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Read Bart's Views on Current Issues

Health Care Reform
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 3590), which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on March 21, 2010. I was honored to witness the signing of this historic legislation by President Obama at the White House on March 23, 2010. [Read more]
Clean Energy and Green Jobs
H.R. 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) is a comprehensive bill addressing our dependence on foreign oil, combating climate change and providing 21st century clean energy jobs. I serve on the Energy and Commerce Committee and have been an active participant in the development of ACES. I appreciate hearing from you concerning this important issue. [Read more]
Federal Spending
The U.S. government’s deficit spending since 2001 has increased the amount of debt the Treasury must sell to raise cash needed to cover the gap between its income and spending. Interest on our national debt, $250 billion in Fiscal Year 2008, is the fourth largest item in the federal budget. Instead of investing in domestic priorities, this interest payment is money out the window. [Read more]
Economic Recovery Plan
While I have reservations about the legislation and its impact on our national debt, it is important that Congress take bold and aggressive action to revitalize our economy and help the millions of Americans who are struggling to pay for basic necessities such as food, housing, and health care. Many people, through no fault of their own, have lost their jobs, their homes, and their healthcare. Unemployment ranges from approximately 8.3 percent in Menominee County to 24.2 percent in Mackinac County. Michigan has the nation’s highest unemployment rate at 10.6 percent. In addition, Northern Michigan timber, mining, and manufacturing industries have been hit hard by the economic crisis leaving no alternative outside of federal action to jump start the economy. [Read more]
Loans for the Auto Industry
The jobs of millions of middle class Americans and the pensions and benefits of millions of retirees depend on a vibrant domestic auto industry. That is why I was pleased with President Bush’s announcement on December 19, 2008 that the Administration would be providing up to $17.4 billion in loan assistance to General Motors and Chrysler by tapping funds already approved for the Wall Street bailout. [Read more]
Wall Street Bailout
On October 3, 2008, President Bush signed the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (P.L. 110-343), also known as the Wall Street Bailout Bill, into law. This legislation provided $700 billion for TARP to be spent at the discretion of the U.S. Secretary of the Treasury. I voted against this legislation twice because it did not effectively limit the pay of Wall Street executives, it significantly increased the national debt, it did not sufficiently protect of taxpayer dollars, nor did it adequately address the needs of our economy. [Read more]
Congressional Benefits Myth
There is an email being circulated about the retirement benefits of Members of Congress. There are several inaccuracies in that email which I would like to clarify. First, I do pay into Social Security, like all other Americans. Social Security taxes are taken out of my paychecks, just as they are taken out of yours. [Read more]
Local Satellite Channels
In order to ensure that all Americans have access to local broadcasts, I have introduced the Satellite Consumers’ Right to Local Channels Act (H.R. 927), which would require satellite carriers to provide universal local-into-local service in all 210 Designated Market Areas (DMA) by one year after the enactment of this law. Access to local broadcasts is important for all Americans. In addition to emergency information, weather alerts, and other critical safety information that only local stations provide, these broadcasts are also a vital source for news and information about the community. [Read more]
Domestic Energy Production
I support increasing our domestic oil and gas supply. As you know, the U.S. Department of Interior’s Mineral Management Service is accepting public comment on the proposed five-year leasing program for Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) oil and natural gas exploration and production. The public comment is open through September 18, 2009. [Read more]
Food Safety
Recent cases of Salmonella in peanut butter, botulism in baby food, and E. coli in spinach are all signs of a disturbing trend. However, this is not merely a health issue; it is an issue of national security. Imported food could be tainted with biological or chemical agents before entering the United States or toxins could be introduced at a domestic food processing plant. By the time anyone begins to feel the effects of these toxins, this food could have reached thousands of people across the country, resulting in serious illness and even death. [Read more]
Gasoline Prices
Gas prices are causing working families significant financial hardship. Many Americans are being forced to make considerable sacrifices just to fill up their tanks. While high gas prices and home heating fuel prices can make heating homes expensive during winter months, high energy and gasoline costs also affect farmers, manufacturers, electrical utilities, and other industries. [Read more]
Immigration
On July 23, 2009, I joined a bi-partisan group of my colleagues in introducing the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement Act (H.R. 3308). A group of more than eighty lawmakers came together to introduce common sense illegal immigration legislation that would protect America’s borders. [Read more]
Position on Iraq
On June 19, 2008, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Supplemental Appropriations Act of 2008 (H.R. 2642). This legislation was divided into two separate amendments. The first amendment would provide a total of $165.4 billion for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan for fiscal year 2008 and fiscal year 2009. This funding would support the wars until the summer of 2009. I voted against this amendment, which would have continued funding the President’s ill-conceived war in Iraq. The amendment passed on a vote of 268 to 155. [Read more]
Prescription Drugs
This law is now in its second year of enactment. I opposed this law because it places profits for drug companies ahead of security for Medicare’s 43 million beneficiaries. I firmly believe that Medicare is a right and should be protected, but this law is little more than a disguised attack on a proven health insurance system that seniors and persons with disabilities have counted on for almost forty years. [Read more]
Social Security Notch Issues
In 1977, Congress enacted changes to the Social Security system tying benefits to inflation starting at the arbitrary date of 1916. The legislation was intended to improve the system’s financial state, but instead, caused lasting disparities for the people born between 1917 and 1926. This is just plain wrong. If you are a “notch baby” it may mean you receive less social security than your neighbor born just one year later or earlier. Congress made the mistake, it is Congress that must fix it. [Read more]
Stem Cell Research
On March 9, 2009, President Obama reversed a policy instituted by former President George W. Bush in August 2001, which funded research on already-existing stem cell lines without encouraging any further destruction of human life. I do not agree with President Obama decision to turn living members of the human species into raw material for research. [Read more]
Veterans Issues
On July 10, 2009, I voted for and the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Act for FY 2010 by a vote of 415 to 3. The bill provides $108.8 billion for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), $14.5 billion above FY09, for veterans medical care, claims processors, and facility improvements. The Veterans Health Administration estimates more than 6.1 million patients in 2010 will be treated including more than 419,000 veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan. In addition, $48.2 billion is provided in advance appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 for three medical accounts: medical services, medical support and compliance, and medical facilities. [Read more]
Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)
Prior to 9/11, American citizens would cross into Canada and return without the need to carry a passport or other international travel document. As a result, trade and tourism between the U.S. and Canada has thrived. In 2006, trade between the United States and Canada totaled $533.7 billion in exports and imports. Canadian travelers spent a record $13.2 billion in the United States and American residents made 13.8 million overnight trips to Canada in 2006. The vast majority of this cross-border trade and travel entered the United States or Canada through a land port of entry. In total, Canadian trade supports at least 221,500 Michigan jobs. [Read more]