April 2008 Archives

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield won a long-fought battle today securing passage of legislation which officially designates the Edward T. Breathitt (Pennyrile) Parkway and the Wendell H. Ford (Western Kentucky) Parkway as Interstate 69.

"I-69 is a critical trade route in the United States bringing thousands of jobs and billions of dollars in commerce to our country," Whitfield said. "With this designation, the First Congressional District will officially become home to a key portion of I-69 and reap the economic benefits that come with it."

The House passed H.R. 1195, a bill which amends the Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users, also known as SAFETEA-LU. The bill designates portions of the Pennyrile Parkway and the Western Kentucky Parkway as I-69. The newly designated interstate will run from Henderson to Madisonville on the Pennyrile Parkway and from Madisonville to Eddyville on the Western Kentucky Parkway.

"As mayor of the City of Madisonville, I am pleased that Congressman Whitfield has been able to secure this important designation," Madisonville City Mayor Will Cox said. "I-69 will bring new jobs and opportunities to the City of Madisonville and to all of Western Kentucky by making our region a critical passageway for commerce nationwide. I was pleased to work with Congressman Whitfield to secure this designation, and I applaud his efforts."

In 2002, Whitfield secured the designation of I-69 from Eddyville to the Tennessee state line utilizing I-24 and the Julian M. Carroll (Purchase) Parkway. Today's designation of the northern portion of I-69 will complete the interstate through the entire Commonwealth, creating an important access route from Indiana to Tennessee.

As an active Member of the Congressional I-69 caucus, Whitfield has worked to develop the interstate and secure funds to make it a reality. Nationally, I-69 passes through over 150 counties and hundreds of cities, directly serving over 25 million people. When completed, I-69 will span the nation's heartland, providing a direct route through Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. The I-69 corridor passing through the First District will run from Indianapolis, Indiana to Houston, Texas and is expected to create 27,000 jobs, add $11 billion in wages, produce $19 billion in added value, and create an $11 billion transportation efficiency benefit.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield secured final passage of legislation today that officially designates the Museum of the American Quilter's Society in Paducah as the National Quilt Museum of the United States. The designation has been approved by both the House of Representatives and the Senate and now awaits signature from the President.

"For more than 15 years, the Museum of the American Quilter's Society has been a cultural, educational and economic pillar of Paducah and the surrounding region," Whitfield said. "This American treasure has long deserved national recognition and I am pleased my colleagues in the House and Senate have joined with me to give this museum the distinction it has earned.?"

Tonight, the House passed S. 2739, the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, an omnibus bill which designates and makes adjustments to numerous national parks, wildernesses, trails, heritage areas, scenic rivers, memorials and museums. Whitfield?s legislation, which designates the Paducah Quilt Museum as the National Quilt Museum of the United States, was included in the omnibus bill.

The Museum of the American Quilter?s Society will join a select group of less than twenty nationally designated museums, which include the Smithsonian museums, the American Art Museum and the National Museum of Health and Medicine, among others.

The Paducah museum averages 40,000 visitors per year from across the country and has had visitors from 25 foreign countries. These tourists spend money in Paducah and the surrounding areas, and, as a result, help bring economic benefits to the community. Designation of the facility as a National Museum will bring additional attention to the area and help increase the number of visitors.

The Museum of the American Quilter's Society is a non-profit institution established to educate, promote, and honor today's quilt makers. The Museum started over 16 years ago and is the largest Quilt Museum in the world. The Museum has three exhibit galleries, the largest quilt exhibit space of any Quilt Museum. This space provides over 13,400 square feet for the museum to showcase over 150 quilts year-round.

Quilts in the Museum's permanent collection have been made by quilters from 44 of the 50 states and a number of foreign countries. The museum also offers workshops and educational opportunities for children and adults alike. They host an annual Quilt Camp for Kids, offer tours of the museum for children and host the "School Block Challenge," a competition where students from Kindergarten through high school are invited to submit quilt blocks to be judged by age group.

