June 2008 Archives

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield announced that the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) will offer low-interest disaster loans to businesses in Clinton, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell and Wayne counties who have been affected by the low water level on Lake Cumberland.

"Small businesses, such as the ones surrounding Lake Cumberland, have been the backbone for the American economy for more than a century," said Whitfield. "I am pleased to see the SBA has recognized the importance of our small businesses and will be able to provide some sort of relief."

Neighboring counties of Adair, Casey, Clay, Cumberland, Jackson, Knox, Lincoln, Rockcastle, and Whitley are also eligible for the disaster loans, so long as the counties can prove that five businesses have been affected by the low water levels of Lake Cumberland.

Eligible small businesses may qualify for loans up to $1.5 million. Interest rates are available at 4 percent with loan terms up to 30 years. SBA determines eligibility for the loans based on the size and type of the business and its financial resources. Loan amounts and terms are set by SBA and based upon each applicant's financial condition.

"With an estimated loss of $23.6 million in sales, business owners surrounding Lake Cumberland must be provided some sort of relief to help protect the longevity of their businesses," said Whitfield. "These low interest loans will help to defray the loss in revenue business owners will face."

Applications and program information are available by calling the SBA's Customer Service Center at 1-800-659-2955 (1-800-877-8339 for the hearing-impaired), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. until 9 p.m.; Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. EDT. Business loan applications can also be downloaded from the SBA website at www.sba.gov/services/disasterassistance. Completed applications should be mailed to: U.S. Small Business Administration, Processing and Disbursement Center, 14925 Kingsport Road, Fort Worth, TX. 76155.

Completed loan applications must be returned to SBA no later than March 26, 2008.

WASHINGTON - A long time advocate of Kentucky coal, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) fought to protect the role of coal in electricity generation today at a congressional hearing on climate change. Whitfield championed the responsible use of the resource as essential to providing cheap and abundant electricity for consumers, critical to reducing our dependence on foreign oil and vital to the local economies of the First Congressional District.

"Far too often when we talk about climate change, coal becomes the punching bag with the presumption that this vital energy source is dirty," Whitfield said. "In my view, this is simply unacceptable given that coal is our nation's most abundant natural resource and there are technologies available to produce electricity and other fuel using clean coal technology, which has been proven to significantly reduce carbon emissions in coal."

Whitfield participated in a hearing held today by the House Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality entitled "Climate Change: Costs of Inaction." The hearing examined what would happen if carbon emissions were not reduced. Whitfield acknowledged the potential cost of not enacting measures to curb emissions, but was steadfast in his resolve that coal remain a part of the nation's energy portfolio.

Whitfield noted the tremendous impact coal has on the national economy as well as the large role the resource plays in providing energy throughout the country and in Kentucky in particular. Coal provides fuel for over 50 percent of all electricity in the country and over 90 percent in Kentucky. Today, the United States possesses enough coal to power the nation for the next 250 years.

"The development of clean coal technologies is at the forefront of reducing U.S. dependence on foreign oil," Whitfield said. "It is imperative that the United States continue to explore, develop and utilize methods in which coal is used to produce energy instead of failing to tap our cheapest and most abundant commodity."

Earlier this month, Whitfield joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers to introduce legislation which would advance the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies. The legislation would establish a $1 billion annual fund, derived from fees on the generation of electricity from coal, oil and natural gas. Grants from the fund will be awarded to large-scale projects advancing the commercial availability of CCS technology. CCS is a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and injecting underground the carbon dioxide emitted from electricity generation plants that use fossil fuels.

Dear Editor,

Currently, there are an estimated 12 million illegal immigrants in the United States. With that number continuing to increase day after day, it is imperative that Congress acts to create fundamental reforms to our current immigration policy.

Like most Kentuckians, I am opposed to granting amnesty to persons who have entered our nation illegally. Amnesty not only forces the costs of illegal immigration on the American people, but also punishes those who play by the rules and achieve U.S. residency legally. Furthermore, the threat of terrorists coming into our country has made it essential that we fully protect our borders. The 1986 immigration law that brought quick amnesty followed by broken promises about border enforcement is widely agreed to have failed as an effective immigration policy. It would be unwise to make that same mistake again.

