Category: US Senate

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Sen. Markey, Rep. Porter Announce Legislation to Support Students with Mental Health Disabilities, Substance Use Disorder

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

During Mental Health Awareness Month, legislators introduce Student Mental Health Rights Act, legislation requiring the Department of Education to issue guidance to colleges, universities on upholding civil rights

Bill Text (PDF)

Washington (May 25, 2023) – During Mental Health Awareness Month, Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee on Primary Health and Retirement Security, and Representative Katie Porter (CA-47) today announced the introduction of Student Mental Health Rights Act, legislation that would require the Department of Education (DOE), in consultation with the Assistant Attorney General of the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice (DOJ), publish guidance for colleges and universities to better support students with mental health disabilities and substance use disorder and to ensure they are meeting existing federal civil rights laws. To inform the guidance, the legislation also would require the Secretary of Education to collect data on the prevalence of mental health disabilities and substance use disorders at colleges and universities, review best practices for supporting students, and assess current policies at academic institutions regarding leaves of absence.

Healthy Minds Network (HMN) reported that from 2021 to 2022, 44 percent of college student suffered from depression and 37 percent suffered from anxiety. However, students reported barriers to accessing care for these and other mental health disabilities, including financial cost, lack of available appointments and confusion on where to seek help. Students with disabilities are protected by civil rights laws, including the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Rehabilitation Act, and the Fair Housing Act. Yet, disabled students continue to report discrimination, financial burdens and the denial of reasonable accommodations, which forces students to take involuntary medical leaves of absence, and in some instances, makes their requests for voluntary leaves of absence difficult to access or return from.

“We are in the midst of a mental health crisis, but for too long, we have left students and their schools without a roadmap for navigating it,” said Senator Markey. “Failing to give students and institutions of higher education the resources they need to support students experiencing a mental health crisis or substance use disorder means failing to give all students the opportunity for full and equal access to an education. This legislation will support students who have faced discrimination while providing clarity to academic institutions about their responsibilities to protect students’ civil rights.”

“Our young people cannot thrive and succeed if we do not seriously address our nation’s mental health crisis,” said Representative Porter. “The laws we have on the books aren’t translating into protections for students, which is a sign we must redouble our efforts to get schools to comply with mental health safeguards. My Student Mental Health Rights Act with Senator Markey will help make campuses safer for students in crisis.”

A copy of the Student Mental Health Rights Act can be found HERE.

Cosponsors of the legislation include Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01), Joe Courtney (CT-02), and Darren Soto (FL-09).

The Student Mental Health Rights Act is endorsed by American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, American Psychological Association, Anxiety and Depression Association of America, Association on Higher Education and Disability, Council of Administrators of Special Education, International OCD Foundation, National Association for Children’s Behavioral Health, National Association of Social Workers, National Center for Learning Disabilities, the Arc of the United States, the Kennedy Forum, the National Education Association, Autistic Self Advocacy Network, Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, Trust for America’s Health, the American Federation of Teachers, and the University of California System.

This month, Senator Markey held a HELP subcommittee hearing convening public health leaders on the need to expand access to mental health care and substance use disorder care. Earlier in May, Senator Markey and Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01) reintroduced their Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act (CMWRA), legislation to establish a first-of-its-kind $36 million pilot grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide funding to local community-based mental wellness and resilience programs. In February, Senator Markey and Representative Jamie Raskin (MD-08) sent a letter to Dr. Lawrence A. Tabak, Acting Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), calling for the swift launch of an extensive research initiative on the impact of technology and media on children, teens, and infants, consistent with the Children and Media Research Advancement (CAMRA) Act. Last November, Senator Markey sent a letter to the DOE and the DOJ calling for stronger policies related to involuntary medical leaves of absence to ensure students with disabilities’ access to higher education is protected.  

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Sen. Markey, House Leaders Announce Legislation to Raise Hazard Pay, Strengthen Protections for Health Care Workers

Source: United States Senator for Massachusetts Ed Markey

Bill Text (PDF) | One-Pager (PDF)

Washington (May 25, 2023) – Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representatives Summer Lee (PA-12), Barbara Lee (CA-12), and Ro Khanna (CA-17) today led their colleagues in announcing the introduction of the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act. The legislation would empower the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue grants related to a hazard pay of up to $13 per hour, or $25,000 per year, and implement additional safety measures, such as Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and alternative transit, for essential workers in health care and supporting services who are providing patients with immediate or undisrupted medical assistance during emergencies and extreme weather disasters.

