In This Weeks Edition of E-News...

Murphy Bill Pumps the Brakes on EPA’s Regulatory ‘Lead’ Foot

House Votes To Repeal Medical Tax Hikes

House Examines TSA, Advances Domestic Security Programs

911th Update

Save the Dates: Upcoming Events with Congressman Murphy

Murphy Bill Pumps the Brakes on EPA’s Regulatory ‘Lead’ Foot

As a senior member on the Energy & Commerce Committee, Congressman Murphy has been advancing a legislative agenda to reduce the impact of federal regulations on jobs and economic growth.

A particular area of concern recently brought to his attention by Southwestern Pennsylvania home remodeling contractors is an Environmental Protection Agency regulation that has dramatically increased costs for simple projects like window painting by thirty percent.

The “Lead Renovation, Repair and Painting (LRRP)” rule currently requires contractors to become EPA-certified when working on any home renovation, no matter how small, which "disturbs" more than six square feet of a pre-1978 house, window, or door. Under the rule, contractors have to follow rigorous work practices like plastic sheathing and lead dust control even for a simple window repair project.

To fix this costly regulation, Murphy introduced with Rep. John Sullivan of Oklahoma the Lead Exposure Reduction Amendments Act (H.R. 5911). The bill protects vulnerable populations from lead exposure, simplifies compliance for contractors, and makes home renovation projects more affordable.

“The federal government monitoring how you paint your kitchen walls is straight out of a Twilight Zone episode,” said Rep. Murphy. “This bill protects children’s health without burdening homeowners and contractors with costly regulations more befitting of a Superfund site.”

Jeff Moeslein, President of Legacy Remodeling in Dormont said the bill would protect children and expectant mothers while saving money for homeowners.

“Congressman Murphy’s legislation strikes the right balance between protecting vulnerable children and pregnant women while securing the rights of other homeowners to determine for themselves how best to spend their money on their home. This bill will provide a better environment for job creation in the home improvement industry, which has struggled as a result of the economy over the past few years.”

A Senate companion bill was introduced by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK).

Click here to let Congressman Murphy know your thoughts on the EPA lead paint rule.

House Votes To Repeal Medical Tax Hikes

On Thursday, the House of Representatives approved legislation to repeal a tax hike on medical devices that was tucked in the 2010 healthcare law.

The 2.3 percent excise tax applies to the sale of medical devices by manufacturers, many of which are in located in Pennsylvania. The tax was put in place as a way to fund other provisions in the healthcare bill known as the Affordable Care Act.

In addition to repealing the medical device tax, the House legislation also repeals the restrictions on Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) to once again allow individuals to use HSAs to pay for over-the-counter drugs and to recoup up to $500 each year of those funds not used to pay for care. The Affordable Care Act put restrictions on personal health accounts as a way to bring in revenue and pay for other sections of the bill.

In Southwestern Pennsylvania, life sciences, laboratories, and medical device development and manufacturing employs more than 10,000 people with even more healthcare consumers depending on medical devices.

The Health Care Cost Reduction Act passed with Rep. Murphy’s support on a vote of 270-146.

“The medical device tax scheme not only would result in sending these jobs overseas to foreign manufacturers, but threatens patient access to the benefits of technology,” said Rep. Murphy.  

Upon passage of the device tax repeal, the White House issued a veto threat while Senate Leadership indicated the bill may not be brought up for a vote.

Click here to let Congressman Murphy know your thoughts on lifting the restrictions on HSAs.

House Examines TSA, Advances Domestic Security Programs

With the public increasingly concerned on balancing the need to protect the skies without infringing upon civil liberties, lawmakers debated the scope of authority for Transportation Security Administration baggage and passenger screeners this week during consideration of a bill to fund border patrol, immigration enforcement, and aviation security.

Following a public backlash from a number of high-profile pat downs on the elderly and children, a number of lawmakers, including Congressman Murphy, discussed the importance of training checkpoint supervisors to better handle sensitive situations with passengers. Towards that end, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) offered an amendment to restrict TSA passenger screeners from engaging in security activities beyond the inside of an airport, arguing that TSA employees should not be expected to engage in law enforcement patrols outside the airport, and should instead focus on improving passenger screening procedures. Rep. Murphy supported the amendment.

Aviation security is an especially relevant issue in the 18th district, which is home to the Pittsburgh International Airport and a branch office of the Federal Air Marshal Service (FAMS).

