Congressman Tim Walberg participated in a ceremony to rename the Jackson High School football field after the Dungy family Friday night. From WILX.com:

Jackson High School’s football field has a new name…
Dungy Field
But make no mistake, Jackson Public Schools’ Board of Education dedicated the field the entire Dungy family, not just the Colts’ Superbowl winning coach.
“Your family has a made a difference and will continue to make a difference by the example that has been set,” Congressman Tim Walberg said at the dedication.
Dungy’s mother was a teacher at Jackson High School while his father taught at Jackson Community College.
“This is about being a complete person, about education as well as athletics,” Dungy’s brother, Linden Dungy, said.
Dungy’s siblings, who were present for the unveiling, still live in town and said they’re humbled by this gesture.
“To be able to look back and see how much your entire family has meant to the community and how much the community has meant to us, it makes it truly special,” Linden Dungy said.
The field might be renamed for the entire Dungy family, but some who play here say it doesn’t hurt to have a Superbowl winning name watching over every play.
“It means a lot,” Senior Jackson High School football player Chris Bronson said. “He’s a big inspiration to the community of Jackson and I’m honored for our field to be named after him.”
Whether if Dungy’s winning ways rub off in his hometown… is yet to be seen. 

More coverage is available here.

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Earlier this week, Congressman Tim Walberg sent the following letter to the Detroit Veterans Affairs office:

October 22, 2008

Secretary James B. Peake, M.D.
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
810 Vermont Avenue, NW
Washington, DC  20420

The Honorable James Peake:

There is a sacred trust between America’s veterans and the American people, and I write to you to address a violation of this trust with our nation’s veterans.  I am outraged to hear reports over the past week detailing active claims and unprocessed mail found in shredder bins at the Detroit Veterans Affairs office.

The Detroit News reported that “an official in the department’s Office of Inspector General confirmed Wednesday that the Detroit office and three other regional offices were visited recently as part of an audit of the department’s handling of veterans benefits claims.”  I am encouraged by your proactive response to this particular situation, but it is evident new safeguards and standards for processing veterans benefits claims are needed.

Veteran of Foreign War National Commander Glen Gardner recently stated the “the question that begs to be asked and answered is how many veterans had their disability and compensation claims disappear down a paper shredder?”  I would like an answer to this inquiry and would also like to know what process the Department of Veterans Affairs will immediately deploy to help those veterans who have been affected by the mishandling and destruction of applications and supporting documentation.

It has been reported that the Veterans Affairs Office in Detroit has the highest number of six month old claims of VA offices in the eastern area.  What new processes, training, and resources will you commit to the Detroit office to ensure that claims are efficiently processed in a timely manner?

I have pledged to work for our nation’s veterans and look forward to work with you to ensure our veterans receive the support and care they deserve.  I look forward to your response and swift action to address these issues so important to those who served our country.

Sincerely,

Tim Walberg
Member of Congress

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A great, non-political story in today’s Battle Creek Enquirer involving Congressman Tim Walberg:

UNION CITY — Dressed to the nines in a star-spangled tie and a flag pin, Keo Sok sheepishly walked onto the floor of the Union City Community Schools’ field house to perhaps the warmest applause ever to befall a middle school janitor.

With an assist from the office of U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg — who was on hand to congratulate the 48-year-old middle school custodian — and an OK from a federal judge, Sok was able to share his shining moment with the students and teachers that helped him pass his citizenship test. An estimated 400 students and community members attended Wednesday.

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Congressman Tim Walberg recently received the 60 Plus Association’s Guardian of Seniors’ Rights award. The 60 Plus Association’s award is presented to Democrats and Republicans in Congress based on their “senior friendly” voting records.

Read more here.

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Recent news reports have surfaced that executives from AIG recklessly spent money shortly after the federal government bailed the giant insurance company out, including “a $400,000 retreat at a posh California resort.”

Congressman Tim Walberg, who opposed taxpayer bailouts of the financial sector, joined a delegation of members concerned about AIG’s reckless spending and sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke asking the two leaders to ensure taxpayer dollars were not used by AIG on these spending sprees. Full text of the letter is below:

Dear Secretary Paulson and Chairman Bernanke:

We write to express strong concerns about AIG’s possible misuse of federal taxpayer funds.

It has come to our attention that, after the Federal Government provided a loan of $85 billion to AIG, the AIG executives hosted a lavish $440,000 retreat at the St. Regis Resort in Monarch Beach, California. Even more troubling, the day after this was revealed to the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, the New York branch of the Federal Reserve announced it will borrow $37.8 billion in investment-grade securities from AIG in exchange for cash.