In spite of this failed policy, the Senate is currently considering legislation that would provide immediate amnesty for illegal immigrants without guaranteeing any real border security. The bill's supporters unreasonably assume that the federal government could quickly conduct background checks, verify documents, and issue visas for millions of undocumented immigrants. I also question whether future Congresses and Administrations will commit to fund and implement the border security upgrades that are an essential part of any immigration reform.

As we look for a better solution, it is important to distinguish between illegal immigrants and those who obey the law in coming to our country. Legal immigrants provide valuable work across the nationincluding the 34 counties I representand contribute greatly to our society. Because immigrant labor is such a tremendous cog in our economic engine, Congress should reform our visa programs to allow businesses and farms to hire foreign workers for jobs that do not appeal to Americans. However, by rewarding those who have come here illegally, the Senate bill would undermine legal immigration and undercut the value of an effective guest worker program.

As the land of the free, America has a longstanding tradition of openness to immigrants who yearn to share our values and culture. Yet the American people have grown tired of a federal government that is unwilling to take seriously our commitment to enforcing the law and ensuring the integrity of our immigration system. Instead of repeating the mistakes of the past, Congress should strengthen our immigration policy by implementing real border security, providing legal avenues for employers to hire temporary foreign workers, and assimilating immigrants who have come to America legally to share in the American dream.

Sincerely,

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield

WASHINGTON - Continuing his efforts to lower prices at the pump for drivers in the First Congressional District, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) probed leading energy economists yesterday to determine what steps could be taken to bring down skyrocketing energy costs. The Congressman helped spearhead a congressional hearing examining manipulation and speculation in the energy market, which many analysts believe is driving up the costs of petroleum and producing record-breaking prices at the pump by as much as 50 percent.

"As energy prices continue to creep higher and higher, it is important to understand the factors behind the run-up in prices and what we can do in Congress to bring them back down," Whitfield said. "Speculators in the energy market have played a role in driving up energy costs and today's hearing provided an important opportunity to discuss the extent of their role and whether the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) can do more to monitor and regulate the situation."

Whitfield served as Ranking Member yesterday during a hearing held by the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations entitled "Energy Speculation: Is Greater Regulation Necessary to Stop Price Manipulation - Part II." The hearing focused on concerns about potentially excessive speculation involving crude oil futures contracts and considered whether additional regulation is necessary to prevent market manipulation. The Committee also heard testimony from representatives of the airline and trucking industries on how energy costs are impacting their businesses and how that is affecting consumers.

Futures contracts for energy, which are legally binding agreements to buy or sell oil at a specific time and place in the future at a price agreed upon today, are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). There are three primary groups of participants in the futures markets - physical hedgers, traditional speculators and index speculators.

Physical hedgers are commodity users and producers who want to manage price risk. Traditional speculators buy and sell futures contracts based on supply and demand expectations and most experts agree that a certain amount of this type of speculation is necessary in the market. Index speculators, such as pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, use commodities to diversify their assets, but now appear to be engaged in speculative activity in energy markets to hedge against potential losses in the stock market.

As crude oil prices have increased by 98 percent in the past 12 months from $68 to $134 per barrel, a growing number of analysts have said that excessive speculation in the energy futures market has played a significant role in this recent surge. Between September 2003 and May 2008, the number of futures contracts have jumped from 714,422 contracts to a record 3,035,996 contracts - which represents 3 billion barrels of crude oil. Commodity index speculation in particular has increased dramatically - by 1900 percent in the past three years.

Speculators have grown to dominate holdings of crude oil futures contracts on NYMEX over the past eight years. In 2000, physical hedgers held 63% of these contracts while speculators held only 37%. In 2008, speculators hold 71% of these contracts, while physical hedgers hold only 29%.

Due to loopholes in regulations designed to limit the size of speculative investments, large energy traders can trade economically-linked contracts on largely unregulated, exempt commercial markets. By trading on unregulated markets, traders can avoid CFTC?s rules, which are in place to prevent price distortions or supply squeezes. This makes it difficult for regulators to detect excessively large positions, which could lead to price manipulation. Whitfield has sponsored legislation to determine the effects energy market speculators are having on the market in order to prevent excess speculation in currently unregulated energy markets.

Whitfield has been leading an effort in Washington to ease the burden of skyrocketing gasoline prices on Kentucky drivers by 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. Additionally, Whitfield has sponsored legislation which would encourage the development of alternative fuels such as ethanol, coal-to liquids and nuclear power; 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.

