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For a list of Congressman Young's speeches, Click Here.


President Obama Signs Rep. C.W. Bill Young’s Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act into Law

October 8, 2010 – Rep. Young’s legislation to reauthorize the National Cord Blood Inventory and the National Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Program was signed into law today by President Obama. The legislation, which was approved unanimously by the House and the Senate, extends these vital programs for a new five year period and ensures that they continue without disruption for the thousands of families who rely on them.

Become a donor or learn more about the National Marrow Donor Program.


Secretary Mabus Releases Gulf Recovery Plan

September 28, 2010- Navy Secretary Ray Mabus released a report detailing the long term recovery plan for the Gulf Coast following the devastating Deepwater Horizon oil spill earlier this year. To prepare this report, Secretary Mabus visited communities throughout the Gulf region, including St. Petersburg after an invitation from Representative Young, meeting with local residents to hear their thoughts on recovery priorities.

Read Congressman Young's letter to Sec. Mabus

PDF of Gulf Recovery Plan


Rep. C.W. Bill Young Honored by the American Cancer Society

September 28, 2010- The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network presented Representative Young with the National Distinguished Advocacy Award. During his time in Congress, Young has sought to support the lifesaving biomedical research that has increased treatment options for cancer patients and will one day lead to a cure.

http://acscan.org/mediacenter/view/id/342/


Rep. C.W. Bill Young Honored by the National Federation of Independent Businesses

September 23, 2010- The National Federation of Independent Businesses recognized Representative Young as a champion of small businesses with the Guardian of Small Business Award. Small business owners are the engines of our economy and are vital to our recovery. This is the 3rd consecutive legislative session Young has received this honor.

Award
Click image to enlarge


Rep. C.W. Bill Young’s Legislation Reauthorizing the National Cord Blood Inventory and the National Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Program Approved by Congress

September 29, 2010 – Today the House and Senate both unanimously approved S. 3751, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010. This measure, negotiated in a bipartisan manner between Rep. Young, Rep. Doris Matsui, Senator Hatch, and Senator Dodd, will reauthorize the National Cord Blood Inventory and the National Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Program operated by the National Marrow Donor Program for a new five year period.

Rep. Young has championed the National Program since it was first authorized in 1986. Since that time, the National Program has been responsible for over 40,000 life-saving transplants and more than 8 million potential donors have been added to the national registry. Diseases treatable by bone marrow transplants include numerous forms of Leukemia, Hodgkin's Disease and Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Gaucher's disease, Sickle Cell Disease, and Neuroblastoma.

The legislation will now move to the White House for President Obama to sign into law.

Fact Sheet

Become a donor or learn more about the National Marrow Donor Program.


Representative Young Acknowledges September 17th as National Prisoner of War/ Missing in Action Recognition Day

September 17, 2010 – National POW/MIA Recognition Day is a somber reminder to our nation that we still have not fulfilled our promise to bring all of our servicemen and women home from wars past and present. Rep. Young fully supports the mandate established in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act to double the POW/MIA recovery rate by 2015 and have ensured the appropriate agencies are fully funded. Additionally, Young has explored new strategies with non-governmental organizations, universities, and government on how we can expedite the return of our long lost heroes. “I sincerely hope we can bring those efforts to fruition and salute the families that have been patiently waiting for their return,” said Young.

For more information about the Defense Department’s recovery efforts, please visit the following websites:

http://www.dtic.mil/dpmo/
http://www.jpac.pacom.mil/


Young Urges Feinberg to Pay Claims

September 14, 2010- The economic and ecological effects of the Gulf oil spill have been widespread in the region. While most beaches in Florida had no direct oil impact, coastal communities throughout the state have been impacted by cancellations and lost business. After learning that Administrator of the Gulf Coast Claims Facility Kenneth Feinberg was considering giving priority based on proximity to the spill when determining eligibility for compensation from BP, Representative Young sent a letter urging him to recognize that the economic impact of the spill has not been limited to only those directly slicked by oil.

Rep. Young made Administrator Feinberg aware that tourism is a $60 billion per year industry in Florida, and is especially important to the coastal areas. A recent study by the U.S. Travel Association has estimated that the tourism industry Florida could loose $18.6 billion due to the oil spill, accounting for 82 percent of the total lost travel dollars in the Gulf region. Another study found that travelers are 21 percent less likely to visit Clearwater Beach, even knowing that no oil present in this area. This example makes it clear that the economic impacts of the BP disaster are widespread throughout the entire Gulf Coast, even in areas not directly affected by the oil. BP must be held responsible for these impacts and Fienberg should administer the Claims Facility in a way that recognizes the damages to the residents of Florida and the entire Gulf region.