Last winter, Massachusetts medical facilities were struck by a harsh cold front, which led to the flooding of Boston Medical Center and Tufts Medical Center’s emergency rooms due to burst pipes. The Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health reports that Boston is one the most vulnerable coastal cities for disruptions to health care in the event of a hurricane. A new study published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology finds that a concurrent heat wave and blackout in Phoenix, Arizona would cause severe heat-related illness and put nearly half of the city’s residents in need of emergency care. Understanding the need to uphold continuity of care and protect patients in the event of extreme weather disasters made worse by climate change, the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act will provide federal funding to empower health care systems and keep workers safe during emergencies.

“Health care workers are on the frontlines of our nation’s dual public health and climate crises, treating and tending to communities hit hardest by extreme weather and environmental disasters,” said Senator Markey. “These heroes deserve more than our gratitude—they deserve better pay and stronger protections. I am proud to join Representatives Summer Lee, Barbara Lee, and Ro Khanna in introducing the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act to ensure health care workers who are responding to these emergencies are provided hazard pay and given the safety tools necessary to protect patients and themselves.”

“I’ve been fighting for fair wages and safe conditions for our hospital workers from my time as an organizer and State Legislator all the way to Congress. Every time disaster strikes, our health care workers show up for us–even when it means putting their own lives at risk,” said Representative Summer Lee. “It’s time we show up for them with pay and protection, not just bells and whistles. With public health and environmental crises from pandemics and train derailments to climate driven disasters becoming more frequent and more dangerous, we need bold action starting with the Hazard Pay for Health Care Workers Act to protect our health care workers, patients, and communities they care for by providing the hazard pay and safety tools they need to continue to keep our loved ones safe during emergencies.”

“Our frontline health care workers deserve financial security and safe working conditions – especially when addressing pandemics, natural disasters, and extreme weather,” said Representative Barbara Lee. “Congress can and should do more to invest in these heroes by providing them with better pay and stronger protective equipment. The Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act does exactly that by providing hazard pay to frontline health care workers so they can continue courageously serving patients while still protecting themselves. I’m proud to join Representative Lee and Senator Markey in this effort.”

“Every day, millions of healthcare workers risk their own safety to care for people in times of crisis. As we navigate unprecedented public health crises and increasingly extreme weather events, it’s critical to make sure that our healthcare workers are being properly cared for too,” said Representative Khanna. “I’m proud to lead the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act with Senator Ed Makey, Representative Summer Lee and Representative Barbara Lee for them. Because they deserve fair compensation, increased safety measures, and recognition for all that they do.”

Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Cori Bush (MO-01), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Alexandria Ocasio Cortez (NY-14), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), Jamaal Bowman (NY-16), Delia Ramirez (IL-03), Ilhan Omar (MN-05), Gwen Moore (WI-04), Lisa Blunt Rochester (DE), Shontel Brown (OH-11), Andre Carson (IN-07), John Carter (TX-31), Greg Casar (TX-35), Jim Clyburn (SC-06), Jonathan Jackson (IL-01), Sheila Jackson Lee (TX-18), Hank Johnson (GA-04), Jennifer McClellan (VA-04), Kweisi Mfume (MD-07), Illhan Omar (MN-05), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), Marilyn Strickland (WA-10), Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12), and Nikema Williams (GA-05) are cosponsors.

A copy of the legislation can be found HERE. A copy of the one-pager can be found HERE.

Specifically, the Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act would provide funding to:

  1. Pay essential workers in health care hazard pay, up to $25,000 a year, for their work during an emergency or disaster declaration;
  2. Equip workers in health care with necessary safety measures like personal protective equipment; and,
  3. Secure safer, alternative modes of transportation for health care workers, when their commutes are made hazardous by disaster.

The legislation is endorsed by the American Federation of Teachers, American College of Nurse Midwives, National Hispanic Medical Association, Massachusetts Nurses Association, Climate and Community Project, Transhealth, Family Health Center of Worcester, and the Greater Lawrence Family Health Center.

“This bill ensures essential healthcare workers are supported during times of disaster. These selfless heroes are the lifeline of our society, working tirelessly on the frontline, oftentimes putting their own health and wellbeing at risk. This is a significant step forward in recognizing the invaluable contribution they make to our nation. This will help bolster their resilience and fortify our healthcare system in the face of future challenges. It’s an essential investment, not just in our workforce, but in the health of our nation,” said Dallas Ducar, CEO of Transhealth. 

