Representing the
1st District of South Carolina
1st District of South Carolina
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Henry E. Brown, Jr.
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Blog - Postings by AuthorXML Blog Postings via RSSAuthor: Brown StaffBrown and Residents of South Carolina's First District Participate Posted by: Brown Staff (November 07, 2009, 11:13 AM) WASHINGTON -Thursday, Congressman Henry E. Brown, Jr. (R-SC) joined his constituents from South Carolina along with thousands of other citizens concerned about the future of health care for a “House Call on Washington” to express their strong opposition to the Democrats’ 1.3 trillion dollar health care plan. Several constituents from South Carolina’s First District made the trip to Washington to participate in the event and later met with Congressman Brown to personally voice their concerns. After the event, Congressman Brown made the following remarks. Read more here Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
STIMULUS WATCH: Stimulus jobs overstated in report Posted by: Brown Staff (October 30, 2009, 01:14 PM)
WASHINGTON (AP) - The White House is promising that new figures being released Friday will be a more accurate showing of progress in President Barack Obama's economic recovery plan. It aggressively defended an earlier, faulty count that overstated by thousands the jobs created or saved so far. Ed DeSeve, serving as Obama's stimulus overseer, said the administration has been working for weeks to correct mistakes in early counts that identified more than 30,000 jobs paid for with stimulus money. He said a new stimulus report Friday should correct many mistakes an Associated Press review found that showed the earlier report overstated thousands of stimulus jobs. "I think you'll see a pretty good degree of accuracy," DeSeve said in an interview. White House spokesman Robert Gibbs downplayed errors in job counts identified by the AP's review, telling reporters, "We're talking about 4,000, or a 5,000 error." Read more here. Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
BROWN HAILS THE ARRIVAL OF BOEING TO THE FIRST DISTRICT Posted by: Brown Staff (October 28, 2009, 05:25 PM)
Posted in Charleston County | View Full Posting
BROWN SAYS GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE IS A BAD DEAL FOR SENIORS Posted by: Brown Staff (October 27, 2009, 04:35 PM)
“I rise today to highlight the Democrat’s plan to pay for their government takeover of health care by cutting nearly 162 billion dollars from Medicare at the expense of our seniors. Across the nation, nearly 11 million seniors choose Medicare Advantage plans as their preferred coverage. Of those 11 million, over 11,000 seniors in the First District of South Carolina, an area with many retirees, may have their coverage dropped or benefits cut if the Democrats have it their way. Despite the president’s promise that ‘if you like your current plan you can keep it,’ it is clear that some seniors will eventually be forced into a government-run plan. Additionally, the CBO has said that the Democrats’ plan will increase seniors’ Medicare prescription drug costs by 20 percent over the next decade. As Medicare dangerously approaches bankruptcy, Democrats must open the process up to Republicans to work to repair this rapidly failing program and protect our seniors from rising drug costs, limited coverage and a reduced quality of care. Republicans vow to honor our seniors by blocking Washington bureaucrats from over regulating their health care and by providing options and the best quality coverage for all Americans.” To view this clip, click here. Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
Criminals May have been Hired for Census Posted by: Brown Staff (October 09, 2009, 11:08 AM)
Errors by Census Bureau employees may have resulted in 200 people with criminal records being hired to conduct door-to-door canvassing. Posted in In Case You Missed It | View Full Posting
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Obama- Legalize illegals to get them health care Posted by: Brown Staff (September 18, 2009, 02:41 PM)
President Obama said this week that his health care plan won't cover illegal immigrants, but argued that's all the more reason to legalize them and ensure they eventually do get coverage. Read more here. Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
ATTENTIONS: Scam Targeting Vets Posted by: Brown Staff (September 11, 2009, 02:15 PM)
The VA reports that a reprehensible scam is targeting veterans. Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
Nation’s Unemployment Hits 26-Year High, Reaches 9.7% Posted by: Brown Staff (September 08, 2009, 02:10 PM)
Where are the Jobs? Unemployment: In the month of August, there were 14.92 million unemployed individuals looking for work, the highest number in history. Since February, when the Democrats passed their “stimulus,” 2.46 million people have lost their jobs. Employment: The number of employed individuals in August was 139.6 million. This is the first time that the number of employed people has been below 140 million since 2004. In the same month last year, there were 145.2 million people working in America. Under-Employment: The number of individuals who reported being employed only part-time because of economic reasons was 9 million in August, yet another historic high and 3.2 million more than last year. The number of people counted as “Marginally Attached to Labor Force”—meaning people who were available and wanted work, but had stopped looking for work in the past four weeks—reached 2.2 million. All told, the unemployed, under-employed, and those who wanted work but were no longer aggressively looking totaled 26.1 million. What are Democrats Doing?
“Stimulus”: To date, $88.8 billion of the “stimulus” has been spent. The vast majority of these funds have been spent on Medicaid payments to States, State education payments, and unemployment benefits. Only $2.3 billion or 0.3 percent has been spent on transportation construction projects, though the President said in February that “400,000 men and women will go to work rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges.” Meanwhile, 216,000 men and women lost their jobs in August. The Rhetoric: In an effort to justify spending $1 trillion on a failed “stimulus,” Vice President Biden has made a number of public appearances claiming that “the Recovery Act has created or saved between 500,000 to 750,000 jobs.” The Vice President, however, has not shown what jobs have been saved. The 2.4 million workers who have lost their jobs since the “stimulus” was signed certainly know what jobs have been lost. The Bottom Line: While Americans lose jobs at the fastest rate in a quarter of a century, Democrats continue to spin the results of their “stimulus” and push a government-run takeover of the healthcare system and a national energy tax. In other words, a 9.7 percent unemployment rate does not appear to be causing Democrats to rethink their job-killing economic policies. Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
New Video Highlights President Obama’s Own “Disinformation” Posted by: Brown Staff (August 11, 2009, 04:24 PM)
During President Obama’s latest town hall, he claimed there are “wild misrepresentations” surrounding his plan for a government takeover of health care. Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
Soaring deficit may defy forecasts Posted by: Brown Staff (August 11, 2009, 12:02 PM)
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Brown Comments on Port of Georgetown Netting New 20-Year Contract Posted by: Brown Staff (July 29, 2009, 03:49 PM)
Georgetown, SC – The Port of Georgetown will soon welcome the first ship call as part of a new, 20-year contract that will bring business to the port while supporting local manufacturing and maritime jobs. Posted in Economy, Georgetown County, Transportation | View Full Posting
State Unemployment Numbers Rise as “Stimulus” Fails. Posted by: Brown Staff (July 20, 2009, 12:49 PM)
“Now most of the money that we're investing as part of this plan will get out the door immediately and go directly to job creation, generating or saving three to four million new jobs."—President Barack Obama, January 28, 2009 The President promised Americans that the trillion dollar “stimulus” was going to be spent quickly, create 3 to 4 million jobs, and get the Nation’s economy back on track. Now, while Democrats struggle to justify their spending spree with taxpayer dollars, families across the country continue to suffer from record unemployment.
 Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
CBO Chief Says Dem Health Care Bill Will Increase Debt Posted by: Brown Staff (July 16, 2009, 04:03 PM)
Democrats have persistently claimed that their plans for health care reform would save money by lowering health care costs. That is an excellent goal, and one we all share. Unfortunately for the Democrats, the Director of the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says their claims don’t match up with reality: Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (July 14, 2009, 05:17 PM)
75% of Americans Believe Obama Stimulus Has Either Made the Economy Worse or Had No Impact
“So far, do you think the federal government’s stimulus package has made the economy better, made the economy worse, or has it had no impact on the economy so far? 21% Obama stimulus has made the economy better 15% Obama stimulus has made the economy worse 60% Obama stimulus has had no impact 75% Total: Obama stimulus has either made the economy worse or had no impact CBS News Poll; conducted July 9-12, 2009; Survey of 944 Adults Nationwide Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
House GOP Asks: Where are the Jobs? Posted by: Brown Staff (July 09, 2009, 10:46 AM)
In a web video, released as it was reported that the US lost another 467,000 jobs in June, House Republicans shine a spotlight on several wasteful projects bankrolled by the taxpayer-funded trillion-dollar “stimulus” and underscore the lack of jobs created by the massive spending binge. ACOSTA: It’s an issue that dogged the President all the way to Russia where Mr. Obama clarified statements made by his own Vice President on the recession. VICE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN: There was a misreading of just how bad an economy we inherited. ACOSTA: Not exactly, according to the President. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: I would actually, rather than say “misread,” we had incomplete information. ACOSTA: Who still believes the stimulus was the right call. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: There’s nothing that we would have done differently.
And just yesterday, as South Carolina's unemployment sits at a historic 12%, the Government Accountability Office issued a report showing that stimulus funds are not flowing to areas who are the hardest hit by the recession. Republicans warned that this would happen when the stimulus was passed, and that is why we proposed a pro-growth stimulus of fast-acting tax cuts to help small business create jobs. Instead of helping our country get back on its feet, all the Administration and the Democratic Congress has done is make Washington bigger, wasted taxpayer money, and piled more debt on the backs of our children. Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
YouTube: Top Obama Advisor Won’t Guarantee Americans Will Keep Their Health Plan Posted by: Brown Staff (June 25, 2009, 02:40 PM)
In recent days, the Obama administration has increasingly walked back promises that the Democrat health care plan will not force Americans out of the coverage they currently enjoy.  Watch the video here.
Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (June 25, 2009, 11:22 AM)
WITH MILLIONS IN JOB LOSSES ALREADY THIS YEAR, IS A JOB-KILLING NATIONAL ENERGY TAX REALLY THE MESSAGE DEMOCRATS WANT TO SEND TO WORKERS, SMALL BUSINESSES?  As the House prepares to vote on Speaker Pelosi’s national energy tax as soon as this Friday, are Democrats representing these regions of the country really prepared to vote for even more job loss? Is that a message they want to bring home to middle-class families and small businesses in their districts heading into the Independence Day recess? House Republicans don’t think so – and in an op-ed published in Tuesday’s Washington Examiner, House GOP Leader John Boehner (R-OH) highlighted the job-killing nature of Speaker Pelosi’s national energy taxes and House Republicans’ “all of the above” plan for more jobs, lower energy prices, and a cleaner environment. All year long, Democrats have been promising more and more jobs, but nearly three million have been lost since January. After a record spending binge on the trillion-dollar “stimulus,” the $400 billion omnibus loaded with 9,000 earmarks, a $3.6 trillion budget that spends, taxes, and borrows too much, and endless bailouts, American workers are asking, “Where are the jobs?” If House Democrats get their way and pass Speaker Pelosi’s national energy tax, those jobs will be leaving America and headed to competitors like China and India, who won’t enact a national energy tax of their own. During this time of economic crisis, is this really a policy Washington Democrats want to pursue? Posted in Economy, Energy | View Full Posting
In Case You Missed It: Brown Meets with MUSC Children's Hospital Heart Patient Posted by: Brown Staff (June 22, 2009, 11:36 AM)
Posted in Health Care, In Case You Missed It | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (June 19, 2009, 02:57 PM)
You Can Keep Your Coverage – Unless You’re One of the Millions Who Can’t
White House Officials admit “president's rhetoric shouldn't be taken literally” President Obama and congressional Democrats are working overtime to sell the American people on a costly government takeover of our health care system. “If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your doctor, period. If you like your health care plan, you'll be able to keep your health care plan, period. No one will take it away, no matter what.” (Remarks by the President at the Annual Conference of the American Medical Association, June 15, 2009) Unfortunately for Democrats – and for the millions of Americans who like their current coverage – the Congressional Budget Office says that claim is just not true. “Once the proposal was fully implemented, about 39 million individuals would obtain coverage through the new insurance exchanges. At the same time, the number of people who had coverage through an employer would decline by about 15 million (or roughly 10 percent), and coverage from other sources would fall by about 8 million, so the net decrease in the number of people uninsured would be about 16 million.” (Preliminary Analysis of Major Provisions Related to Health Insurance Coverage Under the Affordable Health Choices Act, June 15, 2009) That’s 23 million Americans who will lose their current coverage under one partial plan being considered in the U.S. Senate. “Dallas Salisbury, head of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, called Obama's promise ‘an aspirational statement. If he was a king, he would deliver that, but he’s not king,’ said Salisbury. His group is a nonpartisan information clearinghouse on health and pension benefits.” (Ricardo Alonso-Zaldivar, “Promises, Promises: Obama's health plan guarantee,” The Associated Press, June 19, 2009) In the same article, White House officials agree and, “suggest the president's rhetoric shouldn't be taken literally.” That’s a startling statement from the same people who argued so fiercely during a campaign stop in Wisconsin last year that words matter. Guess now they’re, “just words.” Americans who like their current coverage should be able to keep it, and no one should be forced into a government-run plan that puts bureaucrats between patients and their doctors. That’s why the GOP Health Care Solutions Group unveiled a plan earlier this week that promotes commonsense reforms that make health care more affordable, reduce the number of uninsured Americans, and increase quality at a price our country can afford—while making sure that Americans who like their health care coverage can keep it by stopping the government takeover Democrats are championing. Posted in Health Care, In Case You Missed It | View Full Posting
Brown Offers Condolances to Victims of the April Earthquake in Abruzzo, Italy Posted by: Brown Staff (June 15, 2009, 04:29 PM)
Congressman Brown is an original cosponsor of H.RES.430, legislation which expresses condolences to the citizens of Italy and support for the Government of Italy in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake that struck the Abruzzo region of central Italy. Following the passage of the resolution today, Brown, a member of the bicameral and bipartisan Italian American Congressional Delegation, made the following statement: Posted in Environment and Wildlife, Values | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (June 11, 2009, 03:09 PM)
Posted in Environment and Wildlife, In Case You Missed It | View Full Posting
Letter to Congressman Brown from James Lighthizer, President of Civil War Preservation Trust Posted by: Brown Staff (June 09, 2009, 01:28 PM)
Below is a letter I received from the President of the Civil War Preservation Trust. Civil War Preservation Trust Letter 052809
Posted in Environment and Wildlife, Tourism, Values | View Full Posting
Fiction vs. Reality – President’s Fuzzy Stimulus Math Posted by: Brown Staff (June 08, 2009, 02:30 PM)
With the President promising 600,000 jobs over the next 100 days, we hope any measure of reported success will not rely on the same fuzzy math he has used in the past. Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Brown Backs Improved Health Benefits for Female Vets Posted by: Brown Staff (June 04, 2009, 05:05 PM)
This morning, the Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Health passed legislation aimed at improving health care services for female veterans, particularly those who have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
BROWN BACKS RECREATIONAL BOATING BUSINESS Posted by: Brown Staff (June 04, 2009, 11:01 AM)
As the representative for 75 percent of the South Carolina coast and many of my state’s recreational and commercial boaters, I spoke during today’s Transportation and Infrastructure Full Committee Markup in strong support of legislation which recognizes the numerous national contributions of the recreational boating community and the boating industry. Posted in Environment and Wildlife, Transportation | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (May 28, 2009, 12:43 PM)
Even the liberal media admits the facts... Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Traffic congestion could increase 70 percent by 2030 Posted by: Brown Staff (May 20, 2009, 03:05 PM)
By 2030, Charleston roads could be clogged like Atlanta unless the system is improved.
