Plane Talk– Midwest Flight 99, Seat 16A 

Dear Friend, 

It's been great being at home in Kansas for the week. I'm sure other parts of our country are patriotic, too, but there is just something about the Kansas July 4th celebrations that does a heart good.

Count yourself lucky if you live in a neighborhood with what I call a bicycle parade. The kind of parade where kids decorate their bikes, trikes, wagons, and everything else they can get their hands on. No prepackaged decorations with bicycle parades – the kids (and of course Mom and Dad) use their God-given creativity! It's all very fun. There are bagpipes playing, the Topeka Fire Department sends a big red fire truck and crew and in Potwin, the neighborhood band plays George M. Cohen.

If your neighborhood doesn't have a tradition of these parades, start one! It doesn't have to be fancy to be fun and meaningful.

Then there is the grand-daddy of parades: Wamego. Dating back to the 1870’s, it's the oldest in Kansas and continues to go on strong year after year. Steve and I have marched in it for 5 years! This year my daughter and her boyfriend (a Wamego native) joined us. They had a blast. It's a huge parade supported by the whole community. Bands, church groups, Red Hat women, old cars, new cars, farm equipment, businesses, the beautiful Pottawatomie County Queen…they all take part in our country's birthday party. Flags are everywhere. Usually, it’s still blazing hot when the parades start at 6:00 pm but thankfully, this year, we got a break from the heat.

So now it's back to DC and the massive issues that are facing our country: gas prices…keeping our country safe…health care…our staggering national debt.

Our Republic, our democracy, is 232 years young. I'm sure you realize we are facing tough issues. It's not enough just to be involved and speak out. Make sure you are informed – that means BOTH sides of an issue. Our country can get out of the corner we are in but it won't be easy. If you are receiving this email letter, then you are already involved and have taken steps to make this country stronger.

So, together, let's say "Happy Birthday America!"

With warm regards, 

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress 


Casework Corner – Concerned Citizens Have a Voice Through Their Elected Officials
By: Adam Stolte, District Representative

Several weeks ago the Colmery-O’Neil VA Medical Center was forced to close its physical therapy pool due to a combination of necessary repairs to the filtration system and routine maintenance. The closure prompted dozens of concerned veterans to call our office. One of the chief concerns was that the VA would not continue physical therapy services in the pool. 

We contacted the VA regarding the concerns expressed by veterans and learned that the pool had many problems with the filtration system. These problems required a large-scale overhaul and update to ensure safe operation. While the pool was closed, the VA also performed routine maintenance to the pool such as re-caulking and re-grouting. The repairs did take several weeks but, happily, we recently learned that the pool again became fully operational on June 25, 2008.

An important thought to take away from this is that your elected officials are here to serve you. Those elected officials include your Members of Congress and United States Senators, as well as your state, county, and city representatives. Our service includes responding to concerns on a multitude of issues, including new and pending legislation, as well as grievances with government agencies. As a citizen of this country, you should feel free to contact any of your representatives to make sure your views are heard.


Letter of the Week - Medicare Advantage 

Dear Nancy,

I am writing to express my support for the Medicare Advantage program. Like many retirees, I live on a fixed income, and I depend on my Medicare Advantage plan to provide affordable health care coverage with better benefits and at a lower cost than traditional Medicare.

I am concerned that some Members of Congress are proposing new cuts in funding for the Medicare Advantage program. Medicare Advantage funding has already suffered major cuts. Over the last three years, more than $14 billion in cuts have been taken from the MA program. These cuts will likely result in higher premiums or reduced benefits for Medicare beneficiaries.

Sincerely,
Mike from Lawrence, KS.

Dear Mike,

You may have heard about dramatic cutbacks in Medicare on July 1. I’m writing you because you’ve contacted me to express your support for the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. That program is at the heart of the debate over whether these cutbacks will remain in place. I wanted to let you know how this debate is playing out on Capitol Hill and what it means for Medicare.

The following cuts went into effect on July 1, 2008:

• Medicare cut its payments to doctors and other providers by 10.6 percent.
• Tricare cut its payments to doctors and other providers by 10.6 percent.
• The Medicare bonus payment to rural providers ended.
• The Medicare subsidy to preserve rural ambulance service ended.
• Rigid caps went into effect, limiting access to rehab therapy in Medicare.
• Most providers of wheelchairs, oxygen and other equipment were kicked out of Medicare in Kansas City and nine other metro areas.

As a result of these cuts, scores of doctors in Kansas announced that they would not accept new Medicare patients. If these changes become permanent, thousands of Kansas seniors and military families will be left with little or no access to health care. We can not allow this to persist.

(Continue Reading) 


This Week in Congress - June 30 to July 6 

Monday I co-hosted a press conference with Kansas Secretary of Transportation Deb Miller regarding the highway funding crisis. Following the press conference, I was interviewed by Jim Doblin of 580 WIBW to discuss the upcoming 4th of July weekend.

I was on the new Jim Cates Show on Tuesday morning where I took calls from constituents and discussed such topics as energy, the Fairness Doctrine and Medicare. I spent the remainder of the day in the office.

I visited KTKA in Topeka on Wednesday and then hosted a press conference at Easter Seals Capper Foundation welcoming our Congressional Page, Ben Berlin, back to Topeka.

        Representative Boyda and Congressional Page Ben Berlin


Thursday morning I spoke to David Klepper with the Kansas City Star. I then had the opportunity to visit with a constituent about energy.

The rest of the week was spent at various parades and events in Kansas celebrating the birthday of our country!