“Our essential healthcare workers react to crises when we are called upon – the recent COVID-19 pandemic is proof. Our workers put ourselves on the line and respond to emergencies. That is who our workers are and what we do,”said Matt Yarnell, President of SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania. “But we honor and thank Congressperson Lee and Senator Markey for recognizing that our essential workers also need support, hazard pay, proper protection equipment and PPE when new crises show up. The next public health and climate related emergency will certainly show up and we need to be prepared and have our workforce ready to respond with all the resources and leadership we need.” 

“The COVID pandemic left our healthcare workforce burnt out and traumatized from working on the front lines of a global health crisis without proper safety equipment and mental health resources. The nation called them heroes and clapped for them each night, but nurses, respiratory techs and other professionals still faced backbreaking hours, low wages, and exposure to unsafe working conditions – all of which will threaten their wellbeing again the next time we face a health emergency. Senator Markey’s Hazard Pay for Health Care Heroes Act would help ensure we protect this critical workforce by providing the funding now to make sure we’re prepared for the next crisis. And as our healthcare professionals face ongoing challenges – including unsafe patient levels, moral injury and violence on the job, it’s more important than ever to let these heroes – and those thinking about entering the field – know that we believe they’re worth more than words of praise. As the fastest growing healthcare union in the country, the AFT stands fully behind this legislation,” said Randi Weingarten, President of the American Federation of Teachers.

For years, Senator Markey has championed efforts to advance climate and health justice to protect communities and their public health. In May, Senator Markey and Representative Lauren Underwood (IL-14) announced legislation, the Protecting Moms and Babies Against Climate Change Act, to address climate change risks to pregnant and postpartum people and their infants. During that same month, Senator Markey reintroduced the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act with Representatives Paul Tonko (NY-20) and Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-01), bipartisan and bicameral legislation that would establish a first-of-its-kind $36 million pilot grant program through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide funding to local community-based mental wellness and resilience programs. Last month, Senator Markey and Representative Khanna introduced the Green New Deal for Health to enable the U.S. health care system to respond to climate change by improving sustainability and supporting patients, providers and communities.

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Bennet, Daines, Neguse Introduce Bill to Address Housing Shortage in Rural and Mountain Communities

Source: United States Senator for Colorado Michael Bennet

Washington, D.C. — Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Mont.), and U.S. Representative Joe Neguse (D-Colo.) introduced the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act to help address the housing shortage in rural and mountain communities. The bipartisan legislation would strengthen the authority of the United States Forest Service (USFS) to lease underutilized administrative sites to address local needs, including for building affordable housing.  

“The American West faces a housing crisis, and our mountain and rural communities are at the center of it. When Colorado’s teachers, firefighters, police, and nurses can no longer afford to live where they work, we need to use every tool we can to fix this problem,” said Bennet. “This bill will build on our efforts in the 2018 Farm Bill to help communities and the Forest Service work together to build more affordable housing.”

“As our state continues to grow, housing is becoming more expensive and harder to find, especially in our rural and gateway communities. This bipartisan bill will help Montana communities partner with the Forest Service to create affordable housing and help ensure hardworking Montanans are able to live where they work,” said Daines.

“I’m proud to join Senators Bennet and Daines in introducing the bipartisan Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act, a bill that fosters a strong and mutually beneficial partnership between USFS and America’s rural and mountain communities,” said Neguse. “For countless folks in Colorado, and across the country, equipping the Forest Service with the ability to lease administrative sites will help to meet the needs of towns surrounded by federal lands, building on the existing program and increasing much-needed access to affordable housing.”

In the 2018 Farm Bill, Bennet helped secure the authority for the Forest Service to lease administrative sites, such as underused administrative parcels located mostly outside of forest boundaries, to localities in exchange for in-kind contributions, including housing construction and improvement or maintenance of federal facilities. To provide towns and counties with greater certainty, the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act lengthens the site’s lease authority to up to 100 years and allows it to be renewed at the end of its term. 

As a result of the housing crisis in the West, the Forest Service currently experiences a severe staffing shortage. This legislation will also help the agency provide housing for its firefighters and other critical positions to better serve the communities they work for. 

The bill is supported by Summit County, Grand County, Eagle County, Aspen, Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST), and Northwest Colorado Council of Governments (NWCCOG).