Click here to read the full Post & Courier article. Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Dorchester County, In Case You Missed It, Transportation | View Full Posting
Brown Supports Bill to Strengthen Role of Civil Air Patrol in Homeland Security Posted by: Brown Staff (May 12, 2009, 04:49 PM)
I am proud to support H.R.1178, legislation that unanimously passed the House of Representatives today requiring an assessment of how the Civil Air Patrol (CAP) can support homeland security missions. Posted in Defense, Homeland Security | View Full Posting
SHOCK VIDEO: HOUSE DEM SAYS TERRORISTS SHOULD RECEIVE SAME “DUE PROCESS” RIGHTS AS U.S. TROOPS Posted by: Brown Staff (May 07, 2009, 05:25 PM)
IS THIS THE DEMOCRATS’ PLAN FOR DEALING WITH THE TERRORIST THREAT?
In a House Appropriations Committee debate this afternoon, Democratic Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA) waded into a discussion about what to do with the cold-blooded terrorists housed at the Guantanamo Bay prison and offered this solution: give them the same “due process” rights as American troops. That’s right. Some of the most dangerous terrorists on the face of the Earth … enjoying the same rights as men and women defending our nation from attack. Can’t believe it? See it for yourself: REP. ADAM SCHIFF (D-CA): “I think we can use the Uniform Code of Military Justice in the military courts which are very much a home-court advantage and we can held up to the rest of the world that we’re giving these detainees the same due process we give our own troops when they’re brought up on court martial charges. Nothing more and nothing less.” Giving terrorists like Khalid Sheikh Muhammad, the mastermind of the September 11 attacks on America, and Abu Zubaydah, who personally trained some of the 9/11 hijackers, the same rights as the men and women protecting Americans from terrorists hell-bent on destroying America and our allies? As shocking as Rep. Schiff’s solution sounds, the question is: Do Democratic leaders in Congress and the Administration agree with him? Is this their plan for dealing with the terrorist threat? Posted in Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Brown & First District Constituents: "Stamp Out Extinction" Posted by: Brown Staff (May 06, 2009, 04:14 PM)
During this week’s Resources Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife hearing, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC), invited two of his constituents, Whit McMillan of the South Carolina Aquarium in Charleston and Doc Antle, founder of TIGERS in Myrtle Beach, to testify in support of two pieces of legislation he drafted: the Marine Turtle Conservation Reauthorization Act of 2009 and the Multinational Species Conservation Funds Semipostal Stamp Act, respectively. Posted in Environment and Wildlife | View Full Posting
Brown Named to Rural America Solutions Group Posted by: Brown Staff (May 06, 2009, 12:43 PM)
Congressman Henry Brown will be part of a new task force focusing on issues facing rural America. Posted in Environment and Wildlife | View Full Posting
Dems Don't Fund Bid To Close Gitmo Posted by: Brown Staff (May 05, 2009, 11:33 AM)
House Democrats dealt the White House a setback yesterday and dropped President Obama’s request for $81 million to close the Guantanamo Bay prison camp bowing to strong Republican criticism that the administration lacks a plan to relocate terror suspects detained there. Posted in Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
IMPORTANT: GI Bill Announcment Posted by: Brown Staff (May 01, 2009, 03:56 PM)
The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced MAY 1ST that Veterans can begin submitting applications on-line for the Post-9/11 GI Bill. Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (May 01, 2009, 12:15 PM) Defense Secretary Robert Gates said this month that he "fully" expects every member of Congress to draft legislation prohibiting the transfer of military detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to U.S. prisons. As I have drafted and submitted legislation stating just this, 15 of my House Republican colleagues and I also wrote a letter this month to Congressmen David Obey and Jerry Lewis, Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Appropriations respectively, expressing our opposition to the proposed funding in the FY09 War Supplemental to close the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay Naval Base, and the relocation of those detainees to other facilities, including military installations in the United States. Posted in Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Brown Offers Support for Horry County Fire Victims Posted by: Brown Staff (May 01, 2009, 11:18 AM)
After learning of the catastrophic fire that would eventually damage or destroy over 1500 homes and 20,000 acres in Horry County, my only cause for relief was knowing that the people living in the path of the fire were safe. Posted in Environment and Wildlife, Horry County | View Full Posting
BROWN VOWS TO PROVIDE HELP TO ALL VETERANS SEEKING IT Posted by: Brown Staff (April 30, 2009, 01:39 PM)
Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
BROWN APPLAUDS ARNOLD PALMER FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE FIRST DISTRICT AND THE NATION Posted by: Brown Staff (April 28, 2009, 04:12 PM)
I was honored to cosponsor legislation, which passed the house today, awarding a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Arnold Palmer in recognition of his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf. Posted in Values | View Full Posting
Controlled Burning and How it Effected the Horry County Fire Posted by: Brown Staff (April 28, 2009, 04:08 PM)
One of the largest fires in state history burned through nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 150 homes in Horry Country from last Wednesday to Sunday. However, had you visited that same spans of land just 20 years ago much of it was covered by pine plantations owned by timber and paper companies. These companies would maintain the land by regularly conducting controlled burns to rid the forests of the very same underbrush that fueled that massive fire on the edge of Myrtle Beach last week. Posted in Environment and Wildlife, Horry County | View Full Posting
BROWN CHAMPIONS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE Posted by: Brown Staff (April 28, 2009, 10:50 AM)
“As a constant advocate against child abuse in all forms, I was proud to cosponsor legislation, which passed yesterday by voice vote, supporting the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. With one in four girls and one in six boys being sexually abused before their 18th birthday, it is going to take all of us stepping up to protect them. In the words from a refrigerator magnet I have at home, ‘one hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the type of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.’” Posted in Values | View Full Posting
President's Budget Winners & Losers Posted by: Brown Staff (April 20, 2009, 12:04 PM) A Detailed Analysis of President Obama's Budget Prepared by U.S. House Committee Republicans Posted in Economy, Taxes | View Full Posting
Point of Reference -- Obama's $100 MILLION Budget Cut Challenge Posted by: Brown Staff (April 20, 2009, 11:57 AM)
According to reports, President Obama will hold a cabinet meeting today in which he will order the departments to identify a total of $100 MILLION in budget cuts over the next 3 months. Note that – according to CBO – under Obama’s budget, the Federal Government will spend more than $4 TRILLION this year alone (FY 2009).
