The Week Just Passed: The New Year brings New Opportunity

Targeting the Security of Healthcare.gov

Be Prepared: More Winter Ahead!

This Week’s Salute: John Amerspek and the Greatest Generation

Lech Walesa: ‘The U.S. no longer leads the world’

 

The Week Just Passed: The New Year brings New Opportunity

“Now that the holiday season is behind us, Congress is preparing to continue its work for the American people.

“We all know that our national debt is climbing at an alarming rate. With more than $17.2 trillion in debt, the need for solutions and real action could not be more clear.

“In recent weeks, the Appropriations Committee has been at work implementing December’s bipartisan budget agreement.  The bill we bring to the House in the next few weeks not only holds the line on spending, it actually puts a dent in our annual deficit – a significant accomplishment. In addition, our bill will open the door for future progress on the problem of runaway entitlements, and paves the way toward budget and economic stability for the next two years.

“As we are all painfully aware, over the last few years, the greatest challenge for lawmakers has been refusal to reach across the aisle and find areas of agreement. All too often, we’ve focused on our differences. Since 2009, due to the inability or unwillingness to negotiate (particularly on the budget), the federal government has depended on short-term funding agreements.  As a result, Congress’ ‘power of the purse’ – the annual appropriations process – has, in effect, been ceded to the President and his administration.

“What we need is a long-term budget plan, not a temporary ‘fix’ that does nothing to rebuild a strong and healthy economy.  And we must restore ‘regular order’ to the Congressional appropriations process which will allow us to get our work done on time with transparency and accountability. 

“The holidays are over. We have flipped the calendar to 2014.  Change is in the wind.

“In 2014, Congress and the President can and should prove that we’ve learned the lessons of the past.  Yes, it is possible to hold fast to our principles while working together for the good of the country and the American people.

“That should be Washington’s New Year’s resolution, in addition toguaranteeing that members of our armed services and civilians who work around the world in harm’s way are protected and their missions fully supported.

“Considering deteriorating conditions in many countries in the Middle East - Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt, Syria - the largely unreported disaster that this Administration created with our precipitous withdrawal from Iraq, and the likelihood of a similar scenario unfolding in Afghanistan, we need to be prepared for every eventuality with military and intelligence resources at the ready!”

Rodney Frelinghuysen

Targeting the Security of Healthcare.gov

The House of Representatives will vote next week on legislation designed to protect the privacy and security of consumers who use the President’s new healthcare website, Healthcare.gov.  The proposal would require the government to notify individuals if their personal information has been compromised on Healthcare.gov.

Readers of recent editions of Rodney’s e-News know that he has been concerned about the security of Healthcare.gov for some time.  In fact, back in early November, he wrote, “Americans need to know that their sensitive personal information will be protected if they visit the healthcare exchanges. Unfortunately, each passing day brings more about concern about Healthcare.gov’s security, as well as the administration’s ability to identify and fix the lingering problems.  The fear is that domestic and foreign ‘hackers’ may be able to access confidential information about your health history and needs.”

Recently, there have been widespread media reports about the data breach at Target in which hackers gained access to the financial information of millions of customers.  In addition, a recent study by the credit report bureau Experian warned that the healthcare industry would be the most susceptible to data breaches in 2014.

Healthcare.gov appears to be an “attractive” target for hackers for several reasons:

• A vastly complex system, 8 times the code size of Windows 8 – itself a massive attack target;
• A system used by millions of Americans for whom identity theft would be a devastating problem;
• A system that collects sensitive, personal information;
• A system thrown together without security in mind, untested, unable to detect breaches;
• A system that connects with other federal agency data systems, containing data on every man, woman, and child in America;
• A system where the owner (the federal government) is immune from legal liability for mishandling data.

The bill scheduled for consideration in the House next week will mandate disclosure to consumers.

Recommended Reading: President Obama’s health care law could face additional obstacles to success in 2014 even if problems with the website are ironed out. Kimberly Atkins, writing in the Monday Boston Herald, says issues with taxes and penalties loom.

Recommended Reading: The President’s new healthcare law includes so many taxes that it's hard to keep track, but one of the worst took effect yesterday - a levy on health insurance premiums that targets the small business and individual markets. Read “A Large New Tax on Small Business” in the Wall Street Journal here.

This Week’s Salute: John Amerspek and the Greatest Generation

A New Jersey hero passed away on Christmas morning and was laid to rest on Monday.  John Amerspek, a decorated World War II veteran who rose to become a longtime director at Picatinny Arsenal and one of its staunchest defenders in his retirement years, was 92.

“Like so many of the ‘Greatest Generation,’ John Amerspek knew the necessity of accepting one’s responsibilities and was willing to make sacrifices for his country,” Rodney said. “From his Army service in North Africa, Anzio and other critical campaigns in World War II, to his leadership as senior Director at Picatinny Arsenal and the National Defense Industry Association and CRISP in retirement, John Amerspek made countless contributions to our national security.

He continued: “The simple bronze plaque outside the John Amerspek Conference Room at Picatinny Arsenal, describes him as ‘Soldier, Leader, Patriot.’ Anyone who had had the privilege of knowing John understood that he fit those descriptions precisely.”

Recommended Reading:  Cheryl Chumley’s story in the ThursdayWashington Times, “Anti-communist icon decries Obama: U.S. ‘no longer leads the world.’”