Health (top)

Stark, as the senior Democrat on the House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, had numerous legislative proposals and ideas included in the Balanced Budget Act to help Medicare beneficiaries and improve the program. He also achieved a number of goals working with the Administration on various health issues. In the anti-fraud arena, Stark successfully urged the Department of Justice and the FBI to launch a major Federal criminal investigation of Columbia/HCA.

Medicare Improvements

Stark amendments that were included in the Balanced Budget Act of 1997 (BBA) (P.L.105-33):

Medicare help for California's retired teachers

Over 30,000 retired teachers, policemen, firemen and others, through no fault of their own, have never been allowed to contribute to Medicare, but have instead relied on small public pension health insurance plans for protection in their retirement age. Many of these small plans have gone out of business or become prohibitively expensive, leaving these retired civil servants only the option of buying into Medicare Part A hospital services at a rate of $311 a month. The BBA contains a Stark amendment to provide Medicare Part A at no cost to these retirees, once they have bought-in for 7 years (which approximately equals how much they would have paid in a life-time of paying Medicare taxes).

In a letter of June 19, 1997, the California Retired Teachers Association wrote Stark:
"The CRTA thanks you for your support and leadership on Medicare reform. We appreciate your efforts and success to include Section 10543 in the reform legislation. You have helped us for the past ten years on this issue....Many very frail and elderly retirees spend over one-third of their pension on Medicare Part A [premiums]. Your legislation will provide protection and assistance to these retirees."

Preventive Benefits

HR 15, the Thomas-Cardin-Stark bill was included in the BBA, and provides over $4 billion in new Medicare preventive care benefits:
• better financial coverage of more frequent mammograms,
• diabetes education & assistance with the cost of blood test strips,
• colorectal screening,
• pap and pelvic cancer screening coverage
• bone mass measurement (anti-osteoporosis), and
• prostate screening (beginning in 2000)

Fairness in hospital discharge referrals

The BBA includes an expanded version of Stark's bill, HR 734, requiring hospitals to inform patients being discharged of the various post-hospital providers available to serve them. In the past, hospitals often referred patients only to home health, nursing home, and rehab facilities that the hospital itself had an ownership and profit interest in. Now, hospitals will be required to give discharged patients more information about where they can seek additional services.

Consumer protections in Medicare HMOs

Many of the consumer protections from Stark's bill, HR 337, were included in the BBA. These provisions will give beneficiaries more information on the quality of care provided by the HMOs, better appeal rights, coverage for ER and dialysis services outside of the plan, access to necessary specialists, etc. in the new Medicare managed care program called Medicare+Choice. HCFA is also requiring through regulation that Medicare+Choice plans conduct an assessment of new members' health status. This is a longtime Stark initiative. Stark is working to make these same types of protections available to people of all ages in managed care plans (see below).

Stopping the growth in hospital outpatient department (HOPDs) overcharges

In recent years, beneficiaries have been charged much more than their proper 20% share of many procedures done in hospital outpatient departments. The average payment now equals 47% of the total amount that Medicare eventually pays the hospital. Stark has proposed legislation to immediately correct the problem (HR 582). Because of the cost to hospitals and Medicare of an immediate fix, the BBA contains provisions that stop the increase in the burden on beneficiaries and gradually creates an 80/20 split. While Stark is disappointed in the length of time required to correct the problem, the amendment will save beneficiaries tens of billion over the coming years. Since passage of the BBA, he has introduced legislation to speed up the "fix" (HR 2559).

Coverage of Oral Anti-Nausea Chemotherapy Drugs

Medicare previously reimbursed cancer patients for the cost of IV-administered anti-emetic drugs (anti-nausea drugs) used to make chemotherapy tolerable. A new generation of cheaper and more convenient oral drugs is now available. The Stark amendment ensured that this better generation of drugs will be a Medicare benefit.

Extended the Municipal Health Services Program Demonstration Program

Stark was able to extend a Medicare demonstration program affecting four sites in the country: San Jose, CA; Baltimore, MD; Cincinnati, OH; and Milwaukee, WI. This program provides low-income Medicare beneficiaries who reside in those communities, and who obtain health care services through specified clinics, with the ability to obtain supplemental Medicare benefits at no extra cost.

Additional Medicare Improvements

Medicare+Choice Handbook

Stark successfully petitioned the Health Care Financing Administration to change their plans on the mailing of a poorly prepared 50-page handbook that they were planning to send to all Medicare beneficiaries to explain the new Medicare+Choice program. Stark reviewed the handbook and immediately wrote to HHS Secretary Shalala to urge that it NOT be mailed to Medicare beneficiaries. The handbook was far too complicated and caused confusion among the Members who actually wrote the law, was in too small type face for many seniors to read, and was not in a straight forward format. It would also have been mailed to Medicare beneficiaries before any 1-800 number existed in their region to answer questions about the new program.

In response to that action, HHS changed its plans on the mailing of the handbook. It will only be sent to the five states where the 1-800 number is functional. All other Medicare beneficiaries will receive an 8-page newsletter describing the new program. The 1-800 number will be phased in regionally over the course of the next year and then next year everyone will receive a revised, easier-to-read handbook.

Home Health Interim Payment System (IPS)

Stark joined with Chairman Thomas in the Ways and Means Committee to support a compromise reform package aimed at making improvements to the home health interim payment system created by the Balanced Budget Act. Stark offered an amendment that provided more assistance to the home health agencies and paid for the cost of the entire package by closing various Medicare loopholes, but that amendment was defeated. The bill was reported from the Ways and Means Committee without a funding mechanism.

The Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress at the close of the 105th Congress included a home health IPS reform package not quite as strong as the Ways and Means proposal, but better in one respect in that it includes a one-year delay in the implementation of a 15% rate cut that was scheduled to go into effect October 1, 1998. That addition was a component strongly supported by the home health industry.

Stark, the Administration, and other Democrats won a significant victory by defeating attempts by the Republicans to pay for the provision through an expansion of Roth IRAs.

Protecting Medicare

Medicare Private Contracting

BBA included a provision – opposed by Stark – to allow doctors to privately contract with Medicare beneficiaries for covered services. However, if a doctor chooses to avail himself of that right, then he is barred from participating in Medicare for two years.

There have been strong efforts by Sen. Kyl (R-AZ) and colleagues to pass a bill that would broaden the private contracting provision in the BBA. They want to allow any doctor to privately contract with any Medicare beneficiary at any time. (Under this scenario, Medicare would not pay part of the bill – it would all come out of the beneficiary's pocket). Stark has consistently attacked the legislation as being anti-consumer. And, he has been able to keep the legislation from being attached to anything that has passed Congress.

In addition, Stark had the U.S. Postal Chief Investigator conduct an investigation into the mailings by the United Seniors Association in support of the Kyl legislation. The Postal Inspector agrees that the mailings contain "statements that are factually incorrect" and Stark has made those findings publicly known and warned seniors not to send donations to that organization.

Stark also wrote to all 50 State Attorneys General urging that they investigate United Seniors Association for consumer fraud. A number of AGs responded that they were investigating the organization and raising consumer protection issues.

Stabilizing Medicare and Social Security

Stark testified before the House Budget Committee October 23, 1997 urging that any budget surpluses that develop in the coming years be used to help pre-fund the crisis facing Medicare and Social Security once the Baby Boom generation retires. Stark noted that if Congress had not passed a tax cut in 1997 but had saved that amount of money in bonds for Medicare, the life of the Medicare Trust Fund would have been extended from 2010 to past 2020, well into the retirement of the Baby Boom generation.

Tobacco Settlement Funds for Medicare

Stark wrote President Clinton September 17, 1997 urging that a portion of the funding featured in any comprehensive tobacco bill be devoted to the Medicare Trust Funds to compensate Medicare for the costs of treating smoking-related diseases.

Bolstering Medicare Administrative Funding

Stark presented testimony to the Labor/HHS Appropriations Subcommittee, and met with Chairman Porter in 1998, to urge appropriate funding for HCFA's administrative duties, which include significant new responsibilities required by the BBA. The House Appropriations bill includes far better HCFA administrative funding than had initially been expected.

Children's Health Insurance

Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP)

The BBA contains over $24 billion in funds over five years, financed in part by new cigarette taxes, to provide health insurance to several million of America's ten million uninsured children. Stark's leadership on this issue, starting in the summer of 1996, was a primary cause in making this one of the major health care issues of the 105th Congress. In all, Stark introduced three major children's health insurance bills. While the final law does not include his specific proposals, it achieves many (but not all) of the same goals. Stark will keep working to obtain health insurance coverage for all the nation's children.

CHIP Implementation

Following passage of BBA, and after states began attempting to implement their programs, Stark joined with California representatives Matsui, Miller and Waxman to successfully challenge a decision by the California Health Department to allow a private health plan to simultaneously administer and participate in the State's new CHIP program, Healthy Families – a blatant conflict of interest whereby the plan could steer people to their own insurance plan. In response to a letter from the four members, the private health plan pulled out of the contract and a non-health plan was appointed. Stark then introduced legislation to prohibit any health plan from simultaneously administering and participating in a CHIP program (HR 3713).

Fighting Health Care Fraud and Abuse

Stark is recognized as a leader in Medicare anti-fraud efforts and has proposed ways to save tens of billions in Medicare funds, thus extending the life of the program.
Surety Bonds

The BBA included a Stark provision to require surety bonds for home health providers. In the fall of 1996, Stark called the attention of the Administration to the dramatic anti-fraud success of Florida's requirement that various health care providers must post a $50,000 surety bond as a condition of doing Medicaid business in the State. The proposal was included in the Administration's Medicare budget requests in the spring of 1997. Stark and Rep. Karen Thurman of Florida introduced the proposal as a freestanding bill, and it was included in the BBA. It is expected to be a major tool in the fight against Medicare fraud.

Home Health Background Checks

The Omnibus Appropirations bill passed at the end of the 105th Congress includes a provision based on legislation introduced by Stark, HR 4592, which would require criminal background checks for home health providers participating in Medicare.

Comprehensive Anti-Fraud Package

Stark has introduced a comprehensive Medicare anti-fraud bill, along with a total of twelve smaller anti-fraud bills, large portions of which were included in the President's FY 1999 budget request. Stark proposals include such items as reform of the mental health partial hospitalization benefit and requiring stronger certificates of medical necessity for home health benefits.

Columbia/HCA Criminal Investigation

Stark sent numerous letters to HHS and the Justice Department during the 104th Congress noting questionable activities of Columbia/HCA and passing along whistleblower complaints. He filed an amicus brief in a civil case against Columbia, and on May 30, 1997, wrote Attorney General Janet Reno urging a RICO investigation against Columbia, since a pattern of interstate illegal activities appeared to exist. Federal warrants were issued July 16, 1997, and several nationwide raids on Columbia facilities have occurred later that summer, with new anti-fraud suits filed in October, 1998.
Stark Led in Exposing Excessive Pharmaceutical Prices

As a result of Stark's work on the failure of average wholesale prices (AWP) to reflect actual pharmaceutical prices (Washington Post January 2, 1997), the Administration proposed in 1997 and in 1998 to reimburse Medicare drugs on the basis of actual acquisition cost, thus potentially saving over $3 billion in a five year period. The Department of Justice is continuing to investigate how the AWP is set (HHS Inspector General letter to Stark dated October 8, 1997, January 7, 1998).
Revising EPO Payment Policy

Stark also pushed for HHS Inspector General studies on how Medicare reimburses for a drug used in dialysis -- EPO. The OIG study (November 24) suggested that the company increased utilization by offering volume discounts and urged that Medicare's rate be cut $1 per 1000 units, thus saving over $600 million over a five-year period. Stark letter to HHS Secretary Shalala of June 17 on the draft OIG report resulted in a promise by the Administration to adjust the payment rate and obtain the savings, either through administrative action or by a request for legislation.

Correcting Medicare's Reimbursement Policy for Certain Generic Drugs

The HHS IG also responded to Stark's complaint that Medicare is paying more for certain generic drugs than for the brand name drug (letters of August 22 and December 19) and documented that "Medicare and its beneficiaries could have saved between $7 million to $16 million for [just] 4 drugs if 1997 reimbursement had not been based on higher-priced generic versions. As a result of Stark's work, Medicare has revised its generic drug payment policy in the immediate future (Administrator letter to Stark, dated November 5, 1997).

Patent Extension Grab

Stark helped lead the fight against a patent extension grab by several pharmaceutical companies that would have cost consumers $1 billion plus in higher drug prices. Stark joined with Reps. Henry Waxman, Sherrod Brown, and Peter Deutsch in testifying before Senate HHS Appropriations Subcommittee against proposals to give certain companies more years of monopoly on various expensive drugs. These efforts aved the way for defeating an attempt during negotiations on the Omnibus Apprpriations bill by one major drug manufacturer to obtain a three-year patent extension at the expense of consumers.

Home Health Agency Fraud

Stark obtained a GAO study (May 30, 1997) showing that for-profit home health agencies billed for nearly twice as many visits as not-for- profits--for the same type of illness and patient. Findings helped ensure passage in BBA of major home health payment reforms which will save billions in the coming years.

HealthSouth

Stark requested an audit of executive compensation and expenses of a large for-profit rehab hospital chain (HealthSouth). A limited audit caused the company to return $903,655 in excessive corporate jet charges.

