Dear Friend:
While this newsletter is a bit long, I want to be sure to fully update you on work in Congress affecting residents of the Fourth District. In this newsletter, we share information about:
• FEMA Awarding Emergency Aid for April Nor’easter
• Rising Gas Prices Underscoring Greater Need for Fuel Efficiency
• Opposing FAA Airspace Redesign over Connecticut
• Increased Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Proposing a National Public Service Academy
• Solutions to the Middle East Crisis Discussed at the World Economic Forum
• The New Plan under General Petraeus Taking Shape in Iraq
• Allowing Iraqi Refugees into the U.S.
• Highlighting Progress in Connecticut Schools with Education Secretary Spellings
• First Lady Laura Bush’s “Big Read” in Bridgeport
• This Year’s Winners of the Congressional Arts Competition
• Thanking Our Spring Interns for Their Work on Behalf of the District
I hope you find this information useful and will not hesitate to contact our office if there is anything we can do to be helpful to you and your neighbors.
Sincerely,
Christopher Shays
Member of Congress
FEMA Awarding Emergency Aid for April Nor’easter
On June 13, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced it will award federal assistance to individual residents and families affected by the April Nor’easter, which left many Connecticut homes and businesses flooded and without power. FEMA reversed its earlier decision of May 15, due in part to the leadership of the governor and the work of our congressional delegation.
On May 29, Regional FEMA Director Arthur Cleaves toured areas of the Fourth District adversely affected by the storm to evaluate the level of damage suffered by residents. Click here to read my letter to FEMA Director David Paulison.
Disaster recovery centers have been set up to assist residents in filing a claim. Fourth Congressional District residents seeking information on how to start the claims process for federal assistance should follow this link for FEMA guidelines.
Rising Gas Prices Underscoring Greater Need for Fuel Efficiency
Shays Reintroduces Sweeping Energy Reform Bill
The recent spike in gas prices underscores the urgency for a new energy policy. I believe we are long overdue for a responsible national energy policy to help reduce dependence on oil -- particularly foreign oil -- and promote innovative sources of renewable energy.
Last month I joined Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) to reintroduce the Energy for Our Future Act (H.R. 1945), a comprehensive bipartisan energy reform bill that seeks to decrease U.S. dependence on foreign oil, protect the environment, build a market for renewable energy, and promote greater energy conservation. This bill is supported by the Sierra Club, League of Conservation Voters, Natural Resources Defense Council, Union of Concerned Scientists, U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG), Connecticut Public Interest Research Group (ConnPIRG), Environmental Action, Connecticut Fund for the Environment, Republicans for Environmental Protection and the Audubon Society.
Opposing FAA Airspace Redesign over Connecticut
In response to the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) proposal to redesign the New York/New Jersey/Philadelphia airspace, I submitted official comments to FAA Administrator Marion C. Blakey urging the FAA to reassess the plan’s implementation.
I have been an outspoken critic of the integrated airspace proposal, because it fails to account for the quality of life impact on communities below the proposed routes. The FAA’s proposal to mitigate noise has made no attempt to explore alternative routes over less populated areas, nor has it set recommended restrictions on minimum altitude. According to the FAA report the plan will re-route more air traffic over southwestern Connecticut, increasing the air noise levels in some parts of the Fourth District.
A public meeting on the proposed redesign and the mitigation strategy took place April 24, 2007 in Stamford, CT at which experts from the FAA explained airspace redesign, the proposed traffic changes, and their impact on the region. I am hopeful the FAA will find an alternative solution to the air traffic issue without adversely affecting the residents of the Fourth District.
Increased Funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH)
I strongly support funding research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which conduct research on illnesses and conditions that touch the lives of nearly every resident of Connecticut.
For this reason, I co-authored a letter with five other representatives signed by 180 other Members of Congress to Representatives David Obey and Jim Walsh, the Chairman and Ranking Member, respectively, of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education, supporting a 6.7 percent increase – or $1.9 billion – for NIH research. If Congress provides this level of support for three years, we will keep pace with medical inflation and fund critical research to help in our fight against disease.
