The Week Just Past: Sequester hurts families, jobs and troops

No Budget: 1,400 days and counting…

A Congressional Extension for VAWA

Rodney Reading Across America

Rosa Parks: Her Rightful Place

“Friend of the Coast”

Sandy Assistance Deadline Extended

The Week Just Past: Sequester hurts families, jobs and troops

“While the President of the United States continued his endless campaign for higher taxes across the country this week instead of sitting down with Senate Democrats to work on a solution to replace his ‘across-the-board’ sequester budget cuts, our House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense was taking testimony from our military leaders on the sequester’s effect on our troops and national security.

“Five members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff described how national security would be put at risk if they are forced to make deep reductions in spending for personnel and equipment modernization programs.  Maintenance will suffer. Training for non-deploying soldiers, sailors, Marines, airmen and Guardsmen will virtually stop.  Hardworking civilians will face unnecessary furloughs.

“Army Chief of Staff, and Morris County native son, General Ray Odierno told us of his worry: ‘If we do not have the resources to train and equip the force, our young men and women will pay the price, potentially with their lives.’

“Marine Corps Commandant General Jim Amos reminded us that America's allies and enemies are watching to determine whether the country remains able to meet its commitments overseas. ‘Sequestration viewed solely as a budget issue would be a grave mistake.’ His testimony was chilling.

“As we were listening to the ‘Chiefs,’ the President was in the process of traveling more than 5,000 miles around the country to anywhere but Harry Reid’s office to find smarter cuts than his sequester.  This campaign-style barnstorming is beneath the image of the President of the United States.

“The President proposed the sequester, and now he is using it as an excuse to raise taxes instead of an opportunity to make smarter, more responsible cuts to spending. Now that the sequester is ‘kicking in,’ the time for campaign-style rallies is over and the time to lead is now!

“It has now been 295 days since the House of Representatives first acted to replace the ‘across-the-board,’ meat-axe budget cuts that are taking effect today. The House stands ready to act again. Still, the President and Senate Democrats haven’t budged and their only solution appears to raise taxes for the second time in eight weeks. It’s time for real balance.

“More tax increases won’t help working families, create jobs or protect our troops.

“But allowing sequestration to continue, will hurt many working families, kill jobs and put our men and women in uniform at risk.”

Rodney Frelinghuysen

Recommended Reading: Author Bob Woodward, writing in theWashington Post, confirms that the “sequester” concept was born in the White House.  Read “Obama’s sequester deal-changer” here.

Recommended Reading: Susan Heavy, writing for Reuters, reports “Journalist Bob Woodward blasts Obama ‘madness’ in handling cuts.”

Noted With Interest: 1,400 Days and counting….

Federal law requires that the House and Senate each pass a budget every year. The U.S. Senate has neglected this responsibility for nearly four years now. Wednesday marked 1,400 days since the Senate last passed a budget!

A Congressional Extension for VAWA

The House of Representatives yesterday gave final legislative approval to legislation reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act, better known as VAWA.

“Since the 1990s, I have supported VAWA, including its first reauthorization bill, signed into law in 2000.  I recognize that the programs created under VAWA make a difference in the lives of thousands of women,” Rodney said. “I have seen firsthand positive results by the Jersey Battered Women’s Service.” 

The authorization for federal appropriations under VAWA expired at the end of 2011. Both houses of Congress worked last year to reauthorize federal grants for shelters, training and law enforcement assistance to victims' services.

“I welcomed the opportunity to extend my longstanding and well-documented support for VAWA,” he said.  “In recent years, I worked to provide additional funding for VAWA programs which make a real impact on millions of lives.”

Rodney Reading Across America

Rodney was back in area schools today, participating in the annual “Read Across America” program.  He read “House Mouse, Senate Mouse” at three area elementary schools - Lakeview Elementary School in Denville, Regional Day School in Morristown and Mendham Township Elementary School in Brookside.

“Read Across America” is an annual reading motivation and awareness program that calls for every child in every community to celebrate reading on or near March 2, the birthday of beloved children's author Dr. Seuss. Across the country, thousands of schools, libraries, and community centers participate by bringing together children, teens, and books.

“Read Across America” also provides teachers, parents, caregivers, and children the resources and activities they need to keep reading on the calendar 365 days a year, to motivate children to read and generate new enthusiasm for reading.

Rosa Parks: Her Rightful Place

More than half a century after she sat defiantly on an Alabama city bus, Rosa Parks now has a place in the U.S. Capitol — the first black woman to be honored with a statue there.

President Obama, Congressional leaders and more than 50 of Parks’ relatives took part Wednesday in the unveiling of a 9-foot bronze statue of Parks in the Capitol’s Statuary Hall.

Parks is depicted sitting, heads folded across her lap. On December 1, 1955, Parks broke the law by refusing to give up her seat to a white passenger on a packed bus in Montgomery. Her arrest touched off a 381-day boycott of the bus system, a key moment in the civil rights movement. In 1956, the Supreme Court banned segregation on public transportation.

Parks died in October 2005 at age 92.  One month later, President George W. Bush directed Congress to commission a statue of Parks for the Capitol.

“Rosa Parks is an inspiring symbol to all Americans and there is no better place to keep her legacy alive than here in the U.S. Capitol,” Rodney said.  “There, her enduring image will serve as a constant reminder that we must work every day to continue what she started.”

“Friend of the Coast”

Rodney was honored as a “Friend of the Coast” this week by the American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) and the New Jersey Shore Partnership.  The ASBPA award recognized Congressional coastal advocates who have been instrumental in the fight to preserve America’s beaches.

“Beyond the environmental significance of our coastal regions, I am honored to be named a ‘Friend of the Coast’ for another reason,” he said. “I recognize that in New Jersey and other coastal states, a healthy shore is vital to travel and tourism – one of the largest employers in the United States.  So, clean beaches translate into jobs for our state.”

The American Shore and Beach Preservation Association (ASBPA) was founded in 1926 by individuals who recognized the need for an organized effort to combat erosion, a serious problem in many coastal areas. Today, ASBPA advocates for healthy coastlines by promoting the integration of science, policies and actions that maintain, protect and enhance the coasts of America.

Sandy Assistance Deadline Extended

New Jersey residents affected by Hurricane Sandy now have until April 1, 2013 to register for individual disaster assistance through the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). The deadline extension applies for homeowner, renter, and business registration with the Small Business Administration (SBA) for Disaster Loan Assistance, another important step in the disaster relief process to ensure survivors obtain all relief they are eligible for. 

It is very important that individuals register with FEMA and that businesses and individuals complete the SBA loan application.  For businesses, an SBA Disaster Loan represents the best opportunity for disaster assistance. There is no obligation to accept an SBA disaster home loan even after applying, but homeowners and renters may become eligible for additional assistance in the future.

Of note, apart from the April 1 SBA Disaster Loan deadline for property damage, businesses also have until July 31 to apply for SBA economic injury disaster loans. All homeowners, renters, and businesses are encouraged to register with FEMA and SBA to ensure eligibility for future forms of aid.

People with storm losses in all counties can register online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Affected residents can also register by phone or 711/VRS by calling 800-621-3362, TTY 800-462-7585.

FEMA disaster assistance for individuals and families can include money for rental assistance, essential home repairs, personal property losses and other serious disaster-related needs not covered by insurance.