Improper Conversions & Sales of Not-for-Profit Hospitals to For-Profits

Stark has legislation (HR 443) which is being copied in a number of States, to require more public disclosure and openness in the sale or conversion of not-for-profit hospitals to for-profit chains. Stark's concern arose out of reported abuses by Columbia/HCA's purchase of a number of hospitals. Stark and Rep. Bill Coyne of PA obtained a GAO study of this issue (released January 5, 1998) which documents the unevenness of past conversions and why more public involvement in these conversions is necessary. Stark forwarded information (March 31, 1998) on at least one conversion for examination of possible tax violation.

Excessive Medicare X-ray Charges

Stark sent the HHS Inspector General a letter from a portable x-ray company to Wisconsin nursing homes urging that the homes contract with the company as a way to shift costs and increase Medicare profits. Letter was part of OIG's effort to expose excessive payments in this sector.

Excessive Dialysis Tests

Stark referred a GAO report of excessive tests in certain kidney dialysis centers to the HHS Inspector General, noting that the GAO's finding of actions by one chain appeared to show prime facie evidence of Medicare fraud and abuse (letter of November 19, 1997).

Medicare HMO Fraud and Abuse Overpayments

Stark wrote HHS OIG on May 14th noting that the base on which Medicare pays HMOs appears to include as much as a 14% error and fraud rate, and that it therefore appears Medicare is overpaying HMOs by as much as 5-10%. OIG released a report in September 11, 1998 confirming Stark's analysis and has recommended that HCFA develop a legislative proposal to fix the problem. "Adjusting the capitation payments by the lower limit of improper payments found in our financial statement audits would result in managed care payment savings of at least 7%," OIG wrote.

Implementation of Past Stark Anti-Fraud Initiatives

In July 1997, Medicare began implementation of a Stark law limiting how much of a contractual financial incentive an HMO can offer a doctor to withhold or deny services. Stark's office is reviewing the information on incentive plans now being provided by HMOs to ensure that excessive incentives that would be dangerous to the health of patients are being terminated. Stark has also introduced legislation (H.R. 4726) to lower the percentage that physicians can be put at risk in response to a New England Journal of Medicine report.

Medicare Fraud and Overpayment Act

Stark is the primary author of H.R. 3471, a bill to save Medicare millions of dollars. Among other provisions, the bill would lower Medicare's payment for a kidney dialysis drug, Epogen, to reflect current market prices; expand Medicare's "Centers of Excellence" program that enables Medicare to pay for hospital and physician services through a single negotiated payment; require that outpatient mental health benefits are not billed in inpatient or residential settings.

False Claims Act

Stark led the fight this year to oppose changes to the False Claims Act, in the form of legislation that aimed to greatly weaken the federal government's ability to crack down on health care fraud using this civil statute. Stark participated in forums opposing the anti-False Claims Act legislation, and requested the Congressional Budget Office to analyze the bill's potential cost ($2.2 billion over five years) to Medicare and Medicaid. Stark subsequently worked on a bipartisan basis to help publicize the CBO analysis that helped to halt support for the bill.

Improving Coordination of Health Fraud Efforts

Stark letter (January 5, 1998) to the Inspector Generals of HHS and the Department of Veterans Affairs suggested they exchange information on areas of health fraud, in an effort to coordinate and improve the government's anti-fraud activities. The OIG's report and subsequent meetings have been helpful in suggesting new areas of Medicare savings and anti-fraud.

Stark II Regulations

January 9, 1998 saw the release of proposed regulations from Medicare on the implementation of the so-called "Stark laws" regulating physician referral for services from which the doctor profits (studies have shown that when a doctor has an investment interest in a lab, for example, the doctor orders more tests and more expensive tests). Stark is working with HCFA and the physician community to ensure the early enforcement of the law but with less paperwork and reporting requirements. Final regulations may come in 1999.

Improving Health Care Quality

Kidney Dialysis

Stark has developed a bill (HR 2972), which has a broad consensus in the kidney disease community, to establish a Continuous Quality Improvement program for the 225,000 Americans receiving kidney dialysis. Data shows that currently some dialysis centers are performing way below average and, in essence, causing the early death of patients. Stark's bill has spurred HCFA and the dialysis community to accelerate ESRO quality efforts. Stark obtained a General Accounting Office study (July 11, 1997) of quality of dialysis in HMOs and other managed care plans. The study shows that Medicare does not have enough data to judge whether these HMO patients are getting adequate care, thus supporting legislation such as HR 2972.

Safe Harbor Exceptions for Certain Medical Facilities

A Stark/Thomas bill to protect quality of care for dialysis patients was included in the Omnibus Appropriations bill passed by Congress at the close of the 105th Congress. It gives the Secretary of Health and Human Services the ability to create safe harbor exceptions for patient financial assistance programs at certain medical facilities (primarily targeted at dialysis centers).

Nursing Home Oversight

Stark helped initiate a General Accounting Office study of quality in nursing homes. Issued in July 1998, the report documents problems with implementation of the 1987 Waxman-Stark nursing home quality amendments. Stark is a an original cosponsor of a bill to require criminal background checks of nursing home employees introduced by Rep. Joseph Kennedy (D-Mass.) and he author of legislation (HR 4592) to require prospective criminal background checks of home health agency workers.

More Funding for Stroke Treatment Research

Stark wrote the Chairman of the HHS Appropriations Committee (July 14, 1997) urging increased money for the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research to study how best to treat strokes, and noted that stroke treatment in HMOs is notably different from the treatment in fee-for-service medicine, but that there is little scientific consensus on which approach is better.

New Enrollee Health Assessments

Medicare HMO regulations requiring quality service issued at the end of June, 1998 included Stark's proposal in HR 337 that HMOs do an initial assessment of new enrollees to establish a benchmark on their health – as well as to ensure that the HMO is able to "maintain" or improve health (e.g., through smoking cessation, weight control, diabetes screening, etc.).

Medicare HMO Disenrollment

Stark wrote the HHS Inspector General a letter (January 20, 1998) about a California HMO that Stark's District Office staff had discovered was repeatedly failing to inform Medicare when members disenrolled from the HMO, thus getting more payments than legally justified. The OIG may be investigating this case to determine if there is fraud and abuse.

GAO Study on Malpractice Injuries and ERISA HMO Plans

Stark helped initiate a General Accounting Office study identifying consumer problems and the inability to obtain redress for malpractice injuries in ERISA HMO plans. The study helped clarify the need for legislation permitting injured persons to sue their HMO.

Halting Medical Savings Account Proposal

Stark helped organize a coalition that succeeded in deleting a poorly conceived Medical Savings Account proposal from the House-passed managed care consumer protection legislation. This extraneous proposal would have substantially increased costs to government employees for health insurance (Dear Colleague letter of July 20, 1998).

Medicare Home Health

Urged Medicare agency (HCFA) to allow home health agencies facing major cuts in payment leeway in repayment of amounts owed government. HCFA agreed in late August 1998, thus helping prevent major financial disruption for many HHAs during a period of payment transition.

Managed Care Reform

In addition to the consumer protections included in the BBA for Medicare beneficiaries, Stark has been a leader in proposing consumer protections across-the-board, for all age groups, in all managed care plans.

HR 3605, The Patients' Bill of Rights

Stark is a co-author with Reps. Dingell and Gephardt of the major Democratic managed care reform legislation. This bill would enact meaningful, federal consumer protection standards for managed care. He also authored his own, earlier managed care reform bill (HR 337) parts of which were incorporated into HR 3605. Stark was a cosponsor of HR 1415, the major bipartisan managed care reform package. He will continue to be a leader on these issues in the future since the 105th Congress failed to enact a managed care reform bill.

Managed Care Consumer Protection

Stark testified June 26, 1997 before the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection & Quality in the Health Care Industry, in support of the provisions of his bill, HR 337, and citing David Ching of Fremont, whose wife died of cancer because of poor quality care by a Bay area HMO.

Stark has also written HHS urging that more be done to ensure that Medicare is not overpaying HMOs for services and that HMOs offer the full range of services required.

Stark submitted testimony to the Senate/House Democratic Policy Committees on December 16, 1997, urging that Medicare be given authority not to contract with HMOs that have excessive disenrollment rates (a surrogate for poor quality) and that the public have a greater role in evaluating the quality of HMOs ( a provision also included in his legislation).

Helping Early Retirees

Medicare Age of Eligibility

Stark led in organizing House opposition to the Senate proposal in the BBA to raise the age of eligibility for Medicare from 65 to 67, on the grounds that this would have greatly increased the number of uninsured (there are 4.9 million people in this age group) when private health insurance is prohibitively expensive and at a time when employers are increasingly canceling company coverage of older workers. In fact, Stark thinks we should be expanding Medicare to help early retirees.
COBRA Extension and Medicare Buy-In Legislation

Stark has introduced legislation (HR 444) to make COBRA health continuation benefits available to anyone after age 55 and has been organizing Members to support the idea of allowing people the option to buy into Medicare on a revenue neutral basis (no increased cost to Medicare) between age 62 and 64. This bill has been incorporated into HR 3470, the Medicare Early Access Act.

H.R. 3470 also provides early retirees and displaced workers with an opportunity to buy into Medicare -- at roughly half the cost of a policy purchased in the costly individual market. The need to offer mature workers decent, affordable coverage is growing, given that 14% of this medically vulnerable group now has no health insurance at all. H.R. 3470 would give 400,000 middle class people a solid package of health benefits until they aged into Medicare. Premiums would vary between $300 and $400 per month on average. No other program has the potential to extend coverage to this many individuals as quickly. A prestigious medical journal, The Lancet, has endorsed the Medicare Early Access Act as "a reasonable, affordable piece of legislation whose effects will help mitigate the inequities of a healthcare system that cries out for a sound, national plan."

Additional Health Initiatives

Implementation of the Kennedy-Kassebaum Law

This 1996 law is designed to help people move from company to company health plans without worrying about pre-existing condition exclusions and if they lose their group health insurance, to buy an individual policy. The law is to be administered by the various States, but California has failed to pass laws implementing the individual insurance reforms.

Stark wrote HHS Secretary Shalala on November 5, 1997 urging that the Department reprogram funds to be able to administer the law in the huge California insurance market. As part of an oversight hearing on the implementation of the new law, Stark's office also polled various states on the cost of individual policies being offered as a result of Kennedy-Kassebaum. The office found that many of these policies are being priced at around $6000 a person, once again showing the need for more health care reforms to make health insurance truly available to the public.

Support of Safety Net Hospitals

Stark continued to introduce bills to protect the nation's safety net public hospitals and teaching hospitals. As the President of the Association of American Medical Colleges (Dr. Jordan Cohen) wrote Stark on June 27, "Your unflinching support for the societal mission of medical schools and teaching hospitals is a great comfort to all of us."

Sun Safety Awareness Stamp

Stark wrote to Postmaster General Marvin Runyon and the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee to propose a Sun Safety Awareness Stamp, to educate Americans on the dangers of overexposure to the sun, and to reinforce the message of the early detection of melanoma and the prevention of irreversible skin damage.

Support for Child Safety

Stark wrote to the PTAs of every school in the 13th Congressional District to announce the Consumer Product Safety Commission's "Recall Round-Up," a national child-safety campaign to identify hazardous products in the home and to encourage their return or destruction.

He co-sponsored legislation to eliminate federal restrictions that currently interferes with an individual State's decision to permit the medicinal use of marijuana.

Needle Exchange Programs

Stark joined educators, public health center directors, and federal and state elected officials, in a letter to President Clinton to request that he lift the ban on federal funding for needle exchange on behalf of the disproportionate number of African Americans and Latinos infected with HIV/AIDS from intravenous drug use. In spite of the science documenting the effectiveness of needle exchange, the Administration did not fund this program.

Minority Health Initiatives

Promoting Equity in Health Care

Stark wrote HHS Secretary Shalala on March 3, 1998 asking the administration to highlight and address the significant barriers that racial and ethnic minorities groups face in trying to receive health care services today, specifically referencing Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders as vulnerable populations.

In response to a Stark letter, the final report of the President's Advisory Commission on Consumer Protection and Quality in the Health Care Industry, the section entitled, "Other Sources of Vulnerabilities" was changed to "Unexplained Vulnerability Associated with Race, Ethnicity and Sex." This will help focus attention on the need to do more in the field of minority health.

Forum on Minority Health Needs

Stark hosted Bay Area meeting of health providers and community advocates with HHS officials to identify unique health needs of the Asian Pacific population so that HHS funding could be better directed to target such health concerns.

Mental Health & Medical Confidentiality

Mental Health Coverage Access Assurance Act

Recognizing that mental health services are still not on par with services for acute physical illness for consumers in many health plans, Stark introduced the Medicare+Choice Mental Health Coverage Access Assurance Act this year (H.R. 3988) requiring health plans that contract with Medicare to include "self-harm" as admissible criteria for emergency room treatment. The bill also calls on plans to let consumers know of utilization restrictions for mental health services.

Unique Patient Identifier

In response to concerns about development of a unique patient identifier for all Americans that would be linked to individual medical records, Stark wrote the Administration to urge that work on the identifiers be halted until very strong medical privacy legislation has been enacted. The Office of Management and Budget concurred in an Oct. 2, 1998 response, stating: "The Administrationis committed to not implementing the identifier until privacy protections are in place."
Stark's Opposition to Republican Anti-Privacy Provisions
Stark played a prominent role in fighting the anti-privacy provisions included in the House GOP managed care package, which proposed to permit the sale of sensitive, private medical records information. Exposure helped cause this provision to be dropped just before the bill reached the floor (Dear Colleague of July 20, 1998). Dozens of newspaper editorial pages joined Stark in condemning the GOP privacy provisions as allowing massive transfer of private medical data to persons and entities with no need to access it.

