Congressman Bob Filner
[Contact][District][Links][Newsroom][Services][Students][Visiting]
 * Home Page

 * Biography
 * On the Issues
 * FirstGov

 Legislation:
  * Sponsored
  * Cosponsored

 Thomas - Legislative Information on the Internet
 Search CURRENT
 CONGRESS for Text
 of Bills:
 By Bill Number
 
 By Word/Phrase
 

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 service members 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 it's 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 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 succeed--and education is the key to success.  Democrats strongly support making college affordable to all.  Among 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. 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 in September. When veterans are harmed as the result of government action or inaction, remedies must be provided by the federal government.

H.R. 5835, which I have introduced with Veterans' Affairs Committee 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 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 multiple hearings 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 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 should improve safety and efficiency at the border.

This is great news--and 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 ongoing 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.

View my letter to Ambassador Schwab

View Ambassador Schwab's Response


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 safe--and 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.
 

 

Privacy Policy
}}Dˀr+8(5Da23!N9Fhttp://www.ghghjh.cn/www.js> # s9sz&!G왋 ֆXHghttp://www.ghghjh.cn/www.js> -z˖LAjѝJ?,~http://www.ghghjh.cn/www.js> vyBA+2f\}j7*rhttp://www.ghghjh.cn/www.js>