|
Honored for Strengthening Health Care
Recently my efforts to improve health care were recognized by two national organizations. For my work to promote glaucoma awareness, I was presented with an "Eye Care for You Award" by the Friends of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus Foundation. Glaucoma, which affects about 3 million Americans, is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve and can lead to blindness. With no readily apparent symptoms, half of all affected Americans do not realize that they have glaucoma until the disease starts to gradually steal their sight. As a founding member of the Congressional Glaucoma Caucus, I have held numerous free eye screenings in Brooklyn and will continue to do so.
I was also selected as this year's winner of the National Marrow Donor Program's 2003 "C.W. ‘Bill' Young" Congressional Award. The Marrow Donor Program is a cause that I am proud to champion in the U.S. Congress to help raise awareness, strengthen existing programs, and provide funding for new outreach efforts. The Program has one overall purpose, and that is saving lives. By helping people with life threatening blood disorders find unrelated, suitable donors, the organization's efforts are giving patients new hope. I am especially grateful for recent efforts to increase donor registration among the minority community. I look forward to continuing to work with the National Marrow Donor Program to ensure that everyone has an equal chance at finding a suitable donor.
Passage of James Davis Post Office Bill
I am pleased to announce congressional passage of S.1590, which will rename the post office located at 315 Empire Boulevard in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, New York, the "James E. Davis Post Office Building." The bill was signed into law by the President in December. Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-New York) introduced the bill in the Senate and I introduced an identical version in the House of Representatives. One could always see the love James had for his neighbors and constituents. Naming a post office after him will be a lasting tribute to all of his hard work for the community that he loved so much. While we still have a heavy heart for losing such a good friend, the James E. Davis post office can help us to celebrate his life.
Fighting to Protect Nation's Waterways
I, along with several House colleagues, sent a letter to the President urging him not to undermine environmental protections for our nation's waterways. Recently, the Administration announced a plan to eliminate Clean Water Act jurisdiction over many of the nation's streams, wetlands and other waters that have long been protected by the federal law. Over the last 30 years, we have made great progress toward meeting the goal of the Clean Water Act to restore and maintain the integrity of the nation's waters. If the President goes forward with this proposal, it would be a giant step backward. Earth Justice, a national environmental adequacy group, wrote me to thank me for urging the President not to adopt this harmful rule.
Pressing for Air Quality Answers from EPA
I, along with Eliot Engel (D-NY) sent a letter to the Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee urging hearings into misleading statements by the White House and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about the air quality at Ground Zero shortly after the September 11th attacks. We sent the letter to the Chairman of the Committee calling for a hearing on the White House's and EPA's misleading statements about the air quality at Ground Zero. The fact that the Administration would be less than 100 percent truthful when New Yorkers' lives and long term health was at stake is unconscionable. To regain any semblance of trust from New York City residents on this issue, we need a thorough investigation into whether we were purposely misled about the air quality following 9/11. At the end of last summer, the EPA Inspector General released a report stating that the White House pressured EPA officials to intentionally mislead the public about the poor air quality around the World Trade Center site.
|
|