Click here to read the letter


Young Honored by the 11th Theater Aviation Command

September 11, 2010- At ceremony honoring remembering the tragedy of September 11th, and thanking those who have served in the nine years since, Representative Young was honored for his efforts to bring a new Army Reserve MEDEVAC unit at the Clearwater Airport. Lt. Gen. Stultz, Chief of the Army Reserve, indicated that neither this new capability nor the facilities in Clearwater would exist without C.W. Bill Young. Representative Young and his wife visit injured soldiers at Walter Reed every week and are always looking for ways to assist them. It has become clear that helicopter evacuations in medical emergencies are often the difference between life and death; adding this new capability to the Army Reserve is one of the best ways to help the soldiers in the field and relieve the stress of overworked medical evacuation units.


Click image to enlarge


Young Supports Department of Veterans’ Affairs Expansion of Agent Orange Health Coverage and Disability Compensation for Vietnam Veterans

September 2, 2010 - On August 31st, the VA finalized regulations to further expand the list of conditions presumed to be connected to exposure to Agent Orange for veterans who served during the Vietnam War. Veterans with chronic B-cell leukemias, Parkinson's disease, and ischemic heart disease will no longer have to prove an association between these conditions and their service in the military, creating an easier path to receiving the quality care and disability compensation they deserve.

For more information, please visit the VA’s Agent Orange page: http://www.publichealth.va.gov/exposures/agentorange/


Young Applauds Department of Interior Announcement Restricting Categorical Exclusions for Offshore Drilling Permits

August 17, 2010 – On August 16th, the Department of the Interior (DOI) announced it would begin restricting its use of categorical exclusions for offshore drilling permits while a comprehensive review of the permitting process is completed. This announcement is similar to the common sense solution in Section 8 of H.R. 5677, the SAFEGUARDS Act, comprehensive legislation U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young introduced in response to the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf to help prevent oil spill disasters and improve the federal response in the event of another one. “I am pleased that the Department of the Interior decided to adopt my proposal to restrict categorical exclusions that was included in the SAFEGUARDS Act. As Congress continues crafting a comprehensive response that addresses both the causes and effects of this spill, it is my hope that the solutions put forth in the SAFEGUARDS Act will be included” said Young in response to the DOI’s announcement.

You can find the DOI’s press release here: http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/Categorical-Exclusions-for-Gulf-Offshore-Activity-to-be-Limited-While-Interior-Reviews-NEPA-Process-and-Develops-Revised-Policy.cfm

For additional information regarding the SAFEGUARDS Act, please see:
Fact Sheet
Press Release


U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young and Rep. Doris Matsui Introduce the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010 to Reauthorize the National Bone Marrow and Cord Blood Donor Program

August 10, 2010 – Representatives Young and Matsui have partnered together to introduce H.R. 6081, the Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act of 2010. This bipartisan measure would reauthorize the National Cord Blood Inventory and the national bone marrow and cord blood program. Since Congress first authorized it in 1986, the National Program has been responsible over 40,000 transplants and over 8 million potential donors have been added to the national registry. “This is truly a life saving program and this legislation will ensure that it continues without disruption. I want to thank my colleague Doris Matsui for her strong support for the program and the thousands of people it gives hope to every day,” Young said.


For additional information regarding H.R. 6081, please see:
Fact Sheet
Press Release
Letter of support from the National Marrow Donor Program


July 14, 2010 – U.S. Rep. C.W. Bill Young met with 16 members of the St. Petersburg College Dual Enrollment and Collegiate High School program who were visiting as part of their travel-study curriculum on Washington, D.C., called “The American Dream.” After weeks of studying in the classroom, students spent ten days in our Nation’s capital putting their study to practice, including a tour of the Capitol Building and Pentagon, visits to numerous museums and historic landmarks, and meeting Members of Congress. This travel-study program is yet another example of the ever-growing opportunities made possible to St. Petersburg College students. With Young’s active support throughout his time in office, St. Petersburg College has grown from a local junior college to one of the State’s fastest growing secondary education institutions.


Young Introduces the SAFEGUARDS Act to Address Breakdowns that Led to the Gulf Oil Spill Disaster

July 2, 2010 – In response to the BP oil spill disaster in the Gulf, U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young introduced H.R. 5677, the SAFEGUARDS Act (Secure All Facilities to Effectively Guard the United States Against and Respond to Dangerous Spills). The SAFEGUARDS Act would provide common sense solutions to help prevent oil spill disasters and improve the federal response in the event of another one.