“The reauthorization of the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnership Act would allow for continued partnerships among local governments, private industry, and the Forest Service as we work together on very complicated but much-needed workforce and affordable housing projects. CAST thanks Senator Bennet and Congressman Neguse for their leadership on this important issue,” said Margaret Bowes, Executive Director, Colorado Association of Ski Towns.

“Coming out of the pandemic, Summit County has found itself at the forefront of the housing crisis. We’re leveraging every creative strategy we can to create relief for our residents. Public private partnerships like those identified in the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act are critical in that they create additional opportunities for the development of new housing for both our workforce and our federal employees,” said Summit County Commissioner Tamara Pogue.

“Federal lands comprise 84% of Eagle County.  With very little private lands for affordable workforce housing development, this is a problem Eagle County will struggle to fix on its own.  We appreciate the creative solutions in the Forest Service Flexible Housing Partnerships Act to relieve this pressure.  Authorizing the Forest Service to lease appropriate parcels for housing will greatly benefit our workforce and our mountain resort economy.  We are excited about the proposed improvements to the legislation and we thank Senator Bennet for his efforts on our behalf,” said Eagle County Commissioner Kathy Chandler-Henry.

“I applaud Sen. Bennet’s leadership in sponsoring this legislation, which creates opportunities to attain local community and Forest Service needs in Aspen and other communities in the West through long-term lease partnerships,” said Aspen Mayor Torre. “Affordable housing is critical to Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley, and this approach would allow for critical workforce housing units, along with a bunkhouse and required facilities for the White River National Forest operations on land near downtown Aspen. Specifically, this bill includes a provision for longer-term leases that make projects like this one more feasible. We urge Congress to support this effort, and we look forward to the continued partnership opportunity with the USFS, our city, Colorado Mountain College and other major institutions.”

“The Gardiner Chamber of Commerce fully endorses reauthorizing the Forest Service Flexible Housing Program. Housing is a critical issue affecting every sector of Gardiner. If passed we see this bill as a step toward alleviating the ongoing pressures felt by our community by strengthening our ability to hire and retain workforce,” said Terese Petcoff, Executive Director of Gardiner Chamber of Commerce.

The text of the bill is available HERE. A summary of the bill is available HERE.

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Young, Colleagues Reintroduce Bipartisan Bill to Help Communities Recover From Disasters

Source: United States Senator for Indiana Todd Young

May 25, 2023

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.) and a bipartisan group of senators reintroduced legislation to help communities recover from major disasters. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would strengthen the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) disaster recovery program for states, local governments, and tribes.

“Our legislation would streamline, reform, and inject greater fiscal responsibility into the broken CDBG Disaster Recovery Program,” said Senator Young. “It is past time that we permanently codify the program to avoid funding lags and rid duplicative requirements in the wake of a disaster.”

The bill addresses long-standing recommendations from the HUD Office of the Inspector General and Government Accountability Office to establish a permanent and predictable funding process.

More specifically, the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would accelerate assistance to disaster-impacted communities by:

  • Creating a disaster recovery fund to allow HUD to predictably assist communities;
  • Authorizing HUD to issue regulations to codify program requirements and reduce unnecessary red tape, delays, and unpredictability that stems from the current process;
  • Supporting resilience as a part of – rather than separate from – disaster recovery;
  • Authorizing “quick release” funds to support grantee capacity right after an event;
  • Improving federal coordination by establishing an office at HUD devoted to disaster recovery and resilience; and
  • Reducing unnecessary administrative burdens and interagency requirement conflicts.

In addition to Senator Young, Senators Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Patty Murray (D-Wash.), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.), Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), Bill Cassidy (R-La.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.), and Alex Padilla (D-Calif.) also cosponsored this legislation.

This bill is also supported by more than 40 organizations including BPC Action, Council of State Community Development Agencies, Enterprise Community Partners, Local Initiatives Support Corporation, National Community Development Association, and National Low Income Housing Coalition.

