Chris Van Hollen RSS Articles

Van Hollen Votes to Boost Resources for Fire Departments

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on House passage of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act. The legislation, passed yesterday, will provide local firefighters with the tools and resources they need to prevent and fight fires, and keep our communities safe:

“The economic downturn is adversely affecting the budgets of local governments and threatening a range of emergency services that communities count on. The budgets for programs that assist firefighters, first responders, and local communities nationwide with the equipment, training, and personnel they need to protect the public have all been reduced as declining state revenues force governors and city managers to make difficult choices.

“Passage of the Fire Grants Reauthorization Act will ease their burden, extending the resources for fire departments that we included in the Recovery Act and the FY09 Supplemental Appropriations Act. The SAFER and AFG grants will help local communities keep up with manpower and equipment needs as the array of tasks falling to local fire departments continues to grow. Today, fire departments must not only fight fires, they must also handle emergency medical services, and serve as first responders in the case of terrorist attacks or natural disasters.”

Congressman Van Hollen and Senator Barbara Mikulski recently visited the Kensington Volunteer Fire Department (KVFD) to celebrate the purchase of a new fire truck and highlight federal support for firefighter recruitment and retention support at the station. KVFD recently received a $600,000 AFG grant to purchase a new aerial ladder truck and more than $635,000 in SAFER grants. The SAFER grants will provide funding to hire a full-time volunteer recruiter and offer volunteers scholarships for college tuition in exchange for their service. Click here and here for photos from the event (Photo Credit: Ed Tenney, MCVFRA).

Van Hollen Votes To Protect Seniors’ Access to Doctors

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on House passage of the Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, which will preserve seniors’ access to their doctors by fixing the way Medicare pays physicians:

“The bill we passed today will accomplish two very important things – provide a long-term fix to the Medicare physician reimbursement problem and implement statutory pay-as-you-go (PAYGO) rules to promote long-term fiscal responsibility for our nation.

“Permanent reform of the flawed Medicare physician payment formulas is necessary to ensure that beneficiaries can see their doctor of choice and protect access to care. Consistent with the House Budget Resolution and President Obama’s recommendation, this bill uses realistic and responsible assumptions about future Medicare spending on physician services. The choice is clear: We need to fix this problem honestly today and not continue to kick the can down the down the road.

“As we put Medicare physician payments on a sustainable path, we must tend to the fiscal health of our nation. The day President Obama was sworn into office, he inherited huge deficits and exploding debt in this country. The previous administration wanted to put everything on our national credit card and ask future generations to pay for it. It is the legacy of this irresponsible spending that has left us with today’s historic federal debt.

“Digging out of this economic ditch will take time, but it is important that we put our economy on a long-term, sustainable path. PAYGO will do that by requiring policies that result in revenue reduction or increased mandatory spending be offset over the next five and ten years. It will force Congress to evaluate the tradeoffs inherent in its financial decisions and make hard choices, just like any family in America. I am proud to have joined my colleagues in passing this important legislation.”

Government Reform Committee Votes to Provide Benefits to the Same-Sex Domestic Partners of Federal Employees

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Today Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) issued the following statement on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform mark-up of the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009:

“Today’s vote is an important step toward a fairer and more just federal workplace. The Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act will make available certain employment benefits, including health care, to the same-sex domestic partners of federal employees. This change will allow the government to compete with the private sector and attract younger workers to federal service. At its core, this legislation is a good business decision that will move us toward a better, stronger, more inclusive federal workforce.”

BACKGROUND

Almost 10,000 employers nationally already offer benefits to domestic partners. This legislation will place the government on par with top employers in the private sector.
There are approximately 30,000 federal employees with same-sex partners who would be eligible for these benefits.
The Office of Personnel Management estimates that covering same-sex partners would increase the overall health care costs to the federal government by only 0.2 percent.
Both the White House and the Office of Personnel Management strongly support the Domestic Partner Benefits and Obligations Act of 2009.
The Administration is committed to finding a way to pay for this bill, so it fully complies with House PAY-GO rules.

AP - Minnick eyes bill to repay vets for medical travel

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Rep. Walt Minnick say he intends to introduce a bill this week in the U.S. House that would require the government to reimburse veterans for health care related travel costs.

The Idaho Democrat says veterans should be allowed to live anywhere and not be penalized in the pocketbook if they live hundreds of miles from a VA hospital or clinic.