WASHINGTON - Two First District students nominated by U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield to join the class of 2012 at the U.S. Air Force and Naval academies have received appointments to join these prestigious institutions and begin careers serving their county.

"These two young men represent the best and brightest of Kentucky's youth," Whitfield said. "It was my honor to nominate these fine scholars and athletes to begin promising careers serving their country at the United States Air Force and Naval academies."

Whitfield nominated Jeremy Kubach to the U.S. Naval Academy and Bryan Stigall to the U.S. Air Force Academy. Both students received appointments to their respective academies and will begin their education and service this fall.

Kubach is currently a senior at Webster County High School where he participates in varsity cross country, track and field and Youth Council. He will fulfill a long-time dream this July when he joins 1200 men and women from around the country in Annapolis, Maryland. Kubach plans on becoming a navy pilot, which will require him to make an additional eight year commitment to the navy beyond his four years of education. Kubach is the son of Paula Montgomery of Clay and James Kubach of Madisonville.

Stigall is a 2007 graduate of Heath High School in West Paducah. During high school, Stigall played both varsity soccer and tennis, was a member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and participated in the Kentucky Governor?s Scholars program. He also has pursued his interest in the medical field by working in the emergency room at Lourdes Hospital and participating in the National Youth Leadership Forum on Medicine in Los Angeles. Stigall will be the third generation in his family to join the U.S. Air Force, where both his father and grandfather served. Stigall is the son of Kevin and Mary Stigall of Paducah.

Whitfield received numerous applications from young men and women interested in attending one of the five U.S. service academies. Students who wish to attend one of these prominent institutions must receive a nomination from a congressional or military-related source. Admission is based on the student's grade point average, college board scores, participation in extracurricular activities, including sports, and overall character and leadership qualities.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield voted today to preserve and improve numerous Medicaid programs which provide vital services to thousands of Kentuckians, including many of the Commonwealth's youngest residents - children.

"Millions of Americans, and countless First District residents, rely on Medicaid funded programs everyday," Whitfield said. "Not only will this legislation ensure these individuals continue to receive the services they need to rehabilitate from a disability, live independently or travel safely to and from school, it will save taxpayers billions of dollars simply by enacting more stringent anti-fraud measures. This is a win-win for Medicaid beneficiaries and the American taxpayer."

Whitfield voted in favor of H.R. 5613, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008. The bill places a temporary, one-year moratorium on seven Medicaid regulations created by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) that would make significant cuts to the program over the next five years. This legislation will keep in place a number of Medicaid programs critical to Kentuckians, impose safeguards against fraud and abuse and allow Congress more time to study the impact these proposed regulations would have on state and local governments.

One of the proposed regulations delayed by H.R. 5613 would have stopped Medicaid reimbursement payments to schools for the transportation of disabled or sick children who require additional services for their daily commute to and from school. The Congressman played a crucial role in securing the moratorium on this particular regulation and has been an outspoken advocate on the issue. Whitfield currently has legislation pending in Congress, the Protecting Children's Health in Schools Act of 2007, which would preserve billions of Medicaid dollars needed by schools across the country to pay for medical and health-related services for many of the nation?s seven million school children with disabilities.

The critical legislation Whitfield supported today would also protect payments to public safety net institutions, coverage of rehabilitation services for people with disabilities, payments to graduate medical education programs, coverage of hospital clinic services and case management services that allow people with disabilities to remain in their communities.

The bill also protects taxpayer dollars by implementing safeguards against fraud and abuse within the Medicaid system. One provision in the Medicaid Safety Net Act will generate over $4.5 billion in savings over the next ten years simply by requiring states to electronically verify financial disclosures of Medicaid applicants. This will stop people from hiding their assets in undisclosed bank accounts in order to fraudulently enroll in the Medicaid program, which is designed for low-income individuals.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield stood up for Kentucky drivers paying exorbitant prices at the pump today by co-sponsoring legislation which would decrease U.S. dependence on oil from the Middle-East and encourage the exploration of alternative fuels.

