In This Week's Edition of E-News…

Murphy Meets With Local Vets and Military Community On Strategy To Save 911th

Western PA Farmers Concerned Over Regulations

Gas Prices Topic of Murphy House Floor speech

Future Generation of Scientists Compete in Local Science Bowl

Murphy Meets With Local Vets and Military Community On Strategy To Save 911th

In the month since the Administration announced an ill-conceived plan to close down the 911th Air Force Reserve Station in Moon Township, Congressman Murphy has been working with stakeholders, policymakers and constituents to ensure it remains open and a vital part of the community.

Towards that end, early this week Murphy sat down with members of the American Legion and Ron Conley, the director of the

Murphy thanks American Legion members for sevice to the nation

Allegheny County Veteran Services, to discuss efforts to save the 911th, which is one of the most cost-effective and highest-performing military bases in nation’s defense arsenal.
 
They also discussed how Air Force officials revealed that the decision to close the 911th was made without a cost-benefit analysis or demonstrating why closure would be in the best interest of the taxpayer or part of a bigger military strategy.

Murphy reminded the meeting participants of the $50 million in investments made by the Defense Department at the 911th since 2004 and how the Navy is planning to build a $13 million Operational Support Center on the 911th grounds.

The American Legion members thanked the Congressman for introducing H.R. 3911, which would block the relocation of the C-130 aircraft at the 911th. This bill ensures the Air Force provides more information for Congress to make decisions about the nation’s defense based on data, not politics. They also expressed thanks for Murphy’s efforts to construct a new commissary one-half mile from the gate of the 911th.

SWPA Reps briefed on the 911th and the 171st

On Thursday, Murphy and members of the SWPA delegation were briefed in Washington from members of the Southwestern Pennsylvania Military Affairs Coalition on the data collection efforts highlighting the 911th’s personnel, economic and military value. MAC presenters described how the 911th has some of the lowest operating costs in the Reserve, and can offer unique joint-training exercises with other service branches and local law enforcement.

Click here to read about the meeting in the Beaver County Times.

In related news, Murphy secured a pledge this week from Major General Wesley Craig, the Adjutant General of the Pennsylvania National Guard, to work together to save the 911th and 171st from the chopping block. Murphy has also secured assistance from House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) to review the Air Force’s analysis on the 911th. Murphy will give an update about his efforts to save the 911th Sunday morning at 11:30 AM on the KDPG Sunday edition, seen on KDKA channel 2.

To share your thoughts with Congressman Murphy on the 911th and 171st, please click here.

Western PA Farmers Concerned Over Regulations

Last year, federal agencies worked on over 4,257 new regulations impacting every facet it business and commerce.

On Thursday, local farmers from Washington and Westmoreland Counties traveled to the nation’s capital to share their concerns with Congressman Murphy over the deluge of new mandates impacting farming and agriculture in Western Pennsylvania.  Of great concern is how the Department of Labor (DOL) is seeking to restrict youth under the age of 16 from working in agriculture.

Local farmers visit with Murphy in Washington

Last September, DOL proposed to drastically limit the number of agriculture opportunities for young men and women. For students looking to work on weekends and after school, this mandate would prevent them from working in the community on local farms as they have for years. The proposed rule would also ban the use of any farm tool not powered by arm or foot. The effect would be to ban the use of simple garden and farm tools like weed trimmers, lawn mowers and two-stroke garden tillers.

Said Murphy, “This is a perfect example of government regulation run amuck.”

To date, more than 10,000 comments have been submitted directly to the DOL in overwhelming opposition to the new initiative. Congressman Murphy expressed his opposition to the proposal.

The estate tax was also discussed as several farm owners told Congressman Murphy they would be unable to afford the hefty estate taxes if they wanted to bequeath their farm to their children.

The estate tax rate is scheduled to rise to 55% next year. When estate taxes are that high, many farm owners end up parceling off and selling their family farm just to pay the high taxes and not leave the tremendous tax burden to their heirs. Or worse yet, the heirs end up selling the family farm to pay the tax burden. Rep. Murphy has signed onto legislation (H.R. 1259) to preserve family farms and businesses by repealing the estate and generation-skipping transfer taxes, and make permanent the maximum 35% gift tax rate and a $5 million lifetime gift tax exemption.

To share your thoughts on Pennsylvania’s agriculture and the estate tax, please click here.

Gas Prices Topic of Murphy House Floor speech

Three years ago, a gallon of gas was just $1.83. Today, the price has doubled and is on pace to cost the typical American family an extra $2,200 this year with some energy experts predicting $5 a gallon gasoline by the summer.

Congressman Tim Murphy took to the House floor earlier this week to urge his fellow lawmakers and the President to work together on legislation to combat soaring prices by developing our own energy resources in the United States.

Click to watch full speech

Murphy stressed that we can recover our own domestic resources on federal lands and in deep offshore waters. By doing so we will create jobs and increase supplies to help prices fall.

Earlier this year, Murphy introduced the Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act (H.R. 1861) to dramatically expand safe offshore drilling and dedicate a portion of new royalty revenue for paying off national debt and to rebuilding America’s roads, bridges, locks, and dams. The legislation would spur $8 trillion in economic output and create 1.2 million new jobs annually.

Another critical step, said Murphy, is to get the Keystone XL Pipeline project underway and with it over 830,000 barrels of oil would come online each day. Delays in permitting and a refusal to expand safe drilling is threatening the future viability of the Trans Alaska Pipeline System. The volume of oil flowing through the pipeline has decreased from 2.1 million barrels per day in 1988 to about 650,000 barrels per day.

To share your thoughts on how Washington can address rising gas prices, please click here.

Future Generation of Scientists Compete in Local Science Bowl

On Saturday, Congressman Tim Murphy attended the NETL/CCAC Southwest Pennsylvania Science Bowl where the region’s next generation of scientists tested their scientific knowledge. There were 25 high schools from the region competing in the preliminary rounds.

Murphy inspires young minds at Science Bowl

Four schools — North Allegheny, Mt. Lebanon, Baldwin, and Pine-Richland — made it to the regional finals to be held at the NETL headquarters in South Park next week. The winner receives a trip Washington to compete in the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Science Bowl from April 26 to April 30, 2012.

The event is coordinated by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory and the Community College of Allegheny County to emphasize the importance of science education. Congressman Murphy told the students that as a global leader in science, healthcare, energy, and technology, Southwestern Pennsylvania will be looking to hire scientists, technicians, and engineers for decades to come.

This weekend, local middle school students will compete in the Science Bowl at CCAC.  Rep. Murphy will again be in attendance to kick off the event.