|
|
Congressman Bob Filner's
Congressional Update
September
2006 |
In this Issue:
-
A New Direction for
America
-
Responding to the Latest Data Theft at
the VA
-
A Solution to the Longstanding Railroad
Crossing Problems at the Border
-
Working to Enhance U.S. Trade with the
Philippines
-
Crimefighters of the Month
-
Constituent Mail Bag
-
Useful Web Site: Library Card Sign-up
Month
|
A New Direction
for America: Charting a Course to
Put America Back on Track
With record gas
prices, escalating health care and education costs,
rising inflation and stagnating wages, more and more
Americans believe America is on the wrong track.
Many high school
graduates cannot afford college. Record budget
deficits are stealing money from vital programs.
American soldiers are engaged in a deadly and
expensive war in Iraq--and serious threats loom from
Iran and North Korea.
The policies of the
Bush Administration and Congressional Republicans
are not helping our families and are taking the
country in the wrong direction.
America deserves
better--and its time for a change. Congressional
Democrats are taking the lead in putting our country
back on track. We believe America should work
for everyone. We are proposing a legislative
agenda that charts a new direction for the country,
a direction that builds opportunity and prosperity
for all, and guarantees real security at home and
around the world--putting the common good of all
Americans first for a change.
Real Security at Home and Overseas
The new direction
for America proposes to reclaim American leadership
with a tough smart plan to that transforms the
failed polices of the current administration in
Iraq, the Middle East and around the world.
Health Care
The new agenda makes
affordable health care a top priority. Under
this plan, the needs of children, families, and
seniors are placed ahead of drug companies and HMOs.
This means working towards legislation that makes
prescription drugs affordable and provides quality
health care to all.
Energy
Independence
To keep our country
strong, we must work to keep America free from
dependence on foreign oil and create a cleaner
environment with initiatives for energy-efficient
technologies and domestic alternatives such as
biofuels. We must end tax giveaways to big oil
companies and enact tough laws to stop price
gouging.
Education
Making America work
for everyone is about giving everyone the
opportunity to succeededucation is the key to
success. Democrats strongly support making
college affordable to all. Amongst the
initiatives supported by Democrats are cutting
student loan interest rates and expanding Pell
Grants. I am working to make college tuition
deductible from taxes and to cut student loan costs.
Jobs and Better Pay
It is not fair that
Americans are working more and making less. This is
why Democrats support increasing the minimum wage.
In order to help keep Americas families financially
stable, the minimum wage needs to be raised and tax
giveaways that encourage companies to move jobs out
of America should be repealed.
Retirement
Security and Dignity
We are also
committed to stopping any plan to privatize Social
Security, in whole or in part. We want to enact
real pension reform to protect employees
financial security from CEO corruption and
mismanagement.
There are serious
challenges facing the nation. Its time we stop
talking and get moving on doing what is necessary to
get the country back on track and move America in a
new direction.
Meeting with children from the
National City Boys & Girls Club to
kick off a campaign for A New
Direction for America
|
Responding to the Latest Data Theft at the VA
I am
deeply concerned over the latest data theft
involving the Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA). According to the VA, the sensitive
personal information of Pennsylvania
veterans was compromised by a VA
subcontractor. The data was on a desktop
computer, which disappeared from a secure
area of a Washington, D.C. area company.
Although I applaud the VAs
timely notice regarding this tragic event, I
believe that this latest revelation
highlights once again why it is important
that H.R. 5835, the Veterans Identity and
Security Act of 2006, be speedily
adopted by the House of Representatives when
Congress reconvenes in September. When
veterans are harmed as the result of
government action or in-action, remedies
must be provided by the federal government.
H.R. 5835, which I have
introduced with Chairman Steve Buyer,
addresses internal VA management of
information technology, mandates speedy
notification in the event that the sensitive
personal information of veterans is
compromised, and provides veterans with the
tools they need to protect their credit.
The bill also puts in place additional
protections such as free credit reports,
fraud resolution services, and identity
theft insurance whenever there is a
reasonable chance of the misuse of veterans
information. The bill provides remedies for
veterans whose data is lost by VA data
breaches and those of VA contractors and
subcontractors, as occurred in Pennsylvania.
We must do everything we can
to ensure that the VA protects the sensitive
personal information of our nations
veterans, and we must do everything we can
to assist veterans and their families if the
VA fails them. The Committee on Veterans
Affairs has held hearing after hearing
exploring the VAs failures to safeguard
sensitive data and the steps we should take
as elected officials to fix this growing
problem. Now is the time to take action!
A Solution
to the Longstanding to
Longstanding Railroad Crossing
Problems at the Border
I am
pleased to announce the official date to
end long-standing railroad crossing
problems at the border.
