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(WASHINGTON) – Today, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that $250,000 in grant funding has been awarded to Wayne State University for their role as an Area Health Education Center, a program that educates and trains future healthcare professionals to provide healthcare in underserved areas. After the announcement was made public, Congressman John Conyers, Jr. (D-Mich.) issued the following statement:

"I am pleased to announce that Wayne State University has received a $250,000 grant to continue their important work as an Area Health Education Center. This program will allow Wayne State to further educate current students to become culturally aware medical professionals, and allow them to serve communities - such as the Detroit Metropolitan area - that need additional primary care providers. In addition, this grant funding will help to recruit future minority or disadvantaged students into the health care industry, who may otherwise not have been afforded the opportunity. For years, Wayne State has been an anchor in Detroit’s medical community, and this grant will further aid the University in connecting their local educational and clinical sites to grow their network of primary care community-based training sites. I thank HHS for their assistance in creating a higher standard of medical care in Detroit and for helping improve the quality of healthcare provided across the state of Michigan.”

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Recently, I joined the Tri-Caucus in Signing a letter urging the House Committee on Appropriations to fully fund the Administration's request of $1.55 billion dollars to increase high school graduation rates among students in low income students struggling schools.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on how we can address the low graduation rates seen in many of America's large cities.

Below are some stories people from around the country sent me recently. These stories are about the cost of being uninsured or underinsured in America . Health care reform is on the way and if we get the reforms we truly need, stories like these will be a thing of the past.

     I want everyone from my district in southeast Michigan and across the country to know that I will do my best to help bring coverage to all Americans. We need coverage that includes everyone and leaves no one out.  

 

Maggie N.’s Story:

I am 52—not a young cancer patient, not old either. I am 3 years out from having stage three breast cancer. It has been a long road, no different than so many others. The US health care system has made me so stressed, all boiled down, if I lost my job which enables me to have medical insurance, I am put in a tough situation, no coverage. That is like having a gun cocked to the side of your head.

For many years I have worried myself sick, and just a month ago I lost my job. In five more months if I do not find work, I will be without medical insurance. I worked 20 hours a week, which is about what I could handle due to neuropathy of the feet and arms and lyphodema. My body is not what it was before all this happened, I feel compromised as I tire very easily.

My husband is self employed, benefits for me are impossible to get or to afford now I have this pre-existing history—so what are my choices? I can’t get help from the government until I am 65. What about this gap from 52 to 65? I am from New Zealand but have been a good California resident for 30 years, and raised two children here. This has been my home.

I will not have the luxury of seeing my children have families because I do not want to become a burden on my family should cancer return. We will lose all we have worked so hard for in medical costs. I feel I have to leave my children and return to New Zealand where they have socialized medicine. For many years I had thoughts of becoming a citizen of this country but avoided it, just as well. I would have trouble now returning to my own country to receive free health care should I have switched.

We have worked hard all our lives, been productive in society and not wanted/expected anything for free. I am only glad that I have an option to go somewhere else. I am dragging my feet, but for those who do not, forget my family being torn apart, what are others supposed to do?

Being blunt, if cancer doesn’t take you when it’s all said and done, having no insurance will. We need to get serious, look hard at what we can do. Everyone will be affected in some way throughout our lives, either know someone or be that someone where this is their truth.

Focus Should Be on Fighting Cancer, Not on Worrying about Bills—Jamie S.

My father died of leukemia (ALL) in 2004 at the age of 52. He was sick with the disease for one year and two days. His induction phase of chemo failed and he was forced to enter numerous clinical trials around the country. At the same time the induction phase failed, our insurance company  promptly started to deny all claims. In the end, my family ended up paying close to $300,000 (yes, 5 zeros) in medical expenses. My father worked for the same company for 30 years and never took one sick day. It's a crime that a family is forced to deal with something as terrible as cancer, and instead of the full care and focus going to the patient, it is going to concern over the bills that arrive throughout the battle.

Cancer Survivor Fights Insurance Company for Coverage—Carol B.

