Congressman Bob Filner

House of Representatives Passes H.R. 23: Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007

I am pleased to announce that the House of Representatives has passed my bill, H.R. 23, The Belated Thank You to the Merchant Mariners of World War II Act of 2007. The bill would establish a Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund to provide monthly payments in the amount of $1,000 to qualifying members of the United States Merchant Marine who served during World War II. H.R. 23 includes qualifying members of the Army Transport Service and the Naval Transport Service.

I am happy that the House of Representatives took the opportunity to correct a grave injustice heaped upon the gallant men of the Merchant Marine of World War II. We call our veterans ‘heroes’ for a reason and the heroes from past wars deserve all the care and dignity that this nation can bestow. We will work boldly and tirelessly to move this legislation forward.

H.R. 23 rectifies the mistreatment that the Mariners suffered by being denied GI Bill benefits at the end of WWII and compensates them, over sixty years later, for their heroic deeds. The Merchant Mariner Equity Compensation Fund would be available only to all qualifying mariners who apply by October 1, 2008.

The Merchant Mariners of World War II were granted veteran status in 1988 after fighting for over forty years to attain it. Their casualty rate was one in twenty-six, the highest of any of the other armed branches of service. It is indisputable that the United States would not have been able to begin, sustain or end WWII without their service.

The heroic and brave service of these veterans has gone unheralded by this country for too long. We owe these heroes a thank you and today, we are one step closer to righting this wrong – ONCE AND FOR ALL. These veterans kept their promises to serve our country, and it is not too late to keep our promises to those that have fought for our country.

View my Statements on H.R. 23

House Passes the Single Largest Investment in College Aid since GI Bill

Bill Would Boost Scholarships and Reduce Loan Costs at No New Taxpayer Expense

I am proud to have voted to approve legislation that would make the single largest investment in college financial aid since the 1944 GI Bill, helping millions of students and families pay for college – and doing so at no new cost to U.S. taxpayers.

The legislation, the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 (H.R. 2669), which the House passed by a vote of 273-149, would boost college financial aid by about $18 billion over the next five years. The legislation pays for itself by reducing excessive federal subsidies paid to lenders in the college loan industry by $19 billion. It also includes nearly $1 billion in federal budget deficit reduction. The Senate is expected to vote on similar legislation this month.

No one should be denied the opportunity to go to college simply because of the price or be forced to cope with huge loan payments after graduation, while working new and often low-wage jobs. This bill will help make college affordable for every qualified student in the country. Maintaining our economic leadership in the world requires that we invest in education, and we cannot wait any longer.

Under the legislation, the maximum value of the Pell Grant scholarship would increase by $500 over the next five years. When combined with other Pell scholarship increases passed or proposed by Congress this year, the maximum Pell Grant would reach $4,900 in 2008 and $5,200 in 2011, up from $4,050 in 2006, thus restoring the Pell’s purchasing power. About 6 million low- and moderate-income students would benefit from this increase.

The legislation would cut interest rates in half on need-based student loans, reducing the cost of those loans for millions of student borrowers. Like legislation passed by the House earlier this year, the College Cost Reduction Act would cut interest rates from 6.8 percent to 3.4 percent in equal steps over the next five years. Once fully phased-in, this would save the typical student borrower – with $13,800 in need-based student loan debt – $4,400 over the life of the loan. About 6.8 million students take out need-based loans each year.

The legislation would also prevent student borrowers from facing unmanageable levels of federal student debt by guaranteeing that borrowers will never have to spend more than 15 percent of their yearly discretionary income on loan repayments and by allowing borrowers in economic hardship to have their loans forgiven after 20 years.

The College Cost Reduction Act includes a number of other provisions that would ease the financial burden imposed on students and families by the cost of college, including:

Tuition assistance for excellent undergraduate students who agree to teach in the nation’s public schools;
Loan forgiveness for college graduates that go into public service professions;
Increased federal loan limits so that students won’t have to rely as heavily on costlier private loans;
New tuition cost containment strategies; and
Landmark investments in Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic Serving Institutions and minority serving institutions.

