A Note From Nancy

Dear Friend,

I am pleased to tell you that Congress has taken action to address a very real problem, not only for Kansas, but the entire country.

You have likely heard quite a bit recently about the highway funding shortfall. In fact, last month I hosted a press conference with the Kansas Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller focusing on what she called “the looming transportation funding crisis.”

Legislation that would have allowed the transfer of $8 billion from the U.S. General Fund to the Highway Trust Fund would have at least provided a short term fix to the problem. However, on June 24, 2008, both Chambers of Congress stripped language from H.R. 6327 that would have permitted the transfer of funds.

Talk about frustrating! Congress should have seen this coming and taken action. We had a good, common sense fix that got caught up in politics. This provision would have simply reversed a transfer made from the Highway Fund to the Treasury Department in 1998. There would have been no additional cost to the taxpayer to shore up the Highway Fund and address the immediate shortfall. Instead, the provision was stripped away in order to ensure Senate passage of the FAA Reauthorization Bill. That resulted in a 30% loss of funding to Kansas, or about $120 million.

I promised Kansans as soon as I returned to Washington, D.C. following the July 4 district work period that I would introduce legislation to allow the transfer of money to the Highway Fund. I did introduce H.R. 6447 and Kansas First District Congressman Jerry Moran signed on as a cosponsor of the bill.

However, today the House voted in favor of another bill to address the shortfall, H.R. 6532. I urge the Senate to follow suit.

It is important to remember that these are only stop-gap measures. There are additional concerns. We continue to work with an outdated policy. While Big Oil continues to receive billions of dollars in subsidies – at the expense of hardworking families – the 18 cent gas user fee has not been changed since the early 1990’s. Meanwhile, construction and maintenance costs continue to skyrocket. We need to have a conversation on how to provide a long term fix to the problem – it’s critical for not only our highways, but for our overall infrastructure.

Remember, public policy follows public opinion!

With warm regards, 


Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress

Casework Corner – Boyda's Office Helps Resolve Social Security Benefits Claim
by Joshua Dieker, District Representative

       Vicki Speed

In September of 2007, Vicki Speed contacted our office after unsuccessfully trying to work with the Social Security office. She had applied for disability benefits months before, but had not received any word on the status of her application. Any time Ms. Speed would call and inquire about her request, she was simply reminded that the processing time can be lengthy and that she should just continue to wait. After several attempts at getting more information, she was told that actually, there was no record of her application, and that she would have to apply again!

This was, of course, incredibly upsetting to Ms. Speed. Concerned about all of her time wasted and the time it would take to start over again, she called our office.

(Continue Reading)


Letter of the Week - Nancy on Energy Speculation

Dear Nancy,

I'm all for Hearings on the Oil Speculation that has been occuring and negatively impacting the consumers. I would like to see that kind of speculation regulated please.

Sincerely,

Christian from Topeka, KS. 


Dear Christian,

Thank you for writing to me about ordering the Commodity Futures Exchange Commission (CFTC) to eliminate excess speculation in the commodity markets. As your representative, I both need and value your opinion.

Everybody is worried about the rising cost of gas. The role speculation is playing in raising the price of gas has brought some heated debate. Recently, the House Agriculture Committee (on which I sit) held three hearings on the topic. We heard from a wide range of experts including institutional investors, economists, traders, business executives and consumer advocacy groups. I’ve also spoken with the acting Chairman of the CFTC, Walter Lukken, nonpartisan experts from the Congressional Research Service and received lots of feedback from the people of the 2nd District of Kansas.

(Continue Reading)

 
This Week in Congress - July 14 to July 18 

After arriving back in Washington, D.C. on Monday, I sat in on a Bipartisan Energy Working Group meeting.

I attended an Operation Homefront Grand Opening on Tuesday for an apartment complex called the Enclave, which is an Operation Homefront Village for families of wounded and recovering soldiers. Later that day, I met with Julie Ward from the Kansas Association of School Social Workers and Joe Dick, representing the Kansas City Board of Public Utilities.

Wednesday I attended a House Armed Services Committee Briefing on DOD Coalition Support Funds for Pakistan. I also met with Kansas Soybean Association representatives including Kansas’ ASA Director Bob Henry from Robinson, KSA President Lance Rezac from Onaga, KSA Vice-President Craig Gigstad from Winchester and Dennis Hupe, Director of Field Services for the Kansas Soybean Commission. In addition, I met with Sheila Kostas and Vanessa Sanburn of Planned Parenthood of Kansas & Mid-Missouri and attended a Military Personnel Subcommittee Meeting with Chairwoman Davis and General Casey.

I had the opportunity Thursday to visit with attendees to the National Young Leaders Conference including Thomas Irvin from Manhattan High School, Kelsey Perez from Free State High School and Allison Young from Lyndon High School.

Also on Thursday I met with representatives from the Kansas Corn Growers Association and the Kansas Grain Sorghum Producers Association, including: 
   • Ken McCauley of White Cloud. Ken is Chairman of the National Corn Growers Association and serves on the Kansas Corn Commission
   • Brian Baalman of Menlo. Brian is President of the Kansas Corn Growers Association
   • Greg Stone of Garden City. Greg is on the Board of the Kansas Corn Growers Association
   • Bob Timmons of Fredonia. Bob is Chairman of the Kansas Corn Commission and serves on the Board of the Kansas Corn Growers Association
   • Charles Foltz of Garnett. Charles serves on the board of the Kansas Corn Growers Association
   • Jere White of Garnett. Jere is Executive Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Kansas Corn Commission
   • Sue Schulte of Princeton. Sue is Communications Director of the Kansas Corn Growers Association and Commission

Later that day, I met with Barbara Williams from the National Board of Certified Teachers, then Dr. Brad Burenheide of the National Council for Social Studies Leadership Conference. Afterward, I met with Dr. Dan Sweeney and Dr. Gary Pierzynski, Professors of Soil Science for Kansas State University Southeast Agricultural Research Center.

I met with individuals from the Peace Corps in the Topeka office on Friday, and then attended the Fiesta Mexicana that night!