Pharmaceutical Reforms

Medicare+Choice Pharmacuetical Management Act

HR 4187 provides important protections for Medicare beneficiaries receiving prescription drug benefits through Medicare+Choice plans. The bill requires plans to disclose information about how plans manage their drug benefits to cut costs, including any incentives offered to doctors to induce them to switch to cheaper medications. The legislation is critical, Stark said, to resolve an inherent conflict of interest posed by the fact that 41% of pharmaceutical benefit managers are now owned by pharmaceutical companies.

Opposition to Establishing Administrative Patent Extension Process

Joining forces with Rep. Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), Stark testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts and Intellectual Property against establishing an administrative process at the Patent and Trademark Office to oversee patent extension claims. Such an administrative process could easily be transformed into a process that granted patent extensions for particular drugs made by major pharmaceutical companies with no real congressional oversight or public debate. In turn, that would subvert the intentions of the 1984 Hatch-Waxman Act, which aims to strike a careful balance between promoting innovation and ensuring that consumers have timely access to affordable drugs.

Generic Drug Price Increases

Forwarded information (February 11 and March 2, 1998) to Federal Trade Commission on extraordinary (1300% to 4093%) price increases in certain generic drugs, resulting in investigation of possible improper activities.

Stark has pledged to keep a watchful eye on whether other generic drug companies begin to raise prices dramatically, which has a major impact on consumers -- particularly seniors -- who depend on them for maintenance of their health.

Closing Generic Drug Pricing Loophole

In response to a letter from Stark urging that payment policy be revised on how Medicare and Medicaid pay for generic drugs covered by those programs, the Health Care Financing Administration made a key regulatory change. Published on June 5, the regulation closes a glaring loophole that now prohibits Medicare from paying more for generic drugs than corresponding brand-name drugs. But Stark pointed out that additional reform of Medicare drug payments is needed, and urged HCFA to support legislation that would lower Medicare's drug reimbursement from the artificially-inflated level known as Average Wholesale Price to the price that providers actually pay for drugs. Using actual acquisition cost as the standard for payment, along with tying annual inflation to the Consumer Price Index, would save taxpayers an estimated $3 billion over five years in Medicare alone. Actual acquisition cost legislation, which Stark has strongly championed, is supported by the Administration.

Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage

To remedy a huge hole in Medicare's benefit package, Stark introduced legislation (H.R. 4753) to provide an outpatient prescription drug benefit to beneficiaries who don't have drug coverage from a former employer, Medicaid or other federal health program, and who pay an extra premium under Part B. Stark is seeking comments from consumer groups, pharmaceutical providers and others on appropriate combinations of figures for the drug deductible, the premiums, and the caps.

Organ Donation

Organ Donation Gift of Life Medal

Recognizing the shortage of available organs in this country for patients that need them, Stark introduced HR 1505 to provide a Congressional Medal of Honor for organ donors and their families. HR 1505, the Gift of Life Congressional Medal Act will provide recognition for those families who have chosen to make the ultimate gift. The enactment of this legislation, which doesn't cost taxpayers a penny, will not only honor the individual organ donor and their loved ones, but will also heighten the awareness of the organ shortage -- ultimately resulting in more organ donation. HR 1505 has 38 bipartisan cosponsors and the endorsement of most major patient care and organ advocacy groups.

Organ Allocation Policy

Stark led a group of Members to write to HHS Secretary Shalala in January requesting the immediate publication of regulations to govern the organ allocation policy for the United States. The Secretary responded in May by publishing a more fair and equitable allocation system to make sure that the neediest and sickest patients got priority on organ transplant lists. Stark organized a group of Members in support of this issue to promote the Secretary's position and speak out against Republican attempts to block or delay implementation of these regulations. Stark will continue to play a leading role in support of the Administration's new 1998 organ transplant rules, which if implemented, should significantly cut waiting period for transplants in Northern California.

Organ Donation

Worked with the American Society of Transplant Surgeons to promote the Families First pledge in the House of Representatives by asking Members of Congress to pledge themselves as public organ donors.

Organ Transplant Waiting Times and Quality

Stark wrote HHS (April 30 and July 28, 1997) noting that the waiting time for organ transplants, such as livers, was unfair across the country, ranging from a low of 18 days in one area to 473 days in the Northern California area. He urged that steps be taken to equalize the waiting periods. He also wrote complaining about secrecy in whether centers turned down offers of organs for transplantation, even though they had patients on long waiting lists. New organ transplant regulations were issued in 1998 to begin the equalization process and to make organ "turn-down" data available.

Stark also wrote on October 20, 1997 and December 15, 1997 urging that Medicare require that beneficiaries receive liver transplants in centers that do enough volume to ensure good outcomes. Currently, Medicare requires a center to do at least 12 transplants a year, but Stark noted this is too low a number: Centers that do only 12 to 35 transplants a year have a rejection/failure rate 1.61 times those that transplant more than 35 livers a year. Stark also obtained an audit of several organ procurement organizations, showing that some of these non-profit centers had excessive "profits' that should have been used for increased organ procurement. The BBA Conference Report contains language urging HHS to ensure that these procurement organizations deliver good value for the dollar.

Health Worker Initiatives

Health Care Worker Protection Act

Stark introduced HR 2754, the Health Care Worker Protection Act to require the use of safety devices for hospitals that participate in the Medicare program. At present there are 101 bipartisan cosponsors. Stark has written to OSHA, FDA, CDC, NIH and NIOSH to request immediate steps be taken to prevent accidental needlesticks in the health care environment. In June, OSHA published in the Federal Register a notice requesting the submission of data on needlestick injuries. This data will be used in the regulatory process to amend the bloodborne pathogen standard in the future to require stricter engineering controls to prevent avoidable accidental injuries. In September, Governor Pete Wilson signed a California Assembly bill authored by Carole Migden, which is similar to HR 2754. Stark wrote to the California OSHA Standards Board and submitted testimony in support of similar legislation. The California Nurses Association and California Health Care Association have endorsed the legislation.

Social Security (top)

Projects

Social Security Solvency

Stark supported an amendment to H.R. 4579, the Republican tax proposal which would have contained the proposed $80 billion tax cuts until Congress enacts legislation to ensure the long-term solvency of Social Security. The underlying bill failed because of Senate concerns about raiding the money intended for social security.

Social Security Preservation

Stark supported a proposal to transfer 100 percent of the Social Security Trust Fund surplus to the Federal Reserve Bank of New York to be held in trust for the Social Security system so that it could be reserved solely for Social Security solvency. Republicans dropped their proposal of spending 10% of the surplus.
International discussion

Stark gave a speech in Germany in March 1998 on the value of the social safety net component of Social Security. Stark met with his German and Japanese counterparts to discuss the need to reform the U.S. Social Security system while strengthening its vital components. Stark warned of the perils of privatization for women and those with lower incomes.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Privatization of Social Security

Stark was an original cosponsor of H. Res. 483, which expresses that Congress should strengthen Social Security and that privatization is unnecessary to ensure solvency while it would subject millions of Americans to risk

Social Security Preservation

Stark cosponsored HR 3207, which would amend title II (Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance) (OASDI) of the Social Security Act to establish in the Treasury the Save Social Security First Reserve Fund to save any surpluses in the Federal budget pending social security reform. It requires the Secretary of the Treasury to: (1) pay into the Fund at the end of each fiscal year an amount equal to any such surplus; and (2) invest all such amounts in public debt securities with suitable maturities and bearing interest at rates determined by the Secretary.

Environment (top)

Bills Sponsored

California Urban Environmental Research and Education Center

Stark continued his fight to fund the California Urban Environmental Research and Education Center (CUEREC). In May of 1998, Stark announced the release of FY 1998 funds to the CUEREC program based at the California State University at Hayward. The FY 1998 funds totaled $300,000. Stark organized a bipartisan group of California Members to request line item funding for FY 1999. The House VA-HUD appropriations bill contains a line item of $900,000 for CUEREC. Stark is working on a permanent authorization for CUEREC and inclusion within the President's proposed budget for FY 2000.

Projects

California Roadless Areas

Organized a group of California Members to write to President Clinton and Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman to encourage a permanent moratorium on the construction of timber roads on public lands and in national forests. The Administration responded by placing an 18-month moratorium on the construction of new timber roads and the maintenance of existing timber roads in national forests. Contrary to prior Administration practice and in opposition to salvage logging practices, roadless areas have been specifically identified for their ecological value for the first time. In California, 90% of national forests were included in this moratorium.

National Park Service Regulations on Personal Watercraft Use

Organized a group of Members to urge the Administration to establish a ban on the use of personal watercraft in national parks and national recreation areas for safety, nuisance and ecological reasons. The Administration responded by publishing a proposed regulation to ban the use of personal watercraft in all national parks and national recreation areas with 12 specific exemptions, two of which are in California. Stark is currently working with the National Park Service to make these regulations enforceable and permanent. Stark is also encouraging the superintendents at Whiskeytown and Golden Gate National Recreation Areas to adopt specific regulations for the use of personal watercraft within those areas.

Black Sands Beach

Stark coordinated a letter to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) asking that Black Sands Beach be closed to motorized vehicles. The BLM responded that the Beach would be closed pending a public hearing and regulatory review.

MTBE

Stark has been working with the California delegation to eliminate the use of methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) as a chemical oxygenate in reformulated gasoline. As a result of political pressure, two oil companies in California have ceased the production of MTBE. Several detailed public health studies have called into question the use of MTBE, and Stark will continue to push for a cleaner fuel alternative.

Forestry Education

Hosted a Congressional briefing on the Act to Save America's Forests, forest conservation and sustainability.

Utility Deregulation

Signed a letter along with every member of the California delegation asking that the State of California's efforts at utility deregulation be preserved when Congress considers national deregulation legislation. The Chairman of the Committee of jurisdiction indicated his intention to preserve state implementation strategies.

Brownfields

Led a community forum on brownfields reuse and development with industry, government and community leaders.

Pacific Lumber & Headwaters Forest

Organized a group of Members to request the Securities and Exchange Commission investigate Charles Hurwitz and Pacific Lumber.

Clean Air

Fought attempts by Republicans to weaken proposed clean air standards by the EPA. Helped the Administration maintain a strong stand for public health and the environment. As a result, the Administration has stuck to its strong clean air effort.

Menlo Park

Wrote to the Secretary of the Interior to protest the closing of a U.S. Geological office in Menlo Park.
San Francisco Bay & CALFED

Helped secure appropriations for the clean up and restoration of San Francisco Bay. Made sure that preserving the environmental quality of life in the Bay was maintained and fought Republican efforts to dump wastewater in the Bay. $85 million was appropriated for FY 1998.

Reformulated Gas and MTBE

Organized efforts to amend the Clean Air Act to permit California to meet tough clean air laws without the mandated use of MTBE.

San Francisco Bay

Worked with other Members from Northern California to reduce the risk of oil pollution and improve the safety of navigation in San Francisco Bay by removing hazards to navigation.

National Parks

Fought Republicans by cosponsoring a bill to clarify the mission, purposes, and authorized uses of the National Wildlife Refuge System, and to establish requirements for administration and conservation planning for that system.

Environmental Protections in Trade Agreements

Supported efforts to require the inclusion of provisions relating to worker rights and environmental standards in any trade agreement entered into under any future trade negotiating authority. Made opposition to Fast Track Authority based on these factors.

Public Lands

Supported efforts to designate as wilderness, wild and scenic rivers, national park and preserve study areas, wild land recovery areas, and biological connecting corridors certain public lands in the States of Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Wyoming. Also cosponsored a bill to designate certain Federal lands in the State of Utah as wilderness.

Timber Exports

Fought the Republican attempt to roll back the ban on timber log exports.

Other

Anti-Environmental Riders

Stark worked with the Democratic Leadership and environmental advocates to ensure that the President maintains a veto threat on any bills that threaten basic environmental protections. Over 140 Members joined Stark in a letter to President Clinton. The President pledged to veto the Republican-proposed FY 1999 Interior appropriations bill and Omnibus National Parks bill with anti-environmental riders.

Brownfields

Stark announced a grant award of $200,000 to the Alameda County Community Development Agency to assist with the redevelopment of a commercial corridor in San Leandro.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Right to Know

Cosponsored HR 1636, which would disclose environmental risks to children's health and would expand the public's right to know about toxic emissions in their neighborhoods.

Endangered Species Act

Cosponsored HR 2351, which would reauthorize and strengthen the national Endangered Species Act.

Superfund

Cosponsored HR 3262, which would reauthorize and expand the Superfund program to clean up toxic and polluted sites.

Land and Water Conservation Fund

Cosponsored legislation (HR 1487) to provide off-budget treatment for one-half of the receipts and disbursements of the land and water conservation fund, and to provide that the amount appropriated from the fund for a fiscal year for Federal purposes may not exceed the amount appropriated for that fiscal year for financial assistance to the States for State purposes.

Point Reyes Farmland and National Seashore

Cosponsored HR 1995 to provide for the protection of farmland at the Point Reyes National Seashore.

Coastal Water Protection

Cosponsored HR 2094 to amend the Federal Water Pollution Control Act to improve the quality of coastal recreation waters.

Improving National Parks

Cosponsored HR 2143 to provide that certain escrowed oil and gas revenues be available for improving National Park System visitor facilities.

Zero Cut Forests

Cosponsored HR 1376 to ban clearcutting on Federal lands, and to designate certain Federal lands as Northwest Ancient Forests, roadless areas, and Special Areas where logging and other intrusive activities are prohibited.