Whitfield co-sponsored a bill that would strike Section 526 from the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which was signed into law last December. This little known provision was buried into the Energy Act and poses a serious threat to increasing the supply, security, and diversity of American energy.

"During a time when soaring gasoline and energy costs have hit American families hard, leaders in Congress should be pursuing a comprehensive energy plan that puts real alternative and renewable fuels in the hands of consumers to lower costs," Whitfield said. "Instead, the Majority party in Congress has enacted legislation which actually promotes our dependency on oil from the Middle East and discourages the exploration of alternative fuels. Kentuckians simply cannot fill their gas tanks on empty rhetoric and irresponsible policy."

Section 526 bars the government from purchasing alternative fuels for vehicles and planes if those fuels have higher greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels. Many of these fuels prohibited under the provision have the potential to cheapen and diversify our nation's energy supply, such as those produced by clean-coal processes.

The United States possesses enough coal to power the country for the next 250 years and much of this supply lies in Kentucky's own backyard. With this massive resource at the U.S.'s fingertips, Whitfield says it is irresponsible not to support the careful development of clean coal technologies such as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle, coal-to-liquid, and coal-to-gas. The provision included in the Energy Act, however, will make pursuing these technologies much more difficult and send a message internationally that the United States is not interested in promoting its most abundant energy source.

Additionally, the U.S. government buys petroleum and other fuel from many refiners that use a combination of technologies that may not all meet the emissions standard outlined in Section 526. One such supplier is Canada, who produces fuel from tar sands. Canada's tar sands, which are a naturally occurring mixture of sand or clay, water and extra heavy crude oil, are the second largest oil reserve in the world behind Saudi Arabia. They release more carbon emission when refining into fuels that can be used here in the U.S. than crude oil coming from the Middle East. Therefore, processing this fuel from Canada may produce more carbon emissions than oil coming from the Middle East.

However, tar sand is a valuable source of energy which will inevitably be bought and used by another country or business. A major consequence of Section 526 is that the U.S. can no longer buy Canada's tar sand oil and, as a result, is forced to become more dependent on oil from the Middle East, a much more hostile area of the world. Additionally, from a global emissions standpoint, the U.S. would be doing nothing to reduce global carbon emissions as Canada's tar sands will inevitably be utilized elsewhere in the world.

"Like most Kentuckians, I have concerns about greenhouse gas emissions, but Americans expect and deserve a comprehensive energy policy which strengthens our nation's energy security and reduces prices over the long-term," Whitfield said. "A law that increases our dependency on oil from the Middle East and, in turn, discourages the development of alternative fuels serves neither of these goals."

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield received the prestigious 'Spirit of Enterprise Award' from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for his support of legislation which promotes growth of American businesses and the staggering economy.

"I am honored to receive this award from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce," Whitfield said. "Kentucky's business owners are the backbone of our economy and I am proud to do everything I can to help them grow and thrive. Doing so will not only create new jobs, but go a long way in helping to get our economy back on track."

The Chamber's award is given annually to Members of Congress based on rankings it gives for critical votes which aid and encourage business owners to expand their ventures and spur nation-wide economic growth. Whitfield compiled a 90% score with the Chamber last year and holds a cumulative 95% ranking during his tenure in Congress.

"Representative Whitfield has proven to be an effective ally to the business community, supporting legislation that helps grow the economy and creates new jobs for hardworking Americans," said Tom Donohue, Chamber president and CEO. "The Chamber is grateful for Ed's commitment to these important issues and is proud to present him with this award."

The Chamber designated 20 key votes in 2007 on which they score Members of Congress. These include votes on a trade promotion agreement with Peru, revisions to the rules governing direct foreign investment, and critical water resources legislation to facilitate commerce at the nation's waterways and ports.

