In This Week's Edition of E-News…

Corbett in Collier Township to Highlight Importance of Nat Gas Job Growth in Region

Murphy Weighs in on “Preventive Services” Mandate

Congress Keeps Focus On Improving Economic Climate for US Manufacturers

Task Force Unveils Cybersecurity Plan

Murphy Signs on to Fix Agent Orange Act

Corbett in Collier Township to Highlight Importance of Nat Gas Job Growth in Region

Energy equals jobs. That was the message at the Council of Carpenter’s Pittsburgh Training Center on Monday where Representative Tim Murphy and Governor Tom Corbett were shown local job training programs teaching Pennsylvania workers the skills necessary for a career in the burgeoning natural gas industry.

Gov. Corbett came to tour the programs at the invitation of Congressman Murphy, who has stressed that, in the natural gas industry, worksite

Roundtable discussion with the Governor

safety and protecting the environment begin with a well-trained and skilled workforce. The event showcased local apprenticeship programs and included a roundtable discussion between the Governor, Rep. Murphy, area contractors, and representatives from local crafts and building trades on the potential job growth in the area.

“The cornerstone to the successful development of our abundant resource is a highly trained, professional workforce committed to safety. That describes the Pennsylvania workers,” said Murphy in an address to a group of fifty carpentry apprentices at their first day of class. “These men and women live here, work here, and their kids go to school here. They are the very fabric of our local communities and are dedicated to doing the job right. They have a vested interest in the safe development of natural gas; and that means protecting the air, land, and water we all share.”

Rep. Murphy noted that the Carpenters’ training center teaches these essential skills to local residents at no cost to the taxpayer and further noted that our region boasts top-notch training programs:  “Job growth in natural gas exploration begins with job training like Westmoreland

In a training class

County Community College's Shale Net program, where they have roustabaouts. Rosedale Technical Institute's teaching men and women to maintain diesel engines, and of course - the apprenticeship programs showcased here today where welders, electricians, equipment operators, and others who each undergo over 1,000 hours of rigorous technical and safety training.”

After the tour of the facility, Gov Corbett announced a natural gas energy plan to give local communities a stake in natural gas development and spur job creation in the state. The Governor proposed to build an infrastructure capable of servicing natural gas fueled vehicles by providing incentives for construction of fueling stations and for public buses and fleet vehicles to convert to natural gas.

Rep. Murphy, Chairman and founder of the Congressional Natural Gas Caucus, said that a well-trained workforce committed to the highest standards of safety and environmental protection was essential to fulfilling the mission of "responsible exploration, safe transmission, and expanded use.” The Caucus works to promote natural gas usage as a means to achieve energy independence. Massive domestic natural gas reserves could be used as a transportation fuel that would free the United States from its dependence on foreign countries for oil. The US buys $129 billion annually of OPEC’s oil.

The governor’s plan also includes an impact fee on drillers that would offset the effects natural gas exploration is having on local roads, bridges, and services like first responder training. Gov. Corbett’s “shale impact fee” is estimated to generate between $120 and $200 million a year. Seventy-five percent of the proceeds would go to host communities and counties. To read more about the Governor’s plan, click here.

“We know that natural gas drilling does have an impact on the local communities. So it’s fitting that companies are the ones pay for that impact. This fund should go a long way to helping local towns who feel the impact. I know they welcome the jobs, but they just don’t have the

money on their own to cover the wide range of costs associated with the natural gas drilling,” said Rep. Murphy. Rep. Murphy also expressed what a great opportunity natural gas development continues to be for our region. 

“While America struggles with unemployment our region is growing energy jobs with the potential for tens of thousands more with exploration, pipelines, and factories,” said Rep Murphy. “We need to use this abundant resource here and we’ll see economic opportunities

flourish in Pennsylvania. Otherwise, this energy source will be shipped to China to help fuel their growth.”

