Dan's Blog

Tips to reduce the amount of gas you use

Kerry Byrne — 05/01/2008 13:16

Aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) wastes gas. It can lower your gas mileage by 33 percent at highway speeds and by 5 percent around town. Sensible driving is ...

To read the tips visit this website:

http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG/drive.shtml

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Saving taxpayers millions

Dan Burton — 05/01/2008 08:07

Good morning friends.

According to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB), there is currently a Federal government backlog of more than 21,000 assets and properties worth $18 billion, and it costs Federal agencies millions of dollars a year to maintain and secure these properties. Investigations by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) have also revealed that many properties in the Federal inventory are no longer relevant to their agencies’ missions, and that agencies could give greater attention to maintaining a streamlined Federal inventory by identifying and disposing of unneeded properties.

I am proud to inform you of my co-sponsorship of HR 5787. This bill would help agencies deal with the administrative burdens of preparing underutilized properties for transfer or sale by allowing the GSA, in cooperation with Federal agencies, to use its resources and expertise to cover these up-front costs and help agencies ensure that title records, property descriptions, and environmental clearances are in order. The GSA would then be reimbursed for the costs it incurs from the proceeds that agencies receive from the transfer or sale of such properties. This bill would save taxpayers millions of dollars and encourage greater government efficiency.

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Convicted illegal aliens

Dan Burton — 04/29/2008 15:25

Good afternoon friends.

As of February 2008, eight countries were refusing to repatriate a total of over 139,000 aliens who are here in the U.S. illegally. Shockingly, more than 18,000 of them are convicted criminals who have been released back onto American streets. That is why I am a cosponsor of HR 5761, a bill that would improve our immigration enforcement system by sanctioning countries that refuse to repatriate criminals and those under a final order of removal. Streamlining the deportation process and insisting that countries repatriate illegal aliens who have been convicted of crimes in the U.S. will free substantial ICE resources, and help to close our government's credibility gap on immigration enforcement.

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Voter Fraud

Dan Burton — 04/28/2008 14:33

Good afternoon friends.

It is essential that our election system does not fall victim to rampant voter fraud. The confusion that accompanies registering to vote, especially in conjunction with applying for a driver’s license, has left an untold number of noncitizens on voting rolls, and in legal peril. While the number of illegally registered voters is impossible to pin down exactly, the problem cannot be ignored. That is why I am co-sponsoring HR 5695, the Noncitizen Voting Prevention Act of 2008. Congress must ensure that the collective voice of America’s citizens, most powerfully expressed in the right to vote, is not diluted by illegal ballots.

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Indianapolis News: "Bush says rebates going out Monday should help economy"

Kerry Byrne — 04/25/2008 14:11

Click here for the entire story from the Indianapolis Star.

WASHINGTON (AP) -- President Bush said tax rebates will start going out Monday, earlier than previously announced, and should help Americans cope with rising gasoline and food prices, as well as aid a slumping economy.

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Military Voting Protection Act

Dan Burton — 04/24/2008 13:37

Good afternoon friends.

Vets for Freedom has endorsed the Military Voting Protection Act (MVP Act) of which I am a proud co-sponsor. The MVP Act ensures our troops serving this country are not left out of the election process by directing the Secretary of Defense to collect the absentee ballots of overseas military voters, and deliver the ballots to election officials via air transport with tracking capabilities. Although this bill is by no means a comprehensive solution, it is my intention to continue to work with involved parties to tackle the larger impediments facings military voters. However, I believe the MVP Act is a good first step that we can build upon in a bipartisan fashion, so that our heroes abroad can participate in this year’s historic presidential election, and Federal elections thereafter.

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HR 5784 Co-sponsorship

Dan Burton — 04/22/2008 14:12

Good afternoon friends.

I am pleased to announce my co-sponsorship of H.R. 5784, the Affordable Health Care Expansion Act. As many as 47 million uninsured Americans, families and individuals are not taking advantage of preventive care and are instead getting their primary care in our Nation’s emergency rooms. This overburdens the emergency health care system and results in much higher costs for our health care system. It is time for Congress to do something about the growing number of the uninsured.

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Indiana Presidential Primary

Dan Burton — 04/21/2008 13:35

Good afternoon friends.

Many of you have contacted me regarding you concerns over the scheduling of this year’s Indiana Presidential Primary (May 6, 2008). The United States Constitution stipulates that every four years our country must hold a presidential election; and it gives Congress the authority to set the date of that election.