Air Marshals are undercover law enforcement officers who detect, deter, and defeat hostile acts on airplanes and at airports. These highly trained officers are capable of exceptional handgun marksmanship and terrorist detection.

Murphy discusses the work of the Pittsburgh Air Marshal Field Office.

As a way to cut costs, the TSA has looked at possibly relocating employees at the Pittsburgh Air Marshal office. Rep. Murphy worked this week with members of the Appropriations Committee to ensure that any potential changes at the Pittsburgh office will be done in the best interest of taxpayers and aviation security and only after evaluating all costs.

To watch Mr. Murphy’s floor speech about the Pittsburgh air marshal office, please click here.

“Since air marshals are doing most of their work on a plane, the office exists mostly as a place for employees to complete paperwork. Forcing air marshals to travel to a new office potentially much further from the Pittsburgh airport would dramatically increase costs and travel time,” said Murphy on the House floor Thursday.

Rep. Murphy secured a commitment from the Director of the Federal Air Marshal Service to review the costs and benefits of potentially moving the Pittsburgh field office onto the grounds of the 911th Airlift Wing. Doing so could greatly reduce both overhead and rental costs, said Murphy.

Murphy also supported an amendment from Rep. Steve King (R-IA)  to stop the Administration from advancing backdoor amnesty to illegal entrants. In 2011, the Director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement released a series of memos directing agents to exercise “prosecutorial discretion” for certain illegal immigrants. The King amendment would not allow agents to circumvent the law and let illegal entrants go free. The amendment was approved 238-175.

Click here to let Congressman Murphy know your thoughts on the TSA and aviation security.

911th Update

At the request of local SWPA lawmakers, Air Force Secretary Michael Donley toured the 911th Airlift Wing on Thursday. But with Congress in session, Rep. Murphy and other members of the delegation were unable to participate and released the following joint statement:

“It’s an encouraging sign that Secretary Donley is personally visiting the 911th as a follow-up to all the high-level meetings, discussions, and legislation we’ve worked on to save the base. We’re confident that what he’ll take away from this visit is what thousands of Western Pennsylvania military families already know: that the 911th Airlift Wing is one of the most strategically-unique and cost-effective bases in the country.”

The Air Force Secretary’s visit comes five months after the Administration announced efforts to close the 911th under what they termed a “cost-cutting” proposal.

Mr. Murphy successfully added language last month to the National Defense Authorization Act to block the 911th’s closure, and require the Air Force complete a thorough review and seek congressional approval before closing any major installation.

The delegation’s work was highlighted in this story on Essential Public Radio. Click here to read more.

Click here to let Congressman Murphy know your thoughts on the 911th.

Save the Dates: Upcoming Events with Congressman Murphy

SENIORS EXPO
TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012
10 AM – 1 PM
Free of Charge!
Our Lady of Grace Church
Hempfield Twp. (just off rt. 30)
1011 Mount Pleasant Rd.
Greensburg, PA 15601

Come to Rep. Murphy’s Seniors Expo for free health screenings, Medicare counseling, and nutrition advice. Experts from the region’s top health groups will be on site to answer questions and give valuable info/resources including Excela Health and Hospice, Westmoreland County Area on Aging, Highmark, seniors fitness clubs. Veterans Services, assisted living facilities, and specialists in orthopedics and chiropractic care. The first 200 seniors will receive a free box lunch.

VETERANS EXPO
THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012
9 AM – NOON
Free of Charge!
All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
601 West McMurray Rd (just off I-79)
Canonsburg, PA 15317

Veterans seeking VA services, healthcare, and job training should attend this Expo! Specialists from the Veterans Administration will be on hand to assist in filing benefits and healthcare claims. Bring your DD214 discharge papers if you have not yet enrolled with the VA.  PA Career Link will also be on hand to help with resume building and job searches. Free donuts and coffee!

TOWN HALL MEETING
MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2012
7 PM
Hempfield Twp. Municipal Building
1132 Woodward Drive
Greensburg, PA 15601

Come share your views on issues affecting your family like the 2010 Healthcare Law, federal spending and the debt, Afghanistan and national defense, energy independence, prescription drugs and Medicare, and jobs and the economy.

For more information about any of these events, please call (412) 344-5583 or (724) 850-7312.