A Congressional Thank You for
Memorial Day
Last
month, the House of Representatives passed a package of
bills that expand veterans health care and benefits. The
action came as the nation honored Americas
fallen on Memorial Day. I would like to
congratulate the members of the House Veterans Affairs
Committee for their dedication and leadership on the issues
of improving treatment for traumatic brain injury, expanding
eligibility for vocational rehabilitation benefits and
improving outreach activities to veterans.
1.
H.R. 612 to extend the period of VA healthcare eligibility for
health care for combat service in the Persian Gulf or future
hostilities from two years to five years after discharge or
release.
2.
H.R. 2199 to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs
to provide improvements in the treatment of
individuals with traumatic brain injuries.
3.
H.R. 2239 to expand eligibility for VA vocational
rehabilitation benefits.
4.
H.R. 67 to improve the outreach activities of the
Department of Veterans Affairs.
5.
H.R. 1470 to require the provision of chiropractic
care and services to veterans at all VA medical centers.
6.
H.R. 1660 to establish a national cemetery for veterans in the
southern Colorado region.
7.
H. Res. 392 to urge Americans as well as people of all
nationalities to visit the Veterans' National Cemeteries.
This
Memorial Day, Members of the House came together to show our
support for our veterans and their families. Our nation has
a proud legacy of appreciation and gratitude to the men and
women who have worn the uniform in defense of our country
and we will work boldly to honor those who
are mourning the loss of one of their own and those who have
loved ones far from home.
Veterans Clinic for the Valley
Moving Forward
I am happy
to announce that the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
(VA) has issued a request for proposals for a community
based outpatient clinic for veterans in Imperial Valley.
The move is
part of my continuing efforts to establish a veterans-only
clinic in the Valley this year, significantly improving the medical services available
to the countys veterans. As the planning goes forward, I
will continue to meet with veterans to assure their views on
their health care needs are incorporated into the new
facility.
The
creation of a veterans-only clinic is long overdue. Veterans
are deserving of quality health careand I am pleased the VA
is working with me to establish this much needed facility in the
community.
The VA is
proposing the clinic be located in El Centro or within a
five mile radius. The deadline for proposals is July 2,
2007. Interested health care providers should contact Tanya
Jimenez, Contract Specialist with the VA, at 562-826-8053..
Campaigning for Equal Pay for Equal Work
I have
joined with 104 of my colleagues in the House of
Representatives in co-sponsoring
H.R. 1338,
the Paycheck Fairness Act, a bill introduced by
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro.
Every
April, we mark the time of year when the wages paid to
American women catch up to the wages paid to men from the
previous year. It takes 16 months for a woman being paid
average wages to make the same amount as a man paid average
wages made in 12 months!
The exact
date this year was April 24th. According to the
Census Bureau, women still earn only approximately 77 % as
much as men did in 2006. African-American women earned 66%
on the dollar compared to white men, and Hispanic women
earned 55%. According to the National Committee on Pay
Equity, workering women stand to lose as much as $250,000 over the
course of their career because of unequal pay practices.
The
Paycheck Fairness Act takes meaningful steps to assist women
in negotiation for higher pay, creates strong incentives for
employers to follow the law, and strengthens enforcement
efforts.
This is a common sense issue that affects all working women
and their families. By eliminating unfair treatment in the
labor market, we can help families gain the resources
they need to ensure that their children have access to a
better future.
Announcing $731,250 for the Port of
San Diego
I am happy
to announce that the San Diego Unified Port District has
been awarded $731,250 in grants from the Department of
Homeland Security. The money is awarded under the Port
Grant Security Program and includes $487,500 for the San
Diego Unified Port District and $243,750 for the San Diego
Unified Port District Police Department.
The Port
Grant Security Program provides financial assistance to port
authorities and state and local agencies to
improve security for operators and passengers through
physical security enhancements. The Department allocated
$202 million for the Port Grant Security Program for Fiscal
Year 2007.