At a time when many of our constituents have serious concerns about their own financial security, we demand that you ensure that no taxpayer funds were used by AIG to host this retreat. If taxpayer funds were used, we demand that AIG repay the American people in full. It is crucial that the American people be able to trust the actions of the Federal Reserve and the Treasury.

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Congressman Tim Walberg commented on the bailout bill passed by the House last Friday to several district media outlets over the weekend:

WOOD TV - Walberg comments on signing of bailout bill

WWMT - Michigan Representatives on the bailout

WILX - Rogers, Walberg Vote “No” on Bailout

Jackson Citizen Patriot - Area leaders doubt bailout plan

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Congressman Tim Walberg this afternoon will vote against a revised version of legislation to bailout the financial services sector. The Congressman issued the following statement:

“Through the thousands of calls, emails and letters sent to my office, I know that my constituents want Congress to take action to avert further economic distress, but south-central Michigan believes Congress must not take action just to take action. The vast majority of my constituents are working hard, paying their bills and making ends meet for their families, and they believe real alternatives exist to running up the bill the government sends to taxpayers.

“While I am pleased some positive reforms have been made to the bill the House rejected on Monday, including a provision to provide greater FDIC protection to Americans and America’s hometown banks as well as the SEC working on reform to mark-to-market accounting, this bill remains a massive, $700 billion taxpayer financed bailout. Additionally, as too often is the case in Washington, unrelated spending items have been tacked on to this bill, including special interest provisions such as millions of dollars for makers of wooden arrows, the Puerto Rican and Virgin Islands rum industry, wool fabric producers and Hollywood movie makers. All of these Washington, D.C. special interest provisions have nothing to do with addressing America’s financial crisis and providing the fundamental reform our economy desperately needs.

“I continue to be disappointed in President Bush and Secretary Paulson for refusing to consider other options and reforms. I cannot support putting future generations of Americans in debt to pay for this expensive band aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.”

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Congressman Tim Walberg is quoted in today’s Jackson Citizen Patriot about the Senate vote on bailout legislation Wednesday night:

Rep. Tim Walberg, who represents the Jackson County area, voted against the previous bailout measure. His office released an e-mail statement from Walberg on Wednesday night criticizing the approach Washington is taking in dealing with the financial crisis.
“Common-sense reforms exist that could immediately insert new private capital into our markets without putting taxpayers at risk, and I will keep working with my colleagues to push for these important reforms,” said the e-mail from Walberg, R-Tipton. “I continue to be disappointed in President Bush and (Treasury) Secretary (Henry) Paulson for refusing to consider other options and reforms.”

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On Monday, Congressman Tim Walberg opposed the Financial Stabilization Package, the deal struck on the bailout of the financial services sector. Walberg’s comments on the bill are available here and here.

Politico.com reports today that the Senate will consider another bailout proposal tonight. The House of Representatives is scheduled to reconvene Thursday afternoon.

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Ann Arbor News:

In a written statement, Walberg said the bill was “nothing more than an expensive, taxpayer-funded Band-aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.” He called for market-to-market accounting, net worth certificates and reducing taxes and regulations that he said prevent capital from entering the market.

Coldwater Daily Reporter:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg, who opposed it, said “While I applaud the efforts of House Republicans to improve this proposal, the bailout bill … is nothing more than an expensive, taxpayer-funded band aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.”
Walberg continued, in a press release, “I am extremely disappointed in President Bush for refusing to consider other options and for thrusting this legislation on the American people in a way that only created more uncertainty. Secretary Paulson has failed the American people by refusing alternative plans… Today our financial markets face serious challenges that could result in dire consequences, and while Congress can take action to avert further economic distress, Congress must not take action just to take action.”

Jackson Citizen Patriot:

Meanwhile in Washington, U.S. Rep Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, issued a statement calling the $700 million rescue package “an expensive, taxpayer-funded Band-Aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.”

Lansing State Journal:

Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Tipton, said he was “extremely disappointed” in Republican President Bush and said Paulson had “failed the American people by refusing alternative plans.”
Walberg was among conservative Republicans who proposed other measures, including a suspension of the capital gains tax.
“Congress must not take action just to take action,” Walberg said.

Toledo Blade:

U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R, Tipton, Mich.) said the bailout was ‘an expensive, taxpayer-funded Band-Aid that will not solve our long-term economic problems.’
Among his proposed solutions, Mr. Walberg advocated lowering capital gains and corporate tax rates ‘to enable American companies to compete, innovate, grow, and expand.’

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