnership Act, which I have also introduced, would create partnerships between community colleges and four-year institutions to encourage students to continue their education at a college or university. This is based on an idea that Portland State University (PSU) came up with after studying its student enrollment data and discovering that its students were taking classes in non-traditional ways. Students would take classes at a community college in the morning, go to work, and then take another class at PSU at night, or vice versa. However, in order to create such a class schedule, the students had to deal with two sets of administrations, two sets of paperwork, and two sets of financial aid. In order to encourage more of these students to continue and complete their studies at PSU, PSU partnered with neighboring community colleges to make this transition seamless through dual enrollment programs in which enrollees' class credits, financial aid, and administrative paperwork seamlessly transfer between the schools. The Community College Partnership Act expands on this idea by establishing a $70 million competitive grant program to encourage or expand similar partnerships throughout the United States.



• Higher Education Act Paperwork Reduction and Flexibility Bill (H.R. 1032): My Higher Education Act Paperwork Reduction and Flexibility Bill extends two provisions in the Higher Education Act to allow low default rate colleges and universities to continue disbursing the entire amount of the student loan to first time borrowers in a single payment and to waive the 30-day withholding requirement for first time borrowers. The first provision gives schools the flexibility, especially in the case of students attending summer sessions and graduating mid-year seniors, to disburse the proceeds of their loan in a single payment. Not only is this easier on the students who will only have to make one trip to the financial aid office, it is much easier on the financial aid office itself. The second provision allows low default rate schools to waive the 30-day withholding requirement for first-time borrowers. In short, this provision allows schools to disburse a loan to their first year students instantaneously so they can have access to their funds to purchase books and supplies, pay housing costs, and other associated educational startup expenses.



• College Textbook Pricing: Finally, I launched a GAO investigation this last year into the high price of college textbooks. Recent news reports have exposed what has long been experienced by students and college bookstores: often the exact same college textbooks that American college students are required to buy for class are sold overseas for less than half the price. This situation does not make common sense, and it is especially troubling when one considers the skyrocketing cost of high education and of college textbooks. It is increasingly common for students to pay in excess of $1,000 per school year for textbooks alone. The report, which is set to be released this spring, will unmask the pricing of college textbooks, and I am planning on continuing this investigation by formulating legislation that will take into account the GAO's findings.

Federal assistance in schools should be just that: assistance. When the federal government is able to help local schools meet the needs of students, our system is working. In Congress, I have worked to find ways to give schools extra support so that students, teachers and parents can find what works in their schools.

When I talk to business owners, managers and workers about what will help to grow our economy, they tell me that the answer is education and research. There is a distinct difference between communities that support local schools and those that do not. Strong public schools are a leading indicator of strong economic success.

Oregon has a strong tradition of supporting our schools and I intend to work to continue that tradition.

I am proud to fight for common sense, bipartisan efforts to give Oregon schools the help they need and to help our state and national economy grow.

Cutting Taxes

As someone who has owned a small business, I know how hard families and small business owners work to make ends meet. That's why I focus my support for tax cuts that help middle-income families and small businesses, including:

• I voted to permanently extend the child tax credit so families may claim a tax credit of $1,000 per eligible child (H.R. 4359 -- 5/20/04).
• I have voted repeatedly to eliminate the marriage tax penalty for married couples filing joint tax returns so that they can claim the same deduction per person as single tax filers. Most recently, I voted to permanently extend the elimination of the marriage tax penalty (H.R. 4181 -- 4/28/04).
• I support increasing the non-taxable cap on the value of an estate to $5 million to help Oregon's family farmers and small businesses continue to thrive as they pass to the next generation.
• I voted to extend the 10% tax bracket to benefit working families by permanently extending the increased amount of their income that is taxed at the lowest rate (H.R. 4275 -- 5/13/04).
• I voted to extend the Alternative Minimum Tax relief so that more working families' incomes would not be subject to the higher tax (H.R. 4227 -- 5/05/05).
• I cosponsored and voted for legislation to permanently extend the moratorium on taxing Internet access (H.R. 49 -- 9/17/03).
• I authored the "Five for Five Act" to encourage business investment by reducing to 5 percent the maximum rate of tax on net capital gain on assets held for more than 5 years (H.R. 2081).
• I voted to extend the Research and Development tax credit to help Oregon businesses take advantage of emerging technologies and bring more investment home.
• I voted from the Paperwork Reduction Act to reduce the information collection burden on small businesses by consolidating federal agencies' information requests (H.R. 2432 -- 5/18/04).