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield expressed disappointment and strong dissatisfaction with Speaker Pelosi's decision to cut funding for all coal provisions in the Energy Bill. The Leadership in the House has decided to strip provisions from the energy bill developing coal-to-liquid (CTL) projects in the United States.

"This is unacceptable, we must offer Americans smart energy choices and solutions to the problems we currently face on supply and price in particular," said Whitfield. "While this energy bill promotes energy efficiency, it does little, if anything, to promote new technologies such as coal-to-liquids."

Coal liquefaction is the conversion of coal to produce synthetic fuels. Coal liquefaction has the ability to produce synthetic fuel to supplement the natural sources of petroleum. Liquid products from coal can provide fuel for vehicles, power generation and to yield raw materials for chemicals.

New developments in clean coal technology strengthen the potential for CTL fuels. A study released by the Department of Energy found that CTL fuels actually reduce emissions of harmful pollutants such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, and particulate matter. The study goes further to say that CTL diesel fuels will emit less carbon dioxide than the fuels they replace.

"Cutting funding for clean coal technologies poses a serious concern because in order for these technologies to move forward and in order for coal to be used in innovative and environmentally sound ways, the federal government must do its part to support these efforts," continued Whitfield.

Several companies are considering building a coal conversion plant in western Kentucky, which has the potential to bring 800 full time jobs to Kentucky. The plant is estimated to cost $3 billion. Without government incentives, interested companies may abandon plans to build the first coal conversion plant in our nation.

"The United States has a 250 year supply of coal and has invested millions of dollars researching environmentally friendly ways to burn our most abundant fossil fuel. The development of Clean Coal technologies is at the forefront of reducing our dependence on foreign oil; however, the federal government needs to offer real incentives to promote these technologies."

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) applauded the passage of a critical anti-terror law today which will give intelligence officers the ability to monitor foreign terrorists, protect American companies who help the government detect and prevent terrorist attacks and guard the civil liberties of all Americans.

"Modernizing our terrorist surveillance laws is critical to protecting our national security and keeping Americans safe both at home and abroad," Whitfield said. "The bipartisan legislation the House passed today will give our nation's intelligence officers the tools and authority they need to monitor terrorists while upholding the sacred civil liberties of all Americans."

Whitfield voted for and the House passed, H.R. 6304, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 Amendments Act of 2008. This bill closes a terrorist loophole in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) that requires American intelligence officers to obtain a warrant before intercepting terrorist communications abroad.

The legislation passed today will overhaul and reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978 to reflect changes in communications technology since the Act was first passed 30 years ago. The bill allows for new foreign surveillance without a court order when critical intelligence would be lost due to time constraints and provides a process for federal court review of such surveillance after the fact. The legislation also allows our nation's intelligence community to monitor terrorist communications overseas at the request of the federal government without fear of legal prosecution.

The bipartisan legislation passed today represents a compromise reached by Democrats and Republicans. Last August, Congress passed the Protect America Act of 2007 which closed the terrorist loophole in the FISA law. However, the Protect America Act expired on February 16, 2008 and Whitfield has been calling on leadership in Congress to update the FISA law ever since. The bill passed today represents a compromise reached by lawmakers on both sides of the aisle with the support of many members of the American intelligence community.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted last night to give American troops serving abroad in Iraq and Afghanistan the funds they need to complete their missions so they can return home. The legislation Whitfield voted for yesterday also increases veterans' education benefits, secures Medicaid funding and expands unemployment benefits.

"As a Member of Congress, I have no duty more important than making certain that our troops serving abroad have the resources they need to complete their missions and keep Americans back at home safe," Whitfield said. "The bill the House passed today will provide our military with over $160 billion, ensuring our service men and women - including those from Fort Campbell - have all the resources they need to succeed."

Whitfield voted for, and the House of Representatives passed, H.R. 2642, the Iraq/Afghanistan Supplemental Appropriations Bill. The bill provides troop funding for the next fiscal year, ensuring that the nation's service men and women have the resources they need. The legislation also includes a number of domestic provisions which will aid Kentucky residents unable to work and secure critical Medicaid funding.

The legislation passed today provides $62.8 billion over the next eleven years to expand the educational benefits the United States offers to the brave men and women who have served since the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. The new education program the bill establishes provides up to 36 months in lump-sum tuition payments equal to the highest in-state tuition rate in each state, a monthly housing stipend and a $1,000 annual payment for books and supplies. Members of the armed services will also be able to transfer their benefits to their spouse or children.

