A Note from Nancy

Dear Friend,

Tired of Big Oil yelling "Drill, drill, drill!" in your ear? The fact is, I hear over and over that people want a responsible discussion in dealing with the oil situation – and that it is high time to move past the rhetoric and concentrate on a plan for our future.

I believe we need a three point approach for our energy plan or as I like to call it, a three-legged stool. We need to do three things: drill now to increase our domestic resources of oil and natural gas, plan for the future through continued development of alternative energy, and conserve our current energy supply.

Domestic Oil and Natural Gas Production:
There is no question that, as a nation, we will continue to be dependent upon fossil fuels for the foreseeable future. It could take decades to free us from the grip of oil. We must invest in advanced renewable energy technologies, but we should not ignore our country’s own potential to provide more oil and natural gas. That is why I have worked with a bipartisan group of Representatives to draft energy legislation that allows part of the Outer Continental Shelf to be opened up for domestic drilling. A similar proposal I support was recently introduced in the Senate, and I think both sides of the aisle can reach a compromise on producing more domestic energy along with a long-term investment in alternatives to oil. My bill would extend important tax credits for renewable energy development, energy efficiency and alternative fuel vehicles, and it would raise $2.6 trillion dollars and invest it as follows:

• 30% to the General Fund of the U.S. Treasury ($780 billion)
• 30% to producing states for education, transportation and other important spending priorities ($780 billion)
• 8% for a Conservation Reserve fund such as weatherization, conservation tax credits and deductions for energy efficiency in the residential, commercial, industrial and pubic sectors ($208 billion)
• 10% to an Environment Restoration Reserve fund for restoration activities to improve the overall health of our country’s ecosystems ($206 billion)
• 15% to a Renewable Energy Reserve fund for accelerating the use of cleaner domestic energy resources and alternative fuels; to promote the utilization of energy-efficient products and practices; and to increase research, development, job training programs and deployment of clean renewable energy and efficiency technologies. ($390 billion)
• 5% to a Carbon Capture/Sequestration fund for advancing carbon capture and storage technology and infrastructure ($130 billion)
• 2% to the Low Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) Program ($52 Billion)

Alternative Energy:
While we can begin to address the immediate crisis through drilling, we must also consider the future. The only way to thwart a repeat of the current energy problem, is through alternative energy. Kansas is a powerhouse of renewable and carbon neutral energy potential. Biofuels, hydrogen, wind and solar energy and even existing nuclear power all reside within the state. I have pushed to see our Renewable Fuel Standard increased to 36 billion gallons of renewable fuels by 2022, and I’ve been a strong supporter of extending tax credits for renewable energy development. As mentioned before, we can make great progress with vehicles that run not on the oil spigot, but on an electrical grid powered by renewable energy…and we can replace billions of gallons of oil with ethanol and biodiesel grown right in the heart of Kansas. Some have criticized biofuels as the reason for higher food prices, but the reality is most of the increases in price are due to higher production and transportation costs from high oil prices.

Conservation:
The easiest, fastest and most effective way to lower gas prices is to practice conservation. I know that some consider “conservation” to be a dirty word, but it is essential in lowering the demand for gas, allowing more supply on the market and ultimately lowering prices. Last year, Congress raised the fuel efficiency standards for the first time in 32 years to 35 miles per gallon (a 40% increase) by the year 2020. I’ve heard from Kansans that this went to far, or not far enough, but I think this is a good step in the right direction toward reducing our demand for oil. The next step I want to see is moving toward plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV’s) that don’t use any gasoline for the first 30-40 miles. For many people, a PHEV could cut their gas bills dramatically, and that is why I have consistently supported extending tax credits for people who purchase PHEV’s. By making these vehicles more affordable, we reduce or dependence on oil and cut down on environmentally harmful emissions.

Thank you to everyone who has shared their thoughts with me on this very important topic! I’ve had the opportunity to visit with many Kansans already this district work period, and look forward to seeing and talking with many more constituents during my time at home. No, I am NOT on vacation! Congress breaks every year for the month of August. Last night at a speaking engagement, I joked about the efforts of those who would have you think otherwise. I held up my glass of tea and told the group in attendance that if I were on vacation, there would be a little umbrella in my glass. There was no umbrella.

