In This Week's Edition of E-News...

Manufacturing Jobs Focus of Hempfield Town Hall

WWII Service Member Honored At Murphy’s Vets Expo

Seniors Expo in Greensburg

Manufacturing Jobs Focus of Hempfield Town Hall

With Congressman Murphy back in the district for constituent work week, he convened a town hall at the Hempfield Municipal Building on Monday evening to bring the community together for a discussion on a range of legislative issues. A major discussion point focused on getting the economy moving again by emphasizing opportunities in energy and manufacturing.

Responding to inquiries about restoring America’s manufacturing base, Murphy cited dozens of high-tech manufacturers in Westmoreland County that employ thousands and serve as the backbone of the region’s economy. But foreign governments erect barriers to free and fair trade that make it harder for American companies to compete on a level playing field.

Congressman Murphy talks to constituents at conclusion of Town Hall meeting.

As Chairman of the Steel Caucus, Murphy has led congressional efforts to hold China and other nations accountable for illegal trade practices. At the urging of the Caucus, the U.S. International Trade Commission (ITC) ruled on Thursday that it would keep in place penalties on Korea, Mexico, and five other countries that have been illegally subsidizing steel pipe, which is then dumped onto the American market. The ITC investigates the effects of dumped and subsidized imports on domestic industries and conducts global safeguard investigations. The Commission also adjudicates cases involving imports that allegedly infringe upon intellectual property rights.

“This is a big win for American steel manufacturers who have been playing by the rules while at the same time trying to compete with foreign producers who collect handouts from their governments,” said Rep. Murphy.

Currently, there are countries who not only subsidize their steel industry and manipulate their currencies but also steal intellectual property and attempt to reverse-engineer patented technology. Murphy introduced the Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (HR 639) to hold our trading partners accountable for illegal trade practices and play by the rules in the global marketplace.

Others in the audience asked what could be done to restore accountability to federal agencies writing costly new regulations without any oversight or congressional input. Rep. Murphy echoed those concerns and cited a recent example of how new EPA regulations aimed at shutting down the coal industry, which employs nearly 45,000 Pennsylvanians, would dramatically raise electricity prices by nearly $400 a year for the typical family.

“We have the energy resources to unleash prosperity but only first and only if the federal government gets out of the way,” said Rep. Murphy.

Murphy said costly new regulations that dramatically impact the economy and extend beyond the purview of current law must be required to go before Congress for an up or down vote. Towards that end, Murphy cosponsored H.R. 10, the Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which passed the House last December requiring congressional approval for all "major rules" coming out of the Executive Branch before they may take effect. The Senate has blocked this legislation.

For folks in Westmoreland County that did not receive a postcard invitation to Congressman Murphy's Town Hall, please be advised that a USPS processing center error prevented the timely delivery of postcards to notify residents about the event.

If you’d like to be alerted about future Town Hall events, please click here.

WWII Service Member Honored At Murphy’s Vets Expo

After a 66-year wait, Mt. Lebanon resident Saul Levin finally received his military medals for his World War II service during a Thursday morning ceremony at a Veterans Expo hosted by Congressman Tim Murphy.

When Mr. Levin entered the service, his superior officer told him he’d likely become a truck driver, but after posting high marks on an Army intelligence test, Saul was transferred to logistics for the Army Air Corps. As a supply quartermaster, Saul helped to resupply Army units throughout the European Theater from July 1943 to February 1946.

Murphy with WWII vets Robert Oehling (South Park), Saul Levin (Mt. Lebanon), and William Pryor (South Franklin)

Saul might never have received his medals because his military service records were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. Congressman Murphy and his staff worked with researchers at the National Archives to piece together Saul’s service history based on paper deployment records for the Eighth Air Force and Saul’s unit. After a two-month search, archivists located the right unit manning documents that certified Saul’s service.

In front of a hundred area veterans, Saul was presented by Congressman Murphy with the Good Conduct Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign and two Bronze Star Attachment, Campaign Stars, and the Honorable Service Lapel Button for World War II. Calling it an honor and a privilege to bestow Saul his long-awaited medals, Congressman Murphy asked the audience to join in applause and thank Technical Sgt. Levin.

More than one dozen military service organizations — from the Save the 911th Military Affairs Coalition to PA Career Link — assisted vets at the Expo. Staff from Rep. Murphy’s office and benefits and health counselors from the VA provided special casework assistance and answered questions on everything from disability eligibility to the GI Bill educational benefits.

If you are a veteran or know of a veteran who may be eligible for military honors or misplaced military medals and awards, please contact Rep. Murphy’s District Office at (412) 344-5583.

To share your thoughts on veterans benefits, please click here.

Seniors Expo in Greensburg

Hundreds of senior citizens from across Westmoreland County gathered Tuesday at Congressman Murphy’s Senior Health and Wellness Expo at Our Lady of Grace in Greensburg. Along with dozens of informational booths, health screenings and nutritional advice, seniors came out to discuss with Rep. Murphy efforts to save Medicare and make sure the program is strong for current and future generations.  

Medicare coverage is widely credited with closing the poverty gap for seniors by covering high healthcare costs. But the health insurance program is on an unsustainable course according to a report by the trustees of the Medicare Trust Fund. More than $500 billion was taken out of Medicare to pay for the 2010 healthcare law, and by 2017 Medicare may run out of the money needed to pay seniors’ hospital bills. Should the Trust Fund become insolvent, the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service says there is no legal authority to reimburse Medicare providers for seniors care.

Rep. Murphy, co-chair of the congressional Doctors Caucus, talked about quality reforms he’s been working on to improve patient care and save the Medicare program money. For instance, Murphy’s bipartisan SMART Act (H.R. 1063) eliminates the obstacles preventing billions of dollars from being repaid to the Medicare Trust Fund from so-called “secondary” insurers or payers. Murphy’s bill ends the bureaucratic red tape to ensure the money from secondary payers is repaid quickly back into the program. His bipartisan bill is estimated to recoup between one and five billion dollars; money available to pay for services that would otherwise not be there. The legislation has been subject of an Energy and Commerce Committee hearing and could soon come up for a vote.

Many Medicare recipients find that the maze of plans and options to be quite challenging. Should you have any questions about Medicare, please contact Rep. Murphy’s office in Mt. Lebanon at 412-344-5583 or Greensburg at 724-850-7312.

To share your thoughts on Medicare, please click here.