I am a divorced single mother of two children. I work as a freelance court reporter, meaning that I am independent contractor working for a freelance agency. I have to fund my own health insurance. Last year I was diagnosed with breast cancer. My health insurance found every excuse to not pay for my brachytherapy radiation, leaving me with over $100,000 debt. They tried to say I had a pre-existing condition and did an investigation. I helped get my medical records for them to prove I did not have a pre-existing condition. Then they changed my PPO in the middle of my treatment and did not tell me. So then I was out of my network, meaning I had a $2,000 deductible instead of a $1,000 deductible. Even so, they still did not pay after I met my $2,000 deductible. So then I went through their appeal process, which was a joke. So then I hired an attorney to appeal. We most definitely had the grounds to sue on bad faith. After my attorney appealed and threatened to sue on bad faith, it was only then that they started paying on my claims.

This was extremely stressful, especially when you are trying to recover from illness. Now I have legal fees on top of everything. But I felt like a criminal. I felt like I was being punished for seeking medical care in Chicago . I live in a small town in Indiana, and our best medical care is in Chicago . I chose a teaching university. They have cutting-edge treatment, and the newest radiation modalities available. They were unwilling to pay for cutting-edge treatment.

This was the most stressful part of my cancer experience. I have a positive attitude about surviving my cancer, I go to the gym every day and eat organic, etc.

But the business of cancer, dealing with insurance companies that won't pay, and try to make you feel like a criminal, is depressing. They accused me of lying on my application, which they found to not be true after they did their “investigation.” But it made me feel like I was a criminal, and all I was doing was seeking treatment in Chicago for a breast cancer that I didn't ask for.

It made me feel sorry for the uneducated or elderly people that don't know you can fight back through an appeal process or have the funds to hire an attorney. At least I had the funds and the knowledge to do that.

Recently the Small Business administration and the Department of Treasury took action to increase credit and lending to auto suppliers and small businesses. The information for these plans is below. I hope the auto suppliers and other small businesses in the country can take advantage of these plans.

Below is information on the SBA plan

Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses Fact Sheet

Read Secretary Geithner's Remarks
View the Q&A for Small Business

The Obama Administration firmly believes that economic recovery will be driven in large part by America's small businesses, which have generated about 70 percent of net new jobs annually over the past decade. But as the flow of credit has dried up during this recession, small business owners who were prudent and responsible have been set back by the behavior of others in our financial system who were not. Businesses with strong credit histories have seen loan applications denied due to conditions that have nothing to do with their own actions and are now struggling to expand their businesses, make their payments or even keep workers on their payrolls. As a result, while the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) typically guarantees about $20 billion in loans annually, new lending is trending below $10 billion this year.

The Obama Administration has already taken several positive steps to ensure that small businesses have access to the credit they need to support an economic recovery. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act signed by the President provides for increased guarantees and reduced fees for certain Small Business Administration loans. In February, the Treasury Department made a special effort under the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative to improve terms for securities backed by SBA loans in the TALF.

Today, as part of an effort Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner first outlined in introducing the Financial Stability Plan (FSP) in February, we are taking immediate action to help ensure that credit – the lifeblood of America's small businesses and its economy – gets flowing again to entrepreneurs and business owners. As another part of the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative, the Treasury Department will – by the end of the month – begin making direct purchases of securities backed by SBA loans to get the credit market moving again, and it will stand ready to purchase new securities to ensure that community banks and credit unions feel confident in extending new loans to local businesses. These purchases, combined with higher loan guarantees and reduced fees, will help provide lenders with the confidence that they need to extend credit, knowing they both have a backstop against their risk and a source of liquidity. These measures will complement other steps the Administration is taking to help small businesses recover and grow, including several tax cuts under the Recovery Act.