"These important education provisions will give troops returning home the resources they need to succeed while strengthening the U.S. workforce in the face of increasing global competition," Whitfield said.

A measure was also included in the supplemental bill which would block implementation of six Medicaid regulations that otherwise would make significant cuts to the program over the next five years. Whitfield voted in favor of legislation in April that would place a one-year moratorium on these regulations. Blocking the implementation of these provisions will preserve and improve numerous Medicaid programs which provide vital services to thousands of Kentuckians, including many of the Commonwealth's youngest residents - children.

In addition, the bill passed today creates a temporary program that will extend unemployment benefits beyond the 26 weeks provided under current law for individuals who have exhausted their regular unemployment benefits. The extension would be for thirteen weeks or half the duration of their regular unemployment benefits.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) posted a new webpage on his official website today to provide residents of the First Congressional District with helpful information on the factors driving up energy costs, tips on how to save money on gasoline and an update on the Congressman's efforts in Washington to drive down the costs of fuel.

"I hear from hundreds of Kentuckians every week and the one thing I hear increasingly is that the skyrocketing costs of gasoline and other types of fuel are simply out of control, and people don't understand why," Whitfield said. "I could not agree more and, for this reason, I have added a webpage at my official website, to provide Kentucky drivers with tips on how to save money on gas and information on the energy crunch. As I continue to work in Washington to produce American made energy critical to lowering fuel costs, I believe it is important to help people understand what is going on, and I will do my best to continue to keep Kentuckians informed."

Whitfield's webpage, "Pain At the Pump," includes tips from the Department of Energy on how drivers in the First Congressional District can cut down on the amount of fuel they use and save money at the pump; helpful explanations and graphs about why fuel costs what it does and the factors driving up the costs of fuel; and information on Whitfield's efforts in Washington to reduce energy costs.

Whitfield has been leading an effort in Washington to ease the burden of skyrocketing gasoline prices on Kentucky drivers, pushing for the development of other energy sources to make our country less dependent on gasoline. Most recently, the Congressman introduced a bill, the End the Pain at the Pump Act, which would provide a tax rebate 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. The legislation would also grow the country's fuel supply by expediting the approval of refinery permits and opening additional areas to environmentally responsible drilling.

Additionally, Whitfield has sponsored legislation which would encourage the development of alternative fuels such as ethanol, coal-to liquids and nuclear power; repeal Section 526 of the 2007 Energy Bill which bars the government from purchasing abundant alternative fuels; discourage energy market speculators from driving up the cost of petroleum; and encourage the building of new domestic refineries.

The Congressman is also slated to help lead a congressional hearing on Monday, June 23 examining speculation in the energy market. Many analysts believe these speculators are driving up the costs of petroleum by as much as 38 percent and producing record-breaking prices at the pump.

Whitfield's "Pain At the Pump" page can be accessed at http://whitfield.house.gov/services/pain-at-the-pump.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 "Pain at the Pump" and they will be directed to the appropriate webpage.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield has been tapped to help lead a congressional hearing examining speculation in the energy market, which many analysts believe is driving up the costs of petroleum and producing record-breaking prices at the pump by as much as 38 percent.

"There are a number of factors contributing to the astronomical prices folks in the First Congressional District are being forced to pay to fill up their gas tanks and heat and cool their homes - and this hearing will examine whether speculators in the oil market are one of them," Whitfield said. "This hearing will provide an important opportunity to examine the effects of manipulation and speculation in the energy market and consider what steps are necessary to drive down prices."

Whitfield will help lead a hearing being held on Monday, June 23rd by the House Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations. The hearing is entitled "Energy Speculation: Is Greater Regulation Necessary to Stop Price Manipulation - Part II." The hearing will examine the effects of manipulation and speculation in futures markets and consider whether additional regulation is necessary to prevent market manipulation.

Futures contracts for energy are traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), which is regulated by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC). Due to a loophole included in the Commodity Futures Modernization Act of 2000, large energy traders-those with at least $10 million in net worth-can trade economically-linked contracts on largely unregulated exempt commercial markets, most notably the Atlanta-based Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

By trading on unregulated "dark markets," traders can avoid CFTC's rules, which are in place to prevent price distortions or supply squeezes. This makes it difficult for regulators to detect excessively large positions, which could lead to price manipulation. Whitfield has sponsored legislation to discourage energy market speculators and prevent excess speculation in currently unregulated energy markets.

