:: One Hundred Years of Tea Tasting ::  

American cultural history has seen many different eras, each with their own trends—some short-lived and others lasting decades. In the 1980s there was rock music and the Rubik’s cube. In the 1920s there was jazz music and “talkies”, or movies with sound. And in 19th century America, the trend was tea. Society was fixated with tea much like our 21st century American society is fixated with Starbucks coffee. In fact, tea was the beverage of choice for most 19th century Americans.

The vast majority of the tea consumed in America during the 19th century was imported, and in turn Congress enacted the Imported Tea Act of 1897 to prevent the importation of impure and unwholesome tea. The provision stated that tea would be examined for “quality,” as well as for “purity” and “fitness for consumption.” Those examining the tea were named the Board of Tea Experts, which was headed by a “Federal Tea-Taster.” The Board of Tea Experts and the Federal Tea Taster were supported through government funding to examine every lot of imported tea, using standard teas selected by the Board for comparison.

Nearly one hundred years later, the Federal Tea Taster remained, actively sipping tea on the federal government’s tab despite the fact that only 1% of tea coming in front of the federal tea taster was actually denied entry into the United States. In fact, for nearly one hundred years, the federal government was spending $120,000 a year in salary and operating expenses just to taste tea. In 1996, just one year short of the Imported Tea Act’s 100th anniversary, the Board of Tea Experts was finally eliminated by the Federal Tea Tasters Repeal Act of 1996.

This example is a small but eye-opening representation of just one of the ways the federal government is overspending. Duplicative and outdated government programs are eating away at hard-earned taxpayer dollars and digging us deeper into national debt. As it is right now, often times once a government program is created, it is considered “here to stay” whether or not the program is successful or necessary.

In 2001, the Senate Committee on Government Affairs found that there were 27 overlapping teen pregnancy programs, 40 separate employment and training programs, 75 programs funding international education, cultural, and training exchange activities, and 130 programs serving at-risk youth, and those examples just scratch the surface of duplicative programs. While issues like preventing teen pregnancy and encouraging intercultural education are important to our society and we benefit from having programs dedicated to those causes, many of the programs have so much overlap that we essentially end up funding identical programs multiple times over. There is plenty of room to consolidate these duplicative programs so that we are saving money and improving the quality of service under each program. Our domestic spending must be reviewed for cuts to those programs that were, like the Imported Tea Act, created to manage a temporary “trend” or need and are no longer necessary, and combine those programs that are nearly identical.

That is why I have cosponsored an important piece of legislation that, through a review system, eliminates unneeded and wasteful programs so that we can help ensure that our taxpayer dollars are going to those programs deemed necessary. The Commission on the Accountability and Review of Federal Agencies Act (CARFA) would provide for a closely controlled spending review process for non-defense, non-entitlement programs and would recommend the elimination or realignment of any program that is duplicative, wasteful, inefficient, outdated, or failing. This is a necessary step towards making our government spending more efficient and protecting taxpayer dollars from going towards programs that are failing or are wasteful.

If enacted, CARFA would consist of 12 members who would be required to conduct a two-year, top-to-bottom review of all federal programs, except programs in the Department of Defense or programs such as Social Security. After reviewing each federal program, CARFA would identify those programs that are wasteful or inefficient, duplicative, outdated, or that have failed. CARFA’s system for assessment would be based on financial management of the program and the achievement of established performance measures, among other benchmarks. If this legislation is passed, the Commission, upon completion of its two-year review, would submit to Congress its recommendations for both the consolidation and elimination of domestic agencies and programs that have fallen into one or more of the areas of review. It would also submit proposed legislation to implement these recommendations.

This mass reorganization of our governmental programs would allow our government to run more efficiently, save billions of dollars in federal spending and improve the quality of service under each program. American citizens deserve a confidence in knowing that their tax payer dollars are not going to outdated or overlapping programs, that they are going to receive first rate service from governmental programs, and that their government is doing everything they can to maximize the efficiency and effectiveness of their taxpayer dollars.

:: A Beachgoer's Guide to Summer Safety ::  

It is that time of the summer when coastal towns are bustling with tourists—families lining the beach with oversized towels, restaurants buzzing with conversations among old friends, and street vendors displaying their brightly colored assortment of flip flops and disposable cameras. Family trips to the beach have long sense been a favorite American summer pastime and a tradition for many families. But before you grab your flip flops and pack your beach bag to head off to the beach, take a moment to consider these beach safety tips provided by the American Red Cross:

Protect Your Skin
Sunlight has two kinds of UV rays – UVA, which increases the risk of skin cancer, aging, and other skin diseases, and UVB, which causes sunburn. UVA and UVB rays are the strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., the time most people are out at the beach. During these hours you should limit the amount of direct sunlight that you receive, and you should wear sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes prior to going out in the sun. Remember, each sunburn you get increases your risk of skin cancer, and getting a sunburn early in life could make you more prone to skin cancer and other skin diseases years later.

Drink Plenty of Water
Even if you do not feel thirsty, you should drink water to keep your body cool. The American Red Cross states that drinks with alcohol or caffeine can intensify the effects of heat on your body and should be avoided when you are out on the beach. It is a good idea to bring a cooler filled with plenty of cold water each time you go out to the beach.

Watch for Signs of Heat Stroke
Heat stroke happens when your body’s temperature control system stops working and fails to produce enough sweat to cool the body. Heat stroke could cause brain damage or death if the body is not cooled quickly. The American Red Cross lists the following symptoms as signals that you or someone else may be experiencing heat stroke:

- Hot, red, dry skin
- Changes in consciousness
- Rapid, weak pulse
- Rapid, shallow breathing

If you believe someone in your group is experiencing heat stroke, you should call 911 and move the person to a cooler place, wrapping wet sheets around their body and placing ice packs on their wrists and ankles.

Never Swim Alone
Using a buddy-system when you are swimming in the ocean provides an extra layer of safety. The ocean can be a dangerous place, and swimming with a partner allows you to look out for one another and get help if something were to go wrong.

Check the Surf Conditions
You should always check the current surf conditions before you get in the water. Public beaches use a flag system to alert you of water conditions, beach conditions, and any potential hazards. Look for warning flags that may be posted on the beach or check with a lifeguard to determine if the water is safe for swimming. If you do get caught in a strong current when swimming, don’t try to swim against it, which could end up pulling you further out and cause you to get tired more quickly. Swim across the current in a diagonal-like path to make a gradual move outside

of the current.

Don’t Swim Near Piers
Piers, pilings, and diving platforms are often surrounded by floating debris or loose wood. Staying away from these places will lower your risk of injury from coming in contact with dangerous debris or sharp wood pieces.

Stay Within Designated Swim Areas
Designated swim areas were created for a purpose, and you should never swim beyond them. Many ocean swimming accidents happen beyond the designated swim area. You should try to remain visible to the lifeguard so that they have a opportunity to react if something were to go wrong.

Time spent at the beach should be a fun and relaxing experience. Following these safety tips will increase your chances of spending your summer vacation on the beach and not in the emergency room. For other summer safety tips from the American Red Cross, including tips on pool safety, lake safety, and water-ski safety, visit http://www.redcross.org/services/hss/tips/healthtips/safetywater.html.