Minnick's legislation would mandate travel cost reimbursement to veterans traveling more than 150 miles.

Veterans would be repaid for lodging and food at the same rate as federal employees. The bill would also allow reimbursement if inclement weather leaves them stranded and unable to travel after getting medical treatment.

Under the existing rules, reimbursements are determined on a case-by-case basis, and at a maximum of 50 percent of the federal employee rate.

Article

News-Tribune - Family awarded long-overdue medals

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson on Saturday morning awarded some long overdue medals to the family of a World War II soldier.

“My dad was evidently a mysterious man,” said Hannah Dazzler, who collected the medals on her father’s behalf.

Halvorson awarded the medals at the Princeton American Legion Saturday morning.

Private Solomon L. Dazzler served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army in France and Germany during the war and was decorated with seven medals that, for unknown reasons, he never collected.

Hannah said her dad passed away in 1975, when she was 13.

She said she contacted Halvorson’s office several months ago to try and secure the medals for her family.

“I want my kids, my sister’s kids, my grandkids to know who their grandpa was,” Hannah said. “We all love and miss him very much.”

Halvorson presented the Bronze Star, the WWII Victory Medal, the European, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, the Good Conduct medal, the Presidential Unit Citation medal, the Honorable Service Lapel and the Combat Infantry Badge to Hannah on her father’s behalf.

“He should have had these many, many years ago,” Halvorson said. “Anytime I get the honor of presenting medals… what an honor it is for me to be able to give the medals he never received.”

Hannah said she didn’t realize her father was so decorated before she tried to get his medals.

“I’d like to know more about him,” she said. “When I got the phone call saying ‘we’ve got your dad’s medals,’ I started crying.”

By Lindsay Welbers

ntprinceton@ivnet.com

http://www.newstrib.com/articles/news/nci/default.asp?Article=5B1A9FE405937FBD03FBBC9BE847A646328EB029CED96082

Catskill Daily Mail - Murphy visits Greene County, chats with residents

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Keeping a campaign promise and honoring Veteran's Week, U.S. Congressman Scott Murphy made a whistle stop tour of the mountains and valley last week.

Murphy, who represents the 20th Congressional District, including Greene County, spent all day Thursday in the towns of Ashland, Lexington, Jewett, Prattsville, New Baltimore and Greenville.

Television news stations in Albany caught up to Murphy after dark, completing his first visit to the area since being elected this past spring following a wire-to-wire race against James Tedisco.

Murphy presented flags that have flown over the nation's capitol to each community and held old-fashioned cracker barrel chats with constituents, regardless of their Party affiliation.

"I'm here to celebrate the service of all our veterans," Murphy said, "and to get out and meet the people in my district," which spans 138 towns in 10 counties.

"I wanted to honor our veterans, which is something that means a lot to me, and I pledged to get to every town in my district," Murphy said. "Here I am. Ask me whatever you want."

Citizens were very interested in the Congressman's recent "no" vote in the House of Representatives on President Obama's health insurance bill, a pivotal piece of legislation.

"This is a complicated issue," Murphy said. "There are people pushing in different directions and I agree it would be great to get everyone covered. That's the easy part.

"The hard part is how to do it and pay for it. There are some good things in the bill but it would cost too much, as it was written, and the reforms don't go far enough.

"Some people told me they couldn't believe I voted against it. My answer was, 'Send something back to us that's better and I'll look at it again,'" Murphy said.

Energy was a topic of discussion, an issue the Congressman took on with some vigor, saying all renewable sources as well as nuclear power should be part of the solution.

"Traveling around the mountains and in my travels throughout the district, there is a lot of interest in economic development," Murphy said. "This is the key to what we're trying to do in Washington.

"Our entire trade deficit is based in oil. We need a domestic energy policy that relies on independent sources. We're sending money to countries with bad guys we don't want to be sending money to."

2nd Amendment Rights were addressed. "If I'm good enough to carry (a gun) for Uncle Sam I'm good enough to carry one at home," said Bruce Knox, a veteran and lifelong resident of Ashland.

"I'm a strong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms," Murphy responded, while acknowledging the issue is complex. "There are a lot of responsible gun owners and gun dealers out there.

"This breaks down to a rural and urban issue. It is a different experience for those of us living in rural areas. Changing the law won't necessarily change the problem," the Congressman said.

Constituents also questioned Murphy's perspective on the economic crisis, including the rash of home foreclosures and the federal bail out of banks and automakers.