The Port
of San Diego is pleased that we have received almost 90
percent of what we requested during this round of funding,"
said Sylvia Rios, Chairwoman of the Board of Port
Commissioners. We are grateful to Congressman Filner for
all of his hard work on our behalf.
I am happy
to see that the Department of Homeland Security is making
continued efforts to secure our nations critical port
infrastructure. I look forward to working with the
Department of Homeland Security and the Port of San Diego to ensure the safety
and security of our region.
Fighting Against Predatory Credit
Card Practices
I am proud to announce my co-sponsorship
H.R. 2146,
the Universal Default Prohibition Act.
Universal
default is the popular term for a practice that allows
creditors to increase the interest rate on your credit card
to the default rate, up to 32.24%, even when you havent
missed a single payment on your card! The practice has been
increasing in the past few years, causing a large burden on
families already experiencing financial hardship.
These companies should not be allowed to penalize you if you
have done nothing wrong and paid your bill on time. This
legislation will be a wake up call that credit card
companies should review their practices and ensure people
are getting a fair deal.
Once a
universal default rate has been issued on a credit card,
regardless of identity theft or error, the credit card
company has no obligation to reduce the interest rate.
The company is also under no
obligation to notify the cardholder about the increased
interest rate. Consumers are advised to carefully review
their monthly bills and notify their credit card company
immediately of any errors or fraudulent activity.
Introducing the Safety, Efficiency
and Accountability in Transportation
Projects through Public Inspection
Act of 2007
On May 24,
I introduced
H.R.
2485,
the Safety, Efficiency and Accountability in Transportation
Projects through the Public Inspection Act of 2007.
If passed, the bill would ensure that public safety is
protected, transportation funds are not wasted and projects
are delivered in a timely manner. This bill would require
public employees to perform the inspections on all state and local
transportation projects.
On
transportation projects, the construction inspector is the
eyes, ears and voice of the public. Inspectors ensure that
construction and seismic standards are met, that projects
meet safety requirements and that the materials used will
stand the test of time. In short, inspectors are there to
ensure that the public gets what it pays for and
that public safety and public interest are protected.
I am
concerned that outsourcing of inspection work causes
conflicts of interest that have led private inspectors to
cut corners and overlook problems that threaten public
safety, increase costs and delay projects.
When the
construction inspection function is outsourced to a private
company, there is no longer a representative of the public
on the job site. In this circumstance, one private company
is charged with the task of inspecting the work of another
private company. This creates multiple conflicts for the
private inspector. First, the private inspectors primary
obligation and responsibility is not to the public, but to
the success and profitability of their companies. Because
the private construction company whose work they are
inspecting on one project may be a business partner on a
future project, private inspectors may also feel pressure
from the company to take steps that ensure larger profits
for both firms.
There are
many examples in which public safety has been threatened by
the use of private inspectors, including Bostons Big Dig
(where a concrete slab from a tunnel ceiling fell and killed
a woman), the L.A. Redline subway (Hollywood Blvd.
collapsed), the 8-805 Interchange in San Diego (10,000
defective welds on a seismic retrofit), and the Connecticut
I-84 project (hundreds of drains that lead nowhere).
My bill will
address these concerns.
Supporting Hispanic-Serving Colleges
and Universities
I am
happy to add my support to House Resolution 451, the Next
Generation Hispanic-Serving Institutions Act, introduced by
my colleague, Congressman Ruben Hinojosa.
The
legislation will strengthen Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
by establishing a long-overdue competitive grant program to
expand graduate degree opportunities at HSIs. Current law
provides support for only two-year and four-year
institutions, leaving out graduate programs.
I
believe that we must provide graduate educational
opportunities for the increasing number of Hispanic students
who are interested in further education. If we do not
invest in advanced education and training for this emerging
population, we put our nations economic foundation at
risk.
