May 2008 Archives

WASHINGTON - In an effort to educate Kentuckians about the upcoming digital television (DTV) transition, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) has added a new page to his congressional website which provides answers to frequently asked questions and links to other helpful websites.

"Many residents of the First District have questions about the DTV transition - specifically about how this change will affect them and their daily television viewing," Whitfield said. "For this reason, I have created a webpage to help my fellow Kentuckians learn about and adapt to the DTV transition. The DTV transition is an exciting time for some TV viewers but may be confusing for others, and I want to make sure that everyone has the most accurate and up-to-date information to guarantee a smooth transition."

Whitfield's webpage offers information on the reasons behind the switch from analog to digital; answers to commonly asked questions regarding what individuals need to do to be prepared for the transition; and links to a number of helpful government websites.

On February 17, 2009 all major broadcast television stations in the United States, including ABC, NBC and CBS, will stop broadcasting on analog airwaves and begin broadcasting only in digital. Analog airwaves are the traditional signal currently being used for TV broadcasts and take up an enormous amount of spectrum space on public airwaves which could be used for other purposes, such as emergency communications. In contrast, digital television takes up less spectrum space and offers consumers improved picture and sound quality as well as additional channels.

This process is known as the digital television transition, or DTV transition. Experts say the DTV Transition will change the TV viewing experience for the better, no matter what type of TV someone owns or what type of TV service they subscribe to. It will not be necessary for anyone to buy a new television, although some TV owners who currently get television from a rooftop antenna or "rabbit ears" will need a converter box. To find out if you will need a converter box or to obtain information on getting a coupon from the U.S. Government to pay for the box, Whitfield is encouraging residents of the First Congressional District to visit his webpage.

Whitfield's DTV page can be accessed at http://whitfield.house.gov/services/dtv.shtml. The webpage can also be reached through the opening screen of Whitfield's congressional website, http://whitfield.house.gov. Interested individuals can simply click on the button entitled "Learn About the DTV Transition" and they will be directed to the appropriate webpage.

WASHINGTON - Building upon his long-held commitment to Kentucky veterans, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) supported ten pieces of legislation this week which will improve healthcare benefits for veterans and ensure the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) best serves the nation's brave men and women in uniform.
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"Kentucky's veterans deserve the very best our nation has to offer - particularly in terms of medical care," Whitfield said. "These important pieces of legislation will go a long way in improving the services the VA provides to our nation's veterans."

Whitfield supported ten different bills which will ensure that all veterans have access to comprehensive substance abuse treatment and emergency services, expand health coverage for children of veterans and improve the quality of and access to numerous VA benefit programs. Following is a list of the legislation Whitfield supported and the House of Representatives passed this week:

- H.R. 5554, the Veterans Substance Use Disorders Prevention and Treatment Act of 2008. This legislation will require every VA hospital in the country to offer full substance abuse treatment services. The services will include both inpatient and outpatient treatment, providing the nation's veterans with comprehensive and effective care for substance abuse disorders.

- H.R. 3819, the Veterans Emergency Care Fairness Act of 2007. Under this measure, the VA would be required to pay for the emergency treatment of veterans enrolled in VA healthcare at non-VA hospitals. This would ensure that veterans would receive emergency care at any hospital when they need it until they could be safely transferred to a VA hospital. The VA would also be required to reimburse veterans with service-related disabilities for emergency care that they pay for out of pocket at non-VA hospitals.

- H.R. 5729, the Spina Bifida Health Care Program Expansion Act. This bill will expand healthcare to children of Vietnam and Korean War veterans with spina bifida. Under current law, the VA provides health benefits to children born to Vietnam and Korean War veterans with spina bifida if the health problem is directly related to that condition. H.R. 5729 would expand those benefits and give those children comprehensive VA care.

- H.R. 2790, a bill which establishes the position of Director of Physician Assistant Services within the office of the Under Secretary of Veterans Affairs for Health. The Director would oversee the education, training, employment and utilization of physician assistants in the Veterans Health Department and, as a result, improve the quality of care veterans receive from physicians' assistants.

- H.R. 3681, the Veterans Benefits Awareness Act of 2007. This legislation aims to promote awareness of benefit programs for veterans through advertising in national media. Programs that would be advertised include those that assist homeless veterans, support veteran-owned small business, provide employment and healthcare to veterans and offer veterans education, training, compensation or vocations rehabilitation.