From the Second District of Kansas (NOT the beaches of Maui!),

Very truly yours,

Nancy Boyda
Member of Congress 


Casework Corner – Nancy Helps Constituent Finalize Affairs with IRS 

                                                      
                                                             Sharon Hess

When dealing with a death in the family, there are always numerous concerns. All too often, family of the deceased must first deal with the various issues of the estate instead of having an opportunity to mourn. The amount of personal information that must be sorted through and processed when closing a loved one’s affairs can be mind boggling. At a time when families need to gather together and grieve, their troubles are frequently compounded by a bureaucratic maze of forms and documents that must be completed and filed within a specific timeframe.

This was the situation faced by Ms. Sharon Hess after her sister, Margaret, passed away. Sharon wanted nothing more than to wrap up her sister’s estate issues so that she could focus on finding closure, but was met with repeated roadblocks at the IRS. She wanted to pay Margaret’s final tax bill, but in order to do so, she needed the total amount of the bill. Unfortunately, the agency was unwilling to release the balance information.

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Letter of the Week - NEH Accepting Applications for Picturing America

Dear Rep. Boyda,

I am an educator who continuously tries to think ‘outside the box’ when it comes to teaching my students about this great country in which we live. As a Member of Congress, I’m certain you frequently run across resources for information about our nation. I don’t live in your district but I would be most grateful if you have any resources you would be willing to share.

Mary
Kansas City

Dear Mary,

I’m very happy to send you details about an exciting opportunity for public libraries and schools in Kansas – the National Endowment for the Humanities’ (NEH) new Picturing America initiative. This program provides an innovative way for citizens of all ages to explore the history and character of America through some of our nation’s greatest works of art. One of the best parts is that Picturing America is a free resource.

This program is an exciting new way to help our fellow citizens and voters learn about democracy and what makes us uniquely American. For more information and an online application visit PicturingAmerica.neh.gov or email picturingamerica@neh.gov. Applications are being accepted now through October 31, 2008.

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This Week in Congress - August 4 to August 10 

I spoke at the Kansas Electric Cooperatives on Monday afternoon at their Summer Meeting. The attendees at my table were all from the Second District and included: Joe Conley - Trustee, Kaw Valley Electric Cooperative, Topeka and Pauline Conley Ken Maginley - Manager, Bluestem Electric Cooperative, Wamego Kathy Brinker - Manager, Nemaha-Marshall Electric Cooperative, Axtell Steve Foss - Manager, Leavenworth-Jefferson Electric Cooperative, McLouth Leah Tindle - Manager, Radiant Electric Cooperative, Fredonia Scott Whittington, Manager, Lyon-Coffey Electric Cooperative, Emporia Rod Gerdes, Manager, Brown-Atchison Electric Cooperative, Horton Arlan Mitchell, Manager, Doniphan Electric Cooperative, Troy Dan O'Brien, Manager, Kaw Valley Electric Cooperative, Topeka. Afterwards, I stopped by Fox 4 News in Kansas City.

I got up early on Tuesday to go vote and then spent the day in the office.

I drove down to Pittsburg Wednesday morning where I spoke at the Kansas Housing Conference at Pittsburg State University. After my visit to PSU, I drove on to Treece for a tour of the area. John Askew, EPA, gave me a briefing on the Treece situation. That evening I gave remarks at the Grand Opening of the Labette Community College Cherokee Campus.

Thursday morning, before heading back to Topeka, I met with Kelly Cover at the Pittsburg District Office.

On Friday, I spoke at the Greater Topeka Chamber of Commerce and then hosted a meeting with the local Veterans Service Organizations. Following the VSO meeting, we held a medals ceremony, where we handed out approximately three dozen medals to veterans who had earned, but previously had not received, the awards. 
                                            
                                                       From left to right: 
                                             Congresswoman Nancy Boyda 
                                             Douglas Teener of Manhattan 
                                             Edward Yanek of Leavenworth 
                                                       Carl Gregg of Paola 
                                             Robert Langston Jr. of Topeka 
       Adam Stolte, Military and Veterans Affairs Representative for Rep. Boyda

I was at the Kansas National Guard Museum Sunday morning to attend a Change of Command Ceremony, where we said goodbye to departing BG Jonathan Small and welcomed BG John Davoren.