From Chris Shay's Newsletter
Improving Health Care Options for Children: SCHIP/CHIPRA
I support passing a meaningful expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) so fewer of our society's most vulnerable individuals will have access to health insurance. For that reason, I have voted four times in favor of reauthorizing the program.
I was one of five House Republicans to vote for H.R. 3162, which passed the House by a vote of 225 to 204 in early August. I then voted for H.R. 976, the conference report, which passed the House by a vote of 265 to 159 but was subsequently vetoed by the President. On October 18, I voted to override the President’s veto, but the motion to override, which needed a majority of two-thirds to pass, failed by a vote of 273 to 156. Because of the failure to override the veto, I voted for new legislation H.R. 3963, the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act (CHIPRA), which passed the House by a vote of 265 to 142. This bill was a slightly modified version of the conference report and addressed specific concerns of opponents, such as illegal immigration.
Click here for more information about my vote
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Working Toward a Bipartisan Solution to Iraq
I want to do everything possible to help our mission succeed and bring most of our troops home.
In October, I voted for H.R. 3087, which will require the Secretary of Defense to submit to Congress within 60 days a report on the status of planning for the redeployment of the Armed Forces from Iraq. This legislation was similar to a bill I introduced back in March, which would require the President to set dates for the beginning and completion of a phased redeployment of our troops from Iraq.
In September, I joined 27 other members of the House of Representatives in unveiling a “Bipartisan Compact on Iraq Debate,” a series of eight principles to help guide the House away from political infighting and toward a bipartisan solution on Iraq. Among these principles are a commitment to end the partisan fighting within Congress over the conflict in Iraq and commit immediately to a truly bipartisan dialogue; and require a safe and responsible redeployment of U.S. Armed Forces transitioning the combat mission over to the Iraqi forces.
Click here to learn more about my work on Iraq
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Reviewing the Condition of Long Island Sound
As a Co-Chair of the Congressional Long Island Sound Caucus, I joined Co-Chair Congressman Steve Israel in launching a “Congressional State of the Sound Study” on October 6 with two forums, one in Centerport, New York and another at the Norwalk Maritime Aquarium.
Click here for more information on the hearings
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Extending the Current Moratorium on Internet Taxation
I voted for H.R. 3678, the Internet Tax Freedom Act Amendments Act, when it passed the House on October 16. The legislation extends the current moratorium on Internet taxation for four years. Subsequently, the Senate passed legislation to extend the moratorium for seven years, which the President signed into law on October 31.
Click here to read my statement on the House passed bill
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Discussing Energy Conservation with Energy Secretary Bodman
U.S. Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman visited Fairfield University on October 22 for a ribbon cutting event at the University’s new combined heat and power plant.
Secretary Bodman and I then toured the UBS trading floor in Stamford and I hosted a roundtable discussion in conjunction with the Business Council of Fairfield County on business and municipal conservation efforts, and plans to establish an Energy Improvement District in Stamford.
While we are making improvements, I believe our policy should reduce demand for oil by emphasizing conservation, and promoting the use of alternative and renewable energy sources.
I have introduced energy legislation, H.R. 1945, the Energy for Our Future Act, which has three principal goals for our national energy policy: improving the fuel efficiency of passenger vehicles, incentivizing the purchase of energy-efficient appliances and repealing extraneous tax breaks for the fossil fuel industries that are very profitable and have plenty of incentive to develop additional supply.
Protecting our environment and promoting energy independence are two of the most important jobs I have as a Member of Congress. We simply won’t have a world to live in if we continue our neglectful ways.
Click here for more information on the visit
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Supporting Budget Earmark Transparency
On September 24, I signed a discharge petition, H.Res. 559, in an effort to force a vote allowing all earmarks to be challenged and debated on the House floor. While I believe securing federal funding for local projects can be an important role for a Member of Congress, it is also important this funding meet basic requirements and be transparent. I believe members should disclose not only the earmarks they received but the earmarks they requested and I am one of the few Members of Congress to do so.
Please visit click here for a list of my earmark requests
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Offering Alternatives to FAA Airspace Redesign
Congressman Scott Garrett (R-NJ) and I offered an amendment on September 20 to H.R. 2881, the FAA Reauthorization Act, to require the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to investigate the possibility of utilizing market-based strategies for air congestion reduction as an alternative to the FAA Airspace Redesign plan. The amendment, which is designed to evaluate the FAA’s claim that the airspace redesign is the only solution to reduce congestion at these airports, passed the House by voice vote.
I also am grateful for the efforts by Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal and Governor Jodi Rell to join several towns in challenging the proposed redesign. If we want to succeed, it is going to take everyone at the local, state and federal level working together.
Click here to learn more about my amendment
Creating Affordable Housing
I voted for H.R. 2895, the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act, which passed the House on October 10 by a vote of 264 to 148. This legislation would create a new federal housing program known as the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund to be administered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The purpose of the fund is to provide funding for the construction, rehabilitation and preservation of affordable housing for low-income and very low-income families.
Click here to read my statement for the record
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Assessing Long Term Threats, Risks and the U.S. Strategy and Security in a Post-9/11 World
On October 10 the National Security and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee, of which I am the Ranking Member, held a hearing entitled, "Six Years Later: Assessing Long Term Threats, Risks and the U.S. Strategy and Security in a Post-9/11 World.”
This is the first in a series of hearings the Subcommittee plans to hold on the subject of the United States National Security Strategy. In this first hearing, we examined the current strategy and explored possible alternatives.
Click here for more information on the hearing
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Testifying in Support of Weir Farm
On October 30, I testified before the House Natural Resources Committee in support of H.R. 1836, the Weir Farm National Historic Site Amendment Act. This bill would enable the National Park Service to move the Weir Farm administrative facility to the Georgetown Wire Mill site in Redding, Connecticut. Weir Farm commemorates the work of American Impressionist J. Alden Weir, and other well-known artists who painted at his summer home.
Click here to read my testimony
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Preventing Homegrown Terrorism
I voted for H.R. 1955, the Violent Radicalization and Homegrown Terrorism Prevention Act, when it passed the House Tuesday by a vote of 404 to 6 on October 25. The legislation creates a 10-member National Commission, modeled after the 9/11 Commission, to study the roots of homegrown terrorism in the United States.
Click here to read my statement for the record
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Establishing an ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) Registry
I am an original cosponsor of H.R. 2295, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Registry Act, which passed the House on October 16 by a vote of 411 to 3. This legislation would establish a national ALS registry to collect data in hopes of finding a cure for this disease.
We have all seen the effect ALS has had on individuals affected by this terrible disease. One young mother in particular, whose sister interned in my office, has been an enormous inspiration to me and so many others as she fights to combat this debilitating illness, and I am grateful for her courage and strength.
Click here to read my statement for the record
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Assisting Seniors with Medicare Open Enrollment
As the Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit Plan open enrollment period of November 15 to December 31, 2007 approaches, my staff is available to answer any questions seniors may have.
Seniors or their families can contact my office at the following phone numbers or via email by clicking here.
Bridgeport. 203/579-5870
Norwalk ..........866-6469
Stamford .........357-8277
Ridgefield ........438-5953
Shelton ............402-0426
Wednesday, November 14, 2007
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1 comment:
With Republicans like him, who needs the Democrats?
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