Whitfield has been leading an effort in Washington to ease the burden of skyrocketing gasoline prices on Kentucky drivers by 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. Additionally, Whitfield has sponsored legislation which would encourage the development of alternative fuels such as ethanol, coal-to liquids and nuclear power; 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 - U.S. Representative Ed-Whitfield joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers today to introduce legislation critical to the future of Kentucky coal which would advance the development and deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technologies.

Western Kentucky is a leading producer of coal in the United States and the industry has a huge economic impact on the region. Western Kentucky produced an estimated 28 billion tons of coal in 2006 and the industry employs approximately 3,000 people in western Kentucky. Butler, Henderson, Hopkins, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Union and Webster counties lead the First Congressional District in coal production.

"Coal is an essential fuel source not just for Kentucky and the United States, but for the entire world. The U.S. holds enough coal to power our country for the next 250 years and it provides fuel for over 50 percent of all electricity in the country. Coal is a resource we simply cannot afford to waste," Whitfield said. "This legislation will advance carbon capture and storage technology and deployment, ensuring an environmentally responsible role for coal in our energy future."

Whitfield co-sponsored the Carbon Capture and Storage Early Deployment Act to advance clean coal technologies essential to the nation's most abundant natural resource - coal. The legislation would establish a $1 billion annual fund, derived from fees on the generation of electricity from coal, oil and natural gas. Grants from the fund will be awarded to large-scale projects advancing the commercial availability of CCS technology. CCS is a method of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by capturing and injecting underground the carbon dioxide emitted from electricity generation plants that use fossil fuels.

Whitfield is committed to ensuring that western Kentucky coal remains part of the nation's energy portfolio. He has been a staunch supporter of new clean coal technologies that enable coal to be used in a manner that is both more efficient and environmentally friendly. Whitfield recognizes that in order for these technologies to move forward, the federal government must do its part to support these efforts.

If severe emissions reduction requirements are imposed before carbon capture and storage technologies are available, the result would be a rapid switch from coal to other fuels. Such fuel switching would significantly increase electricity prices to the detriment of both residential and industrial consumers. Fuel switching from coal would most likely result in far greater uses of natural gas for electricity generation, severely stressing an already constrained natural gas supply and dramatically increasing natural gas prices.

"The development of clean coal technologies is at the forefront of reducing our dependence on foreign oil," Whitfield said. "It is imperative that the United States continue to explore, develop and utilize methods in which coal is used to produce energy instead of eradicating our cheapest and our most abundant commodity."

The bipartisan bill was introduced today by Rep. Rick Boucher (D-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality. Other original cosponsors, in addition to Whitfield, are Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), Rep. John Murtha (D-PA), Rep. Joe Barton (R-TX), Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV), Rep. Jerry Costello (D-IL), Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL), Rep. Jim Matheson (D-UT), Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), Rep. Tim Holden (D-PA), Rep. Brad Ellsworth (D-IN), Rep. Baron Hill (D-IN), Rep. Charlie Wilson (D-OH), and Rep. Deborah Pryce (R-OH).

WASHINGTON - Continuing his efforts to keep employees at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant working and bring millions of dollars to the region for environmental clean-up, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) sent a letter to Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee John Dingell (MI-15) urging him to move forward on plans to re-enrich the nation's stockpile of uranium tails.

"Right now our nation sits on a gigantic stockpile of uranium tails worth billions of dollars," Whitfield said. "It is absolutely essential that the government take quick action in re-enriching these tails to obtain the highest value possible for the American taxpayer and the Paducah community which has hosted this plant for the last sixty years."

The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held a hearing on April 3, 2008 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. The stockpile of uranium tails 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 an estimated $7.6 billion to $20 billion.

Whitfield introduced legislation last November which provides a reasonable solution to the disposal of the uranium tails and could 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 possibly give additional life to the Paducah plant.

Whitfield is calling on Chairman Dingell to move quickly in scheduling a committee markup of his legislation or in crafting an acceptable bipartisan proposal as the value of the tails is completely sensitive to the price of uranium.

WASHINGTON - U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) was awarded the 2008 Congressional Support for Science Award yesterday from the Institute of Food Technologists (IFT) for his unwavering support of the 2007 Farm Bill and his dedication to ensuring the quality and quantity of the American food supply.