“BPC Action commends Sens. Brian Schatz (D-HI), Susan Collins (R-ME), Patty Murray (D-WA), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Bill Cassidy (R-LA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Jon Tester (D-MT), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Todd Young (R-IN), Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Alex Padilla (D-CA) for their leadership in reintroducing the bipartisan Reforming Disaster Recovery Act. This much-needed legislation would permanently authorize HUD’s CDBG-DR program, helping HUD and disaster-impacted communities address unmet recovery needs more quickly and impactfully. This bill aligns with the goals of BPC’s task force on disaster response reform, formed in 2020, and advances a key priority of our Adaptation Working Group. With seven catastrophic disasters expected to cost over $1 billion and 30 FEMA major disaster declarations issued in just the first five months of 2023, Congress should not miss the opportunity to put such a critical source of disaster assistance on more permanent footing. BPC Action looks forward to working with the 118th Congress to enact this bill,” said Michele Stockwell, Executive Director of BPC Action.

“The Council of State Community Development Agencies (COSCDA) applauds reintroduction of the Reforming Disaster Recovery Act. As communities continue to experience major natural disasters, federal help is essential for rebuilding efforts and to mitigate against future events. The Community Development Block Grant Disaster Recovery program (CDBG-DR) facilitates this critical assistance for long-term recovery,” said Dianne Taylor, Executive Director of COSCDA. “While CDBG-DR provides meaningful investments towards housing, infrastructure and related needs, the program experiences significant challenges including timeliness in assisting disaster victims. Program codification and related reforms are essential for improved performance and outcomes. The Reforming Disaster Recovery Act would streamline regulations, strengthen capacity and technical assistance, and enhance data availability among other key priorities. COSCDA supports these updates to accommodate more expedient and effective resources to populations in need.”

Full legislative text can be found here.

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House Passes Cassidy-Backed Bill to Combat Illegal Fentanyl

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) today released a statement after the U.S. House of Representatives passed the companion bill to Cassidy’s Halt Lethal Trafficking (HALT) Fentanyl Act. This legislation makes permanent the temporary classification of fentanyl and fentanyl analogs as Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

“The crisis at the southern border provides easy access for drug cartels to smuggle Chinese fentanyl into the U.S. fueling the overdose epidemic,” said Dr. Cassidy. “Glad to see the House take this step to ensure law enforcement has the tools necessary to combat this growing emergency. We cannot let Schedule I classification lapse.”

Drug overdoses, largely driven by fentanyl, are the leading cause of death among young adults 18 to 45 years old. Synthetic opioids like Fentanyl account for 66 percent of the total U.S. overdose deaths and the drug’s Schedule I classification is set to expire after 2024.

The legislation also removes barriers that impede the ability of researchers to conduct studies on these substances and allows for exemptions if such research provides evidence that it would be beneficial for specific analogs to be classified differently than Schedule I, such as for medical purposes.

From August 2021 to August 2022, a record-breaking 107,735 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses. The surge was primary fueled by synthetic opioids, including illegal fentanyl, which are largely manufactured in Mexico from raw materials supplied by China. In 2022, there were over 50.6 million fentanyl-laced fake prescription pills seized by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), more than doubling amount seized in 2021.

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ICYMI: Senators Gear Up for Another Seersucker Summer

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

05.25.23

WASHINGTON – In a recent article, The Federal Times highlighted the leadership of U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA) in continuing the good-humored Congressional tradition of National Seersucker Day. This marks the 10th year that Cassidy has led National Seersucker Day since reviving the tradition in 2014 while in the U.S. House of Representatives. Cassidy will host National Seersucker Day on June 8, 2023, alongside his colleague Senator Feinstein (D-CA).

“Sen. Bill Cassidy knows a thing or two about the persistent southern heat. You would, too, if you grew up in on the banks of the Mississippi in Louisiana’s lower half…

“Cassidy, who’s also a doctor, told Federal Times in an interview. ‘We jack up the air conditioning. We rush to turn on the air conditioning in the car. Why don’t we just dress for the climate, drink cold drinks instead of hot coffee, and otherwise adapt?’

“That’s the logic behind the annual Seersucker Day in Congress, a tradition led by Sen. Cassidy and Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California that sees Hill staff, lawmakers and others coordinate one day in June to wear seersucker — a lightweight, tightly woven cotton fabric that is striped, usually in pastels, and slightly puckered to give off a gathered, somewhat wrinkly look. On the day, it’s customary for lawmakers in various offices, Republican and Democrat, southerner and, yes, northerners too, to snap a photo wearing suits, jackets, ties and skirts in a dizzying, optical illusion-like sea of stripes.

“‘You wear seersucker, and people describe it as feeling like pajamas,’ Cassidy said. ‘It’s a classy pajama, if you will. And you’re in sync with the weather of the summer, as opposed to complaining about the weather this summer…

“‘I kind of like it because it’s just an interesting way to dress. If I wore a blue sports coat every day, 365, my God, just put me in a coffin,’ Cassidy joked.”