Putting the Environment First

Cosponsored HR 1404, the Defense of the Environment Act of 1997 - Requires any report of a congressional committee or committee of conference accompanying a public bill or joint resolution that includes any provision that reduces environmental protection to contain: (1) an identification and description of the provision; (2) an assessment of the extent of such reduction; (3) a description of any actions to avoid such reduction; and (4) any statement received from the Comptroller General, upon request of the committee or a majority of either the minority or majority members of the committee, assessing the reduction.

Wilderness Protection

Cosponsored HR 900, the Morris K. Udall Wilderness Act of 1997, which designates specified lands in Alaska as wilderness, and components of the National Wilderness Preservation System.

Safe Kids

Cosponsored HR 843 to prohibit the location of solid and hazardous waste facilities near residential, day care, church, and school properties.

Nuclear waste

Cosponsored H. Con. Res. 32, expressing the sense of the Congress that the transport of nuclear waste to and its storage on any U.S. territory or possession, including Wake Island and Palmyra Atoll, should continue to be prohibited. Also signed a letter with other California Members expressing our opposition to the transport of nuclear waste through California using conventional rail.

Climate Change & Global Warming

Cosponsored H. Con. Res. 106, a resolution urging the United States to take all necessary steps to protect the Earth's climate and to take a leadership role in negotiating an international climate change agreement that: (1) contains legally binding targets and timetables beginning in 2005 for reducing greenhouse gas emissions substantially below 1990 level; (2) provides for participation by developing nations; and (3) is fair, enforceable, and provides options for nations to achieve necessary greenhouse gas reductions in a cost-effectiveness manner.

Education (top)

Bills Sponsored

Healthy Schoolchildren

Introduced HR 1698, legislation to provide a tax credit to assist families in the purchase of coverage for children under school-based health insurance programs.

Projects

Chabot Observatory at Oakland Science Center

Wrote to VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee to request funding for the Chabot Science Center and Observatory. As a result, Chabot Observatory and Science Center was funded at $2 million for FY'99. Chabot Observatory is supported by school districts, park districts and local governments.

School Vouchers

Fought Republican attempts to shift public education dollars into private school scholarships. Wrote to Members on two occasions and submitted a statement to the floor in opposition to "voucher" bills and amendments. The President vetoed the Republican DC Student Vouchers bill and attempts to pass the Armey Voucher bill were thwarted.

E-Rate

Stark has been a vocal supporter of the E-Rate and has provided information about this program to constituents. Stark has also promoted truth in billing requirements for utility companies and has asked companies to pass on the savings to consumers that were promised as a result of Congressional deregulation of the telecommunications industry. Stark has written to FCC Chairman Kennard in support of the E-Rate and has fought Republican attempts to eliminate it.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Pell Grant Awards

Cosponsored HR 744, which would increase the maximum Pell Grant award to make higher education affordable to any qualified student.

Teacher Standards

Cosponsored HR 2228, which would establish basic academic standards for teachers to ensure quality classroom instruction.

After School Centers

Cosponsored HR 2408, which would establish after school activities and centers to provide opportunities and activities for children during adult working hours.

School Breakfast Program

Cosponsored HR 3086, which would expand the School Breakfast Program in elementary schools to provide lunch for needy students in school-based childcare programs.

Computer Training for Teachers

Cosponsored HR 4552, which would provide grants for integrated classroom-related computer training for elementary and secondary teachers.

Early Childhood Development

Cosponsored H. Res. 131, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Federal commitment to early childhood development programs should be supported by sufficient funding to meet the needs of infants and toddlers in the areas of health, nutrition, education, and child care.

Minority Legal Scholarships

Cosponsored HR 1970, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to provide for the establishment of the Thurgood Marshall Legal Educational Opportunity Program.

Minority Opportunities

Cosponsored HR 2495, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to increase postsecondary education opportunities for Hispanic students and other student populations underrepresented in postsecondary education.

Gender Equity in School Athletics

Cosponsored HR 2717, a bill to authorize the President to award a gold medal on behalf of the Congress honoring Wilma G. Rudolph in recognition of her enduring contributions to humanity and women's athletics in the United States and the world.

21st Century Scholars

Cosponsored HR 777, a bill to amend the Higher Education Act of 1965 to establish a 21st Century Scholars Program to provide greater access to higher education.

School Infrastructure

Cosponsored HR 1104, a bill to establish a partnership to rebuild and modernize America's school facilities. Also cosponsored efforts to establish state infrastructure banks for education.

Educational Access for All

Cosponsored HR 1234, a bill to require States to equalize funding for education throughout the State.

Working Families (top)

Bills Sponsored

Child Care

Almost two-thirds of women with children under age 6 worked outside the home in 1995, and this number is expected to grow as a result of the 1996 welfare reform law's work requirements. Research has shown that the quality of care provided to infants and toddlers – whether provided by relatives, neighbors or professional caregivers – has a significant impact on a child's social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Stark is committed to improving the safety and quality of childcare and enhancing early childhood development for children in working families through enforceable rules and safety checks. Stark introduced a quality child care bill (H.R. 4844) that would give states financial incentives to increase training for child care workers and administrators, broaden state and local health and safety licensing standards and improve child care worker-to-child ratios, step up state enforcement of standards, reduce turnover among workers and administrators, and increase accreditation of child care centers.

Projects

245(i) Immigration Visa

Co-sponsored legislation and joined with other Members in a letter to Commerce-Justice-State Conferees to extend Section 245(i) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, which permits certain family and employment-based immigrants to adjust their status to that of permanent resident while remaining in the United States, rather than returning to their home country to obtain an immigrant visa. 245(i) is essential for keeping families together and keeping consulates abroad from collapsing under an increased and unnecessary workload.

GAO Child Care Quality Report

A General Accounting Office study requested by Stark and three other House Democrats assessed the quality of state-administered child care centers found that few states are meeting standards now recommended by the government and leading private-sector child and care and early development accreditation organizations. For example, GAO found that only two states are complying with nationally recognized caregiver education and training standards -- despite the fact that caregiver training is considered to be one of the most critical areas for child care standards. The report boosted Democratic support for federal standards aimed at improving the quality of care delivered to thousands of children in licensed centers across the country.

Monitoring Welfare Reform Impacts

Welfare caseloads have dropped 31 percent since President Clinton signed welfare reform into law in 1996, but little is known about what is happening to the children and families who have left the rolls. Stark expressed his concern about the lack of hard data available on the effects of welfare reform to HHS Secretary Shalala. As a result, senior Department officials briefed Stark and other Ways and Means Committee Members on the Department's comprehensive research agenda for evaluating the new welfare program (TANF). In addition, an on-going series of seminars has been instituted to share reliable and credible information on the progress of welfare reform and its impact on families as it becomes available.

Child Welfare

Stark joined with other California Representatives Miller, Waxman, and Lee and other House Members to initiate a GAO probe into California's use of federal funds to send youths to privately run out-of-state programs to rehabilitate troubled youth – some of which use physical restraints and other practices not allowed in California. The request for the probe was instigated by the death of a 16-year-old Sacramento boy at the Arizona Boys Ranch after suffering from mistreatment, physical and mental abuse and a failure by the program's managers to diagnose a serious illness. As a result of congressional interest in the Arizona Boys Ranch, State officials have withdrawn all funding from the Arizona Boys Ranch.

University of California Contracting

Responding to concerns raised by workers at the University of California, Stark wrote to UC to request an investigation of alleged wage inequity among higher education professionals. UC recently responded to Stark and pledged that current wages are consistent with fair market value. Stark will follow this issue closely as the California Public Employment Relations Association continues to administer the ongoing collective bargaining agreement.

University of California Purchasing Practices at Los Alamos Laboratory

When UC workers alerted Stark to "buy local" purchasing programs at the Los Alamos National Laboratory in New Mexico, managed and operated by UC, Stark wrote to the Energy Department to see if the purchasing contract could be applied to other UC laboratories at Lawrence Livermore and Lawrence Berkley. In a September letter, DOE responded that it does not agree with Stark's views. Stark will continue to promote local economic interests at Berkley and Livermore with UC contracts at the Department of Energy.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Fair Pay Initiative

Worked to ensure that men and women that perform equal work receive equal pay. The Paycheck Fairness Act will amend the Equal Pay Act of the Fair Labor Standards Act to close the existing earnings gap between women and men. Although the Equal Pay Act passed 34 years ago, women continue to earn just 74 cents for every dollar earned by men. In fact, a woman has to work nearly 16 months to equal the amount a man earns in just 12 months. The Paycheck Fairness Act will take us a step closer to reaching our goal of providing equal pay for equal work by providing for better enforcement of the Equal Pay law, educating employers, employees and the general public, and recognizing and commending those employers who provide equal pay.

Federal Employees

Cosponsored H. Con. Res. 71, which expresses the sense of Congress that federal retirement COLA adjustments should not be delayed.

"Made in the U.S.A." Label

Cosponsored H. Con. Res. 80, which would support and expand the standard the "Made in the USA" label.

Employment Discrimination

Cosponsored HR 1858, which would prohibit employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

A Livable Wage

Cosponsored HR 3510, a bill that would increase the federal minimum wage to $5.65 an hour during the year 1999 and $6.15 an hour during the year 2000.

Gender Fairness

Cosponsored H. Res. 96, a resolution expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Senate should ratify the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women.

Ending Sweatshops

Cosponsored HR 23, a bill to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for legal accountability for sweatshop conditions in the garment industry, and for other purposes.

The Environment and International Trade

Cosponsored HR 1079, a bill to require the inclusion of provisions relating to worker rights and environmental standards in any trade agreement entered into under any future trade negotiating authority.

Child Labor

Cosponsored HR 1328, a bill to prohibit the importation of goods produced abroad with child labor. Also cosponsored HR 2475, legislation to amend the Tariff Act of 1930 to prohibit imports of articles produced or manufactured with bonded child labor

Fair Labor in American Territories

Cosponsored HR 1450, legislation to provide certain requirements for labeling textile fiber products and to implement minimum wage and immigration requirements in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.

Workplace Discrimination

Cosponsored HR 2023, a bill to amend the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, and the Civil Rights Act of 1964 to provide more effective remedies to victims of discrimination in the payment of wages on the basis of sex.

Defense, Arms Control and Peace (top)

Bills Sponsored

Arms Surplus Reform Act

Stark introduced HR 2602 to reform the military surplus sale program. Last year's Defense Authorization Act included a Stark provision to report to Congress about the surplus sale program and problems within it. The Pentagon report, released in July, called for Defense Department reforms similar to those proposed by Stark in HR 2602.

Arms Consolidation Project

Stark worked with advocates and Members to consolidate duplicative government agencies selling military systems and weapons for commercial profit. Stark plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the State Department's Office of Direct Commercial Sales and require a national security reason for the sale of military surplus equipment to foreign governments. This effort will provide sunshine and oversight to foreign military sales.

Foreign Airshows

Stark introduced a bill (H.R. 3084), which prohibits the Pentagon from subsidizing the cost of foreign airshows and trade bazaars. Currently, defense contractors are able to transport, display and educate foreign customers while the U.S. taxpayer pays for it. If enacted, the bill will save taxpayers an average of $25 million per year.

Throw Away Your Draft Card

Stark introduced the Military Selective Service Repeal Act, to repeal the Military Selective Service System. This bill would save American taxpayers $23 million a year by pulling the plug on an outdated federal bureaucracy, and doing away with registration for a draft which doesn't exist.

Projects

Building Support for a Code of Conduct

Stark worked with other Members to personally solicit commitments from Members to support the Arms Trade Code of Conduct. As a result, the House passed a code of conduct for arms sales this session. The Senate has failed to pass similar legislation, so Stark will continue to push for passage during the next Congress.

Reduce the Intelligence Budget

Offered an amendment reducing the Intelligence Authorization for FY '99 budget by 5 percent. The amendment did not pass but generated debate about the size of the Intelligence budget.

B2 Bomber

Outspoken critic of this unnecessary and expensive project. Voted to eliminate funding for additional B-2 bombers that the Pentagon did not request but the vote failed 209 to 216.

Cassini Space Probe

Spoke out against the Cassini Launch and urged NASA to reevaluate the use of plutonium as a powering mechanism for space flight.

Nuclear Nonproliferation

Wrote a letter to the Nobel Committee to support the nomination of General Andrew Goodpaster and General George Lee Butler for the Nobel Peace Prize. These two men, who were once responsible for America's nuclear arsenals, are now tirelessly leading the movement to reduce the level of dangerous nuclear arsenals around the globe.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Defense Contractor Subsidies

Cosponsored HR 925, a bill to prohibit the Department of Defense from allowing defense contractors to recoup merger-related restructuring costs from the taxpayers.

Military Sexual Harassment

Cosponsored HR 1072, a bill to establish a commission to investigate certain policies and procedures with respect to the military justice system, including policies and procedures with respect to the investigation of reports of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and unlawful gender discrimination.

Intelligence Disclosure

Cosponsored HR 753, legislation to require a separate, unclassified statement of the aggregate amount of budget outlays for intelligence activities.

Landmines

Cosponsored HR 2459, legislation to restrict the use of funds for new deployments of antipersonnel landmines. Strongly urged the President to participate in the Ottowa Landmine Treaty process. Lobbied individual Members to solicit their support for legislation and generated additional support for the bill, bringing the total number of cosponsors to over 200.

Trade, Foreign Affairs and Human Rights (top)

Bills Sponsored

Nuclear Nonproliferation.

Introduced HR 3333, which sets a comprehensive U.S. policy to address global nonproliferation goals.
Projects

China MFN

Opposed extending Most Favored Nation status to China in the Ways and Means Committee and on the House of Representatives floor based on China's dreadful human rights records, use of child and prison labor, nuclear proliferation and the US-China trade imbalance.