Unlocking Credit for Small Businesses

  1. Jumpstart Credit Markets For Small Businesses By Purchasing Up to $15 Billion in Securities
    • Stand Ready to Purchase Securities Pooled from the SBA's

      Largest Loan Program for Small Businesses
    • tand Ready to Purchase Securities Pooled from the SBA's Community Development Loan Program
  2. Temporarily Raise Guarantees to Up to 90 Percent in SBA's 7(a) Loan Program
  3. Temporarily Eliminate Certain SBA Loan Fees to Reduce the Cost of Capital
  4. Call by Secretary Geithner for New Reporting Requirements on Bank Lending to Small Businesses and Greater Efforts to Extend Small Business Loans
  5. Issue Guidance for an Expanded Carryback Provision as Part of the Recovery Act's Comprehensive Tax Cut Package for Small Businesses
  1. Jumpstart Credit Markets For Small Businesses By Purchasing Up to $15 Billion in Securities
    • Begin Direct Purchases of Securities Backed by Loans from SBA's 7(a) Program: Traditionally, SBA lending has been supported by an active secondary market, as community banks and other lenders sell the government-guaranteed portion of their loans, providing them with new capital to make additional loans. But since last fall, this secondary market – which has historically supported over 40 percent of SBA's 7(a) lending program – has frozen up. As a result, both lenders, including community banks and credit unions, and the "pool assemblers" that securitize their loans have been left with government-guaranteed SBA loans and securities on their books. This has prevented them from making or buying new loans.Today, the Treasury Department announces that – in order to get credit moving immediately to small businesses – it will:
      • Stand Ready to Purchase Securities Backed by 7(a) Loans Packaged Since Last July: Treasury has hired an investment manager who will be authorized to purchase – starting by the end of this month – securities backed by guaranteed portions of 7(a) loans packaged on or after July 1, 2008. This will help clear the backlog of securities that has built up since the beginning of the credit crisis last year, providing pool assemblers and banks with a source of liquidity so that new lending can occur.
      • Stand Ready to Purchase New 7(a) Securities Packaged Between Now and the End of the Year: Between now and the expiration of Emergency Economic Stabilization Act (EESA) authority on December 31, 2009, Treasury stands ready to purchase new securities backed by the guaranteed portions of 7(a) loans. By making this pledge, Treasury provides assurances to community banks and other lenders that they can sell the new 7(a) loans they make, providing them with cash they can use to extend even more credit.
    • Make Direct Purchases to Unlock Credit Markets for SBA's 504 Community Development Loan Program: The SBA's 504 program combines government-backed loans with mortgage loans from private lenders to provide long-term financing of up to $10 million that directly supports economic development within a community. First-lien mortgage loans made by private-sector lenders – which account for 50 percent of the financing for 504 projects, and are not SBA guaranteed – were often traded in the past on an active secondary market that has frozen in the last year, leaving billions in unsold assets on the books of banks. To get the 504 lending market moving again, Treasury will:
      • Stand Ready to Purchase Securities Packaged From 504 First-Lien Mortgages: Treasury will stand ready to buy first-lien mortgage securities connected to SBA's 504 loan program.  No later than May, Treasury will begin purchasing securities packaged on or after July 1, 2008 that meet eligibility criteria designed to protect taxpayers.
      • Prepare to Buy 504 First-Lien Mortgage Securities That Receive New SBA Guarantees: As part of the Recovery Act, SBA is working to develop a secondary market guarantee program for securities issued from pooled 504 first mortgage loans. Once this program is fully implemented by SBA, Treasury will stand ready to purchase these government-guaranteed securities.
    • Provide Liquidity While Keeping The Secondary Market in Place: These direct purchases of 7(a) and 504 securities will provide liquidity to lenders, including community banks and credit unions, enabling them to restart the process of recycling capital and extending loans. At the same time, the TALF component of the Consumer and Business Lending Initiative will provide investors with an attractive source of financing, allowing them to continue participating in the market. This is intended to keep the existing secondary market in place so that private investors can replace the government as the purchaser of these securities when market conditions return to normal.
  1. Temporarily Raise Guarantees to Up to 90 Percent in SBA's 7(a) Loan Program: The purpose of the 7(a) loan program is to provide a government guarantee that reduces the risk lenders face when they make loans to borrowers who cannot find credit elsewhere. But during the current recession, the guarantees – up to 85 percent for loans at or below $150,000 and up to 75 percent for larger loans – have not been large enough to give banks the confidence they need to lend. As part of its implementation of the Recovery Act, the SBA today announces:
    • An Increase in Maximum Loan Guarantees to 90 Percent: Beginning today, any lender who participates in the 7(a) program can request a guarantee from the SBA of up to 90 percent for each eligible loan. This temporarily available increase in guarantees will help provide banks with the greater confidence they need to extend credit during the current recession.