Currently, only 4% of masters degrees are earned by
Hispanics, 3% of doctoral degrees, and 5% of first
professional degrees. This bill would help to increase the
number of under-represented Hispanics in the fields of
teaching, science, engineering, medicine and technology that
require advanced degrees. The bill has 40 Members of the
House as co-sponsors.
I am
working closely with Congressman Hinojosa to bring this bill
to the House of Representatives and to pass it as quickly as
possible!
Announcing $680,515 AmeriCorps Grant
for the Valley
It is my
pleasure to announce that the Imperial County Office of
Education has received a $680,515 AmeriCorps grant from the
Corporation for National and Community Service. The grant
will support 71 AmeriCorps members who will provide
tutoring and mentoring, and will recruit volunteers for the after
school reading activities and community service.
The grant
announcements came during the first-ever AmeriCorps Week, a
nationwide recognition to thank the 500,000 men and women
who have served in AmeriCorps since its inception and
encourage more Americans to get involved. The AmeriCorps
members have provided more than 637 million hours of service
to local communities.
AmeriCorps
members are meeting local needs and strengthening our
communities. I am proud the Valley will receive this grant
and thank all those who have answered the call to service by
joining AmeriCorps.
AmeriCorps
is a national service program that engages Americans of all
ages and backgrounds in service to meet critical needs in
education, the environment, public safety, homeland security
and other human needs. Its members serve in hundreds of
nonprofit and faith-based organizations in rural and urban
communities throughout the nation. They tutor and mentor youth, build affordable housing, teach
computer skills, clean parks and streams, run after-school
programs, help communities respond to disasters and recruit
and train volunteers.
In addition
to the grant, the Corporation is setting aside funding to
pay for AmeriCorps Education Awards for members serving in
this program. After completing a full term of service, AmeriCorps members receive $4,725 that they can use to pay
for college or to pay off student loans. Interested
individuals can learn about available opportunities and
apply by visiting
www.americorps.gov.
Citizen of the Month
I am
proud to honor Tom Cannell as Citizen of the Month
for the month of May. Tom has been an active resident and
advocate for over 20 years in our community. Most recently,
he was named West Shores Chamber Man of the Year in
recognition of his lifelong dedication to the community.
Tom has been a tireless volunteer at the local Youth Center
and is active in organizing the local Christmas and 4th
of July Festivities. His long-term vision brought him to
encourage the District to purchase an extra 450 acres of
land for water treatment, in order to plan for future
expansion and growth.
Tom has
been an instrumental figure and volunteer in Salton City and
I am honored to make him my May Citizen of the Month!
Presenting Tom with my May
Citizen of the Month Award
Constituent Mail Bag
From El
Centro
Dear
Representative Filner:
Act now to
protect our nation's waters. Two Supreme
Court decisions and ambiguous federal agency
guidance are putting our waters at risk of
pollution and destruction.
Congress signaled its intent 30 years ago
when it passed the Clean Water Act that it
intended the Act to broadly protect our
nation's waters, not just those you can
float a boat on. Since then, industry has
managed to hack away at the scope of the
Clean Water Act protections through legal
challenges, and the courts have recently
contributed confusion.
The confusion and regulatory burden now
placed on the federal agencies and public
make it imperative for Congress to act NOW
to clarify its intent that the Clean Water
Act should broadly protect the nation's
waters by passing the Clean Water
Restoration Act of 2007 (H.R. 2421).
Congressman
Filner replies:
Thank you for contacting me
about H.R. 2421, the Clean Water Authority Restoration
Act.
I
wholeheartedly agree! The Federal Government must ensure
that our waterways are clean and pristine.
This law would push back against polluters attempts to
weaken protection for our nation's lakes, rivers and
streams. I have co-sponsored H.R. 2421 as you requested.
Rest assured, you can count on me to support legislation
protecting our environment!
I
appreciate your advocacy on this important issue.
Contact My Office