Representing the 7th U.S. Congressional District of Maryland
http://www.mail.house.gov/cummings
2235 Rayburn House Office Building Washington, DC 20515
(202) 225-4741 (tel.) (202) 225-3178 (fax)

May 4, 2005

Dear Constituent:

It is both a privilege and an honor to represent you in the United States Congress. While serving you, I will continue my outreach efforts to inform you of legislative action. I welcome your advice. Government “by the people” is the cornerstone of my legislative philosophy.

To better serve you closer to home, I invite you to visit or contact one of my district offices, listed on the following pages. In Howard County, my staff and I make regular outreach visits at various community centers. We look forward to hearing from you!

Sincerely,

Elijah E. Cummings
Member of Congress

^{On April 14, Congressman Cummings voted against the Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act (S. 256) because it would severely jeopardize those who are trying to get their finances in order.}

^{The bill makes it harder for individuals to file for bankruptcy, a process that allows those who have high debt to cash in on their assets and then distribute the earnings to their debtors.}

^{“Supporters of the bill claim that bankruptcy laws allow people to spend as much as they want, and then have their debts forgiven.” Congressman Cummings said, “However, bankruptcy gives those who have been affected by unemployment or heavy medical bills a chance to have some financial control.}

^{According to experts, recent bankruptcies have occurred due to slow job creation and the lack of health insurance.}

^{President Bush signed the bill on April 20. However, Congressman Cummings said he will continue to work with his colleagues to amend the act so that those set back by the slow economy would have an option to keep their finances in order through bankruptcy.}

^{Congressman Cummings Introduces Bill Requiring Loans Instead of Grants for Iraq’s Infrastructure Reconstruction}

^{As a Member of the House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Cummings reintroduced legislation on April 19 that would require that any further assistance provided by the United States to finance Iraq’s transportation infrastructure be in the form of loans subject to repayment instead of grants. The bill is H.R. 1686. Congressman Cummings introduced a similar bill in the 108th Congress, which adjourned before the bill was considered.}

^{"Before the war, the Bush Administration pledged that Iraq would be able to finance virtually all of its own reconstruction through its extensive oil reserves, which are the second largest in the world," Congressman Cummings said. "But today, U.S. tax dollars, instead of Iraq’s oil revenues, are financing Iraq's reconstruction."}

^{To date, U.S. taxpayers have committed $873 million to support the redevelopment of}

^{transportation and telecommunications infrastructure in Iraq. All of this funding has been in the form of grants, which do not have to be paid back.}

^{"While we continue to fund Iraq's transportation system, including extensive bridge and}

^{road reconstruction in that country, we are failing to adequately fund our own transportation system."}

^{Congressman Cummings further expressed concern that Congressional Republican leaders have consistently delayed the passage of the Transportation Equity Act: Legacy for Users (TEA-LU), a major highway and transit reauthorization bill. As a result of this inaction and failure to adequately fund transportation in the United States:}

^{• Growing congestion is costing Americans an estimated $67 billion in wasted time and fuel annually;}

^{• Our states lack adequate resources to improve the safety of the U.S. highway system, on which 42,000 people die annually; and}

^{• States have incurred more than $77 billion in transportation-related debt.}

^{"I am further troubled that while President Bush focuses on Iraq’s transportation needs, he refuses to spend one dime to fund Amtrak, our national passenger rail system," Congressman Cummings said. "We should not give Iraq a free ride while our own transportation system is underfunded.”}

^{III. Commentary By Congressman Cummings}

^{The long good-bye}

^{Nancy Reagan used the phrase, “the long good-bye,” to describe the hardships and heartbreak that her family endured during the years that former President Ronald Reagan battled Alzheimer’s disease. For millions of American families, it is a sad, but fitting, reflection of their lives - one that they know all too well.}

^{“Big Jim” was the strong husband and father of one of these families. A hero in World War II, Big Jim and his wife Margaret worked hard every day of their lives until, finally, they were able to retire in their small home.}

^{They were inseparable, sharing a love that had spanned more than half a century - a love that brought smiles to the faces of their friends. Then, in the midst of these golden years together, Big Jim began to forget.}

^{At first, Big Jim and Margaret shrugged off his memory lapses as “age.” They joked about his growing forgetfulness - memory losses that became more frequent during the months and years that followed.}

^{A day came, however, when Big Jim went to the auto parts store to buy some oil for his car - and could not remember how to get home.}