Environment

I understand that clean air and water are cornerstones of public health and that Oregon's last wild places deserve permanent protection. Below are some of the ways that I am fighting to protect Oregon's environmental legacy.

The Bush Administration has worked hard during the past three years to dismantle over thirty years of environmental progress in our country. In order to bypass the legislative process, the Administration has repeatedly used its executive powers and the judicial system to enact regulatory changes to advance its anti-conservation agenda. I continue to stand firmly opposed to these attacks because I believe that they undermine the democratic process and threaten the very fabric of our nation's collective environmental values.

I have proudly fought against several attempts to approve drilling in Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and to date have helped to successfully protect this pristine land for future generations.

I care deeply about protecting Pacific salmon, a keystone species of the Northwest. While we are seeing record returns on some stocks this year, we must not become complacent. We must continue taking a forward thinking approach to restoring our listed fish stocks in the Northwest.

I believe that mercury does not belong in our air and water. I have urged the Environmental Protection Agency on numerous occasions to strengthen, not weaken, the agency's regulation of power plant and automobile emissions.

I believe we must protect Oregon's natural treasures for future generations. Among others, such treasures include Mt. Hood, the Columbia River Gorge, Steens Mountain, and the Oregon coast.

Economy

I know many Oregonians have struggled through this economic downturn and believe getting Oregonians back into high-paying jobs is essential. I am working and will continue to work to bring resources to Oregon, cut red tape, extend small business tax deductions and provide additional weeks of unemployment benefits for those who are still seeking a job.

Over the past five years, I have succeeded in securing millions of dollars for Oregon that have brought jobs and better services for our communities. They include building and improving roads, waterways and bridges, improvements to educational institutions, and support for our growing technology and research. These resources reach every corner of the First Congressional District. Some of the highlights are:

• $7.6 million for the Highway 99W Newberg-Dundee Bypass to reduce congestion, improve commerce and make city streets safer.
• $7.75 million for Washington County Commuter Rail to extend transit from Wilsonville to downtown Beaverton and provide access by MAX to Hillsboro, Portland and Gresham.
• $950,000 to improve water quality standards in the Warrenton wastewater system.
• $1.2 million for the OHSU Center for Research and Bioterrorism Agents to better prepare our communities against bioterrorism attacks.
• $1.25 million for Fort Clatsop Expansion and $2 million for the Portland to Astoria Historic Lewis and Clark Railroad so that Oregon can benefit from the tourism resulting from the bicentennial of the Corps of Discovery Expedition.
• $2 million for Portland State University's School of Engineering so that more Portland area students have access to a top-notch engineering education.
• Nearly $200 million in tax credits for the Portland Development Commission's New Markets Fund, the hospitality Fund and the Historic Rehabilitation Fund to leverage and target significant resources toward investment in community development in some of our neediest areas.
• $8 million in tax credits through the Community Development Financial Institutions fund to boost economic development and further restore Astoria's downtown.

I led the effort to extend unemployment benefits when all state resources were exhausted. Too many Oregonians have faced successive months of unemployment while they are searching to find a job. Unemployment benefits often mean the difference between keeping a home and a car, covering health care needs and paying for college. Helping families remain economically secure during time of temporary unemployment helps stabilize our entire economy.

As a former small businessman, I support common sense proposals to ease the tax burden and encourage investments that help companies grow and thrive. I voted for legislation to accelerate tax deductions for depreciation of investment in equipment and voted to help small businesses offer health insurance by increasing the tax deductibility of insurance costs. Additionally, I authored the "Five for Five Act" to encourage business investment by reducing to 5 percent the maximum rate of tax on net capital gain on assets held for more than 5 years (H.R. 2081).

I work to encourage individuals to help plan for a secure retirement and protect investments employees count on. I am a cosponsor of the Pension Security Disclosure Act (H.R. 3005) to improve disclosure of the funding status of single-employer pension plans. Additionally, I support legislation to increase the annual limitation on deductible contributions to individual retirement accounts to $5,000 and to allow individuals age 50 or older to make additional contributions to an applicable employer plan, and make it easier to move funds from one retirement account to another when a person switches jobs.