    • A Confidence Boost Lenders Need to Extend Credit: Combined with Treasury's efforts to unlock secondary markets, higher loan guarantees will ensure that lenders have both greater safeguards against possible credit losses and assurances that there will be an active secondary market to purchase their loans and provide the liquidity they need to keep lending.
  2. Temporarily Eliminate SBA Loan Fees to Reduce the Cost of Capital
    • Elimination of Borrower and Lender Fees for 504 Loans: On any new eligible 504 applications submitted beginning today, SBA will temporarily eliminate the Certified Development Company (CDC) processing fees charged to borrowers and the third-party participation fees charged to lenders. As a temporary provision authorized by the Recovery Act, these measures will reduce costs to both borrowers and lenders participating in the 504 program, which has a demonstrated record of supporting community development and creating jobs.
    • Elimination of Up-Front Fees for 7(a) Loans: For any new eligible 7(a) loan, the SBA will temporarily eliminate the up-front fees that lenders pass along to borrowers. These fees – which go up to 3.75 percent for larger loans – increase the cost of borrowing for small businesses and make it more difficult for them to access the credit they need to expand or make new investments.
    • Rebates for Fees Paid Since February 17th: For borrowers or lenders charged any of these fees on loans approved on or after February 17th, the SBA will provide a refund, to ensure that Recovery Act provisions create the maximum possible economic stimulus.
    • A Pledge to Quickly Turn Around Loans: To maintain a high level of service to potential borrowers and lenders alike, the SBA also pledges that complete loan applications will be turned around quickly by the SBA – usually in as little as two to three days.
  1. Call by Secretary Geithner for New Reporting Requirements on Bank Lending to Small Businesses and Greater Efforts to Extend Small Business Loans
    • Require the 21 Largest Banks Receiving Financial Stability Plan Assistance to Report Their Small Business Lending Every Month: As part of the President's commitment to increasing transparency and accountability, Treasury will – for the first time – require the 21 largest banks receiving capital from the government to report how much small business lending they do every month.
    • Call for Quarterly Reports of Small Business Lending By All Banks: Today, Secretary Geithner called for every bank nationwide to report their total lending to small businesses in their regular quarterly reports, rather than just once a year. Secretary Geithner will ask bank regulators to take steps to amend the quarterly Report of Condition to achieve this important objective. This will offer more current information about trends in small business lending, while at the same time providing important information about how well government programs are working to stimulate these loans.
    • Issue Call for All Banks to Make Efforts to Increase Small Business Lending: Today, Secretary Geithner called on all banks – whether or not they receive FSP assistance – to make an extra effort to extend small business loans to creditworthy borrowers. In light of the extraordinary assistance provided to the banking system, Secretary Geithner emphasized that lenders should take a special responsibility for providing the credit that small businesses need to operate, expand and add jobs.
  1. Issue Guidance for An Expanded Carryback Provision as Part of the Recovery Act's Comprehensive Tax Cut Package for Small Businesses:
    • Establish Five-Year Carryback Provision to Increase Tax Refunds for Small Businesses:Today, the IRS will issue guidance for a provision in the Recovery Act that allows businesses with gross receipts of up to $15 million to "carry back" their losses for up to five years, effectively allowing them a rebate on taxes paid in previous years. The Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that this measure will increase liquidity for small businesses by $4.7 billion by September 30, 2009.
      • Continue Implementation of Recovery Act's Comprehensive Tax Cut Package for Small Businesses: The carryback provision is only one of several measures in the Recovery Act that will improve liquidity for small businesses by lowering their taxes, including:
        • Incentives to Invest in Plant and Equipment by Allowing Small Businesses to Write Off Up to $250,000 of Investment: The Recovery Act allows small businesses to immediately write off up to $250,000 of qualified investment in 2009, providing an immediate tax incentive to invest and create jobs.
        • Additional Liquidity Support By Reducing Estimated Tax Payments: Normally, small businesses have to pay 110 percent of their previous year's taxes in estimated taxes. But with incomes down for many small businesses this requirement is too burdensome – and causing a cash crunch. The Recovery Act allows small businesses to reduce their estimated payments to 90 percent of the previous year's taxes, helping to boost their liquidity and better align their estimated taxes with their actual taxes in a year of severe economic contraction.
        • Extension of Bonus Depreciation Deductions Through 2009: The Recovery Act also extends through 2009 bonus depreciation,allowing businesses to take a larger tax deduction within the first year of a property's purchase.
        • Incentives for Investors to Put Money in Small Businesses: Finally, the Recovery Act includes a measure that will exclude from taxation 75 percent of the capital gains for investors in small businesses who hold their investments for five years. In his budget, the President proposes to go further, eliminating all capital gains taxes on small businesses and making this measure permanent.