A broad coalition of student advocacy groups and labor organizations support the College Cost Reduction Act.

Announcing a Grant for the Chula Vista Elementary School District

I am pleased to announce that a grant of $149,487 has been awarded to the Chula Vista Elementary School District by the U.S. Department of Education.

The grant will be used for foreign language programs at Salt Creek Elementary School and for development workshops for all foreign language teachers in the region. I expect the programs funded by this grant will have a tremendous impact on the quality of life our students experience and share.

A portion of the grant will be used for the newly-established, Japanese foreign language program, currently offered during the school day to fourth through sixth graders at Salt Creek. Students will also benefit from enriched classroom libraries and additional academic program materials in Japanese. Vital opportunities for teachers to collaborate and increase the academic rigor of this program will be offered. In addition, Spanish will be offered in an after-school setting in the second year of the grant, and Chinese will be taught in an after-school program, beginning the third year of the grant. Funding is expected to be renewed for a total of three years.

With this funding, Salt Creek teachers will be able to create a dynamic learning environment where students aspire to become successful in a multi-cultural and multi-lingual world. Salt Creek Elementary and the Chula Vista Elementary School District are poised to become leaders in the foreign language field.

Congressman Filner Supports the Women’s Rights History Trail

I am proud to provide my support for legislation that would provide Americans with the opportunity to learn more about the women who fought to secure women’s rights in the United States.

The Women’s Rights History Project Act (H.R. 3114) was introduced on July 19^th, which is the 159^th anniversary of the first Women’s Rights Convention in Seneca Falls, New York in 1848. This bill creates a commemorative trail, linking a series of sites in New York that are historically associated with the struggle for women’s rights. The tour will be designed for vehicular travel, will help to tell the story of this movement, and will be known as the Votes for Women History Trail Route.

Sixty-eight women and thirty-two men at the 1848 Convention signed a Declaration calling for a broad array of rights for women. The ensuing women’s rights movement created one of the greatest protest traditions in United States history. The struggle for racial equality and the labor movement were two other formative movements in American History that are relevant to this day--all three challenged Americans to consider their value systems and the meaning of the Declaration of Independence.

The legislation was introduced by Congresswoman Louise Slaughter and Senator Hillary Clinton, who both represent residents in the state of New York.

Hosting a Veteran's Town Hall Meeting

I was honored to host a Veterans Healthcare Town Hall Forum on Monday, July 2^nd. at the Police Athletic League/Ryerson Youth Center in El Centro. All Veterans in the Imperial Valley were invited to attend, to voice their suggestions and concerns, and to discuss the new VA Clinic in our community!

The goal of this Town Hall Forum was to bring the community’s concerns to the heart of veterans healthcare planning. I want to ensure that the new VA Clinic adequately responds to the needs of all veterans living in the Valley. I know that bringing everyone together is the first step to making sure that their needs are met.

The event featured eight speakers including Rosanna Bayon Moore, Mayor of El Centro; Bill Moore, Assistant Administrator of El Centro Regional Medical Center; Richard Mendoza, CEO of Pioneers Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees; Rick Partridge Chairman, United Veterans Council; Robert Avila, Chairman, Veteran’s Employment Committee; Gary Rossio, Director of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs San Diego Healthcare System (VASDHCS); Anthony Carvajal, Outpatient Clinic Director at VASDHCS; and Robert Case, Congressional Liaison at the Department of Veterans’ Affairs San Diego Regional Office.

Pictured with Tony Milanies and Ramiro Castillo from Marine Corps League Detachment 1171, who presented the Colors at the Town Hall Meeting

Citizens of the Month

San Diego County

It is with great pleasure that I honor Executive Director of the Miss South County Pageant, Lorraine Johnson, as my Citizen of the Month for the month of July.

