After six years of bipartisan work by Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) and myself, Congress passed, and the President signed into law H.R. 1, Implementing the Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007. This bill is similar to legislation we introduced during the previous Congress. This law will take many important--and overdue--steps toward protecting our homeland by:
- Implementing the 9/11 Commission’s recommendations;
- Requiring screening of cargo on passenger planes;
- Improving screening of cargo at ports;
- Strengthening the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board;
- Distributing homeland security funds based on risk;
- Refining the terror alert system; and
- Improving interoperability for first responders.
Lessening the Tax Burden on Capital Gains and Estates
In an effort to provide tax relief to millions of Americans, my colleague Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) and I introduced H.R. 3170, the Mitchell-Shays Capital Gains and Estate Tax Relief Act of 2007.
Reducing the Capital Gains tax is increasingly important. More middle-income Americans own stock than ever before, and increasingly invest in stocks for retirement. This bill would permanently reduce the Capital Gains tax to 15 percent and phase out the flat 55 percent Estate tax rate, replacing it with two lower tax brackets: 15 percent for estates valued below $25 million, and 30 percent for estates valued above $25 million. Estates valued under $5 million would be exempt from taxes.
Moving America Toward Energy Independence
We need to focus on becoming energy independent, both for our environment and our national security. The less oil we consume, the less dependent we are on unstable foreign regimes. With less than three percent of the world's oil but 25 percent of its use, America can never drill its way to energy security. I believe our policies should reduce demand for oil by emphasizing conservation.
We have made progress this year. I supported passage of three energy bills, designed to move America in the direction of renewable energy exploration and cleaner fuel sources.
- H.R. 6, the Creating Long-Term Energy Alternatives for the Nation (CLEAN) Energy Act;
- H.R. 3221, the New Direction for Energy Independence, National Security and Consumer Protection Act; and
- H.R. 2776, the Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation Tax Act
Video: Click here to watch Shays' Floor speech on his amendment to H.R. 3221.
These are important first steps, but there is more work to do to get our country on the path toward energy independence. Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY) and I have reintroduced 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.
Improving Healthcare Options for Children: SCHIP
Last month I voted for H.R. 3162, the Children’s Healthcare and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, which passed the House by a vote of 225 to 204.
I believe we need to expand health care coverage by raising the age of those covered under the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) and lowering the age of eligibility for Medicare. This is one way to reduce the number of uninsured.
The cost of the bill -- $244 billion over 10 years -- was fully offset by a tax increase on tobacco products and reductions in other entitlement programs. I was disappointed, however, that the cuts to Medicare Advantage were particularly severe, and will work with other House and Senate members to modify these provisions in conference
Commemorating the Work of Stewart B. McKinney
July 22 marked the 20th Anniversary of The Stewart B. McKinney Homeless Assistance Act, now known as the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
Passed in response to the rapid and dramatic growth of homelessness in the United States during the 1980s, the McKinney-Vento Act was the first major, coordinated federal response to the issue of homelessness, and emphasized emergency measures, transitional measures, and long-term solutions to combat the homeless crisis.
To commemorate the work of my predecessor, Stewart B. McKinney, Chairwoman Maxine Waters (D-CA), Representative Betty McCollum (D-MN) and I introduced H. Res. 561, recognizing the 20th Anniversary of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act. The resolution, which passed the House by voice vote, expresses Congress’ continued commitment to eliminating homelessness in the United States.
Video: Click here to watch Shays' Floor speech commemorating the work of Stewart B. McKinney.
Improving Affordable Housing Options with HUD Secretary Jackson
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Alphonso Jackson visited the district on Friday, July 20 to discuss HUD's National Call to Action for Affordable Housing Through Regulatory Reform. The cities of Norwalk, Stamford and Bridgeport have signed the HUD initiative, which is designed to encourage local communities to reduce or eliminate regulations that effectively drive up housing costs beyond the reach of millions of Americans.
Secretary Jackson and I held a roundtable luncheon with area mayors and community developers to discuss ways to improve federal, state, and local affordable housing efforts. The Secretary also toured the Main Avenue Housing Development in Norwalk and Post House in Stamford.
As a member of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity, I appreciated the opportunity to share some of my ideas to improve federal housing and to show the Secretary our community.