Heath Care

Since I have been in Congress, I have been working to cut the high cost of prescription drugs for Oregonians and to strengthen Medicare and ensure drug coverage for all seniors. Also, I have used my position as a key member of Science Committee to fight for increases in funding for scientific and medical research.

Cost of Health Care

I am very concerned about rising health insurance costs and believe too many insurance companies care more about their profit margins than their patients' health. I am a strong supporter of efforts to ensure that everyone has access to health care and have aggressively worked to bring down the costs of prescription drugs, helped to make insurance more portable for individuals changing jobs, and supported equal coverage for mental health benefits. I have also supported legislation to provide small business owners with incentives for offering health insurance coverage for their employees.

Patients' Bill of Rights

I believe Americans are entitled to receive the best medical advice and attention possible. That is why I am a proud sponsor of the Patients' Bill of Rights, which will help end the abuses that plague the managed care system by ensuring that patients and doctors -- not bureaucrats -- make medical decisions. In addition to allowing doctors and patients to chart the best course of treatment, the legislation would ban gag clauses, establish a sensible outside appeals process, and allow lawsuits against HMOs when patients are harmed by their plan's restrictions. These protections are common sense, basic rights that all Americans deserve.

Helping Seniors Afford Prescription Drugs

I supported the Medicare prescription drug bill (H.R. 1) because I strongly believe that it was time to modernize Medicare to keep up with today's treatments. For this reason, I did not want to let this historic opportunity pass us by. If this bill did not pass, seniors could have had to wait many more years for meaningful prescription drug coverage. Growing costs, continuing budget deficits, and partisan politics could have significantly diminished the prospects for passing a $400 billion prescription drug bill. I felt it was important to be realistic about what was achievable in a Congress that is now, and likely will continue to be, very closely divided for years to come. Moreover, this legislation, while not perfect, provided meaningful prescription drug coverage to those with the greatest needs: the sickest and the poorest beneficiaries. Up to 15 million beneficiaries will be eligible to receive much needed drug coverage under this legislation, because they would qualify for low-income protections and are not currently eligible for Medicaid, or because they will have prescription drug expenses above the catastrophic cap of $3,600 in total drug costs. Moreover, those seniors with an average of $200 in total drug spending a month, will see their costs cut in half. Also, starting in April 2004, Medicare beneficiaries will receive a Drug Discount Card that will provide them with savings of 15%-25% off the costs of their prescription drugs right away. This compromise Medicare bill also includes other important benefits that many may not be familiar with, including: a $600 subsidy next year for lower income beneficiaries under a drug discount card; significant new coordinated care benefits for chronically ill beneficiaries; improved preventive care coverage for diabetes and cardiovascular disease screening; and coverage for an initial physical exam for new beneficiaries. There are a number of important provisions included in this bill that I opposed. For instance, the bill includes a "donut hole," that leaves many seniors with a gap in coverage after their first $2,250 in drug costs. The legislation also does not adequately address the reimportation of prescription drugs and it prohibits the federal government for negotiating for the best drug price. With that in mind, I authored legislation that will address these concerns.

High Cost of Prescription Drugs

I believe we must bring down the skyrockets costs of prescription drugs for all Americans. In addition to voting to allow for the reimportation of prescription drugs from other countries, I authored legislation that will allow for prescription drug reimportation. I have also supported efforts aimed at delivering generic drugs to the market in a more timely, cost-effective way.

Long-Term Care

I believe we must improve American's access to long-term care choices, increase families' access to better long-term care, and provide assistance to families nursing a relative or friend. I support legislation to provide an above-the-line tax deduction for long-term care premiums and tax relief for those with long-term care needs. I also supported legislation to benefit caregivers.

Oregon's Medicare Reimbursement

Oregon gets one of the worst Medicare reimbursement rates in the nation. The National reimbursement average is $5,490. The District of Columbia receives $10,373. Yet, Oregon receives only $3,829. Why is the system so unfair? Because a formula was developed that rewards inefficient practices. States with the highest medical costs - often those that are least efficient - are rewarded with higher reimbursements. Since Oregon has been on the cutting edge of efficiency, it gets punished in its reimbursement. This inequity means Oregon struggles with an inadequate amount of money to reimburse its services. I authored legislation that would restore equity to the reimbursement.