Lorraine single handedly created the Miss Bonita Pageant in 1986, and subsequently expanded the event to become the Miss South County Pageant in 2003. Lorraine sought to have a beauty pageant that was about much more than beauty. By making the prize a scholarship, she has inspired many young women who are seeking a quality education. I have met with each of last year’s winners, and they are all headed to prestigious colleges and rewarding careers, thanks in part to Lorraine’s efforts. She has worked tirelessly to obtain scholarships from different groups and companies throughout the County. She has continually sought to make her dream a reality.

In addition to all of her hard work, Lorraine also manages to find time for her husband, Larry, and her three children, Lisa, Lee and Lexis, who live in Bonita. I wholeheartedly support the Miss South County Pageant and all of Lorraine’s future goals for the event. I am proud to honor her as my Citizen of the Month for July 2007!

Presenting Lorraine Johnson with my July Citizen of the Month Award

Imperial County

I am honored to present Frank Popejoy with my Citizen of the Month Award for the month of July, for his achievement and impact within our community in this area of Imperial County.

Frank has been a member of the Navy League - Imperial Valley Council for the past 14 years, currently serving as the Second Vice-President and on the Legislative Affairs and Membership Committees. He is an active community member and belongs to many community based non-profit organizations like the El Centro Rotary Club and has served on the IID Energy Consumer Advisory Committee for the past five years.

Frank was voted as President of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce, serving in that role during the 2004-2005 year. He has remained active within the Chamber as Past President and currently works with the Governmental Affairs Committee. As Board of Directors President, Frank focused on issues of education, economic development, community enhancement, membership, governmental affairs, tourism, natural resources, and helped implement close to 100 projects related to these issues.

In addition to this volunteer service, Frank continues to have time to be a business owner in El Centro, serving as its Chief Executive Officer as well as the Chief Operations Officer for Pioneer Van and Storage. He is the proud father of four children, Heather Cavins, Laura, Aaron and Carter Popejoy.

I want to congratulate Frank Popejoy and his efforts to continue making our community a better place for all of us. His great efforts in our Valley are definitely leaving a legacy of leadership amongst our current and future generations!

Presenting Frank Popejoy with my July Citizen of the Month Award

Constituent Mail Bag

From Chula Vista

Dear Representative Filner:

I am writing to seek your opposition to the President's proposed 2008 budget that would impose reductions to Medicare home health services. Within the President's Medicare provider reductions, home health services are the second hardest
hit after the hospitals. Yet, medically-needed healthcare services are cost-effective, clinically-efficacious, and are patient-preferred when they are delivered in the home.

The Congress is expected to act as early as this month on a legislative proposal to expand the State Children Health Insurance Program and to seek ways to provide additional funding to Medicare physicians. There is the potential for Congress to seek reductions to home care to fund these programs.

On May 4, 2007, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced a proposed regulation for Medicare home health services that will reduce our payments through Administrative actions by 2.75% for each of three years, a significant reduction. Yet, homecare faces increasing yearly costs. Those on-going costs include clinician shortages, recruitment and retention efforts, escalating fuel costs, and increasing expenditures
related to implementation of health information technology. As a
result, we can ill-afford additional reductions through Congressional action this year.

Please join your colleagues, Representatives Jim McGovern (D-MA) and John Peterson (R-PA), to oppose homecare reductions. Please contact their offices today and agree to sign their "Dear Colleague" letter. Thank you in advance for your support of homecare!

Congressman Filner replies:

Thank you for contacting me about Medicare and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).

I wholeheartedly agree with you that we must preserve these two important health care programs. America is one of the richest nations on Earth, and it is downright shameful that we do not provide our children and seniors with high quality healthcare. You will happy to learn that I voted for H.R. 3162, the Children's Health and Medicare Act which passed the House of Representatives on August 1st!

I appreciate your advocacy on this important issue.

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