Announcing Academy Night for Students Interested in U.S. Service Academies
It is a great pleasure to nominate qualified individuals to the United States Naval, Merchant Marine, Military or Air Force Academy. I will be holding an Academy Night for Fourth District high school students interested in attending our nation’s service academies on Tuesday October 2, at 7:00 p.m. in the Norwalk City Hall Community Room. Representatives from the Air Force Academy, Naval Academy, Merchant Marine Academy, Military Academy (West Point) and Coast Guard Academy will be in attendance to speak to candidates about opportunities provided by our nation’s service academies and to answer questions from Fourth District high school students. The United States Service Academies offer a high-quality, tuition-free, four year college education followed by a five year commitment to the service as a commissioned officer.Academy Night is free to all students and applications for admissions to the academies will be available. For more information, including an application, click here.
Updating Progress on U.S. Efforts in Iraq
Last month I made my most recent trip to Iraq. Each trip has provided me the opportunity to receive on-the-ground assessments of our progress, without the filter of media reports. Following my trip, I wrote to Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, others in the Bush Administration, Congressional, military and Iraqi leaders, outlining my observations and recommendations on the current political and military situation in Iraq.
In the letter, I recommend:
Establishing a timeline for a safe and responsible drawdown of our forces based on gains made on the ground; Negotiating a Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA)
between the U.S. and Iraq and an Iraqi plebiscite to approve the agreement; Supporting Iraqis holding local elections in stabilized areas; Increasing dialogue with Iran with clear consequences for continued aggressive actions against Iraq; Placing more international pressure on Syria; Outlawing the PKK and shutting down their bases; and Negotiating a SOFA with the Kurdish Regional Government. The solution in Iraq must be a bipartisan one. We went into Iraq on a bipartisan basis, and now Republicans and Democrats need to work together to bring most of our troops home.
Divesting From Countries that Sponsor Terrorism and Genocide
When Americans invest their dollars, they want to know those dollars are not propping up the government of Iran -- a sponsor of terrorism and an avowed enemy of American interests -- or supporting the government of Sudan, which continues to commit abhorrent crimes against the Darfurian people.
H.R. 2347, the Iran Sanctions Enabling Act, and H.R. 180, the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act of 2007, both of which I cosponsored, will enable Americans to voice their opposition to the internationally condemned practices of the Sudanese and Iranian governments by establishing a federal list of companies that have direct investments in Iran’s energy sector, or do business in certain sectors of the Sudanese economy. It would also remove specific legal barriers to enable mutual and corporate pension fund managers to cut ties with these listed companies if they choose to do so. The bills passed the House in July by a vote of 408 to 6 and 417 to 1, respectively.
Video: Click here to watch Shays' Floor speech on the Darfur Accountability and Divestment Act.
Creating Greater Transparency in Government Through Ethics and Lobbying Reform
On July 31, I voted for S. 1, the conference report on the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act of 2007 which created stronger ethics and lobbying guidelines for members of Congress. This legislation would make several critical changes to lobbying disclosure laws and House and Senate rules to reduce the influence of lobbyists in the Congressional process. This bill passed the House by a vote of 411 to 8.
While I feel this legislation could have gone further by including a provision to establish an Office of Public Integrity to investigate alleged violations of congressional ethics rules, I believe it is a step in the right direction. Transparency in government is central to maintaining a functioning democracy and ensuring public confidence in government officials.
Awarding Federal Grants to Fourth District Organizations
Recently, the Fourth District has received federal funding for a number of important community services. Many of theses are competitive grants, requiring strong applications on the part of each organization, and the assistance of our office to guide these groups through the federal grant process. Some of the grants received by organizations in the Fourth District include:
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency awarded the City of Stamford a $159,500 Brownfields grant for community-wide cleanup of hazardous materials.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded Greenwich a $953,507 Community Development Block grant to help town officials address specific, local needs such as job creation and economic development, public facilities and public services.
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the Bridgeport Police Department a $175,000 grant to begin a “Weed and Seed” program in the Hollow neighborhood and surrounding communities.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Sacred Heart University in Fairfield a $283,142 Upward Bound grant to help high school students enter and succeed in programs of post-secondary education.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security awarded the Bridgeport Port Authority a transit security grant totaling $108,750 to install a license plate recognition system for vehicles entering the ferry terminal, and to perform a vulnerability assessment of the harbor.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs awarded the Applied Behavioral Rehabilitation Research Institute, Inc. a $277,000 federal grant to provide an additional 40 beds for homeless, mentally ill veterans.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development awarded the cities of Bridgeport and Norwalk $5,898,565 to help each community continue its housing and economic development programs.
The Corporation for Public Broadcasting awarded a $252,000 digital television conversion grants to WEDW in Bridgeport to enhance the quality and scope of programming services for viewers of PBS.
For a complete listing of grants to the Fourth District for 2007, please click here.
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