Beyond exploration and production of natural gas, discussions are beginning around a second stage of growth and development. Shell Oil recently announced plans to build a ‘cracker plant’ in the Appalachian region that will process natural gas liquids like ethane, which can be used to make plastics. A cracking facility could very well be a billion dollar construction project for the region. From laborers building the facility to employees working in the factory, an ethane cracker could also generate new companion enterprises in manufacturing and plastics.

To comment on Governor Corbett’s plan or safe natural gas development in Pennsylvania, click here.

Murphy Weighs in on “Preventive Services” Mandate

The US Department of Health and Human Services recently announced that all healthcare plans, including those provided by faith-based organizations like Catholic hospitals and charities, must provide no-cost contraception and sterilization services to beneficiaries beginning August 2012 as part of the free “preventive services” provision in the new healthcare law.

Negative response to the new mandate came quickly. Congressman Murphy heard from local religious leaders including Pittsburgh Diocese Bishop Donald Zubik, regionally located businesses offering individualized healthcare plans and hundreds of constituents, who called, emailed, and sent letters in opposition to the mandate that would force many employers to either violate their religious beliefs and provide free contraception and sterilization, or decide to no longer offer health insurance.

In response to the outpouring of opposition, Congressman Murphy this week wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius, urging her to rescind the preventive service mandate, and to ensure that religious institutions can retain the most fundamental of American liberties: the right to freely practice religion.

Under the new mandate, insurance plans would be required to cover “all Food and Drug Administration approved contraceptive methods, sterilization procedures, and patient education and counseling for all women with reproductive capacity.” Religious leaders have noted that this requirement would also extend to coverage of so-called “morning after” pills, including two kinds of “Plan B emergency contraception” drugs approved by the FDA.

Murphy wrote in his letter to Sebelius,"Implementation of this rule runs counter to the President’s oft-repeated claim, 'If you like your health care plan, you can keep your health care plan.' With this latest development, it is clear that simply will not be the case. Therefore, I ask that the Department discard the preventive services mandate.” Click here to read the full letter.

Although a ‘religious exemption’ is written into the new healthcare law, the Administration has interpreted it under narrow guidelines. Under the exemption, an employer can omit contraceptive services if and only if they employ and serve only members of their own faith. This exemption would not apply to religious hospitals or universities. Therefore, religious institutions would be forced to either only hire employees that practice the same religion, pay a large penalty that could force many to lay-off workers, or drop insurance for their employees altogether.

“Under this mandate, religious employers are left with no sensible options. Our region enjoys world-class private universities, hospitals, and charities, not to mention thousands of mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters with deeply held personal beliefs about the sanctity of human life,” said Congressman Murphy. “It is unacceptable for the federal government to violate personal liberties and force people to abandon their beliefs to comply with the law.”

Rep. Murphy is a cosponsor of HR 1179, the Respect for Rights of Conscience Act, which was introduced by Rep. Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE). The legislation would allow health plans and employers to decline coverage for morally objectionable procedures and services.

To share your thoughts with Congressman Murphy on the preventive services mandate, please click here.

Congress Keeps Focus On Improving Economic Climate for US Manufacturers

The Bureau of Labor Statistics today released its September jobs report, showing the unemployment rate remains unchanged at 9.1 percent, with more than 26 million Americans now out of work or looking for more work. Despite zero job growth this year, the Administration has begun work on an estimated 4,257 new rules and regulations on the economy, which will add to the $1.75 trillion in compliance costs for employers according to the Small Business Administration. Today’s jobs figures demonstrate that uncertainty and overregulation lead to anemic growth said Congressman Tim Murphy. "An economic recovery will not take place without enactment of policies that bring certainty to the market and create an environment where businesses are free to grow and expand without unnecessary government interference."