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
New: House Republican's Economic Solutions Center Posted by: Brown Staff (April 16, 2009, 02:33 PM)
The Office of the Republican Whip presents the House Republican's Economic Solutions Center
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Words from Washington: Supporting the Fair Tax Posted by: Brown Staff (April 15, 2009, 01:08 PM)
Tax Day, April 15th, has historically been a dreaded date for many, but even more so today, as Americans are facing some of the most trying economic times in years. We are reminded on this day, that most things in life are taxed, and this trend only seems to be increasing with the recent passage of the 2010 budget, as it could bring the largest tax increase in U.S. history. Posted in In the News, Taxes | View Full Posting
The Employee Free Choice Act Could Kill Businesses Posted by: Brown Staff (April 14, 2009, 01:48 PM) Everyday you hear from countless associations about their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, but this take, from an actual member of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc, really puts into perspective how bad this bill will actually be for America’s employers. Read his blog post on the detrimental impact passage of the Employee Free Choice Act will have on his concrete construction firm. Posted in Labor | View Full Posting
Veterans Upward Bound Program is Hard at Work in the First District Posted by: Brown Staff (April 08, 2009, 05:26 PM)
With over half a million veterans living in South Carolina, I have been a strong advocate for our nation’s heroes since coming to Congress. Currently I have the honor to serve as the Ranking Republican Member on the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, and have continued to work diligently to ensure that the all veterans are able to easily access adequate health care. Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
Brown Applauds Payment Increase for Military Survivors Posted by: Brown Staff (April 06, 2009, 10:47 AM)
As the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, I was extremely pleased to be able to offer my support for provisions of the Federal Reform Act that will decrease the burden placed on military survivors by the ‘widow’s tax.’ Posted in Taxes, Veterans | View Full Posting
Budget Passes House and Senate with NO GOP Votes Posted by: Brown Staff (April 03, 2009, 10:52 AM)
Last night the President's Budget passed the House and Senate with NO Republican votes in either chamber. Posted in Defense, Economy, Energy, Environment and Wildlife, Health Care, Homeland Security, Retirement, Taxes | View Full Posting
Brown Ranked #1 in SC Delegation on Animal Protection Issues During the 110th Congress Posted by: Brown Staff (March 31, 2009, 12:34 PM)
Congressman Brown, the Ranking Republican on the Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Oceans and Wildlife, ranked #1 in the South Carolina delegation on Animal Protection Issues during the 110th Congress. Posted in Environment and Wildlife | View Full Posting
Brown Lauds Essential Unanimously Passed Veterans Legislation Posted by: Brown Staff (March 31, 2009, 11:17 AM)
As the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, I was extremely pleased that the House unanimously approved, by voice vote yesterday, H.R. 1377, legislation that would allow veterans to seek emergency care at the closest provider without fear of facing large out-of-pocket expenses. Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
Comments on the President’s Budget from First District Residents and other South Carolinians: Posted by: Brown Staff (March 31, 2009, 10:13 AM)
Susan from Little River writes: Posted in Economy, Taxes | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (March 26, 2009, 09:55 AM)
The Department of Commerce is pleased to inform you that the TV Converter Box Coupon Program has eliminated its waiting list and is now processing coupons on a "current" basis, and is now accepting requests for replacement coupons (online, by phone and mail/fax). Posted in Technology | View Full Posting
Brown Continues to Stand Against Overeaching Democrat Spending Posted by: Brown Staff (March 25, 2009, 02:01 PM)
Today, the House passed the Omnibus Lands Package, yet another far reaching Democrat bill, created by stacking more than 170 separate bills together into one 1,200 page, 10 billion dollar piece of legislation. Posted in Economy, Energy, Environment and Wildlife | View Full Posting
Brown Marks the 188th Anniversary of Greek Independence Day Posted by: Brown Staff (March 25, 2009, 11:09 AM)
As a proud member of the Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, I am pleased to announce my support and cosponsorship of legislation marking today as the 188th anniversary of Greek Independence Day. Posted in Values | View Full Posting
POLL: Dems Push Secret Ballot Destruction Scheme while Few Americans Support Unionizing Posted by: Brown Staff (March 17, 2009, 09:50 AM)
“Would you like to belong to a labor union where you work?”
9% Yes 81% No 9% Not sure Rasmussen Reports; conducted March 13-14, 2009; Survey of 1,000 Adults Nationwide. Posted in Labor | View Full Posting
WHAT EVERY STATE SHOULD KNOW ABOUT THE PRESIDENT’S BUDGET Posted by: Brown Staff (March 16, 2009, 05:38 PM)
Posted in Economy, Taxes | View Full Posting
Policy Watch: Holding Democrat's Accountable Posted by: Brown Staff (March 13, 2009, 09:29 AM) As the Congressional leadership continues to force their huge spending packages through Congress, my Republican colleagues and I are working to show the American people the repercussions of the Democrat's actions. Check out these graphs on continued Republican efforts to hold Democrats accountable. Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Implications and American Opinion of the Employee Free Choice Act Posted by: Brown Staff (March 11, 2009, 10:25 AM)
At a time when our nation’s viability in the world market must be strengthened and Congress should be focusing on legislation that will grow, not stunt, the economy, passage of the Democrat's so called Employee Free Choice Act, better know as card check, would be without the support of the American people and would have the following effects on our job market:
These statistics show that passage of the Employee Free Choice Act would not only be a sure step in the wrong direction, but would be a step that the majority of the American people could not support. I encourage all of my colleagues to listen to the American public and support The Secret Ballot Protection Act as it preserves the sanctity of worker free choice and protects them from intimidation, threats, misinformation or coercion by a union or co-workers to sign a card and agree to ‘card check’ recognition. Learn more on Congressman Brown's support for The Secret Ballot Protection Act. Posted in Labor | View Full Posting
BROWN WORKS TO PROTECT WORKER FREE CHOICE Posted by: Brown Staff (March 11, 2009, 09:35 AM)
As an original cosponsor and staunch supporter of worker freedoms, I am proud to support The Secret Ballot Protection Act. This legislation would guarantee workers the right to a secret ballot election conducted by the National Labor Relations Board and prohibit unions from coercively subjecting employees into a card check campaign,as proposed by the Democrat's misnamed Employee Free Choice Act. Posted in Labor | View Full Posting