^{Big Jim was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Margaret, suffering from health problems herself, finally had to place Big Jim in a nursing home. When she was not satisfied with the care that Big Jim was receiving there, she brought him back to their little house.}

^{Big Jim lived there for several years, lying on a hospital cot set up in their small living room, while Margaret and their son, Jim, Jr., devoted their every waking hour to caring for this man they loved - this hero from WWII who no longer could remember their names.}

^{It is heart-wrenching to watch a loved one gradually lose the struggle against Alzheimer’s - a progressive, degenerative disease that slowly destroys the cells of the brain. The hardship that a patient’s family must endure can be overwhelming.}

^{As Big Jim declined, Margaret’s own health suffered from the long and hard labor of caring for her husband. Their son, Jim, Jr., almost lost his job because of all the time he had to take away from work.}

^{Their story - as much as the struggle that former President Reagan’s family faced - should be a lesson for all of us.}

^{No cure has been discovered that would protect us against Alzheimer’s. Once the disease has been contracted, the brain’s cells will continue to be killed.}

^{However, doctors have discovered that early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s can often slow the disabling effects of the disease. They can prolong the patients’ functional abilities and shorten the years that they and their families must suffer.}

^{We each have it within our power to shorten the “long good-bye” that Mrs. Reagan endured.}

^{This knowledge is important for everyone and, especially, for African American families.}

^{Alzheimer’s is known as the “silent epidemic” in the Black community - a threat that has stolen into our community, like a thief in the night, and taken some of our most precious resources - our grandparents and parents, our husbands and wives.}

^{A recent study concluded that African Americans are significantly more likely to succumb to Alzheimer’s than white Americans, in all likelihood because of our increased risk of other health problems and reduced access to high quality care.}

^{As a result, diagnosis of Alzheimer’s often comes too late in our community - long after the disease has progressed to a serious stage and treatment becomes less effective.}

^{During the next 30 years, the number of African Americans ages 65 and over who are at greatest risk for the disease will more than double.}

^{It is clear from these alarming statistics that we must no longer stay silent.}

^{Each of us has the power to become informed about this terrifying and widespread disease. The Alzheimer’s Association is a good place to begin: <http://www.az.org.>}

^{Second, a healthy lifestyle is believed to reduce our vulnerability. We can reduce the calories and fats in our diets, as well as the alcohol, salt, processed foods and refined carbohydrates that we consume.}

^{Third, we can remember Big Jim and Margaret’s story - and have regular medical exams so that we do not wait too long to discover the disease and begin treatment.}

^{Finally, we now understand that a more diverse participation and expanded federal funding are needed to accelerate the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of this deadly disease.}

^{Scientists are on the verge of amazing breakthroughs. For instance, groundbreaking research currently being conducted at the National Institutes of Health holds much promise for identifying potential treatments for Alzheimer’s.}

^{These are just some of the reasons that I supported legislation introduced by Senator Barbara Mikulski to provide $1.4 billion in Federal funding for Alzheimer’s research and co-sponsored a similar bill in the House.}

^{Fortunately, there now are many federal protections in place to monitor these research initiatives and ensure that those who participate will be treated fairly and safely. A list of complying studies can be found at <http://www.clinicaltrials.gov>.}

^{Alzheimer’s is not a threat that we can afford to ignore. It is likely to affect almost every family.}

^{However, by taking greater control of our own health, we can minimize our risk and reduce the harm that this frightening disease can cause.}

^{We each have it within our power to extend our lives and soften the “long good-bye” for our families.}

Baltimore Office
^{1010 Park Avenue, Suite 105
Baltimore, MD 21201
(410) 685-9199 and (410) 685-9399 fax}

Catonsville Office
754 Frederick Road
Catonsville, Maryland 21228
(410) 719-8777 and (410) 455-0110 fax

Howard County Outreach Centers
First Monday of the Month:
Glenwood Library, 2350 Route 97
Cooksville, MD 21723
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment

Second Monday of the Month:
Howard County Central Library
10375 Little Patuxent Pkwy.
Columbia, MD 21044
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment

Second Wednesday of the Month:
Savage Library, 9525 Durness Lane
Laurel, MD 20723
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment

Third Monday of the Month:
Florence Bain Senior Center
5470 Ruth Keeton Way
Columbia, MD 21044
Hours: 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM or by appointment

Fourth Monday of the Month:
Miller Branch Library, 9421 Frederick Road
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Hours: 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM or by appointment
For more information, call (410) 685-9199