Read the full article here. 

Background

Seersucker suits were popularized by a New Orleans businessman in the early 1900s. Former U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-MS) brought Seersucker Thursday to Congress in 1996. After the tradition went unobserved in 2012 and 2013, Dr. Cassidy revived National Seersucker Day in the U.S. House of Representatives in 2014 and has continued the tradition in the Senate with the help of Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). This marks the 10th year that Cassidy has led National Seersucker Day since he revived the tradition in the U.S. House of Representatives.

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NEWS: Sanders, Braun, Grassley, Warren, Wyden Send Letter to Secretary of Defense Urging Investigation of Price Gouging by U.S. Defense Contractors

Source: United States Senator for Vermont – Bernie Sanders

BURLINGTON, Vt., May 25 – Following a CBS News  that uncovered repeated instances of defense contractors overcharging the Department of Defense (DOD) to secure excess profits of 40 to 50 percent, costing the U.S. taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Mike Braun (R-Ind.), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), and Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) on Wednesday sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III urging a thorough investigation.

“These companies have abused the trust government has placed in them, exploiting their position as sole suppliers for certain items to increase prices far above inflation or any reasonable profit margin,” wrote the senators.

The CBS News report found that the DOD would often negotiate fixed price contracts providing for private profits of 12 to 15 percent, only for Pentagon analysts to find overcharges that boosted total profits to nearly 40 percent or more. Massive overcharges from defense contractors accounting for hundreds of millions of dollars were uncovered in the investigation. Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, and TransDigm are among the offenders, dramatically overcharging the DOD and U.S. taxpayers while reaping enormous profits, seeing their stock prices soar, and handing out massive executive compensation packages.

The letter comes after a Government Accountability Office (GAO) report earlier this year showed that the DOD accounting systems cannot generate reliable and complete information and are unable to even capture and post transactions to the correct accounts, in violation of statutory requirements. In 2021, a separate GAO report showed that the DOD had failed to implement a comprehensive approach to combat department-wide fraud, despite regularly awarding contracts worth hundreds of billions of dollars.

“The DOD can no longer expect Congress or the American taxpayer to underwrite record military spending while simultaneously failing to account for the hundreds of billions it hands out every year to spectacularly profitable private corporations,” the senators continued. “We ask that you please provide us an update on the Department’s efforts to implement outstanding GAO recommendations related to financial management and fraud risk reduction, as well as your efforts to investigate the price gouging uncovered by CBS’ recent reporting.”

Read the full letter, .
Read the 2021 GAO report, .
Read the 2023 GAO report, .

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National Taxpayers Union: Rosen’s “NO CORRUPTION Act Safeguards Taxpayer Dollars”

Source: United States Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, the National Taxpayers Union Foundation (NTUF) highlighted the benefits to taxpayers of Senator Jacky Rosen’s (D-NV) bipartisan No Congressionally-Obligated Recurring Revenue Used As Pensions To Incarcerated Officials Now (No CORRUPTION) Act. This legislation, re-introduced this year with Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), has previously passed the Senate and would bar members of Congress who are convicted of felonies related to their official duties from collecting taxpayer-funded pensions. 

National Taxpayer Union Foundation: Closing the loophole: The No CORRUPTION Act safeguards taxpayer dollars and justice

By Demian Brady

Key Points:

  • Under the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 (HLOGA), members of Congress who are convicted of certain crimes are supposed to lose eligibility for their congressional pension. 
  • Unfortunately, as NTUF revealed in a review of recent indictments, the pension is not stripped until all opportunities to appeal the conviction have expired, and this process can drag on for years and years.
  • The No CORRUPTION Act would cut off the payments upon conviction. The bill also includes an important provision ensuring that the member would become eligible for the full amount owed if the conviction is successfully appealed.
  • Lawmakers should work to close the loophole to ensure that taxpayers aren’t on the hook for paying out pensions to corrupt politicians. The No CORRUPTION Act would protect taxpayers while also protecting the rights of former members who successfully overturn their convictions.

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Cassidy Tours Port of Lake Charles

Source: United States Senator for Louisiana Bill Cassidy

05.24.23

LAKE CHARLES – Today, U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), M.D. toured the Port of Lake Charles. He was briefed on offshore wind capabilities in the Gulf of Mexico and hurricane recovery projects.