Brown Cautions Against Controversial Stem Cell Policy Posted by: Brown Staff (March 09, 2009, 04:59 PM)
Today, President Obama signed an executive order overturning restrictions on taxpayer-funded embryonic stem-cell research. As a winner of the Family Research Council’s 'True Blue' Award for consistent support of families, I am strongly against this legislation as it diverts scarce federal resources away from innovative and proven adult stem cell research and forces taxpayers to subsidize research that will destroy human embryos. Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
Breaking Down the Tax Increases in the FY10 Budget Posted by: Brown Staff (March 06, 2009, 02:00 PM)
The President's Fiscal Year 2010 Budget Proposal includes some $1.4 billion in tax increases - tax increases that will hit every single family in the country at a time when our economy is in the middle of a painful recession. The Republican Staff of the Budget Committee broke down the tax increases in this handy chart:
You can read the Budget Committee's full analysis of the President's Budget Proposal here. Posted in Economy, Taxes | View Full Posting
BROWN PRAISES LEGISLATION TO BLOCK SHARK FINNING Posted by: Brown Staff (March 05, 2009, 11:23 AM)
I am proud to announce that, this week, my colleagues and I approved legislation by voice vote that will protect sharks from the cruel practice of shark finning. Posted in Environment and Wildlife | View Full Posting
Poll Finds 72 Percent of South Carolinians in Favor of Offshore Oil and Gas Resources Posted by: Brown Staff (March 05, 2009, 10:12 AM)
According to the March 5, 2009 Edition of the Charleston Business Journal:
Poll finds 72% of South Carolinians in favor of offshore oil and gas resources Staff Report Published March 4, 2009 A poll from Citizens for Sound Conservation finds that 72% of South Carolinians favor increased access to offshore oil and gas resources, compared with a recent national poll that found 61% of Americans in favor of offshore drilling. Wilson Research Strategies polled 300 South Carolinians last month, and support for exploration was at least 65% on every income level, age bracket and racial breakdown. In addition, 57% viewed the recent decision to delay offshore exploration by six months as a stalling technique. “South Carolina voters are clearly ahead of the curve on this issue. Thankfully, our state leaders seem to be listening,” organization board member Cathy Novinger said. Citizens for Sound Conservation is nonprofit foundation formed by community leaders representing manufacturers, homebuilders, realtors, energy providers and maritime and port interests. Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
Brown Leads Effort to Preserve South Carolina's Civil War Battlefields Posted by: Brown Staff (March 04, 2009, 04:18 PM)
As a original cosponsor of the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act of 2009 and a member of the House Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, I applaud my colleagues in the House for passing legislation Tuesday that will encourage the private sector to preserve, conserve and enhance nationally significant Civil War battlefields. Posted in Tourism | View Full Posting
$13 Extra a Week...the Stimulus of Our Dreams? Posted by: Brown Staff (February 19, 2009, 11:29 AM)
In an article in today’s edition of The Post & Courier, Glenn Smith focuses on the extra $13 dollars a week tax payers will be receiving as a tax credit thanks to the so called trillion dollar stimulus plan passed almost solely by Congressional Democrats last week. Smith lists, in all seriousness, seven seemingly trivial things you can buy with $13 because as he puts it, “$13 isn't chump change.” However, the question remains, is this the real stimulus that most struggling American taxpayers were hoping for? Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
BROWN ADVOCATES FOR LOCAL RADIO STATIONS Posted by: Brown Staff (February 13, 2009, 04:24 PM)
I recently joined over 110 of my colleagues as a co-sponsor to a bipartisan House resolution opposing the introduction of "any new performance fee, tax, royalty, or other charge" on local radio stations. The Local Radio Freedom Act (H. Con. Res 49), unveiled today at a Capitol Hill event hosted by the Free Radio Alliance, would protect all local radio stations in the First District and all over the nation from having incurring additional costs due to the broadcasting of sound recordings on their station. Posted in Technology | View Full Posting
BROWN JOINS AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY IN FIGHT AGAINST THE WASTEFUL AND UNSTIMULATING STIMULUS Posted by: Brown Staff (February 13, 2009, 11:41 AM)
Yesterday, I joined several of my House Republican colleagues in a press conference held by Americans for Prosperity against the so-called stimulus the Democrats are forcing through this week. Over 500,000 people have signed AFP' s petition against a stimulus of this nature and Republicans are in complete agreement that this not the stimulation that the America public so desperately needs.
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
White House Job Numbers Don't Add Up Posted by: Brown Staff (February 12, 2009, 08:17 PM)
The Washington, DC publication Politico is reporting that jobs numbers being touted by the White House as the reason why American's should support the Democrats' trillion dollar spending bill apparently don't add up. According to the report, in some cases the discrepency between estimates of jobs created in a state versus those created in each of that state's congressional districts over state the estimated job creation by thousands. You can read more of this report, which includes links to the origional WH documents, here. Jobs aren't rounding errors. House Republicans have a plan to create twice as many jobs at half the cost. Find more information at http://gopleader.gov.
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Money for Nothing: Chairman Rangel on Congressional Democrats' Trillion-Dollar Spending Plan Posted by: Brown Staff (February 12, 2009, 07:22 PM)
House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Charlie Rangel (D-NY) admits to not knowing what is in the Democrats' trillion-dollar spending package, or whether or not it will work. House Republicans have a plan to create twice as many jobs at half the cost. Find more information at http://gopleader.gov.
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
BROWN HAILS OFFSHORE ENERGY DEVELOMENT AS AUTOMATIC ECONOMIC STIMULUS Posted by: Brown Staff (February 12, 2009, 01:22 PM)
I was very discouraged this week after attended the first House Natural Resources Committee hearing in a series regarding development of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf (OCS). After making significant steps towards energy independence at the end of the 110th Congress, Democrats are encouraging retroactive steps against offshore exploration and the goal of finding solutions for America’s energy needs.This only further confirms my fear that the recently expired moratorium on off-shore drilling may, in fact, be reinstated by the majority, an action that will prevent the creation of thousands of desperately needed American jobs and keep our country dependent on the oil of foreign and often enemy nations.
Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
Breakdown of Job Creation in South Carolina under the Republican Substitute to H.R. 1 Posted by: Brown Staff (February 06, 2009, 03:10 PM)
The breakdown below provides a great side by side contrast of jobs created by the Republican and Democrat plans as it highlights the number of jobs that could be created in South Carolina under the House Republican substitute to H.R. 1. These estimates are derived from the results of applying Dr. Christina Romer’s economic analysis to the House Republican substitute which shows that the substitute could create 6.2 million jobs over the next two years. Unlike the House-passed bill, H.R. 1, the substitute contains broadly applicable tax cuts for families and business and does not pick and choose favorites among the states or particular industry sectors through various spending programs. Potential New Jobs In South Carolina:
Under the GOP Plan: 88,000 Under the Democrat Plan: 54,000 GOP Jobs Advantage: 34,000 See the entire chart listing the state by state breakdown of possible job creation with the House Republican’s substitute to H.R. 1. Jobs created by Democrat plan from http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/state_by_state_employment_impact/. Republican estimates derived from Christina Romer and David Romer, “The Macroeconomic Effects of Tax Changes: Estimates Based on a New Measure of Fiscal Shocks” National Bureau of Economic Research, Working Paper 13264, July 2007and Bureau of Labor Statistics, State and Area Employment, Hours, and Earnings, series catalog SMS0100000000000001. Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
BROWN BELIEVES AMERICANS WERE READY FOR DTV TRANSFER Posted by: Brown Staff (February 04, 2009, 06:02 PM)
BROWN BELIEVES AMERICANS WERE READY FOR DTV TRANSFER
Contradictory to the illogical decision made today to postpone the February 17th digital television transition, I believe the American public was ready for the change. The following numbers from a January Nielsen report confirm just this: • 94.3% of American homes already had one or more TVs ready for change over. • Only 12.8% of TV households in America were exclusively using analog airwaves. • Coupons had been sent to 94.4% of the households only using analog. • Only 800,000 analog airwave households had not yet received a coupon and 600,000 of these homes were on the waiting list. • Meaning only 200,000 households, less than 2% of analog airwave homes or less than .02% of all American TV homes had nothing. Read more of my original release opposing the DTV Delay. Get more information on the DTV Transfer, how it may impact you and steps you can take to prepare for the upcoming transition. Posted in Technology | View Full Posting
Stimulus Bill - Republican Job Creation v. Democrat's Wasteful Spending Posted by: Brown Staff (January 30, 2009, 09:53 AM)
Despite promises to the contrary, the Democratic "stimulus" bill passed by the House this week will do little to create jobs for Americans. The Democrat plan is full of wasteful spending and does not contain the infrastructure and job creating provisions that will help get our economic up and rolling again. Instead of following the urgings of President Obama, House Democrats locked the door on Republican ideas for the stimulus legislation and turned a bill that could have created real jobs into a bill filled with wasteful spending on Democrat priorities that will do little to create real jobs. Here are some links to information put out by House Republicans on the Democratic stimulus bill and job creating Republican alternatives: Congressional Budget Office: Dems' Spending Plan Won't Lead to a Rapid Economic Recovery House GOP Economic Recovery Alternative Will Create 6.2 Million New American Jobs Non-Partisan CBO Confirms House Democrats’ Bill Tops $1.1 Trillion Transportation Committee Republicans on Stimulus: Where’s the Jobs? Democrat Stimulus: Actual Job Creation is “Doubtful” The American People Deserve Better than House Democrats’ Trillion-Dollar Spending Plan
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
BROWN VOTES NO ON DEMOCRAT PORK-LADEN STIMULUS PACKAGE Posted by: Brown Staff (January 28, 2009, 06:35 PM)
“With unemployment rising and our economy falling into recession, House Democrats have proposed a stimulus plan that is full of wasteful spending and contains only a small amount of the necessary infrastructure and job creation provisions that would stimulate our failing economy and get hundreds of thousands of unemployed Americans back on their feet." 
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: TIME NAMES CHARLESTON #2 SPOT TO RELOCATE GITMO DETAINEES Posted by: Brown Staff (January 23, 2009, 06:00 PM)
If Not Gitmo, Then Where Should Terror Detainees Be Held? http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1873669,00.html With President Barack Obama having ordered the closure of the Guantanamo Bay military detention facility within a year, the U.S. faces the challenge of finding a new lockup for terrorism suspects currently behind bars, and those captured in future. Reports released by the Pentagon, the Center for American Progress, and Human Rights Watch, among others, have recommended several possible sites, most of them in military bases. But moving the Gitmo inmates almost anywhere on U.S. soil would likely set off a political firestorm. Pennsylvania congressman John Murtha, a Democrat, is ready to see the captives moved to his own state, saying they would be "no more dangerous in my district than in Guantanamo." His constituents are far from convinced. Some see an economic benefit, because building a maximum-security prison would provide jobs. But others don't want terror suspects in their backyard. Diane Gramley, president of the 12,000-member American Family Association of Pennsylvania, has described Murtha's idea as "ludicrous." (See pictures from inside Guantanamo) And Murtha is rare among legislators on Capitol Hill in his willingness to have the suspects incarcerated in his district. Most are vociferously opposed to the idea. Possible Gitmo replacement sites include: 1. U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, and Senator Sam Brownback, a Republican, have publicly opposed the idea of bringing Gitmo inmates to Leavenworth, which is in close proximity to its surrounding community, including an airport, farms, and hospitals. Brownback, terming such a transfer as "unwise and unsafe," has also introduced legislation calling for 90 days notice prior to transferring enemy combatants to another possible site, in Charleston, SC. 2. U.S. Naval Consolidated Brig in Charleston, South Carolina 3. Camp Pendleton, San Diego, CA Hunter introduced legislation on Thursday to prohibit the transfer of Gitmo inmates to Pendelton or to the nearby Miramar Air Station. "Redirecting these detainees to Camp Pendleton would present a serious threat to surrounding military installations and resources, as well as the community's civilian population," Hunter wrote in a letter to Defense Secretary Robert Gates earlier this month. 4. Miramar Marine Corps Air Station, Miramar, San Diego, CA Miramar was included in the bill introduced by Congressman Hunter to prohibit transferring Guantanamo detainees to existing facilities, or to construct new detention facilities in the same areas. 5. U.S. Penitentiary Administrative Maximum Facility, Florence, CO The 37-acre prison has 490 beds and at present holds 430 prisoners. Like Leavenworth, it has solitary confinement units enclosed by steel doors. Extreme security is enhanced by motion detectors, cameras, laser beams, attack dogs, 1,400 remote-controlled steel doors and 12-foot high razor wire fences throughout the facility. 6. Metropolitan Correctional Center, New York City, NY Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (January 22, 2009, 04:20 PM) Congressman Brown, joined by over 100 other House Republicans have sent a letter to President Barack Obama asking that he withdraw his pledge to sign the so-called “Freedom of Choice” Act (FOCA), which would overturn hundreds of state laws nationwide protecting the sanctity of unborn human life. During the 2008 presidential campaign, then-candidate Obama vowed that the “first thing” he would do as president is sign FOCA. The letter (embedded below) notes that enactment of FOCA would increase abortions and divide the country. The letter corresponds with the 36th Anniversary of the Roe v. Wade ruling by the Supreme Court, a day marked every year by the March for Life on the National Mall. Congressman Brown took part in the March, and you can view his comments afterword here. 01-21-09_FOCA_Letter Posted in Values | View Full Posting
Obama Signs Executive Order to Close Guantanamo; Brown: Congress Should Have Final Say Posted by: Brown Staff (January 22, 2009, 03:36 PM)
Today, President Obama signed an executive order beginning the process that will eventually close the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (you can read the executive order here). Many in the Congress, the press, and the security community have raised the point that this closure brings with it more questions than it answers - most importantly, what will happen to the detainees? With the Naval Brig at Charleston continually named one of the possible locations for the eventual transfer of these detainees, Congressman Brown today clearly stated that any future decision for housing these detainees must be made by Congress and not a Washington bureaucrat: "...while this executive order officially closes the detention center at Guantanamo Bay, it is essential that these individuals, some of the most dangerous terrorists captured during the War on Terror, only be moved after a full evaluation of all available and appropriate locations...Congress should have the final say as to where these most dangerous detainees are held if they move to the US, not the Washington bureaucrats. After all, the members of Congress are the ones who will potentially be moving the most dangerous residents of Guantanamo into their own backyards." You can read the rest of the Congressman's statement here. Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
What is around the Brig in Charleston? Posted by: Brown Staff (January 22, 2009, 09:43 AM)
The Consolidated Naval Brig in Charleston, with some critical infrastructure elements highlighted: Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Charleston Chamber Opposes Transfer of GITMO Detainees to Charleston Posted by: Brown Staff (January 03, 2009, 04:07 PM)
The Charleston Chamber of Commerce has come out in opposition to transfering terrorist detainees from Guantanamo to the Consolidated Navy Brig at the Charleston Naval Weapons Station. Congressman Brown has introduced legislation to prevent this from occuring.