The NIH is our country’s premier institution for medical research. It embodies our greatest hope for treating or curing heart disease, cancer, diabetes and so many other illnesses that American families battle every day, and is our best hope for containing the health care costs for the Baby Boom Generation.
Proposing a National Public Service Academy
Congressman Jim Moran (D-VA) and I re-introduced H.R. 1671, the U.S. Public Service Academy Act, to instill in our young people a desire to enter the field of public service. The bill would create the first national civilian institution of higher education in the United States providing a competitive, federally subsidized, public service-driven undergraduate education to students from across the United States and around the world. In return for a four-year liberal arts education, students would be required to serve our country for five years in the public sector after graduation.
Funded through a public-private partnership, the Public Service Academy would serve to strengthen and protect the United States by creating a corps of well-trained, highly-qualified civilian leaders willing to devote themselves to leadership through patriotic public service.
The idea of establishing a National Public Service Academy has received the endorsement of Catholic Charities USA, the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and the National Urban League, along with the National Peace Corps Association and AmeriCorps Alums.
To learn more about the proposal to establish a National Service Academy, please click here.
Solutions to the Middle East Crisis Discussed at the World Economic Forum
In conjunction with my most recent trip to Iraq, I participated in the World Economic Forum in Jordan with my colleagues Brian Baird (D-WA) and Carolyn Maloney (D-NY). Our goal was to encourage world business and political leaders to work to strengthen social and political diversity, and address current conflicts in the Middle East.
The World Economic Forum is critical to finding peace in the Middle East, and helping develop and strengthen the region’s economy. The opportunity to join key political leaders in working toward greater stability is one step toward improving our diplomatic relations and standing in the area.
Following our visit to the World Economic Forum, Congressman Baird and I introduced legislation commending the Middle East Investment Initiative and its contributors for supporting Palestinian businesses and taking steps to increase economic development and small business opportunities in the Middle East. The bill would provide a loan guarantee program to increase access to financing, technical assistance, and market information for Palestinian entrepreneurs. The Middle East Investment Initiative has also instituted anti-terrorism procedures to ensure beneficiaries are not connected with terror groups or acts of terror.
The New Plan under General Petraeus Taking Shape in Iraq
This April and May I made my most recent trips to Iraq. Each trip has provided me the opportunity to receive on-the-ground assessments of our progress, without the filter of media reports. After these trips, I reported back to my colleagues in Congress that the new plan under General Petraeus is showing signs of improvement, but we must allow him and the Iraqi people the time to succeed.
During consideration of H.R. 2206, the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act (the emergency war spending bill), I voted twice against including a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. combat troops from Iraq because the timelines set in the bill were arbitrary and unrealistic, and did not give the Iraqis enough time to stand on their own. The final bill sets 18 benchmarks for the Iraqi government, and requires President Bush to report on progress made toward meeting those benchmarks. It also allows the president to withhold construction funds if Iraq does not meet these goals.
While I am very concerned about the continued violence in Iraq, I saw some areas of improvement during my April and May trips. Click here to view the observations and recommendations I made after my last trip.
Allowing Iraqi Refugees into the U.S.
Our humanitarian responsibility to the Middle East is as great as our political, economic and military obligations. The refugee crisis created by the sectarian violence and insurgency has placed enormous burdens on neighboring countries such as Jordan, Syria and Egypt, adding to regional instability. Furthermore, some Iraqis displaced by violence left due to threats made against them and their families over work they performed for American agencies or contractors.
The United States will soon begin admitting 7,000 refugees who have fled Iraq by September 2007. While this is undoubtedly a good first step, we need to do more. H.R. 2265, the Responsibility to Iraqi Refugees Act of 2007, which I co-sponsored, will improve upon the Administration’s plan by providing special immigrant status to those refugees determined by our embassy in Baghdad to have assisted U.S. reconstruction efforts in the country.