Human Rights in China

Wrote a letter to President Clinton urging him to discuss freeing Chinese prisoner, Wei Jingsheng, when he met with China's President Jiang Zemin. Wei Jingsheng was a political dissident who was imprisoned for his democratic ideals. Wei Jingsheng was released two weeks after Jiang Zemin's visit to the United States.

Fast Track

Wrote a letter to President Clinton encouraging stricter environmental standards before fast track negotiating authority could be considered. The fast track legislation presented to Congress could have resulted in trade agreements that to do not adequately protect the environment or the health and safety of American families. Fast Track efforts failed in the House due to such concerns.

Sea Turtles

Wrote a letter to President Clinton urging the U.S. to appeal a World Trade Organization decision, which would relax regulations regarding sea turtle conservation and shrimp imports. The Administration is working to advance these goals.

US-Mexican Border

Wrote to President Clinton to express the need to maintain border trucking restrictions in order to protect California's highways from uninspected vehicles coming across the border from Mexico.

War Crimes

Urged President Clinton to issue an executive order calling for full implementation of the War Crimes Disclosure Act which would close a loophole in current law that allows government agencies to block the release of valuable information on Nazi war criminals.

Human Rights in El Salvador

Wrote a letter to Secretary Albright requesting another investigation into the 1980 murder of four U.S. churchwomen in El Salvador. The U.S. Ambassador to El Salvador has renewed contact with the families of the victims and with the Lawyers Committee for Human Rights to uncover any new information.

Human Rights in China

Prior to President Clinton's trip to China, Stark wrote a letter to President Clinton asking him to give human rights a central role in his summit agenda with Chinese President Jiang Zemin. The President's televised remarks on human rights violations by the Chinese government while in China expressed the concerns of Stark and many others in Congress.

Human Rights in Indonesia.

Wrote a letter to President Clinton urging him to make central to the Administration's policy toward Indonesia the need for effective action by the Indonesian government to end all official discrimination against ethnic Chinese, prevent any further attacks, identify and prosecute those responsible for the May abuses (in Jakarta), and issue an apology and provide compensation to the victims. The Clinton administration responded by condemning the Indonesian government for these heinous acts and asking them to bring the culprits to justice.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Child Labor

Original cosponsor of HR 2745, a bill that prohibits imports of articles produced or manufactured with bonded child labor.

Nazi War Crimes.

Cosponsor of H.R. 4007, the Nazi War Crimes Disclosure Act will declassify CIA, Defense and State Dept. documents enabling historians, researchers, and the public to view the documents dating to the Cold War years that followed World War II. Bill passed the House in August, the Senate in June and was signed into law in October, 1998.

International Financial Loans

Cosponsored an amendment to HR 4104, the Treasury and Postal Operations Appropriations bill for FY '99 to prohibit financial loans, guarantees, or other obligations from the Exchange Stabilization Fund (ESF) in the U.S. Treasury unless authorized by the U.S. Congress. ESF loans are part of an international tax and transfer cycle that rescues irresponsible risk-taking international banks at the expense of the American taxpayer. Although the amendment did not pass, Stark continues in his efforts to prevent reckless multi-national corporations from obtaining U.S. government bailouts.

Women's Issues (top)

Key Bills Cosponsored

Prescription Contraceptive Coverage

Supported an amendment to H.R. 4101, the Treasury-Postal Appropriations bill, to require that Federal Employees Health Benefits plans cover prescription contraception just as they cover other prescriptions.
This amendment passed the House, marking the only win on the freedom of choice in the 105th Congress. The measure was then removed when the legislation went to conference. The final Omnibus Appropriations bill contains the measure.

Equal Rights Amendment

Co-sponsored H. Res. 26, legislation to provide that upon passage by three additional states (Virginia, Florida, and Illinois), the House will ensure the ratification of the Equal Rights Amendment.

Domestic Violence

Co-sponsored legislation to prohibit individuals convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor from purchasing a gun.

Gun Ownership Restrictions on People with Restraining Orders

Co-sponsored HR 2774, legislation making it illegal for persons with restraining orders for stalking, harassing or threatening an intimate partner or the children of that partner, to purchase a gun.

HIV Research

Co-sponsored HR 1571, legislation addressing the need for increased research on HIV/AIDS in women. This bill includes funding increases for care, and research programs, methods of protection from the transmission of HIV and sexually transmitted diseases, with an emphasis on methods that women can afford and control without the cooperation or knowledge of their male partners. Women are the fastest growing group of people with HIV, with low-income women and women of color being hit the hardest.

Pro Choice in the Military

Fought attempts to limit the choices available to enlisted women and cosponsored legislation to restore freedom of choice to women in the uniformed services serving outside the United States.

Consumer Issues and Community Banking (top)

Projects

Food Labeling

Wrote to Treasury Secretary Rubin to support the adoption of a proposed Customs Service Rule requiring multinational food processors to clearly label the packaging of frozen fruits and vegetables with their country of origin.

Fraudulent Mailing to Seniors

Wrote to SSA Inspector General to denounce illegal mailings from the UNITED SENIORS ASSOCIATION, or USA, Inc., which urges seniors across the country to sign an "emergency" petition to their member of Congress and to accompany it with a check to support USA, Inc. (Also See Health section for more).

Supporting Community Banks

Opposed the Financial Modernization Act of 1998 during House consideration because the bill failed to balance the interest of community banks in competition with large financial institutions. Although the bill passed the house, it failed to be approved in the Senate.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Credit Union Membership Access Act

Cosponsored H.R. 1151, the Credit Union Membership Access Act, to preserve the rights of broad categories of members to continue to enjoy credit union privileges. Without this bill, many credit unions in the Bay Area and nationwide would have had to disband. The bill was signed into law in 1998.

Volunteer Protection

Cosponsored HR 911, a bill to encourage the States to enact legislation to grant immunity from personal civil liability, under certain circumstances, to volunteers working on behalf of nonprofit organizations and governmental entities.

Civil Rights and Gay Rights (top)

Key Bills Cosponsored

Employment Non-Discrimination Act

Original cosponsor of HR 1858, the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to prohibit employers from making decisions about hiring, firing, promoting, or compensating an employee based on sexual orientation.

Military Sexual Harassment

Cosponsored HR 1072, a bill to establish a commission to investigate certain policies and procedures with respect to the military justice system, including policies and procedures with respect to the investigation of reports of sexual misconduct, sexual harassment, and unlawful gender discrimination.

Crime and Gun Control (top)

Projects

March on Drugs

Joined other Members of Congress and interest groups, and educators, in a letter to the President of ABC to urge a broader agenda for their "March on Drugs" programming, citing the campaign's lack of anti-alcohol and anti-tobacco ads and its zero-tolerance message.

M1 Carbine Rifles

Urged the Administration not to lift the ban on the import of so-called "curios or relics," -- American-made M-1 Garand and M-1 carbine rifles sold to Cold War allies, now considered to have historic value. The Clinton Administration had considered lifting the ban on imports but responded favorably to congressional concerns.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Saturday Night Specials

Co-sponsored HR 476 to ban the manufacture and sale of "Saturday Night Specials" -- cheap, easily concealed handguns that do not meet specific safety and quality criteria, the same type of criteria are applied to most other products on the market today.

Firearm Child Safety Lock

Co-sponsored HR 4441 to prohibit any person from transferring or selling a firearm in the United States, unless a "child safety lock" is an integral part of its assembly.

Political Reform (top)

Projects

Conflict of Interest Prohibition

Wrote the House Standards (ethics) committee to protest the use of private sector attorneys by House committee chairmen for official House business when such attorneys continued to represent their private sector clients and receive fees as television commentators. Contracts with outside counsel after the Stark correspondence now contain conflict of interest prohibitions.

IRS Reforms

Supported the conference version of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act after successfully working with sponsors to correct conflict of interest issues for IRS Oversight board members. The bill extends refunds periods, protects innocent spouses, cuts penalties, and makes the IRS generally more responsive to taxpayers.

Tax (top)

Bills Sponsored

Structured Settlement Reform

Sponsored HR 4314, a bill to impose an excise tax on purchasers of structured settlement payments. Aggressive sales tactics are used to pressure the disabled to sell at a deep discount the payments they are entitled to as a result of an injury. The bill, which enjoys broad bipartisan support, creates an economic disincentive to the companies now preying on the disabled. The bill is supported by advocates for the disabled and gained Senate sponsorship toward the end of the 105th Congress.

Projects

IRS Reforms

Supported the conference version of the Internal Revenue Service Restructuring and Reform Act after successfully working with sponsors to correct conflict of interest issues for IRS Oversight board members. The bill extends refunds periods, protects innocent spouses, cuts penalties, and makes the IRS generally more responsive to taxpayers.

Taxpayer Relief Act

Argued and voted against the unfairness of the Taxpayers Relief Act of 1997 because the tax relief was disproportionately targeted to the wealthy: out of $87 billion in capital gains cuts, 81% goes to the richest 5% of Americans, those with incomes of at least $130,000. The top 1% gets an average tax cut of $7,135. The lowest 20% in income get no benefit from the 1997 Act. The bill passed despite strong Democratic opposition.

Saving Social Security

Argued and voted against HR 4579, the Republican 1998 tax bill that had many favorable provisions but paid for them by diverting $80 billion in budget surplus which had been designated to restore the long-term solvency of Social Security. The bill failed because of Senate concerns about paying for the bill by raiding money intended for Social Security.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Marriage Penalty Tax Provision

Cosponsored HR 4597, a bill to reduce the marriage penalty, alleviate minimum tax implications for families claiming education and childcare refundable tax credits, provide a small savers exclusion, extend certain expiring tax provisions that provide incentives for employers to take a chance on the welfare moms and others who may be hard to employ, allow a full deduction for health insurance premiums for the self-employed, and an acceleration of the phase-in for the $30,000 Social Security earnings limit.

Telecommunications (top)

Projects

Web Site Development

Established a web site for constituents. The site includes on-line grant seeking information, constituent resources, legislative updates and an archive of statements and press releases by Stark. Site also includes a section for students with links to educational resources for students of all levels. The site is receiving between 4,000 and 7,000 hits per month.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Internet Business

Cosponsored HR 1054, legislation to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to establish a national policy against State and local interference with interstate commerce on the Internet or interactive computer services, and to exercise congressional jurisdiction over interstate commerce by establishing a moratorium on the imposition of exactions that would interfere with the free flow of commerce via the Internet.

Privacy On-Line

Cosponsored HR 1813, a bill to protect the privacy of the individual with respect to the social security number and other personal information.

Consumer Protection

Cosponsored HR 2112, a bill to amend the Communications Act of 1934 to increase the forfeiture penalty for telephone service slamming and to require providers of such service to report slamming incidents.

Transportation (top)

Projects

Triple Trailer Trucks

Wrote a letter to Governor Pete Wilson expressing opposition to the triple trailer demonstration project along Interstates 40 and 15 in California. Cosponsored H.R. 551 to establish a freeze on existing weight standards and truck lengths on the Interstate and the National Highway System.

No Fault Auto Insurance

Testified before the Joint Economic Committee opposing consideration of federal intervention in the auto insurance market and adamantly opposed "No Fault/Choice" considerations.

San Jose to London Air Routes

Wrote a letter to the Secretary of Transportation, Rodney Slater, requesting a new San Jose-London/Gatwick air transportation route. Decision pending at the Department of Transportation.

Bicycle Lanes on the East Bay Bridge

Wrote a letter to the Metropolitan Transportation Commission to incorporate bicycle lanes to the replacement east span of the Bay Bridge. The bike paths are being considered in the alternative plans.

No Pork in Transportation

Opposed passage of H.R. 2400, the "Building Efficient Surface Transportation and Equity Act (BESTEA)" bill. The bill passed both houses of Congress, Stark wrote an opinion editorial explaining his position to use any budget surplus to save Social Security before paving roads.

Veterans (top)

Projects

Filipino Veterans' Equity Act

Wrote to the Chairman of the Committee on Veterans' Affairs and the Chairmen of the Subcommittees on Benefits and Health to request hearings on HR 836, the Filipino Veterans Equity Act, to fully explore how the exclusion of Filipino World War II veterans from the federal military benefits granted to American veterans has impacted the lives of these former soldiers. The Veterans Affairs Committee held hearings on the bill.

Key Bills Cosponsored

Health Coverage for Military Retirees

Co-sponsored H.R. 76, which would permit Medicare eligible beneficiaries under the military health care system to enroll in the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). The FEHBP is an insurance program through which participants can choose from among a number of different health insurance plans. The government, as the employer, pays approximately 72% of the premium, and the retiree, as the employee, pays the rest. The FEHBP works in conjunction with Medicare and provides more comprehensive benefits than many Medigap plans. This bill would help ensure that military retirees get the health care they need and deserve by granting them the option to join the same plan enjoyed by Federal employees, retirees, and Members of Congress.

Stark supported a similar measure to permit certain beneficiaries in the military health care system to enroll in FEHBP, which was offered as an amendment to HR 3616, the Defense Authorization bill and is scheduled to be signed into law by the President.

Welfare (top)

Projects

Fair Labor Standards Act

Authored an amendment to HR 2015, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, to include workfare participants in Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) protections. This amendment successfully struck language to exclude workfare participants from protections of the FLSA, or any other federal law, therefore allowing States to count Federal benefits in meeting minimum wage and welfare work requirements.