Starting September 1st of this year, the
Union Pacific Rail Line (UPRL) and Ferrocarril
Mexicano , S.A. de C.V. (Ferromex) along with the
U.S. Customs and Border Protection will operate at
an earlier time to eliminate blocked road crossings
during peak morning hours in Calexico and Mexicali.
The
change comes after residents contacted my office and
urged me to get involved with the issue and to help
the community and UPRL find a solution to this
longstanding problem.
Trains traveling between Calexico and Mexicali were
severely affecting the community by blocking
intersections throughout Calexico, creating heavy
traffic and delays. The new schedule is expected to
improve safety and efficiency at the border.
This
is great newsand a great example of what can be
done when people and agencies work together. The
change will make the community a safer place to
live.
Fighting to
Enhance U.S. Trade with the
Philippines
I am happy to
announce that the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR)
has offered support for my call to enhance
U.S.-Philippine Trade Relations. In her response to
my letter, U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador
Susan Schwab, stated that she agrees with the idea
of an improved trade relationship with the
Philippines and that she is working with Philippine
officials on a potential agreement. In 2005, trade
between the U.S. and the Philippines was valued at
more than $16 billion.
The Philippine
government has longstanding ties to U.S. economic
and trade interests. I sent the letter to Ambassador
Schwab as part of an on-going effort to enhance U.S.
trade relations with the Philippines. It is
important that we continue to enhance our
partnership in order to increase economic growth for
both our countries.
|
Crimefighters of the Month
I
am proud to honor the Chula Vista Police
Departments Senior Volunteer Patrol as my
August Crimefighters of the Month for their
commitment and outstanding efforts to make the
community safe.
The Senior Volunteer Patrol is comprised of
approximately 60 volunteers who help the Chula
Vista Police Department with a number of duties
including patrolling neighborhoods, schools, and
businesses, reporting graffiti, performing
security checks on private homes, visiting
seniors in need of help, and providing support
to programs that help children if they are in
danger.
The members of the Senior Volunteer Patrol are
great role models for our entire community. They
have gone far to help those in need and keep our
neighborhoods safeand I am proud of their
commitment and dedication.
Presenting the
Chula Vista Police Departments Senior Volunteer
Patrol with my Crimefighter of the Month Award
|
|
Constituent Mail Bag
From National City
I
am concerned about the
disastrous effects of global
warming
and our continued reliance on
oil, therefore I strongly urge
you
to make these issues a priority
in the coming 2006 elections.
When will we awaken and take
steps to reduce our impact.
Few disagree that global warming
is a significant problem or
that we face an energy crisis.
Now is the time for politicians
to show leadership on this issue
by creating policies to address
global warming.
As you campaign for yourself or
for others during this election,
I urge you to engage citizens in
a discussion about global
warming and energy issues so
that we can develop real
solutions
to this real problem, including:
** New energy technologies that
create jobs and build our
economy
** More fuel-efficient
vehicles that reduce our
reliance
on oil
** Cleaner power
production that reduces
greenhouse gas
emissions
** Caps on global
warming pollution
Make global warming and energy
security issues during the
election -- in speeches, at town
hall meetings, on your web
site, at campaign events, in
advertisements and flyers. Let
voters know which global warming
solutions you support. And
encourage your colleagues in
Washington to do the same.
Future leaders hold the key to
solving our epic energy
problems,
and the 2006 elections is the
starting point. I would like to
hear your plans for a cleaner,
cheaper, better energy future.
Congressman
Filner Replies:
Thank you for contacting me
about global warming.
I
wholeheartedly agree with you! The federal
government must make a commitment to promoting a
clean energy economy and limiting heat-trapping
gases that contribute to global warming. You will
be pleased to know that I am a co-sponsor of H.R.
5642, the Safe Climate Act of 2006, which creates a
mandatory greenhouse gas cap-and-trade program. You
can count on me to continue fighting for
environmental protections and a 21st
century energy policy!
I
appreciate your advocacy on this most important
issue.
Contact My Office
|
Useful Website:
As Fall approaches,
children all over America are preparing to head back
to school. As an educator, I believe that one
of our most important resources to children and
adults is our nation's library system.
September is national Library Card Sign-up Month,
and I would like to take this time to remind parents
the role that libraries can play in improving all
aspects of education. Please take the time to
visit the American
Library Association and see how easy it is to
sign up for a library card and the unlimited
opportunities that our libraries provide.
|
|
Welcome
to my electronic newsletter!
You may sign up to
receive future editions of my newsletter
Send
me an electronic message
Refer this page to a friend
Past
Issues:
February 2004
April 2004
May 2004
June 2004
July 2004
August 2004
November 2004
December 2004
January 2005
February 2005
March 2005
April 2005
May 2005
June 2005
July 2005
August 2005
September 2005
October 2005
November 2005
December 2005
January 2006
March 2006
April 2006
May 2006
July 2006
August 2006 |