Below is information on the Treasury's Auto Supplier Support Program

WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Department of the Treasury today announced a new program to help stabilize the auto supply base and restore credit flows in a critical sector of the American economy. As the President's Task Force on the Auto Industry continues to review restructuring plans submitted by General Motors and Chrysler, Treasury announced an Auto Supplier Support Program that will provide up to $5 billion in financing, giving suppliers the confidence they need to continue shipping parts, pay their employees and continue their operations.

As rising unemployment and contracting credit continue to threaten economic recovery, today's announcement will support an industry employing more than 500,000 American workers across the country. Because of the credit crisis and the rapid decline in auto sales, many of the nation's auto parts suppliers are unable to access credit and are facing growing uncertainty about the prospects for their businesses and for the auto companies that rely on the parts they ship. This program will help break this cycle and provide confidence in the supplier base at an important time for the domestic auto industry. It is part of the Administration's broader efforts to ensure that our Financial Stability Plan reaches the main street businesses that create good jobs for American workers.

"The Supplier Support Program will help stabilize a critical component of the American auto industry during the difficult period of restructuring the lies ahead, " said Treasury Secretary Geithner. "The program will provide supply companies with much needed access to liquidity to assist them in meeting payrolls and covering their expenses, while giving the domestic auto companies reliable access to the parts they need. "

An overview of the Auto Supplier Support Program is below.  A full fact sheet on the program can be found here:

  • The program will provide suppliers with access to government-backed protection that money owed to them for the products they ship will be paid no matter what happens to the recipient car company.  
  •  Participating suppliers will also be able to sell their receivables into the program at a modest discount. This will provide suppliers with desperately needed funding to operate their businesses and help unlock credit more broadly in the supplier industry.
  • The program will be run through American auto companies that agree to participate in the program. Suppliers to those companies that agree to maintain qualifying commercial terms will have the opportunity to request this government backed protection. If granted, the supplier will pay a small fee for the right to participate in the program.
  • The Treasury Department has made available up to $5 billion in financing under this program.

Tomorrow I will attend President Obama's Health Care summit. I will spend most of my time tonight preparing notes for this meeting. I want to know what you think I should bring up at the meeting. I will work very hard tomorrow to make sure single-payer is taken seriously. I know that single-payer has inherent cost-containment, guarantees universal access to all, and give patients a choice of provider.
 
What else about single payer should I mention tomorrow? I want to know what your thoughts.
Don't forget to scroll down to the bottom of the each individual issue page to see helpful additional files and documents.

Oct 30 2008

Welcome

Hello and welcome to my blog!  Make sure to check back from time to time for updates on what is happening in Washington, D.C. and the Metro Detroit area.  I am very excited to use this blog as a way to communicate with you directly.  Please feel free to post your ideas and comments, and I will do my best to respond promptly.  Let’s work toward our goal of more jobs, justice and peace!