Encouraging Education for Teen Mothers

Offered an amendment to HR 2015, the Balanced Budget Act of 1997, to strike language that would limit the number of teen mothers and other welfare participants credited with work participation by virtue of their participation in secondary or vocational education activities. Stark's amendment spurred later changes to the law to remove teen mothers from these restrictions for 1998 and 1999.

District Issues (top)

Town Meetings

Held regular Town Meetings with constituents throughout the 105th Congress to discuss federal issues and report on the work in Washington.

Cutting Red Tape

Worked on cases on behalf of approximately 2,000 constituents who needed assistance in dealing with a federal government problem.

Keeping Constituents Informed

Mailed 12 newsletters to constituents throughout the district to keep them apprised of key votes, Stark policy initiatives and policy concerns.

Being Responsive to Constituent Questions

Answered approximately 20,000 letters from constituents regarding legislation or other federal interests.

Using the Internet

Posted a web page to keep the public informed of Stark's work and policy concerns, and to receive electronically constituents' comments. The Web Page receives between 4,000 and 7,000 "hits" each month.

Projects

FEMA Assistance for San Leandro

When the El Niño storms hit San Leandro, Stark led the fight to provide assistance to homeowners effected by the Hillside Drive hill slide. Stark contacted FEMA Director Witt and secured a new program for victims of landslides in California. The buyout plan was announced to provide funds to families and homeowners that would have been left homeless by the El Niño storms. Furthermore, Stark wrote to the VA-HUD Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Jerry Lewis to request a $3 million emergency appropriation to stabilize the hillside behind Hillside Drive in San Leandro. This money was not included in the final Republican budget plan. Stark also arranged a meeting between the City of San Leandro officials (Mayor, Emergency Services Coordinator and City Manager) with FEMA Director Witt to discuss alternative funding options for the City to seek stabilization funds.
California Urban Environmental Research and Education Center

Stark continued his fight to fund the California Urban Environmental Research and Education Center (CUEREC). In May of 1998, Stark announced the release of FY 1998 funds to the CUEREC program based at the California State University at Hayward. The FY 1998 funds totaled $300,000. Stark organized a bipartisan group of California Members to request line item funding for FY 1999. The final VA-HUD appropriations bill contains a line item of $900,000 for CUEREC. Stark will work on a permanent authorization for CUEREC and inclusion within the President's proposed budget for FY 2000.

Alameda County Sewer Bill, HR 3996

Stark introduced legislation to help residents of Alameda County and the Alameda County Water District. This bill would authorize the Union Sanitation District to construct a water desalination facility for brackish water in Alameda County.

National Park Service Regulations on Personal Watercraft Use

Organized a group of Members to urge the Administration to establish a ban on the use of personal watercraft in national parks and national recreation areas for safety, nuisance and ecological reasons. The Administration responded by publishing a proposed regulation to ban the use of personal watercraft in all national parks and national recreation areas with 12 specific exemptions, two of which are in California. Stark is currently working with the National Park Service to make these regulations enforceable and permanent. Stark is also encouraging the superintendents at Whiskeytown and Golden Gate National Recreation Areas to adopt specific regulations for the use of personal watercraft within those areas.

Brownfields

Stark announced a grant award of $200,000 to the Alameda County Community Development Agency to assist with the redevelopment of a commercial corridor in San Leandro.

Alviso Slough Abandoned Vessels

Introduced HR 2557 to provide for the removal of abandoned vessels. The bill was designed with the Alviso community in an attempt to give authority to local law enforcement to remove abandoned and derelict vessels in public waterways.

Alameda Air Museum

Assisted local community with the Pentagon and the Smithsonian to help establish the Alameda Air Museum in California. Asked the Smithsonian to work closely with the Alameda Air museum to help with traveling exhibitions and assistance.

Household Hazardous Products

Wrote to PTA's of every school in the 13th CD to announce the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's "Recall Round-Up," a national child-safety campaign to identify hazardous products in the home and to encourage their return or destruction.

Emergency Management

Supported efforts to increase the ability of the Federal Emergency Management Association to be able to assist local communities when disaster strikes. Also requested plans be put in place for disaster management with the approach of the El Niño winter storms. Worked with the California Earthquake Authority to provide materials to individuals requesting information about earthquake insurance and disaster relief.

Hamilton Wetlands

Supported efforts to fund and restore the Hamilton wetlands at the former Military base.
San Francisco Bay & CALFED

Helped secure appropriations for the clean up and restoration of San Francisco Bay. Made sure that preserving the environmental quality of life in the Bay was maintained and fought Republican efforts to dump wastewater in the Bay. $85 million was appropriated for FY 1998.

San Francisco Bay

Worked with other Members from Northern California to reduce the risk of oil pollution and improve the safety of navigation in San Francisco Bay by removing hazards to navigation.

Tibercio Vasquez Health Center

Acted as an intermediary between the Commerce Department's Economic Development Administration and Fremont Bank to enable the clinic to borrow against their clinic site property to upgrade and maintain the property.

Kinship Care

Made recommendations to the Kinship Care Advisory Panel on behalf of Alameda and Santa Clara Counties regarding funding to maintain placements and services for children in relative care. In accordance with the Adoption and Safe Families Act, the Secretary of Health and Human Services is required to convene an advisory panel on kinship care in consultation with the Committee on Ways and Means. The Secretary will report to Congress on children in foster care who are placed in the care of a relative by June 1, 1999.

INS San Jose Office

Joined other East Bay Members in a letter to INS Commissioner Doris Meissner to request that the Immigration and Naturalization Service initiate steps to improve the efficiency and quality of service at the INS San Jose office.

Helping California Florists

Cosponsored HR 54, a bill that amends the Andean Trade Preference Act to exclude imported live plants and fresh cut flowers from duty-free treatment.

Ombudsman for Local Business

• Worked with the Federal Transit Administration to reverse a ruling which relaxed requirements of foreign bus manufactures to claim "Made in the USA." Gillig Corporation, the only bus manufacturer to employ and manufacture entirely in the U.S. is located in Hayward, California. The reversed ruling allows Gillig to compete fairly against foreign bus manufacturers.
• InVision is currently the only company to achieve FAA certification for the explosive detection system (EDS). Having revamped their operations to accommodate the needs of the FAA, InVision was in dire need for the reprogramming to be appropriated promptly to avoid significant reduction in work force and capacity. Any loss of their trained work force and capacity could have caused irreparable damage to the entire operation. At the request of InVision Technologies, Newark, CA, Pete wrote a letter to Congressman Frank Wolf, Chairman of the Approps Subcommittee on Transportation and Related Agencies, to request that the pending supplemental request from the FAA be expeditiously approved. FAA's request for $25.1 million to reprogram was met. Of these funds, $14.4 million will be used to sustain the existing production line for EDS at InVision Technologies.
• Wrote a letter in support of an application to the Department of Commerce for Cirrus Logic, Fremont, CA to become a foreign trade subzone. The designation, which is pending, would allow Cirrus Logic to operate more competitively in the global environment for US semiconductor companies.

Awards (top)

Distinguished Service Award of the Council of American Kidney Societies

Recognized national policy makers who have worked in the past and are currently working to promote and support medical research and practice in the area of kidney disease. Stark was honored for his long-standing involvement on end stage renal disease issues.

Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract

Stark received an award to honor his work on managed care quality issues.

National PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly)

Organization recognized Pete Stark at their annual conference for his enormous contribution to the PACE Program, which was originated in San Francisco, and for his efforts on behalf of the frail elderly.

The American Society of Nephrology (ASN)

Awarded Pete Stark with their ASN Congressional Award at a ceremony October 19, 1998. It is to recognize his efforts on behalf of renal patients and renal physicians. In particular, they are supportive of HR 3940, The Medicare Critical Need GME Protection Act, a bill to allow the Secretary of HHS to make exceptions to Medicare's reimbursement policies for specialty physicians when there is a recognized shortage of such professionals.

District Grants (1997 and 1998) (top)

In the 105th Congress, nearly $300,000,000 in federal dollars has been awarded to the 13th District. Below is a list of grants Stark has supported to help put technology in our schools and libraries, support family reunification and housing programs, and reduce juvenile gun violence, hire new police, and move cops from behind the desk and into our neighborhoods.

1. Crime Victim Compensation Program
$25,489,000 grant from the Department of Justice which will provide funds from the FY96 Crime Victims Fund to enhance the State of California's victim compensation payments to eligible crime victims.

2. Alameda County Manufactured Housing - Hayward
$95,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to create home ownership opportunities for first-time, low-income homebuyers. This grant will fund 19 units with assistance from the Bank of the West.

3. Union City Senior Housing - Union City
$144,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of San Francisco to redevelop an area of vacant land and substandard multi-family housing to provide 44 affordable units for seniors. The building and grounds will be constructed to meet the needs of residents who become frail over time. Assistance provided by Bay View Federal Bank.

5. COPS MORE - San Jose
$1,492,310 grant from the Department of Justice that will allow law enforcement agencies to get officers out from behind the desk and on the beat, by funding equipment and technology as well as the hiring of civilians. The end result for San Jose is the redeployment of 63 full-time officers.

6. FY-97 Air Pollution Control Program
$328,732 grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to provide support to the 13th District for air pollution control.

7. Pulmonary Gene Transfer Delivery Systems
$99,750 grant from the National Institutes of Health: National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Given as part of the Small Business Innovation Research Project to Aradigm Corporation in Hayward.

8. FY 96 Byrne Formula Grant Program
$33,323 grant for the US Department of Justice as part of the Omnibus Crime Control and Safe Streets Act of 1996. This grant is given to California and the total award amount is $49,756,000.

9. Drug Court Grant Program - San Jose
$300,000 grant from the Department of Justice to Santa Clara County to enhance supervision and treatment for its program participants to successfully treat and rehabilitate seriously addicted, non-violent offenders. This enhancement grant will support existing clients and 100 new clients into the drug court program. The program will also increase drug testing and treatment to enable the country to begin a comprehensive information management and evaluation effort.

10. Community Health Center - Oakland
$2,682,218 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Primary Health Care. This grant is given to the West Oakland Health Council to provide for a community health center.

11. Kaiser Research Institute – Oakland
$914,024 grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. This grant will research dietary patterns, sodium intake, and blood pressure through the Kaiser Institute.

12. HIV Emergency Relief Project - Alameda County
$2,819,449 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Services Administration. It will provide for HIV Emergency relief in Alameda County.

13. Crime Victim Assistance
$44,294,000 grant from the Department of Justice Office for Victims of Crime. This grant provides funds from the FY96 Crime Victims Fund to enhance Crime Victim Services in the state of California.

14. Rural Domestic Violence and Child Victimization Enforcement
$534,000 grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs to the State of California that targets Native American and Latino communities. The program will consist of training service providers and policy makers, strengthening local communities, creating a group to discuss rural domestic violence and child victimization issues, and issue a report recommending systematic change in California. The grant will impact 41 counties.

15. Community Health Center - Oakland
$2,308,840 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service Bureau of Primary Care. This is a non-competing continuation grant to La Clinica de la Raza in Oakland for 97-98.

16. Residential Substance Abuse Treatment Program
$3,018,886 grant from the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs to provide funding for the development of substance abuse treatment programs in CA. The program encourages states to adopt comprehensive approaches to substance abuse treatment for offenders, including relapse prevention and aftercare services. The intent is to develop the prisoners' cognitive, behavioral, social, vocational and other skills so as to solve the inmate's substance abuse and related problems.

17. FY 1997 Byrne Formula Grant Program
$51,972,000 grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs to enhance California's criminal justice efforts to combat crime and violence at the state level. The grant will be used to support projects including: multijurisdictional task forces, marijuana eradication, career criminal prosecution, asset forfeiture, fast track prosecution/defense, drug courts and intensive supervision probation and parole.

18. Partnership to Reduce Juvenile Gun Violence
$60,000 grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. The goals that this program hopes to reach are: reduce availability of guns to juveniles, reduce the incidence of juveniles illegally carrying guns, reduce juvenile gun related injuries, increase youth awareness of the consequences of gun violence, increase participation of community residents in public safety efforts, improve community attitude toward law enforcement agencies, and coordinate services for at-risk juveniles.

19. State Arts Association
$840,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts that will be matched with other public and private funding to support arts organizations and projects throughout California.

20. Issues of Ritual Purity in the Dead Sea Scrolls
$4,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities to study this subject.

21. Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration
$5,782,621 grant from the Department of the Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service of money collected from excise taxes. Projects funded by this grant include acquisition and improvement of wildlife habitat, research on wildlife problems, surveys and inventories of wildlife, development of wildlife related recreational facilities and hunter education programs.

22. Violent Offender Incarceration and Truth-in-Sentencing Incentive Grants
$1,502,767 grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs to build or expand correctional facilities and jails to increase secure confinement space for adult and juvenile violent offenders. This award is provided under Tier one of the program, Tiers two and three will be awarded later this year.

23. FY 1996 Public and Indian Housing Economic Development and Supportive Services Program Grant - Oakland
$385,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, office of Public and Indian Housing. This award is made to the Oakland Housing Authority to focus on supportive services for senior/disabled public housing residents. The services will include assistance to ensure independent living, companionship, health, and transportation from scattered sites to programs held at the larger developments.

24. COPS Universal Hiring Program - San Jose
$975,000 grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS). This award will help law enforcement agencies pay for the salary and benefits to hire additional officers. In San Jose, this grant provides for 13 additional full-time officers for a period of three years.

25. Firearms Trafficking Program - Oakland
$100,000 grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. This project will enhance the ability of the Oakland Police Department, in a joint effort with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, to conduct more complete and comprehensive background investigations on applicants for new or renewed Federal Firearms Licenses. The program will also enhance programs to control illicit firearms trafficking and enforce dealer compliance.