Highlighting Progress in Connecticut Schools with Education Secretary Spellings
On May 29, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings visited the district to highlight achievements made in Connecticut schools under No Child Left Behind, for which I voted.
She also discussed proposals to reauthorize the law this year. Secretary Spellings began her visit at the Total Learning Center in Bridgeport. The center emphasizes helping students build an early, solid reading and math foundation to ensure they are on grade level by the end of the third grade.
Two roundtable discussions followed at the University of Connecticut, Stamford Campus. First, business leaders from The Business Council of Fairfield County and higher education officials discussed the critical need to upgrade our public education system to maintain global economic competitiveness. A second roundtable with educators and school administrators from Connecticut’s Fourth Congressional District discussed improving No Child Left Behind for our students.
I know there have been some challenges to No Child Left Behind, and would like to improve upon the law by including more flexible testing standards for special education students; better testing standards for English language learners; and allowing schools/districts/states that consistently make adequate yearly progress to test every other year.
I believe No Child Left Behind should be funded at its authorized levels, and I am grateful that overall funding for education has increased since the policy went into effect in 2002. It is my hope that the federal government will continue that trend when we debate reauthorizing No Child Left Behind during this Congress.
First Lady Laura Bush’s “Big Read” in Bridgeport
On April 16, the City of Bridgeport continued its Big Read commemoration of Harper Lee’s classic novel To Kill a Mockingbird with an appearance by First Lady Laura Bush, Honorary Chair of the Big Read. The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), designed to bring together partners from across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.
The Big Read is designed to immerse participants in all aspects of classic novels. It has reached out to diverse audiences, including seniors, middle and high-school youths, adults of all ages, men and women, and people from all socio-economic backgrounds to encourage literacy and enjoyment of great literary works.
My staff worked closely with the cities of Bridgeport, Norwalk, Shelton and Stamford to submit a collaborative and innovative proposal implementing a regional Big Read in southwestern Connecticut -- one of 72 awards nationwide. The NEA awarded $40,000, the largest possible award, to the region.
The Big Read stresses the importance of great literature in our nation’s history, places an emphasis on reading and literacy, and brings communities, cities, neighborhoods and families together to celebrate the gift of books.
Information on events can be found on each city’s website or the NEA’s website.
This Year’s Winners of the Congressional Arts Competition
The winner of this year’s “Congressional Arts Competition: an Artistic Discovery” is Kylie Collins, from Staples High School in Westport, CT. Kylie’s work entitled “Purple Man” will hang for one year beside works from other congressional districts in the passageway between the House office buildings and the United States Capitol.
As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, I had the opportunity to attend the awards presentation, which took place at the Westport Arts Center on April 28, 2007. Kylie received round-trip transportation for one to Washington, DC, for the opening reception on Thursday, June 28, 2007.
"An Artistic Discovery" began in 1982 as an attempt to offset reductions in federal grants for arts programs by giving creative students the chance to have their talents recognized nationwide. Since then, more than 650,000 students have participated in the competition. The work of thousands of young American artists has been showcased in the Capitol complex.
Competition Results:
The Winner: | “Purple Man” by Kylie Collins - Staples High School |
Runners up: | “Power" by Sarah Moss - Staples High School |
| “Another Dirty Window” photography by Anita Buyke - Stamford High School |
Honorable Mentions: | “Lauren Hill” oil on canvas by Laura Milford – Kolbe Cathedral High School |
“Fantasy” linoleum print by Satoshi Sakaguchi - Fairfield Ludlowe High School |
Thanking Our Spring Semester Interns for Their Work on Behalf of the District
Every semester, my office benefits from the assistance of students with an interest in American government who serve as interns in Connecticut and Washington, DC. These students are indispensable in assisting us with a number of duties necessary to maintain the level of constituent services the Fourth District has come to expect. Their responsibilities include a wide variety of office tasks, and they are constantly challenged to adapt quickly and take on fast paced and demanding work. This semester’s group is no exception, and deserves our thanks.