This week, the House took an important step toward giving one segment of the economy greater certainty that regulations written by the Administration are technologically feasible and cost-effective. With Rep. Murphy’s support, the House passed HR 2681, the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act by a bipartisan vote of 262-161. This bill freezes the implementation of the EPA’s Cement MACT rule, and directs the agency to rewrite the regulations over a 15 month period. Stopping the Cement MACT rule will save an estimated 18 of the nation’s 100 cement plants from certain closure, and preserve 3,000 jobs. The legislation now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

This comes on the heels of an announcement last month by the President withdrawing a new rewrite of the smog standards by the EPA. The President said that he made his decision based on “the importance of reducing regulatory burdens and regulatory uncertainty, particularly as our economy continues to recover.” The smog standard was estimated to be the most expensive regulation in the country’s history, costing $90 billion annually, without a clear scientific determination that the new standard was needed from a public health perspective.

In related news, the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment, held a hearing this week to examine the objectivity and validity of the Environmental Protection Agency’s chemical risk program, the Integrated Risk Information System (IRIS). The IRIS assessment program and its database were created in 1985 to assist EPA in policy decisions and its ability to protect Americans from chemical exposures. While risk assessment remains critical to public health protection, the integrity of the IRIS program has been called into question in recent years. Members of the Subcommittee, including Vice Chair Murphy, examined the causes of the underlying bias present in the program and the impact of science manipulation on jobs and the economy.

“While we must remain strong advocates of quality, sound science that is objective and valid we also must examine concerns about IRIS activities on specific chemicals if we are to truly protect the public from harm and negative economic outcomes. If it is an biased scientific process that is informing policymakers we will be in fact posing a greater health risk to the community," said Murphy.  David Trimble, Director of Natural Resources and Environment at GAO, testified at the hearing that IRIS reforms still present a number of challenges that could threaten the credibility of the program. To address these criticisms, EPA has proposed a set of changes to IRIS intended to improve transparency and streamline the process. GAO is currently undertaking a review of EPA’s proposed revisions and is expected to report its findings later this year.

Next week the House is expected to vote on the EPA Regulatory Relief Act, which reforms the EPA’s proposed “Boiler MACT” rule that would impact 200,000 industrial and commercial boilers in office buildings, universities, hospitals, and factories across the country. Congressman Murphy, who is a cosponsor of the bill, points to EPA estimates that the proposed rule costs $21 billion, and an independent economic analysis showing the rule threatens nearly 300,000 jobs. Like HR 2681, the EPA Regulatory Relief Act gives the EPA 15 months time to rewrite its rule so that it is technically achievable, based on scientific evidence, and comparable to emissions standards imposed on other industries.

To share your thoughts with Congressman Murphy on EPA regulations, please click here.

Task Force Unveils Cybersecurity Plan

Cybersecurity involves a complex matrix of issues involving legal, economic and national security considerations. Given the recent cyber breaches in both the private and public sector, a heightened focus on adopting a policy framework has been underway, including a legislative proposal submitted from the White House to Congress earlier in the year.

This week, Congressman Murphy joined his colleagues on the House Cybersecurity Task Force at the release of a framework of recommendations that will soon be considered in Congress.  

“The new frontier of economic and national security is in the cyber realm,” said Rep. Tim Murphy at the press event.

In July, Speaker John Boehner appointed Murphy to the House Cybersecurity Task Force given his seniority on the Energy and Commerce Committee, which has jurisdiction over several potential cyber targets including the nation's electric grid and power plants. The panel was

Rep. Murphy with Reps. Stivers and Chaffetz at unveiling

tasked with coming up ideas to protect critical infrastructure and ensure the nation’s most sensitive information is safe from cyber terrorists. After high-level meetings and briefings with cybersecurity analysts and defense experts, the Task Force drafted recommendations on cybersecurity authorities, information-sharing and public-private partnerships, critical infrastructure, and domestic legal frameworks. The Cybersecurity Task Force report calls for the creation of an independent body where cyber attacks could be reported, allowing the panel to identify patterns, evaluate threats and coordinate responses.