26. Union City Senior Center Loan Guarantee Assistance
$3,900,000 in Loan Guarantee Assistance from the Department of Housing and Urban Development. This has been awarded to the City of Union City for the purpose of constructing a senior center and acquiring and demolishing adjacent blighted properties. The Center will complement 45 new units of affordable senior housing, which will be funded separately.

27. Reconstruct Taxiway and Apron
$2,779,045 grant to the Port of Oakland from the Department of Transportation. The Award goes to Metropolitan Oakland International to reconstruct portions of North Field Apron to enhance safety and to meet current standards and capacity needs.

28. Domestic Abuse, Health Status, and HMO Health Care Use
$78,158 grant Award to Kaiser Foundation Research Institute from the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research.

29. Library Services and Construction Act
$385,000 grant awarded by the California State Library to federal Library Services and Construction Act funds for projects in 1996/97 that assist in developing, improving, and delivering library services to citizens.

30. California State University, Hayward MBRS Program
$495,813 grant to California State University, Hayward by the National Institute of Health & National Institute of General Sciences. This grant is awarded for the California State University, Hayward MBRS Programs.

31. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute - Oakland
$194,695 research grant to the Kaiser Foundation from the National Institute of Health, National Cancer Institute. The project is to add new fecal occult blood tests to sigmoidoscopy when screening for colon cancer.

32. Alameda - Contra Costa Transit District
$462,806 grant that will fund the retrofitting of 116 buses with automated public announcement systems. The projects contained in this grant will be used to bring the District's equipment into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

33. Technology Literacy Challenge Fund
$20,568,622 grant from the Department of Education to the California Department of Education. It will use the award under the Technology Literacy Challenge Fund to continue a program designed to stimulate effective applications of education technology in communities across the states.

34. COPS MORE
$101,017.00 grant that will allow policing agencies to acquire equipment and technology, as well as hire civilians, which in turn free up more officer time for community policing.

35. Residency Training in General Internal Medicine/Gen. Pediatrics
$262.040 grant to the Alameda County Medical Center for Residency training in Internal Medicine and General Pediatrics.

36. COPS (Community Oriented Policing Services)
$150,000 grant to the City of Oakland under the Problem-Solving Partnership Funded Applications to help combat the crime problem of non-sexual assault.

37. COPS AHEAD
$4,785,000 Grant will accelerate hiring, education, and deployment of officers in communities with populations of 50,000 or more.

Alameda County	$450,000
Fremont	$375,000
Hayward	$75,000
Milpitas	$135,000
Oakland	$1,275,000
San Jose	$2,325,000
Union City	$150,000

38. COPS DEMO
$387,616 grant
Hayward $187,616
Fremont $200,000

39. COPS Domestic Violence
$348,908 grant to employ community policing to address the crime of domestic violence.
Oakland $199,669
San Jose $149,239

40. COPS Gangs
$500,000 grant to Oakland to address gang violence and the fear of gang violence.

41. COPS MORE
$1,982,642 grant for the purpose of hiring civilians, purchasing equipment or paying overtime in order to redeploy officers from behind desks back out into the community.
Hayward $93,750
San Jose $1,888,892

42. COPS MORE 96
$1,857,784 grant
Alameda County $101,017
Hayward $112,500
Milpitas $45,625
San Jose $1,492,310
Union City PD $106,332

43. COPS PHASE I
$1,748,885 grant is one of the first to be awarded as a result of 1994 VCCA to fund additional PHS applications that were not yet funded.
Alameda PD $966,387
Newark PD $290,246
San Leandro PD $492,252

44. COPS PHS
$1,687,684 grant to the City of Oakland was made available under the 1993 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act for local police departments to hire officers for community policing.

45. COPS PSP
$298,972 grant
Alameda PD $148,972
Oakland $150,000

46. COPS TROOPS
$6,200 Grant to encourage the hiring of recently separated members of the armed services as community policing officers.
Alameda PD $1,200
San Leandro PD $5,000

47. COPS UHP
$1,650,000 grant to assist police departments in hiring additional community policing officers.
Alameda County $450,000
San Jose $975,000
Union City $225,000

48. HUD CDBG
$17,865 grant to San Jose for promoting activities such as public services, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development, neighborhood commercial revitalization, homeless and economic development.

49. HUD ESG
$340,000 grant to San Jose for emergency and transitional housing for the homeless.

50. HUD HOME
$3,378 grant to San Jose to ensure the affordability of homeownership units developed or acquired.

51. HUD HOPWA
$616,000 grant to San Jose to meet urgent housing and supportive services needs.

52. Department of Education Bilingual Education Comprehensive School Grants Program
$209,441 grant to Fremont Unified School District to fund Project Azevada designed to reform and upgrading programs serving culturally and linguistically diverse students at Azevada Elementary School in Fremont.

53. Corporation for National Service, AmeriCorps
$821,087 grant to City Year of San Jose for the City Year Program to provide in-school tutoring, focusing on literacy development in K-3rd grade, and collaborate with community organizations to develop and coordinate summer and after school programs.

54. Corporation for National Service, AmeriCorps Grant
$256,000 Grant to the City of San Jose for the San Jose AmeriCorps, a program developed to increase academic performance of youth through tutoring, creation of inter-session break programs, and increased parent involvement at schools in the San Jose Unified School District.

55. Corporation for National Service, AmeriCorps
$2,215,826 Grant to the Oakland Community Service Collaborative towards tutoring and providing mentors for 800 elementary aged children in the low-income areas of Oakland to develop reading skills and develop basic health vocabulary and concepts.

56. HUD Family Unification Program
$1,103,964 Grant to the San Jose Housing Authority to promote family unification by providing rental assistance to families for whom the lack of adequate housing is a primary factor in the separation, or the threat of imminent separation, of children from their families.

57. Cal State University-Hayward
$125,000 EPA grant to develop a public - private partnership.

58. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
$39,612 Grant to Cal State University, Hayward for investigating an innovative method for enhancing the recovery of certain bacteria to assess fecal contamination in estuarine waters and in shellfish.

59. HUD Supportive Housing Program
$156,752 Grant to Oakland for expiring projects originally funded under Supplemental Assistance for Facilities to Assist the Homeless Program, which will continue operation of facilities serving homeless families and individuals and to offer homeless persons housing and supportive services to achieve independent living.

60. NIH National Cancer Institute
$1,234,821 Grant to Kaiser Foundation Research Institute in Oakland for patient focused cancer control in an HMO population.

61. California Dept. of Housing and Community Development, Federal Emergency Shelter Grant
$116,000 Grant to Emergency Shelter Program, Inc of Alameda County to provide housing opportunities for the homeless.

62. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant
$694,000 to the city of Milpitas for Fiscal Year 1997 includes activities such as Public Service, Public Facilities and Improvement Projects, Housing, Land Assembly and Development, Neighborhood Commercial Revitalization, Homeless and Economic Development.

63. US Department of Housing and Urban Development CDBG, ESG, HOME, and HOPWA grants
$12,865 in CDBG, $340,000 in ESG, $3,378,000 in HOME, and $616,000 in HOPWA funds for the city of San Jose. CDBG includes activities such as Public Services, Public Facilities and Improvement Projects, Housing, Land Assembly and Development; HOME funds to ensure the affordability of homeownership units developed or acquired. HOPWA funds will be used to meet urgent housing and supportive services needs. ESG will be used for emergency and transitional housing for the homeless.

64. US Department of Commerce Regional Centers for the Transfer of Manufacturing Technology Grant
$2,000,000 to The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence. The Recipient will continue in the transfer of manufacturing technology techniques to small and medium sized US businesses to assist them in improving their manufacturing and process capabilities and market competitiveness. The recipient shall continue to apply these techniques to the needs of manufacturers located within their region.

65. Comprehensive Communities Project - East Bay Community Foundation
$100,000 to continue the Comprehensive Communities Initiative for the East Bay Public Safety Corridor Partnership, to provide strategic planning among the cities within the Partnership for Crime Prevention, intervention and control; to coordinate the strategy among public and private organizations and the communities; and to implant specific activities under this strategy. The initiative will continue and expand strategic planning and project activities related to the following elements: community policing, community mobilization, and comprehensive youth violence and gang activities.

66. US Department of Housing and Urban Development CDBG, ESG, HOME, and HOPWA grants
$10,481,000 in CDBG, $3,804,000 in HOME, $247,000 in ESG, and $1,584,000 in HOPWA funds for the city of Oakland. CDBG includes activities such as Public Services, Public Facilities and Improvement Projects, Housing, Land Assembly and Development; HOME funds to ensure the affordability of homeownership units developed or acquired. HOPWA funds will be used to meet urgent housing and supportive services needs. ESG will be used for emergency and transitional housing for the homeless.

67. 1997 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
$258,652 to the city of Fremont
$289,506 to the city of Hayward
$42,514 to the city of Milpitas
$64,881 to the city of Newark
$2,098,878 to the city of Oakland
$373,740 to the county of Alameda
$1,418,261 to the city of San Jose
$140,391 to the city of San Leandro
$71,306 to the city of Union City

68. National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute Grant
$385,551 to Children's Hospital Medical Center in Oakland to study the Significance of Membrane Phospholipid Asymmetry.

69. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant
$1,695,000 to the city of Fremont for Fiscal Year 1997 includes activities such as public service, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development, neighborhood commercial revitalization, homeless and economic development.

70. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant
$1,777,000 to the city of Hayward for Fiscal Year 1997 includes activities such as public service, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development, neighborhood commercial revitalization, homeless and economic development.

71. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant
$827,000 to the city of San Leandro Fiscal Year 1997 includes activities such as public service, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development, neighborhood commercial revitalization, homeless and economic development.

72. US Department of Housing and Urban Development CDBG, HOME, and ESG funds
$2,674,000 in CDBG , $813,000 in HOME, and $89,000 in ESG funds for the County of Santa Clara. CDBG includes activities such as public services, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development; HOME funds to ensure the affordability of homeownership units developed or acquired. ESG will be used for emergency and transitional housing for the homeless.

73. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant
$768,000 to the city of Union City Fiscal Year 1997 includes activities such as public service, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development, neighborhood commercial revitalization, homeless and economic development.

74. US Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Development Block Grant
$2,138,000 to the county of Alameda Fiscal Year 1997 includes activities such as public service, public facilities and improvement projects, housing, land assembly and development, neighborhood commercial revitalization, homeless and economic development.

75. US Department of Education Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Grant
$306,752,484 to the state of California for Part B, Section 611 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to assist in providing a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities.

76. US Department of Education State Student Incentive Grant Program
$7,835,538 to the state of California to provide grants and work-study jobs to students with substantial financial need to help them attend postsecondary institutions.

77. US Department of Education Preschool Grants Program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
$35,705,497 to the state of California to assist them in providing special education and related services to children with disabilities aged 3 through 5 years, and, at a state's discretion, to 2-year-old children with disabilities who will reach age 3 during the school year.

78. San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District Full Funding Grant
$750,000,000 in federal participation for the BART-SFO extension to the airport's international terminal.

79. Challenge Grants Program to the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning
$1,175,600 for the State Challenge Activities program.

80. National Endowment for the Humanities
$59,841 to San Jose State University Foundation for the Latin American Nationalism, 1845 to 1938 project.

81. National Endowment for the Humanities Grant
$251,020 outright plus and offer of up to $250,000 matching to Oakland Museum/Museum of California Fund for the Gold Fever: The Lure and Legacy of the California Gold Rush.

82. Corporation for National Service AmeriCorps grants for the State Commission on National Service
$287,796 to the Volunteer Center of Alameda County in Oakland for the ACCORD for Youth project. Members work in teams with service agencies to coordinate service learning activities throughout the country for K-12 students. Members generate college level student volunteers to tutor/mentor educationally at risk students.

83. California ReLeafe/National Urban Forestry Grant Program
$97,000 to the Dunsmuir House and Gardens museum in Oakland to develop a tour of the estate's trees. The tour will highlight the trees that are suitable for residential planting in the Bay Area.

84. Department of Energy's Small Business Innovation Research Grant Program
$74,987 to Deep Ocean Engineering to develop a system for gathering and transmitting data from the deep ocean which will aid in mapping the ocean floor, search and recovery operations, and fisheries research.

85. National Institutes of Health National Eye Institute Small Business Innovation Research Grant
$368,626 to Neurometrics Institute.

86. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute Research Grant
$220,778 to the Northern California Cancer Center.

87. Housing Authority, City of Oakland
$8,430,492 HUD grant for public housing modernization.

88. Department of the Navy Contract Awards
$9,575,885 to Raytheon TI Systems, Advanced C3I Systems for mission data planning, including software and systems development for the Tomahawk Missile.

89. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Community Outreach Partnership Centers Grant Program
$399,979 to San Jose State University to expand centers for applied research and outreach to communities. Activities include assisting the City with planning, creating a Campus Environs Incubator Without Walls program to help individuals start or expand business, offering technology workshops at elementary schools, and conducting workshops to help get parents involved in school activities.

90. National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute Grant
$232,013 to the Bay Area Tumor Institute.

91. National Institutes of Health National Institute of Dental Research Grant
$104,327 to the Kaiser Foundation Research Institute.

92. U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Grant
$300,000 to the City of San Jose.

93. U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Public Housing Modernization Comprehensive Grant Program
$914,258 to the Santa Clara County Housing Authority for the improvement of public housing.

94. Department of Health and Human Services Administration for Children and Families Financial Assistance Award
$107,500 to the Catholic Charities of Santa Clara.