"As a moderate Democrat, are you concerned that our country seems to be drifting toward socialism and Marxism?" asked Jim Varalas of Jewett, who said he is a Republican with conservative leanings.

"I can tell you with great confidence this was done to truly keep the banks and auto companies alive," Murphy said. "The goal is to get out of the banking and auto business as soon as possible.

"There is a huge mess in the residential housing market, through a wide range of circumstances, and no one has found a good answer to the problem," the Congressman said.

"The dollar is not in a horrible place, though," Murphy said. "There used to be a mantra that the market would solve everything. We need to find a better balance between risk and regulation."

By Cam Inman

Oakland Tribune columnist

http://www.thedailymail.net/articles/2009/11/16/news/doc4b00ada514858171615020.txt

WPTV - Congressman leads drive for vets' families

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

The office of U.S. Representative Ron Klein says the congressman is leading a supply drive for the Fisher House.

The Fisher House is located on the grounds of the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center.

It provides at no charge, a safe, comfortable place to stay for family members of veterans who are being served at the hospital, according to the congressman.

Representative Klein wants South Florida residents to donate much-needed supplies to ensure Fisher House is fully stocked.

They need paper products, laundry detergent, DVDs, toys, family games, books, puzzles and crossword puzzles.

Fisher House began in 1995. It allows family members of veterans to stay close to their loved ones when they are hospitalized for treatment.

“Fisher House is an incredible facility and I am impressed with the services they provide to veterans’ families,” Congressman Klein said in a written release. “With some additional support from our community, Fisher House can continue to thrive. Meeting their need for supplies this holiday season is an excellent way to thank our veterans for their service to our country and community.”

The drive began Monday and runs to Friday Dec. 18.

Donation Drop-off Points

Where: Congressman Ron Klein’s district office

1900 Glades Road, Suite 260

Boca Raton

When: Monday Nov.16-Friday Dec.18, Monday-Friday 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Where: Fisher House*

7305 North Military Trail

West Palm Beach

*Fisher House is located behind the VA Medical Center. When arriving at the VA Medical Center campus, follow the signs to Fisher House.

When: Monday Nov.16-Friday Dec.18, Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.

By WPTV Staff

http://www.wptv.com/content/news/southpbc/delraybeach/story/fisher-house-ron-klein-veterans-families-wptv-west/0IUF8FRQrkKumdG_hXUNhQ.cspx

Kane County Chronicle - Foster’s supporters speak out ?in favor of health care reform

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

Without health care reform, Amy Ruppert, 48, of Batavia, faces becoming uninsured and uninsurable by April 2010.

After her husband lost his job in December, they were eligible for COBRA temporary insurance, at a cost of $1,200 per month. Though eligible for a subsidy that reduced their cost, Ruppert said the subsidy runs out next month. They can get four more months of COBRA – but that’s all. Because of chronic fatigue syndrome, Ruppert said, she will not be able to get new coverage.

“It’s under control,” Ruppert said of her illness. “I have not been in a doctor’s office for years … but insurance companies (say) it’s a pre-existing condition and I’m not eligible for coverage. … Come April, we will be one illness away from catastrophic financial devastation.”

Speaking out in favor of the health care reform bill H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care for America Act, that passed last week in the House, Ruppert countered the critics of reform.

“Many people think this is government takeover of health care,” Ruppert said at a Friday press conference at the Batavia office of U.S. Rep Bill Foster (D-Batavia). “This isn’t. This is crisis intervention of an industry run amok.”

Foster’s office has been a frequent target of health reform critics. Ruppert was one of four women in the 14th District who stood with Foster to speak in favor of reform. Foster, who voted yes on the bill last week, said among all the stories he has heard from constituents, many were denied coverage because of pre-existing conditions.

“Perhaps the most outrageous single example is the woman who met with me right here in my Batavia office,” Foster said. “She told me that she was uninsurable because of a pre-existing condition – menopause. This sort of behavior from our insurance companies is simply unacceptable.”

Others who spoke out in favor of the reform package were Judy Montminy, 55, of Aurora, Lisa Bennett, 53, of St. Charles and MaryAnne Gilkerson, 64, of Batavia.

After an illness, Montminy said, she could only get coverage at great expense.

Bennett said that after she survived cancer 10 years ago, she has not been able to get insurance

Gilkerson said her husband’s cancer was very near the insurance company’s $1 million lifetime limit on coverage – what Foster said was “one of the most tragic ways that people become uninsured.”