- H.R. 3889, a bill which would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to conduct a 20 year study of the VA's vocational rehabilitation and educational programs to determine its effectiveness and the improvements that can be made. The programs are designed to help service-disabled veterans get back to work and regain independent living skills as quickly as possible.

- H.R. 5664 would require the Secretary of Veterans affairs to provide a handbook containing designs for adapted housing for veterans and to update the handbook every six years. The VA currently distributes pamphlets to disabled veterans containing plans and specifications for modifying houses to better suit their needs and this bill will require the VA to update this handbook as technologies change to better serve disabled veterans.

- H.R. 5826, the Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2008. This Act will provide a much-needed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for dependency compensation for survivors.

- H.R. 5856, the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Facility Authorization and Lease Act of 2008. The VA will receive funding through this bill for improvements to VA facilities throughout the country, including construction, leasing and renovating. The funds will be used for repairs and construction to create VA healthcare facilities worthy of U.S. veterans.

- H.R. 6048 would prohibit any court from changing an existing custody situation regarding a child of a service member while they are deployed. While the bill would allow an exception if a court determined that it was clearly in the best interest of the child, this legislation will ensure that custody decisions regarding children of service members are not made while the parent is deployed.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield is leading an effort in Washington to ease the burden of skyrocketing gasoline prices on Kentucky drivers, introducing legislation which would provide a tax rebate to commuters who have been forced to pay record-breaking prices at the pump and provide a long-term solution to the nation's energy crisis.

"Drivers in the First Congressional District simply cannot afford to spend 60, 80 or even 100 dollars every time they pull up to the pump," Whitfield said. "The time has come to take action and provide American drivers with immediate relief from soaring gas prices as well as a long-term plan to grow our nation's energy supply."

Whitfield introduced the End the Pain at the Pump Act. The bill would immediately provide a refundable tax credit, roughly equivalent to the price of 1/3 of a gallon of gas, for workers who use their personal vehicles to drive to and from work.

Whitfield's bill will give commuters a rebate based on the number of miles they drive to and from work daily. Drivers would multiply the number of miles they commute by a formula that utilizes one-third of the reimbursement rate allowed for driving for charitable work, equating to a tax credit of about $1.12 per gallon of gasoline (or diesel). Using the national average commuting distance of 35 miles, the average commuter would receive a rebate of approximately $377 annually.

In order to receive the rebate, commuters will file the necessary driving information as part of their federal tax return. Drivers will not need to submit receipts, rather they will simply calculate their rebate based on the number of miles they commute to and from work. The legislation will limit relief to middle-class and low-income earners who need it the most. In general, every commuter who was eligible to receive a payment from the Economic Stimulus Package will be eligible for this tax credit.

To provide a long-term solution to the nation's energy crisis, Whitfield's legislation would grow the country's fuel supply. The Congressman proposes opening areas of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) and the Outer Continental Shelf to environmentally responsible drilling that will yield vast supplies of oil without harming the environment or wildlife. In addition, the Congressman's bill will expedite the approval of refinery permits in order to get more refineries up and running and process more oil.

"Right now, the liberal Democratic leadership in Congress is holding hostage 117 billion barrels of oil and 651 trillion cubic feet of natural gas from the American people," Whitfield said. "These resources are sitting untapped while Kentuckians pay record-breaking prices at the pump. It is time to utilize these resources in an environmentally responsible way for the American taxpayer."

It is estimated that ANWR holds 11-13 billion barrels of oil and the Outer Continental Shelf 8.5 billion barrels of oil and 29.3 trillion cubic feet of natural gas. The normal taxes levied against the production of oil at these two sites will yield approximately $191 billion for the federal government, which will be used to offset the costs of Whitfield's proposal.

The legislation will also require hedge fund managers, who invest huge amounts of money in speculative markets and help drive up the price of fuel, and hedge funds themselves to pay their fair share of taxes. It is widely noted that individuals who manage hedge funds do not pay their fair share of taxes on earned income as compared to other taxpayers, nor do the funds themselves pay a fair share of taxes on their activities as compared to other businesses. By closing this loophole and collecting these taxes, Whitfield's legislation will both bring in additional revenue to the government and avoid increasing the national debt.

Whitfield's proposal comes on the heels of a steady rise in energy costs which has left the national average price for a gallon of gas at a historic $3.75. Diesel prices have also soared, hitting more than $4 a gallon in many parts of the country. This onslaught of rising fuel prices has been brought on by a number of factors. Most notably, limited refinery capacity and the failure of the Congress to allow domestic oil and gas exploration have combined to drive up prices.

