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Congress in Your Inbox - Kansans Collect Veterans' Stories

Dear Friend,

My father and my husband are both veterans – my dad, Sam, served in World War II, and my husband, Steve, served in the Marine Reserves during the Vietnam War – so I know firsthand the power of our veterans' memories. Each veteran has a story worth sharing: a unique, personal, and very valuable perspective on the events that shaped America's history.

In 2000, the Library of Congress recognized the importance of veterans' stories by establishing the Veterans History Project, a nationwide effort to collect oral history interviews, memoirs, letters, diaries, photographs, and other original materials from veterans who served from World War I through the Iraq war.

Since its founding, the VHP has accumulated over 50,000 interviews, most conducted by citizen volunteers. It is the largest collection of its kind in the world, providing a record of America's past that is far richer and more detailed than any history book.

Now, you can join the tens of thousands of Americans who have contributed to the VHP. The Kansas Second Congressional District is home to 66,000 veterans, and my office wants to help tell their story by putting potential interviewers in touch with area veterans. I hope you'll sign up to participate by visiting my website at http://www.boyda.house.gov/?sectionid=59.

Conducting a VHP interview is easy and requires no special background or skills. Anyone can participate, and everything you need to know is included in a field kit on the Library of Congress website at http://www.loc.gov/vets/pdf/fieldkit-2007.pdf.

I look forward to working with you to preserve America's history!

With warm regards,

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress


Your Views on Public Financing of Campaigns

Last month, I asked readers of this e-newsletter for your thoughts about public financing of campaigns, a proposal to restore honesty and accountability to Washington. Public financing would end the influence of money on the political process by preventing campaign contributions from swaying a lawmaker's votes.

According to the survey results, 74% of you support public financing, 12% feel that the current contribution-based system is working well, and 14% have a different perspective. I truly value your input and look forward to continuing to work in Congress to restore independence to American government.


Casework Corner - Galena Grant Will Help Prevent Mine Collapses

We rarely think about the immediate impact federal grant money has on our lives and our communities. One recent example of a federal grant helping Kansans is the story of Galena, a former mining town in Cherokee County.

In the summer of 2006, residents of Galena discovered how subsidence from abandoned mining operations threatened their community when part of the Green Parrot, a downtown business, suddenly dropped into a sinkhole.

Not only were existing buildings and families at risk, but some banks and insurance companies stopped loaning money and issuing policies for new businesses. Residents quickly created a Mining Task Force to study to the problem and find solutions.

(Continue reading…)


Letter of the Week - Patent Reform

Although the U.S. Constitution is a fairly short document, patents are actually specifically addressed in it. The Patent and Copyright Clause (Art. I, Sec. 8, Clause 8) directs Congress “To promote the Progress of Science and useful Arts, by securing for limited Times to Authors and Inventors the exclusive Right to their respective Writings and Discoveries.” The founders knew that an effective patent system would promote the sciences, and they believed that this was important enough to spell it out in the country’s charter.

Unfortunately, as the sciences become more complex, the jobs of the examiners who review patent applications have become more difficult.

(Continue reading…)


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