Charleston Chamber Letter on Gitmo Brig 122908
Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Dorchester County, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
Which is the better place to house detainees from GITMO? Posted by: Brown Staff (November 21, 2008, 03:38 PM)
The Consolidated Naval Brig in Charleston: Or the area around the federal supermax prison in Florence, Colorado:
Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security | View Full Posting
Brown Legislation to Prohibit Transfer of GITMO Detainees to Charleston Posted by: Brown Staff (November 19, 2008, 05:14 PM) Below is legislation introduced by Congressman Brown to prevent terrorist detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Cuba from being moved to the Naval Brig in Charleston. hr7272
Posted in Berkeley County, Charleston County, Defense, Homeland Security, Terrorist Detainees | View Full Posting
WSJ: Congressional Democrats Targeting Your 401(k) Posted by: Brown Staff (November 16, 2008, 01:33 PM)
Targeting Your 401(k) November 14, 2008 You may have heard about Argentina's plan to nationalize private retirement accounts. Some Democrats on Capitol Hill are inspired, and with their big election victory they may get the chance to test Peronist ideas in America. Meet Congressmen George Miller and Jim McDermott, who are eager to change the way Americans save for their golden years. They'll also be powerbrokers in the next Congress. Mr. Miller, who came in with the Class of 1974 from California, chairs the House Education and Labor Committee. Mr. McDermott, who has represented Seattle the past two decades, runs a House Ways and Means subcommittee on income security and family support. Before Election Day, the Congressmen began to target the $3 trillion in 401(k) accounts held by about 60% 0f Americans. Mr. Miller called the system "an inadequate vehicle" that "has not been terribly successful" in encouraging retirement savings. He wants a "wholesale re-examination" of pensions. Just what alternative these Democrats support is unclear, and nothing has been formally proposed beyond Mr. Miller's plan to make the system "more transparent," reduce fees charged by the money managers, and suspend the tax penalty for seniors over 70 who don't take the "required minimum" withdrawal from their account, regardless of the market situation. But the Chairman has also signalled greater ambitions. At a hearing last month, Mr. Miller put the 401(k) system into play. Under the current system, employers match employee contributions that aren't taxed until redeemed, an indirect subsidy worth some $80 billion today. "We have to start to think about in Congress . . . whether or not we want to continue to invest that $80 billion for a policy that's not generating what we now say it should," Mr. Miller said. "For a taxpayer investment of this size, we must ensure that the structure of 401(k)s adequately protects the nest eggs of participating workers." His committee listened to possible reform proposals. Most eye-catching was an idea from Teresa Ghilarducci at New York's New School for Social Research. Her plan would end the tax breaks for 401(k)s; she proposes instead to give all workers an annual $600 inflation-adjusted tax credit for retirement and force them to invest 5% of their pay into a government-run retirement account managed by the Social Security Administration. She called the 401(k) "a failed experiment." A McDermott spokesman called her proposals "intriguing" and "part of the discussion." Mr. Miller hasn't so far endorsed the plan. The main liberal objection to 401(k)s seems to be that they let average Americans control their own investment decisions for retirement. As Shlomo Benartzi, a professor at UCLA's Anderson business school, told Mr. Miller's committee, "Individuals have a tendency to buy at the peak, and then panic when the markets drop and sell at the bottom." Better to have the government do this instead. It is certainly true that retirement plans have lost, on paper, some $4 trillion in the past 15 months -- half in 401(k) and IRAs and half in company defined-benefit plans. Average 401(k)s are down a quarter this year. But assuming sensible policies and a normal economic recovery, those asset values should rise again over time. In any case, investment returns on stocks and bonds over extended periods far exceed the paltry returns on Social Security that for some workers are a mere 1% to 2% Tax breaks alone hardly explain the popularity of 401(k)s. Over the past 30 years, the number of individuals covered by them nearly trebled, up to 65 million accounts, while the number under defined-benefit pension fell 30%. People are attached to their 401(k)s because it is their property, which they can carry with them to new jobs (unlike traditional pensions), manage as they see fit and bequeath to heirs. Before entertaining dreams of state-managed retirement accounts, Congressional Democrats might ask why Europe and Latin America have tried so hard in recent years to move in the opposite direction. Their pension systems are debt-ridden, can't easily adjust for demographic shifts and show a historically lower return. If Democrats want to improve the prospects for American retirees, their first priority should be removing barriers to economic growth. Anger over the drop in 401(k) balances is one reason that voters who belong to the "investor class" swung to Democrats in greater than usual numbers this year. Their mandate is for policies that improve those returns, not strip them of tax benefits. Posted in Economy, Retirement, Taxes | View Full Posting
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Brown Seeks Answers on VA Document Shredding Posted by: Brown Staff (November 12, 2008, 09:42 AM)
Veterans affairs: Tighter records controls urged After reports surfaced that 95 documents were erroneously dumped into a shredder bin at the Department of Veteran Affairs’ Columbia office, critics charge the agency needs to fix the way it handles and tracks records. “Files tend to get lost or tend to grow feet and walk out the door,” said Larry Scott, publisher of the Web site vawatchdog.org. VA employees keep documents in their desks, briefcases, filing cabinets and other places, Scott claimed. The agency doesn’t have strict enough rules and procedures for tracking who handles veterans’ files and records, such as when the records are received, filed, mailed and processed, he added. A VA spokeswoman said the agency is writing a new policy on how to handle and process records before they are destroyed. Overall, 41 of the Department of Veterans Affairs 57 regional offices reported finding 500 documents improperly slated for destruction during an Oct. 3 audit. The documents ranged from new claims for benefits to death certificates. The shredder incident could have widespread impact in South Carolina, home of more than 413,000 former members of the military services. One of those veterans wondered just how many records have been wrongly destroyed before the shredding incident came to light. “How long has this been going on, and how many veterans and their families have been deprived of benefits they have earned?” said Army veteran Mike Bailey of Springdale. The House Veterans Affairs Committee, which includes Rep. Henry Brown, R-S.C., plans to summon VA leaders to Capitol Hill in mid-November to explain the shredder incidents, an aide said. Representatives of veterans’ service organizations also are expected to join in the discussion. “I look forward to working with the VA and my fellow committee members on not only getting to the bottom of this incident, but making changes that ensure our veterans see their claims processed in a timely and secure manner,” Brown said. According to the VA, supervisors at the Columbia office found the documents erroneously slated for shredding. “Their suspicions are that there was an employee in that facility who was improperly putting documents in that shredder intentionally,” said Alison Aikele, VA spokeswoman. The employee, who was not identified, was put on administrative leave while the situation is being investigated, Aikele added. Documents are “shredded all the time because they contain so much personal information,” Aikele said. But before a document is destroyed, copies should be made and stored. “If we just threw it in the garbage, it would be a serious security threat,” Aikele said. “In this particular incident, there were things that should not have been in the shredder because they needed to be taken action on.” Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting
Brown Statement Honoring our Nation's Veterans Posted by: Brown Staff (November 11, 2008, 04:20 PM)
MAKING VETERANS A PRIORITY 365 DAYS A YEAR WASHINGTON, DC- Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement regarding America’s bravest citizens as he and the rest of the nation celebrated our Veteran’s individual sacrifices on this Veterans Day: “In times of war, one is constantly reminded of the selflessness many of our uniformed men and women have displayed in recent years. Veterans Day is a time to reflect on those and the acts of all of our nation’s protectors. I am proud to serve as a member of the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, prioritizing the needs of our veterans and current service members, and am even more proud of the fact that, at a time when almost all federal agencies are seeing their budgets held level or reduced, veterans funding has more than doubled since I took office in 2001. As a former Chair of the VA Committee’s Subcommittee on Health, I am especially glad that so many of these increases will help ensure that qualifying veterans have access to the highest quality health care and benefits at VA facilities, including the nearly 100,000 veterans living in the First District. While increasing veterans’ benefits is a top priority, making sure that the delivery and execution of those benefits is swift and productive is important as well. I supported legislation to reform the disability claims review system to reduce the backlog and provide veterans with the benefits they deserve in a timely manner. I have also supported and introduced influential veteran’s legislation that has designated ALS as a service connected disorder as well as legislation that would double the pension for Medal of Honor recipients. I am a proud cosponsor and supporter of the Post-9/11 GI Bill and a sponsor of The Military Surviving Spouse Equity Act, which would provide equality in benefits for the thousands of surviving spouses of military retirees. Locally, I worked with area veterans’ service organizations to bring the Moving Wall to the District this past October, allowing coastal South Carolina veterans, their families, and average citizens a unique opportunity to pay respects to the heroes of the Vietnam Era. ###
Posted in Defense, Veterans | View Full Posting
Brown, House Republicans Demand Open Books at Fannie & Freddie Posted by: Brown Staff (October 16, 2008, 02:49 PM)
Congressman Brown and 33 House Republicans sent the following letter to the regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac asking that the books of the two failed mortgage giants be opened up for the American public to examine.
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Fostering New Technology to Improve Rail Safety Posted by: Brown Staff (October 06, 2008, 12:47 PM)
An oped in today's LA Daily News discusses the need to improve safety at the thousands of rail-highway grade crossings across the country. In the recently passed Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008, Congressman Brown worked to get legislative language that would make developing and deploying new technology warning systems at these grade crossings a priority. Specifically, Brown's language will get DOT focused on working with the private sector to develop new grade crossing safety technologies, such as systems that can warn a train miles away that a car is stuck on the tracks, allowing it time to stop before the crossing. Brown also worked to add additional language that will give states and technology companies the legal protection necessary to install these systems at crossings, instead of simply keeping them in the lab. Read LA Daily News OPED: Grade-crossing deaths are true rail problem Language from Rail Safety Improvement Act:
`Sec. 20161. Fostering introduction of new technology to improve safety at highway-rail grade crossings
SEC. 210. FOSTERING INTRODUCTION OF NEW TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT HIGHWAY-RAIL GRADE CROSSINGS.
Posted in Transportation | View Full Posting
Democrats in their own words covering up the Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac scam Posted by: Brown Staff (October 06, 2008, 10:39 AM)
Some shocking video from 2004 where Democratic members of the Financial Services Committee defend the misdeeds of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while attacking the government regulator who uncovered the common practices of inflating earnings and papering over risky investments at the two companies:
Posted in Economy | View Full Posting
Congressman Brown's Statement on Energy from the House Floor Posted by: Brown Staff (September 16, 2008, 05:30 PM)
Congressman Brown took to the House Floor today to discuss our energy challenges and solutions. You can view his statement by clicking the image below. Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
More Facts about the Democrat Energy Bill Posted by: Brown Staff (September 16, 2008, 05:05 PM)
The chart below, from the House Republican Conference, breaks down the Democrat energy bill, showing that it truly is a "no-energy energy bill."
Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
Resources for Preparing for a Hurricane Posted by: Brown Staff (September 03, 2008, 03:45 PM)
In addition to developing and reviewing your family disaster plan, now is a good time to take care of the little things like programming news stations into your radio and making sure that you have the most up-to-date phone numbers written down or saved into your cell phone. The National Hurricane Center has the most up-to-date information about storm positions and tracking, and you can may choose to access NHC advisories on your mobile device. Posted in Homeland Security, Hurricane Preparedness | View Full Posting
More on Friday's Floor Revolt & an Open Letter to Speaker Pelosi Posted by: Brown Staff (August 04, 2008, 03:46 PM)
We have recieved many calls from folks across the 1st District responding to the efforts of Congressman Brown and the House Republicans this past Friday. Here is some of what Congressman Brown had to say from the floor: http://brown.house.gov/apps/list/press/sc01_brown/080108energyrevolt.shtml. Today, in addition to keeping up the revolt on the floor, House Republicans are circulating an open letter to Speaker Pelosi outlining efforts to demand a vote on increasing American energy production. The letter is pasted below: AN OPEN LETTER TO SPEAKER PELOSI
Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
Republican Leader Boehner: "We witnessed the power of American democracy in action." Posted by: Brown Staff (August 01, 2008, 05:36 PM)
Below is a great release from Republican Leader John Boehner: Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
In Case You Missed It: Congress is gone, but Republicans won't leave Posted by: Brown Staff (August 01, 2008, 04:54 PM)
“The microphones were off, the House had stopped TV feeds to C-Span and the lights dimmed after the pre-noon vote to adjourn for the August recess. That didn't deter Republicans, who one after another rose to demand that Congress stay in session until it does something about high gas prices.” Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
Posted by: Brown Staff (August 01, 2008, 03:33 PM)
UPDATE [4:38pm]...Congressman Brown spoke to the assembled tourists, House staffers, and reporters that were sitting in the seats that are generally taken by Members of Congress when the House is in official session. We should have his prepared statement posted soon. Republican Member after Republican Member is speaking about the need for action on energy prices. Republican Leadership also sent a letter to the Speaker asking that the House be called back into session to deal with our nation's energy crisis. Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
Today's Presidential Announcement Regarding American Energy Production Posted by: Brown Staff (July 14, 2008, 01:58 PM)
Posted in Energy | View Full Posting
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