"While it is important that we promote conservation of gasoline and energy resources right now, not everyone has the luxury of curtailing their driving, particularly working people who drive back and forth to their jobs every day," Whitfield said. "With experts predicting gasoline prices to reach as high as $4 a gallon this summer, my legislation will make it possible for more Kentuckians to be able to afford to get to work."

Additionally, Whitfield sponsored twelve pieces of legislation today which will diversify the nation's energy portfolio and increase our domestic fuel supply. Included in this American-made energy package are provisions to encourage the development of alternative fuels such as ethanol, coal-to liquids and nuclear power; discourage energy market speculators from driving up the cost of petroleum; repeal Section 526 of the 2007 Energy Bill which bars the government from purchasing abundant alternative fuels; and encourage the building of new domestic refineries.

WASHINGTON - Continuing his efforts to lower gasoline prices for First District drivers, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted today to crack down on gasoline price gouging and make oil-producing and exporting cartels illegal.

"At a time when drivers in the First District are paying truly absurd prices at the pump, Congress has a responsibility to protect consumers against unfair and excessive price spikes," Whitfield said. "I will always support measures that protect consumers, increase our petroleum supply and ultimately enhance our long-term energy security."

Whitfield voted for, and the House passed, H.R. 6074, the Gas Price Relief for Consumers Act. This legislation will subject foreign oil producers to the same antitrust laws American industries are forced to comply with. The bill would make it illegal for foreign states to act in conjunction with one another to have a direct, substantial, and reasonably foreseeable effect on the market, supply, price, or distribution of petroleum in the United States.

The activities prohibited under H.R. 6074 include limiting the production or distribution of oil, natural gas, or any other petroleum product; setting or maintaining the price of petroleum; and otherwise taking any action in restraint of trade for petroleum.

Countries, and related entities, which cohort in such a manner as to drive up prices for petroleum on the world market will be subject to judgment under U.S. law. The Act also establishes a Petroleum Industry Antitrust Task Force to develop, coordinate, and facilitate the implementation of Department of Justice (DOJ) investigative and enforcement policies related to petroleum industry antitrust issues. In addition, the bill directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a study evaluating the effects of petroleum mergers on competition.

"To truly ensure that Kentucky consumers are paying fair and honest prices at the pump, we must give our DOJ officials the tools and authority they need to actively investigate credible allegations of gas price gouging," Whitfield said. Last year the Congressman voted for legislation to give the Federal Trade Commission authority to investigate fuel price gouging allegations, but that legislation has not yet become law.

Whitfield is currently working with colleagues in the House of Representatives to craft legislation to provide both immediate relief for consumers and a far-sighted plan to increase America's energy supply for the long-run. Legislation like this coupled with a crackdown on international market manipulation will not only drive down the price of gasoline, but go a long way in making the United States more energy independent.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) helped secure passage of the Farm Bill today, a critical piece of legislation which gives Kentucky farmers the support they need to provide the most inexpensive, safest, and plentiful food supply in the world.

"I have met with numerous Kentucky farmers over the past several months and understand just how important the Farm Bill is to these producers, both as a safety net in hard times and as a framework for federal support of our farming industry," Whitfield said. "This legislation will give Kentucky farmers the tools that they need to keep producing affordable products for American consumers, and for people all over the world, while bringing more money into Kentucky's economy."

Whitfield voted for H.R. 2419, the Food and Energy Security Act of 2007, also known as the Farm Bill. This legislation authorizes $714 billion over the next ten years to fund a wide range of U.S. agriculture and food assistance programs. The bill extends price safety nets for farmers, reauthorizes food security programs and agricultural conservation programs, expands nutrition and food aid, and provides for commodity reforms, enhanced biofuel programs, and support for rural development.

Importantly, the Farm Bill passed today will prohibit the closure or relocation of Farm Service Agency offices for the next two years, except for offices located 20 miles or less from another office. Whitfield has been instrumental in thwarting efforts to consolidate FSA offices in Kentucky in the past, recognizing these offices as vital resources for countless farmers in the First District.

In addition to extending and modernizing federal farm programs, the Farm Bill reforms crop insurance, establishes standing disaster assistance programs for crops stricken by catastrophic natural disasters, caps benefits previously given to wealthy farmers and eliminates subsidies to non-farmers.

The Farm Bill also contains a number of provisions which promote renewable energy. The legislation directs $1 billion to fund programs that will help the renewable energy industry invest in new technologies.