The U.S. Chamber is the world's largest business federation representing more than 3 million businesses of every size, sector and region. There are currently 20 Chamber offices operating throughout the Commonwealth which represent nearly 7,000 Kentucky businesses.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) released the following statement following the testimony of General David H. Petraeus, Commander, Multi-National Force in Iraq, and Ryan C. Crocker, Ambassador to Iraq. The two leaders testified before the House Armed Services Committee on the status of the war, U.S. ground forces and political developments in Iraq.

"A little over a year ago, General Petraeus and our commanders on the ground in Iraq made the difficult decision to increase our troop presence in the country in an attempt to curb violence and bring long-term stability to the region. While many both in Congress and across the country questioned their decision, our military leaders and troops in Iraq soldiered on to pursue the mission of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

"Today, General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker told Congress that the surge has in fact yielded significant security gains in many of Iraq's most tumultuous regions. Overall violence in Iraq has decreased significantly - civilian deaths are down, sectarian killings are down, attacks on American forces are down and coalition forces have captured or killed thousands of extremists as well as Al-Qaeda leaders and operatives. And while we all would like to see Iraqi political leaders move more quickly to reconcile the factions within their country, Iraqi leaders have passed several critical pieces of legislation in recent months and the government has met 12 out of the original 18 benchmarks set for it.

"I do, however, share the same frustrations over the war as many Americans. More than 4,000 U.S. soldiers have lost their lives, billions of dollars have been spent and military families across the country have had to bear the burden of living day to day without their loved ones for over five years. Thousands of Kentucky's own soldiers from Ft. Campbell are now on their third, and even fourth, deployment to Iraq. It is incumbent upon the Iraqi people to make more steadfast political progress in order to create a more peaceful Middle East worthy of the sacrifices of our soldiers and their families.

"It is unfortunate, but true, that our mission in Iraq is not yet finished. The security gains brought on as a result of the surge can just as easily be lost should Congress fail to give our commanders and troops the authority and tools they need to complete their mission. There is no question that the road ahead will be difficult, but withdrawal could be catastrophic for Iraq, the Middle East and the world. An unstable Iraq would serve as a breeding ground for terrorism and pose a dire threat to U.S. national security. The consequences of failure are simply too great, and the dangers to our remaining forces unacceptable, to precipitously draw down our troop strength before they have succeeded in their mission to stabilize Iraq for the long term."

WASHINGTON - Committed to supporting Kentucky's servicemen and women, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield introduced a resolution yesterday to honor the extraordinary service and exceptional sacrifice of the 101st Airborne Division known as the Screaming Eagles.

"Since activation on August 15, 1942, the 'Screaming Eagles' of the 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell have been serving on the front lines of battle during many of our nation's darkest hours," Whitfield said. "These brave soldiers have never hesitated to answer their nation's call to duty and it is my great privilege to honor these service members."

Whitfield introduced House Resolution 1080 to recognize the Screaming Eagles as one of the great divisions in American military history. The resolution also acknowledges the service, sacrifice and patriotism of the soldiers of the Division and their families.

The 101st Airborne Division is an air assault division of the United States Army based out of Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The Screaming Eagles were the first Americans to land in France during the D-Day invasion and nearly 60 years later they were one of the first units deployed to Afghanistan to root out al Qaeda and the Taliban.

Thousands of members of the 101st Airborne Division are now on their third, and even fourth, deployment to fight the Global War on Terror. Despite the strains these tours have on soldiers and their loved ones, 65% of those who reenlist request to remain at Fort Campbell with full knowledge of pending deployments. Whitfield says he believes this is both a testament to the deep sense of duty these soldiers have and their true love for Fort Campbell.

Tragically, 186 members of the 101st Airborne Division have made the ultimate sacrifice and countless others have been injured since deployments began in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. Whitfield is calling on leaders in Congress to swiftly pass his resolution to honor the Screaming Eagles for all they have done to ensure the continued safety and security of the United States.