“Offshore wind farms are the next phase of energy production in Louisiana,” said Dr. Cassidy. “The Port of Lake Charles is aggressively pursuing this to expand and diversify the jobs being created in southwest Louisiana. As they do this, they are benefiting from the bipartisan infrastructure bill. This is a good example of how the infrastructure bill is helping Louisiana build an economy for the future.”

The port plans to develop its Industrial Canal Facility as a hub for offshore wind development. In February, Cassidy introduced the Reinvesting in Shoreline Economies and Ecosystems (RISEE) Act. The RISEE Act would amend the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act (GOMESA) and create a new, dedicated stream of funding for future offshore wind development for coastal protection and resiliency. It would send 37.5% of offshore wind revenue to states where offshore wind farms are developed. The RISEE Act would also eliminate the state revenue sharing cap, currently at $375 million.

While at the port, Cassidy toured the city docks with Mr. Richard Self, Executive Director of the Lake Charles Harbor and Terminal District, among others. They discussed how to work collaboratively to ensure Lake Charles has the FEMA assistance necessary to continue recovering from Hurricane Laura.

“I want to extend a sincere thank you to Senator Cassidy for taking the time to meet and tour the Port of Lake Charles,” said Mr. Self. “Senator Cassidy is fully engaged with our plans to develop the Industrial Canal Facility as a manufacturing and marshaling hub for the offshore wind industry. The Port’s close proximity to the first-ever Gulf of Mexico offshore wind lease area and deep draft Calcasieu Ship Channel along with no air draft restrictions, makes the Industrial Canal perfectly positioned for the offshore wind industry. We certainly appreciate Senator Cassidy’s assistance and the support he has provided Southwest Louisiana as we emerge as a national pathway for wind power.” 

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Shaheen Continues Event Series on Potential Impact of a GOP-Forced Default in NH with Nonprofit Leaders & Housing Stakeholders

Source: United States Senator for New Hampshire Jeanne Shaheen

May 24, 2023

Shaheen meets with nonprofit leaders in Concord this morning to discuss potential impact of a national default on NH working families.

Shaheen meets with housing stakeholders to underscore the effects of a default on the housing market and mortgage rates.

(Concord, NH) – Today, U.S. Senator Jeanne Shaheen (D-NH) held meetings in Concord to continue her week-long series of virtual and in-person events with stakeholders across the Granite State to discuss the potential impacts of a GOP-forced default. During the Trump administration, Democrats and Republicans came together three times to avoid a national default, which is a matter of paying existing financial obligations and does not relate to new spending.

Shaheen first met with New Hampshire nonprofit leaders and advocates to discuss the impact of a default on Granite State families, particularly those accessing federal assistance programs. In New Hampshire, many nonprofits rely on federal funds to execute their mission, and families utilize federally-funded programs to access health care and child care and to put food on the table. As federal funds make up approximately 33 percent of the state budget, reducing federal aid would severely impact critical programs and services that Granite Staters rely on every day. Shaheen’s second meeting was with New Hampshire housing stakeholders and lenders to discuss how a default would impact New Hampshire’s housing market. A variety of factors have contributed to New Hampshire’s difficult housing and rental markets and the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the housing crisis. Restricting funding for housing and a potential spike in interest rates would likely slow housing construction. 

“The United States should not default on its debt. This should be a shared priority, as it was for 60 years and in the dozens of times lawmakers worked across the aisle to avert this kind of economic crisis. In my meetings today, and throughout this series of events I’ve hosted with Granite Staters, I’ve made that clear: we need a bipartisan resolution in Washington to avert a default that will hit New Hampshire and all Americans very hard,” said Senator Shaheen. “Federal food assistance, Medicaid and other essential programs that working families rely on to keep their loved ones safe and healthy are on the line if the U.S. defaults on its debts. Similarly, the housing market and mortgage rates will be adversely affected if our country defaults. New Hampshire is in the midst of a housing crisis – this is the last thing our state needs. I’ll keep doing everything in my power to push for a swift resolution that puts working families first and ends this partisan showdown.”

Senator Shaheen’s events this afternoon followed her virtual meetings yesterday with the New Hampshire Municipal Association, local leaders from across the state and members of the New Hampshire Corridor Commerce Chambers. Throughout the week, Shaheen is hosting a series of events with an array of New Hampshire stakeholders to underscore the serious and broad impact that a national default would have on Granite State communities.

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