The House of Representatives passed a Farm Bill last July and the Senate in December. Whitfield broke ranks with the Republican Party to support the Farm Bill when it passed in the House last summer. While the House and Senate both passed new versions of the Farm Bill, the two chambers, and the Bush Administration, had been deadlocked over funding. Fortunately, the House and Senate were able to reconcile their differences today and present the American people with a strong Farm Bill.

WASHINGTON - Heeding the call of Kentucky drivers paying record-breaking prices at the pump, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted today to increase the nation's oil supply and drive down the cost of gasoline.

"Gasoline prices across the country have hit historic highs amidst an economic slow-down that has forced most Kentucky families to tighten their belts," Whitfield said. "Today, the average price for a gallon of gasoline in Kentucky was $3.73. This is simply unacceptable and I plan to fight to lower these prices and ease the financial burden on First District families and drivers."

Whitfield voted in favor of H.R. 6022, a bill which suspends the acquisition of petroleum for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR). The legislation will free up more oil to flow into the open market and, as a result, reduce the cost of gasoline. While there is no way to tell exactly how much this legislation will lower gas prices, many experts say it could reduce the cost by 5 to 24 cents a gallon. Whitfield said this is one of several steps needed to address rising fuel costs.

The SPR, an emergency petroleum store maintained by the United States Department of Energy, is the largest emergency supply in the world. The government obtains this oil in lieu of royalties that would otherwise be paid by producers who pump it from federal land. The bill Whitfield voted for today would temporarily halt the shipment of about 70,000 barrels of oil a day to the SPR. Once the energy market stabilizes and the price of a barrel of oil drops to $75 or less for a 90 day period, the acquisition of oil for the Strategic Petroleum Reserve will resume.

The United State's SPR has the capacity to hold 726 million barrels of oil. Currently, the reserve is 97% full holding 701 million barrels, equal to nearly two months of oil imports.

Whitfield recognizes that while this temporary suspension will provide some limited relief at the pump for Kentucky drivers, a long-term solution is needed to combat the nation's energy crisis. For this reason, Whitfield is working with some of his colleagues to craft legislation to provide both immediate relief for consumers and a far-sighted plan to increase America's energy supply for the long-run.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield has been tapped to serve on an exclusive conference committee which will produce the final version of legislation aimed at improving consumer safety and reforming the commission which is charged with protecting the public from potentially harmful or hazardous products.

"In both the House and Senate, lawmakers on each side of the aisle came together in the spirit of compromise to produce bills which will protect the most vulnerable members of our society - children," Whitfield said. "I look forward to working with my conference colleagues in a similar fashion to draft a final, bipartisan bill which will set a new standard for product safety in our country and keep all Americans safe."

Whitfield was selected to be one of only 15 lawmakers who will determine the final version of H.R. 4040, the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act. These Senators and Representatives, commonly referred to as conferees, will come together in the following weeks to reconcile the bill passed by the House of Representatives last December and the version passed by the Senate in March. Whitfield and his fellow conferees will determine the content of the final bill, which will need to be passed in the House and Senate then signed by the President before becoming law.

As Ranking Member of the House Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection, the subcommittee with jurisdiction over the Consumer Product Safety Modernization Act, Whitfield will have a powerful voice in shaping legislation which will toughen product safety standards and keep Americans safe from potentially hazardous and harmful goods. Many of the reforms target improving the safety of children?s products as well as items imported from foreign countries such as China.

The House bill, which Whitfield supported, creates the toughest lead standard in the world for children's products, requires mandatory safety standards for nursery products and a review of voluntary safety standards for toys, requires mandatory third-party testing of children's products and requires tracking labels on products and packaging of children's products to aid recalls. The legislation also prohibits the sale and export of recalled products and improves public notification about recalls.

Both the House and Senate bills strengthen the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the organization responsible for protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products. Both bills significantly increase funding for the agency and give the CPSC the authority they need to better regulate and monitor consumer goods.

Senate conferees include Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee Chairman Daniel Inouye (D-HI), Committee Ranking Member Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Senators Mark Pryor (D-AR), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Barbara Boxer (D-CA), Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and John Sununu (R-NH). In addition to Whitfield, House conferees include Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman John Dingell (D-MI), Ranking Member Joe Barton (R-TX) and Representatives Bobby Rush (D-IL), Diana DeGette (D-CO), Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), Henry Waxman (D-CA) and Cliff Stearns (R-FL).