95. U.S. Department of Justice Office of Community Oriented Policing Services Grant
$225,000 to the Union City Police Department.

96. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Grant
$20,000 to the Environmental Justice Program at La Clinica De La Raza.

97. Berkeley Planning Assoc., Oakland
$49,996 HHS, HCFA grant for the creation of the Practitioner's Guide to Health Services for Women with Disabilities.

98. City of San Jose
$175,000 DOJ grant from the Office of Justice Programs for the Weed and Seed Program, to coordinate the delivery of criminal justice and social services to eliminate violent crime, drug-trafficking, and drug-related crime. This program will "weed" from that neighborhood criminal offenders engaged in drug crimes and other violent offenses, stabilize the neighborhood through community-oriented policing, and "seed" that neighborhood with housing, employment and social sustaining programs.

99. Primex Physics International, San Leandro
$2,810,000 contract awarded by the Defense Special Weapons Agency for a Decade Quad X-Ray Radiation Simulator. (50% of the work will be performed in San Leandro, 50% in Tullahoma, Tennessee.)

100. Community Bank of the Bay, Oakland
$1,657,750 grant from the Treasury Department for increasing its lending and other services within impoverished neighborhoods.

101. Alameda County Housing Authority, Hayward
$201,600 HUD grant for the improvement of public housing.

102. Alameda County Health Care Service Agency , San Leandro
$50,000 grant from the HHS Health Resources and Services Administration and the Maternal and Child Health Bureau for the Oakland Healthy Start Program.

103. Northern California Cancer Center, Union City
$398,733 grant from the NIH National Cancer Institute for the epidemiology of EBV-defined Hodgkin's Disease.

104. Finnigan Corporation, San Jose
$625,000 grant from the Department of Energy for the Finnigan thermal ionization mass spectrometer.

105. Kaiser Foundation Research Institute, Oakland
$400,241 grant from the NIH National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute for the study of oral contraceptives and thromboembolic disease.

106. City of San Jose
$1,000 grant from the U.S. DoJ for the San Jose's Weed and Seed program, coordinated through AmeriCorps and JustServe. The Americorps-JustServe project will provide six team members to promote public safety in the Weed and Seed target community. The team members will be working with the San Jose Police Department, the Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services, community based organizations, the schools and other city agencies.

107. Coyote Creek Riparian Station
$30,000 grant from the EPA for the demonstration of the Bay Area Watersheds Science Plan at Permanente Creek.

108. Asian Americans for Community Involvement, San Jose
$150,000 grant from the HHS Office of Refugee Resettlement for naturalization and citizenship processes.

109. Braun Research Corporation, Castro Valley
$363,000 grant from the NIH National Cancer Institute, through the Small Business Innovation Research Program, for new technologies for mammographic X-ray tubes.

110. Oakland Police Department
$250,000 for Advancing Community Policing in the Priority Area of Leadership & Management.

111. San Jose Police Department
$249,578 for Advancing Community Policing in the Priority Area of Leadership & Management.

112. Litton Applied Technology (San Jose)
$9,406,694 firm-fixed price contract to procure 24 AN/ALR-67B(V)2 countermeasures receiving sets for the Spanish Air Force F/A-18 Program under the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) Program. Work will be performed in San Jose, CA, and is expected to be completed by August 1999.

113. Oakland Housing Authority
$858,000 awarded under the FY 97 Public and Indian Housing Drug Elimination Program. The Oakland Housing Authority's 1997 drug elimination program will give residents of large West Oakland public housing developments and select scattered sites throughout the city of Oakland, the means to resist drugs and drug-related crime and encourage them to become an integrated part of the community.

114. Local Law Enforcement Block Grants Program
Program administered by the Bureau of Justice Assistance (BJA), U.S. Department of Justice. The purpose of the LLEBG is to provide funds to units of local government to underwrite projects to reduce crime and improve public safety. Awards in the 13th CD are as follows:

Hayward $289,506
San Leandro $140,391
San Jose $1,418,261
Oakland $2,098,878
Fremont $258,652
Newark $64,881
Union City $71,306
Alameda Cty $373,740
Santa Clara Cty $141,342

115. Alameda Applied Sciences Corp.
$99,974 awarded by the National Institutes of Health National Center for Research Resources for a microchannel plate anti-scatter grid for radiography.

116. Housing Authority of Oakland
$785,989 joint award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to move public housing and Section 8 families from West Oakland off of welfare and into self-sufficiency. This effort combines the resources of existing neighborhood revitalization efforts.

117. City of Oakland
$230,404 renewal grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to provide assistance for expiring projects which were originally funded under the Supportive Housing Demo Program, to continue to operate facilities serving homeless families and individuals and to offer homeless persons help to get the housing and supportive services they need to achieve independent living.

118. Oakland Housing Authority
$858,000 awarded under the FY 97 Public and Indian Housing Drug Elimination Program. The Oakland Housing Authority's 1997 drug elimination program will give residents of large West Oakland public housing developments and select scattered sites throughout the city of Oakland, the means to resist drugs and drug-related crime and encourage them to become an integrated part of the community.

119. COPS Universal Hiring Award Announcement (2/11/98)
City of Fremont 2 full time positions $75,000
City of Hayward 12 full time positions $900,000
Union City 2 full time positions $150,000

120. Alameda Reuse and Redevelopment Authority, Alameda.
(Co-applicants: Cal State - Hayward and the Alameda Center for Environmental Technologies)
$350,000 grant from the Department of Commerce to implement the Alameda Center for Environmental Technologies (ACET) Small Business Environmental Incubator Program in existing facilities at Alameda Point as part of a defense base reutilization strategy. ACET will recruit new environmental businesses, and develop support programs designed to assist high-tech environmental start-ups with ACET professional staff.

121. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grant for the San Francisco Bay.
$18,000 grant to the State of California will provide the funds necessary to continue studying burrowing owl populations in the San Francisco Bay. The burrowing owl is a species of special concern in the State of California.

122. CUEREC - The California Urban Environmental Research and Education Center (Cal State-Hayward).
$300,000 grant from the EPA to help mobilize the expertise of the Cal State system to help local California communities address specific environmental problems. CUEREC also gives students hands-on experience in environmental problem solving.

123. The Corporation for Manufacturing Excellence (MANEX), Fremont.
$184,204 grant from the Department of Commerce for MANEX's Measurement & Engineering Research & Standards program to develop models, approaches, products, resources, and lessons learned to enable MEP centers to support the development of the future workforce.

124. Corporation for National Service -- AmeriCorps grants

Bay Area Community Resources (San Jose)
$255,983 for the San Jose AmeriCorps program, whose members address the needs of students who have a low rate of academic success. Members concentrate on tutoring students, coordinating recreation programs, reducing truancy, etc.

City Year, Inc. - City Year San Jose/Silicon Valley:
$821,087 for the San Jose AmeriCorps program, who tutor youth, serve as mentors, provide assistance to low-income families, seniors and non-profit organizations.

Oakland Community Service Collaborative - East Bay Conservation Corps:
$2,215,826 for members who serve as literacy tutors, serve in a school health program, and help to develop service learning curricula and activities.

125. Cal State-Hayward
$98,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities for the following project: Textile Analysis from the Huaca Cao Viejo, Chicama Valley, Peru.

126. Soane BioSciences, Inc.
$99,007 grant from the National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, for the development of a novel temperature cycling approach.

127. Alameda Applied Sciences Corp.
$100,000 from the Department of Energy's Small Business Technology Transfer Program, for a project entitled: A Vacuum Arc Ion Source for Heavy Ion Fusion. The project will develop ion beam technology for fusion reactors of the future, leading to clean and renewable sources of energy.

128. Federal Campus-Based Student Financial Assistance (1998-99 academic year)
FPL -Federal Perkins Loan
FSEOG -Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
FWS -Federal Work Study

 

SCHOOL FPL FSEOG FWS

 

Life Chiropractic Col. San Lorenzo $22,099 $11,943 $284,327

Ohlone College, Fremont $61,758 $53,361

Sequoia Institute, Fremont $132,913 $101,319

Silicon Valley College, Fremont $77,931 $47,233

Cal State-Hayward $889,189 $341,390 $482,603

Chabot College, Hayward $147,120 $138,458

129. California State Library Grants
Award of federal Library Services and Technology Act funds for projects to assist in improving and delivering library services.

Mills College Library, Oakland $6,215
San Leandro Public Library $22,969
Alameda County Library $27,529
(includes Fremont Branch, Hayward Public Library, and Oakland Public Library)

The following libraries have been named new program participants:
InFo People (Internet for People, connecting through CA libraries):
Alameda Free Library
Oakland Public Library
San Leandro Public Library
Ethnic Materials Collections (for the needs of new citizens in these communities)
Hayward Public Library
San Leandro Public Library
Non-English Language Materials Grant Program (for non-English readers)
San Leandro Public Library
Steps Toward Linking Region II (a common point of online access to resources)
Alameda County
Santa Clara County
Building Community Support for California Public Libraries (revitalization of library foundations)
Alameda County Public Library
Common Ground: Building Community Consensus (continues an initiative to support discussion and understanding of public policy issues such as immigration and juvenile violence)
Santa Clara County Public Library

130. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service grants to counties under the Refuge Revenue Sharing Act of 1978.

Alameda County $119,847.00
Santa Clara County $18,358.00

131. Ribogene, Inc. – Hayward, CA
$96,001 grant from the National Institute of Health's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases for their project to research a novel antifungal drug target.

132. City of Oakland
$174,993 grant from the Department of Justice for the city's Weed and Seed program to coordinate the delivery of criminal justice and social services to eliminate violent crime and drug trafficking.

133. City of San Jose
$210,000 grant from the Department of Justice for the city's Weed and Seed program to coordinate the delivery of criminal justice and social services to eliminate violent crime and drug trafficking.

134. Alameda Applied Sciences Corp. – San Leandro
$75,000 from the Department of Energy Small Business Innovation and Research program to develop a new diamond switch for use in the accelerator research community. It promises higher reliability and longer life than currently used switches.

135. Santa Clare County Probation Department
$300,000 grant from the Department of Justice to enhance the existing drug court for male and female non-violent abusing juveniles between the ages of 12 and 17 who commit misdemeanor and certain felony crimes.

136. Port of Oakland
$2,970,281 grant to Oakland International Airport to rehabilitate taxiways and aprons, and to enhance safety and meet current standards.

137. The Volunteer Center of Alameda County (Oakland)
$281,740 AmeriCorps grant to help teachers identify and cultivate high quality community partnerships in order to create community-based learning activities. Members recruit and train community volunteers.

138. Mission Medical, Inc.
$327,810 grant from the National Institutes of Health National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute to support testing of a new system or circulatory support.

139. Alameda Applied Sciences Corporation
$749,977 grant from the Department of Energy Small Business Innovation Research Program to develop a new class of diamond switches to protect heating systems in fusion reactors.

140. Northern California Cancer Center
$30,900 National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute grant to test the Reliability of EBV detection in Hodgkin's Disease Tumors.

141. Oakland Private Industry Council
$5,000,000 Welfare-to-Work grant to the EASTBAY WORKS Regional One-Stop Center System, a regional partnership designed to provide transitional services to hard-to-employ welfare recipients living in the East Bay.

142. COPS Universal Hiring Award Announcement
Milpitas $225,000
Oakland $4,200,000
San Jose $4,575,000

143. Alameda County Community Development Agency
$200,000 EPA grant through the Brownfields Assessment Demonstration Pilot to support the redevelopment of a commercial corridor in San Leandro's Ashland and Cherrywood Communities.

144. Office of the City Manager – Oakland
$250,000 grant from the Department of Justice to implement a Data Integration Project to eliminate the impediment of database systems not being easily cross-referenced by providing effective information sharing across public agencies.

145. Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Program
Grant from the Department of Justice Bureau of Justice Assistance to hire and train additional law enforcement officers and to procure equipment and technology.
City of Fremont $279,664
City of Hayward $278,609

146. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG)
The following grantees will use CDBG (Community Development Block Grant) funds for development of viable urban communities by providing decent housing and suitable living environment and expanding economic opportunities, principally for persons of low and moderate income. HOME funds will assist the participating jurisdiction in implementing local housing strategies designed to increase homeownership and affordable housing opportunities for low- and very low-income Americans. ESG is used to provide assistance for rehabilitation or conversion of building s for use as emergency shelter for the homeless, for payment of certain operating and social services in connection with emergency shelter for the homeless, and homeless prevention activities. HOPWA will provide housing opportunities for people with AIDS.
San Jose $12,484,000 in CDBG, $3,607,000 in HOME, $491,000 in ESG and $620,000 in HOPWA
Alameda County $2,038,000 in CDBG, $3,193,000 in HOME
San Leandro $797,000 in CDBG
Union City $749,000 in CDBG

147. Cal State Hayward
$194,143 from the Department of Education for the Career Ladder Program. This program promotes certification for bilingual teachers and other educational personnel who serve limited English proficient students.

148. Bay Area Tumor Institute – Oakland
$13,795 from the National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine to support upgrades for their internet connection.

149. Children's Hospital – Oakland
$269,959 from the National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute to study the regulation and potential role of sphingosine in cancer.

150. Alameda County Office of Education
$175,000 from the Department of Education for project SUCCESS, to develop interventions for LEP students in grades 7-12 to meet graduation requirements with options for a viable career.

151. COPS School-Based Partnership Grants
$126,236 to the Oakland Unified School District to address loitering on school grounds resulting in crime or a student safety problem.
$128,129 to Alameda County to address violent crime.