“Our framework centers on the premise that cybersecurity entails all aspects of our society, from government business to commercial transactions to our national infrastructure,” said Rep. Murphy. “It is also based on the premise that given the constant evolution technology, government regulations and mandates would quickly fall behind while private businesses would be saddled with the costs of compliance.” Towards that end, the Task Force guidelines wouldn’t lock federal agencies and the private sector, which controls ninety percent of the nation’s critical infrastructure like financial systems and the electric grid, into permanent rules and regulations that would quickly become outdated.

The recommendations, Murphy said, “need to be voluntary and streamlined, so that businesses can adapt them to their unique needs and implement security upgrades without the red-tape found with other mandates. Instituting cybersecurity through broad regulations assumes that a one size fits all model is right for every company. This plan creates an environment where businesses are rewarded for security innovation that anticipates attacks, rather than regulations created after an attack has occurred.”

The Task Force report emphasizes the need for good “computer hygiene” that would help to prevent attacks. And in order to encourage businesses to share information with government agencies about cyberattacks, the plan provides participants with certain liability protections when reporting attacks. The report also included stiffer penalties for cybercrime, and incentives to offset the costs of voluntarily beefing up security protocols.

“Cybersecurity isn’t a partisan issue,” said Rep. Murphy. “The House wants to act quickly and offer businesses ideas developed with input from experts and lawmakers who understand the risk of inaction. It is also vital that the public take notice of our report and institute their own security protocols. While information sharing and Internet access offer huge benefits, every American must remain vigilant about computer hygiene and take steps to protect their home network, personal machine and data from viruses, malware, and misuse.”

To view a copy of the recommendations please click here.

To share your thoughts with Congressman Murphy on Cybersecurity, please click here.

Murphy Signs on to Fix Agent Orange Act

This week Congressman Murphy took action to fix an error with current law related to the Agent Orange Act.  

Agent Orange, a herbicide used by U.S. forces to defoliate the jungles of Vietnam, contains dioxin, a poisonous chemical that causes a numerous human health problems. During the Vietnam War an estimated 2.5 million veterans were exposed to Agent Orange, but under current law only veterans who served on inland bases displaying diseases associated with Agent Orange exposure are eligible for VA care. This ridged qualification excludes Navy and Air Force personnel who transported Agent Orange to Vietnam and conducted missions on the territorial seas and air space of Vietnam.

The Agent Orange Act of 1991 covered all veterans of Vietnam, including those from the Navy and Air Force. But more recently in 2002, the Department of Defense changed the interpretation of the phrase "served in the Republic of Vietnam" as limiting eligibility to servicemen and women who had technically set foot on the ground there, disregarding the fact that many sailors had similar exposure while serving on the seas and intercoastal waterways.

To correct this oversight and ensure that all Vietnam veterans are afforded the highest quality of care, Rep. Murphy signed his name as a cosponsor of HR 812, the Agent Orange Equity Act introduced by Rep. Bob Filner (D-CA). This legislation enables blue water sailors, and airmen who transported Agent Orange in Vietnam to receive treatment by the Department of Veterans Affairs.  Previously, the so-called "blue water veterans" - sailors who did not spend appreciable time on land in Vietnam or on its intercoastal waterways - were excluded, even if they were suffering from diseases linked to Agent Orange exposure.

“No American soldier who was exposed to a toxic chemical in service of his country should be denied care needed care, especially if is based on a regulatory technicality” said Murphy. “I’ve signed on as a cosponsor of this important legislation because thousands of Americans who never set foot on Vietnam are now getting sick from a chemical they were ordered to transport, but when they seek treatment they are turned away. We asked so much of our Vietnam veterans. I am committed to getting this technical flaw fixed.”  

HR 812 awaits further consideration in the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs while a companion bill was introduced in the Senate by Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.

To share your thoughts with Congressman Murphy on the Agent Orange Equity Act, please click here.