This legislation was crafted after several meetings with the on-the-ground incident commanders, including the Coast Guard both at the national level and in the Saint Petersburg Command as well as other federal, state and local emergency responders.

The SAFEGUARDS Act would address many of the systemic breakdowns that led to the Deepwater Horizon catastrophe. The legislation would prohibit regulators from granting categorical exclusions from environmental laws and increase the amount of time regulators have to review exploration plans. Additionally, since the Coast Guard is in charge of cleaning up oil spills, this measure would require the Coast Guard to approve all spill response plans submitted by oil rigs. It would also require oil rigs to plan for a true worst case scenario spill, including the failure of a blowout preventer, as happened in the recent oil spill.

Furthermore, the SAFEGUARDS Act would modernize the government’s response to future oil spills. It would require periodic updates to the government’s response plan, which hasn’t been updated since 1994. The legislation would also automatically put the Commandant of the Coast Guard in charge of the response to a major oil spill and would require the EPA to begin monitoring water quality information within 48 hours after an oil spill.

In introducing H.R. 5677, Rep. Young stated: “The Federal Government’s reaction to the Gulf disaster over the last few weeks has been insufficient, to say the least. BP’s response has not been much better. We owe it to the American people and the entire Gulf coast to do better. The SAFEGUARDS Act presents common sense solutions to help prevent a disaster of this magnitude from ever happening again, and improves the federal response in the event it ever does.”

For additional information regarding the SAFEGUARDS Act, please see the attached fact sheet and press release.

Click here to view fact sheet

Click here to view press release


Young Expresses Outrage at Mismanagement of Arlington National Cemetery

June 11, 2010 – U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young, in expressing outrage at the mismanagement of Arlington National Cemetery, called for hearings by the Appropriations Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs that he serves on to learn more about the extent of the problems at Arlington, the Amy's plan to fix those problems, and reassurance to veterans and family members of those buried at Arlington that it will never happen again. "This hallowed ground is not only to be a final resting place for our honored fallen, but it is also a place to bring closure to their families," Young wrote the committee. "My sympathies for the families are only matched by my level of anger at those responsible for allowing these problems to occur." The full text of Young's letter is below.

Click here to read full letter (PDF)

Article from the St. Petersburg Times

Article from My Fox Tampa Bay


Young Meets with Tampa Bay Area Student Divers

June 10, 2010 – Rep. C. W. Bill Young met with 14 young people from the Tampa Bay area who were in our nation’s capital for Ocean Week to represent their SCUBA diving organization, TRUE (Teen Research Underwater Explorers). The students have a real appreciation for Florida’s waters and told Young that one of their current projects is to map the bottom of local bodies of water and document the spawning of nursery raised coral. As a former SCUBA diver, Young was interested to hear about the various projects TRUE has performed, and had the opportunity to discuss with the students his concern for the current oil spill disaster in the Gulf. The group’s leader, Dave Palandro, who works for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, is currently helping with the clean-up and containment efforts on the Gulf Coast.


Fisheries Disaster Declaration

June 3, 2010 - Representative Young is pleased that Secretary Locke has expanded the previously announced fisheries disaster declaration to include Florida. On May 25th, Representative Young sent a letter to the Secretary expressing his concern that Florida fishermen were not included in the earlier disaster declaration. With this new declaration, Florida fishermen are able to receive assistance to ensure the continuation of an industry that contributes more than $10 billion annually and supports over 150,000 jobs in Florida. Below are links to my request and the Secretary’s fishery failure determination.

Fishery Disaster Declaration Request (PDF)

Fishery Failure Determination (PDF)


Young Pays Tribute to Our Nationa’s Fallen Heroes

May 31, 2010 – U.S. Rep. C. W. Bill Young paid tribute to our nation’s fallen heroes and their loved ones during Memorial Day services at the Bay Pines National Cemetery and in Largo. He told a record crowd at Bay Pines and another at Serenity Gardens that Americans are free to do as they choose because of the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. Young recounted his humble beginnings when he spoke of his boyhood home, a one room converted shed with no running water. “I never thought I’d ever meet a Congressman, let alone be one. But that is what America is all about – the land of opportunity, a place where we are fee.” He asked the crowds to thank service members past and present for their courageous duty here and abroad which has kept the peace and protected our freedom.

Click here to read the full article


Congressman wants answers from Army

May 28, 2010 – ST. PETERSBURG - A FOX 13 investigation is putting pressure on the Army to take a closer look at the mysterious death of a local soldier.

Congressman C.W. Bill Young is pushing the Army to provide more answers concerning the death of Private Ehren Murburg.

Read the full story here





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