Forty-two Members of Congress signed on to co-sponsor Whitfield's resolution including all the Members of the Kentucky and Tennessee Congressional Delegations.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield called on fellow Members of Congress today to move swiftly and pass legislation he has introduced that would keep employees at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant working and bring millions of dollars to the region for environmental clean-up.

Whitfield participated in a hearing held today by the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations entitled, "Selling the Department of Energy's Depleted Uranium Stockpile: Opportunities and Challenges." The purpose of the hearing was to discuss how best to utilize the 700,000 tons of uranium tails contained in cylinders located at the Paducah and Portsmouth, Ohio plant sites.

"For more than 50 years, the plant in Paducah has provided good jobs to the community and has been a key element in the local economy," Whitfield said. "But the plant has also left the community with a legacy of environmental damage. It would be a gross injustice, it would be outrageous, if the U.S. government were to allow private companies in other countries or other states to hijack this waste and move it elsewhere for re-enrichment."

The stockpile of uranium tails located in Paducah and Portsmouth was previously regarded as unwanted waste and had been destined for dismantling and disposal. However, the price of uranium skyrocketed in recent years putting the value of these uranium tails at $7.6 billion. In 2000, uranium was trading at $7 per pound. Last August, the price had gone to $138 per pound.

With the value of these uranium tails high, various private companies throughout the world are now interested in acquiring these tails to send to Russia, France or other states such as New Mexico for re-enrichment. Whitfield asserted that he finds these proposals to be unacceptable as the plant sites in Paducah and Portsmouth who have had the burden of storing this hazardous waste for decades must benefit from their disposal.

"Not surprisingly, I suppose, now that it has value, there apparently are other parties out there who have developed an interest in these waste cylinders," Whitfield said. "I have two words to say to them: Go Away."

Whitfield introduced legislation last November which provides a reasonable solution to the disposal of the uranium tails and would keep the Paducah plant open for several years beyond the planned 2012 closure date. His bill, H.R. 4189, directs the Department of Energy (DOE) to contract with USEC, the operator of the Paducah plant, to re-enrich the uranium tails. Whitfield's legislation would help resolve the environmental problem of disposing of these tails, generate revenue to continue environmental cleanup efforts and give additional life to the Paducah plant.

Today's hearing coincides with a report released Tuesday by the Government Accountability Office which examines the potential use of this nuclear material. The report outlined the three viable options for the use of the uranium tails, but was favorable to Whitfield?s proposal. The options the GAO report laid out were for the DOE to sell the tails in their current form, contract to re-enrich the tails at the Paducah plant or store the tails indefinitely.

Serious problems exist with some of the alternatives, but not for contracting to re-enrich the tails here in the United States. Under current law, DOE could not even legally sell the depleted uranium tails in their present form. Furthermore, even if the law were changed, DOE would most likely receive lower prices for selling the tails in their current form as buyers take on substantial risk with this purchase.

Storing the tails indefinitely would also present difficulties as the value of the tails is completely sensitive to the price of uranium. The GAO report stated that it is timely to take advantage of market conditions to dispose of these uranium tails.

While DOE has been working on a plan on how to manage the uranium tails for the past three years, no proposal has yet to be released. The GAO report states that "Unfortunately, DOE has not completed a comprehensive assessment of its options with sufficient speed to take advantage of current market conditions." Whitfield argued that in light of these facts, it is prudent for Congress to enact his proposal and obtain the highest value possible for the uranium tails.

Whitfield questioned four witnesses at the hearing. The witnesses were Managing Director of the Natural Resource and the Environment Department of the Government Accountability Office Robert Robinson, DOE's Assistant Secretary for Nuclear Energy the Honorable Dennis Spurgeon, Executive Vice President and Chief Nuclear Officer of the Nuclear Energy Institute Marvin Fertel and United Steelworkers, Local 550 President Rob Ervin.