In addition to eliminating pre-existing conditions, the reform bill also takes away lifetime caps on coverage.

Andrew E. Nelms, field director of Ethan Hastert for Congress, said both parties agree reform is needed, but that Republicans and Hastert – who is a candidate in the Republican primary for the 14th District seat that Foster currently holds – do not agree with the reform as approved by the House and now under consideration by the Senate.

“Republicans are not saying no to health care,” Nelms said. “Rebublicans and Ethan say no to a government takeover. I don’t think anyone agrees that government-delivered service is cheaper or better than private sector delivery.”

By Brenda Schory

brschory@kcchronicle.com

http://www.kcchronicle.com/articles/2009/11/13/95008128/index.xml

Statesman-Journal - Veteran help is topic of Salem forum

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

About 90 people, primarily military veterans, were on hand this morning as Rep. Kurt Schrader hosted a veterans forum at Chemeketa Community College.

The forum panel included Jim Willis, director of the Oregon Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Service Center Officer Kevin Kalama of the Veterans Benefits Administration, and Michael Fisher, acting director of the Portland VA Medical Center.

The panel discussed issues that veterans have, especially returning war veterans, and elaborated on various programs and services established or proposed to help them.

Among the issues and solutions, Willis discussed the 90-day soft landing at length. The soft landing affords war-fatigued soldiers time to adjust and recuperate before returning to civilian life.

"If we didn't learn anything from that war 40 years ago, then we must learn that we have to take care of that veteran when he comes home," Willis said. "If we don't, we will be paying for it for decades."

In addition to the panel discussion, information booths from several organizations were at the event, including the ODVA and Veterans Services.

Schrader spoke of bills in the U.S. House aimed at helping veterans, including House Bill 1657.

The congressman's Web site notes: "H.R. 1657 is designed to ensure military personnel are informed if they have been subjected to potentially harmful materials or contaminants. The legislation was inspired by members of the Oregon National Guard's 1st Battalion, 162nd Infantry Division, some of whom were exposed to hexavalent chromium at the Qarmat Ali water treatment plant in Iraq in 2003."

By Justin Much

jmuch@statesmanjournal.com

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20091115/NEWS/911150358/1001

Valley residents relate health care struggles

Sun, 15 Nov 2009 05:00:00 GMT

While the health care legislation approved by the House is "far from perfect," U.S. Rep. Bill Foster says he voted for it because it "included many of the principles that I believe to be critical in improving how Americans receive health insurance."

"In particular, this bill eliminates the phenomenon of 'pre-existing conditions,' a phrase that can turn a person's life upside down, placing an often impenetrable barrier in between an individual and his or her access to health care," the Geneva Democrat said.

• Pistorius pulls out of 14th District race

On Friday, Foster met with several area residents who talked about their struggles for years with the health care system.

Amy Ruppert of Batavia spoke of the problems she encountered beginning a year ago, when her husband was laid off from a company he'd worked for since the late 1970s.

"I have chronic fatigue syndrome, but I haven't seen a doctor for it in years," Ruppert said. "What symptoms I have I control myself through supplements and alternative medicine. Nevertheless, it is a pre-existing condition and I have been told I am not eligible for coverage.

"My husband and I have done everything right: we've paid our bills, we don't have any debt and we have savings put away. But come April, we will be one illness away from financial devastation."

Batavian Mary Anne Gilkerson said she experienced a brush with the lifetime benefits cap when her husband battled cancer five years ago.

"We both worked (in education), and we both put each other on our health insurance so we'd be sure to have coverage if something happened," she explained. "We were feeling so good when he started treatment because we had so much insurance, while other patients in his unit (at University of Chicago Hospital) were selling their homes to pay for treatment because they'd reached their lifetime benefits cap. Then we saw how fast the bills were adding up ...

"Each of our policies had a $1 million ceiling, and we thought that was a lot of money, but when you're dealing with cancer, it's not a lot."

Among the changes Foster expects Congress to make to the health insurance bill are redefining the circumstances under which abortions will be covered; determining what size businesses will be exempted from the requirement to provide insurance to employees; and whether to include a public insurance option.

Foster said he has talked with hundreds of constituents in the course of deciding his position on health insurance reform.

"These stories all revolve around a central theme -- that the system is broken and we need to do something about it," he said.