"The importance of utilizing science and technology in food and agricultural policies cannot be stressed enough," Whitfield said. "Representing so many farmers and producers in Kentucky, I understand the importance of ensuring the safety, quality and availability of our nation's food supply. I look forward to continuing my efforts to aid our country's producers in the years to come."

Whitfield was recognized for his commitment to protecting and fostering the United State's food supply. IFT President John Floros noted that Whitfield's unique knowledge of farming operations has positioned him as an important voice on a range of food issues from farm-to-fork. Whitfield has been a leader on food safety issues for a number of years, participating in congressional hearings on the issue and working to ensure the Food and Drug Administration has the resources they need to monitor all food produced, manufactured and sold in the U.S.

In addition, Whitfield was honored for his steadfast commitment to the 2007 Farm Bill. Whitfield broke ranks with the Republican Party twice in the past year to support the Farm Bill, recognizing the importance of this legislation to farmers throughout the First Congressional District. The bill authorizes $714 billion over the next ten years to fund a wide range of U.S. agriculture and food assistance programs. The legislation 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.

Founded in 1939, the IFT is a nonprofit scientific society with 22,000 members working in food science, food technology, and related professions in industry, academia, and government. The organization works to advance the science of food and ensure a safe and abundant food supply, which contributes to healthier people everywhere.

U.S. Rep. Ed Whitfield announced that the Cumberland Family Medical Center has received a $556,667 grant from the Department of Health and Human Services to establish a Community Health Center (CHC). The CHC will serve more than 12,000 patients per year from 10 different counties including Cumberland, Adair, Russell, Monroe, Clinton, Casey and Metcalfe.

"This new Community Health Center will not only provide thousands of uninsured Kentuckians with top-notch health care but it will also improve service at the hospital emergency rooms," said Whitfield. "With the cost of health care continuing to escalate and as the number of Kentuckians without health insurance increases, this health center will provide central and southern Kentucky residents with affordable health care services."

Health centers serve as the family doctor to 16 million low-income children and adults in over 5,000 communities nationwide and 202,247 Kentucky residents. Health centers have a solid record of keeping communities healthy and disease free. Studies show that in communities where there is a health center, there are shorter lines at hospital emergency rooms, lower infant mortality rates, and improved health outcomes for people with chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.

"We are extremely grateful to Rep. Whitfield for his leadership in Congress and hard work to ensure Cumberland and its surrounding counties have the resources to establish a community health center," said Dr. Eric Loy, CEO of the Cumberland Medical Family Center. "Community health centers across Kentucky have been extremely successful in providing residents with affordable and reliable health care."

"I will continue to strongly support community health centers because of their proven success in providing primary health care to millions of American families," continued Whitfield. "I believe we must continue to expand upon community health centers as they are part of a comprehensive solution to solving our nation's health care crisis."

WASHINGTON - Continuing his efforts to provide access to quality health services to residents throughout the First Congressional District, U.S. Representative Ed Whitfield (KY-01) voted today to increase funding for Community Health Centers and expand the services available to medically underserved populations throughout the country.

"Community Health Centers serve as family doctors to 17 million low-income children and adults in over 5,000 communities nationwide and 202,247 Kentucky residents," Whitfield said. "The legislation passed today will not only improve the health of our communities, but serve as part of a comprehensive solution to solving our nation's healthcare crisis."

Whitfield co-sponsored and voted for H.R. 1343, the Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007. The bill authorizes, and increases, funds through 2012 for Community Health Centers across the country. The legislation will provide these centers with additional resources to fund their operations and expand their services. With this increased funding, Community Health Centers will be on track to serve 30 million people by the year 2015.

Whitfield has been a tireless champion for Community Health Centers both in Kentucky and throughout the country, focusing on ways to maximize the effectiveness of federal grant dollars used for community health services and whether Medicaid and Medicare can play a role in helping centers better respond to growing health challenges, as well as ways to better incorporate health centers into America?s medical network. Whitfield has also worked to secure federal dollars on numerous occasions to fund the three community health centers in the First District.

Community Health Centers are non-profit, community-owned health care providers serving low income and medically underserved communities. The centers provided high-quality, affordable primary care and preventive services for millions of Americans regardless of their insurance status or ability to pay. They reduce the need for more expensive in-patient and specialty care, saving billions of dollars for taxpayers. Currently, there are over 1,100 Community, Migrant and Homeless health centers serving millions of low-income children and adults in over 6,000 communities nationwide.