The exact date of any State’s Presidential primary is set by that State’s legislature, usually but not always, in consultation with the two National political parties. Several factors come into play; first, some States schedule primaries to accommodate State legislative sessions or to meet other scheduling needs. Second, some States have a traditional primary date that determines the election cycle for candidates at all levels of government. Third, elections are expensive, and States often hold their presidential primary together with their State primary to save money.

To date, there has never been a presidential nominating system that did not generate complaints – whether its complaints about turnout; the media's proper role in the process; the influence of special-interest groups; the ever increasing cost of campaigns; ballot access rules, or – as in this year’s elections – the front-loading of big electoral States and the perception that States, like Indiana, with a late primary are less important. I have little doubt that after observers assess how well the system functions this year, there will be a host of proposed changes to the process for the next cycle.

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Komen Race for the Cure

Kerry Byrne — 04/18/2008 15:39

Race for the Cure®
Race Day Information
The 2008 Komen Indianapolis Race for the Cure will be held on April 19, 2008 on the IUPUI Campus at the IUPUI Library Lawn and Military Park.

April 19th Race Day Schedule
7:00-8:30am Registration/Packet Pickup at Registration Tent on IUPUI Library Lawn
7:15am Survivors meet at Survivor Tent to line up for Pink Parade
7:30-8:40am Opening Ceremony, St.Vincent Pink Parade and Survivor group photo
8:40am Aerobic Warm-up
9:00am 5K Competitive Run/Walk Start
9:10am 5K Participant Run/Walk Start
9:45am 1-Mile Family Walk Start
9:45am Food tent opens

Arrive Early on Race Day!

Parking
We are expecting beautiful weather and a record crowd on Race Day. Parking is available in the IUPUI public garages (visit the IUPUI Website for a campus map) and in other public lots in the downtown area. Fees may be charged for parking. Komen Indianapolis has no affiliation with or control over public parking facilities.

Bus Drop-Off and Pick-Up Locations
If your team or group will be arriving by bus, the drop-off and pick-up location is in the eastern-most northbound lane of West Street, at the corner of West and Ohio. Follow instructions from Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department members.

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Medicare beneficiaries’ access to physician’s services

Dan Burton — 04/17/2008 12:42

Good afternoon friends.

I firmly believe that Congress has a profound responsibility to ensure that Medicare remains a viable healthcare program that is responsive to the needs of today’s seniors as well as the seniors of tomorrow. Unfortunately, the evidence is overwhelming that Medicare is facing bankruptcy, and the debate over how to preserve Medicare not only for today’s seniors but future generations has fallen victim to partisan politics, creating legislative gridlock and no real, long-term solutions. That is why my colleagues and I have sent a letter to the House Leadership and appropriate Committee Chairpersons asking that we work collectively and in a bi-partisan manner to protect Medicare beneficiaries’ access to physician’s services.

If you would like a copy of this letter, please call Kerry Byrne of my Indianapolis office at 317-848-0201.

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Sexual Assault

Dan Burton — 04/16/2008 14:40

Good afternoon friends.

As you know, the effects of sexual assault cut across all racial, social, religious, ethnic, and economic boundaries, and although most victims are younger women, sexual assault affects men, women and children of all ages. Studies show that one in six women and one in thirty-three men will be a victim of rape or attempted rape in their lifetime and that on average, a person is sexually assaulted in the U.S. every two-and-a-half minutes. These statistics are staggering and unconscionable. That is why I will be cosponsoring an important resolution in support of National Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month, acknowledging survivors and supporting the law enforcement, public safety and public health professionals working to end all types of sexual violence.

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Uniformed service member pay

Dan Burton — 04/09/2008 11:55

Good morning friends.

I have always believed that uniformed service members’ basic pay must be reasonably comparable with private sector pay scales. That is why I am a cosponsor of HR 5481. This bill would ensure at least a minimum pay increase of 3.9 percent for uniformed service members. This will help to narrow the pay gap that exists between the military and private sector pay scales.

Being a former Member of the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, I personally understand and appreciate the sacrifices our Nation’s veterans have made and the hardships they have endured on behalf of our country. I have always worked hard to ensure that this Nation repays the debt we owe to the fighting men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.

1 Comments

Child labor

Dan Burton — 04/07/2008 10:54

Good morning friends.

Like many Hoosier parents, when my kids were old enough I encouraged each of them to find a part-time job to help instill in them a work ethic and an appreciation for the value of a dollar. However, their safety was always my highest priority. At no time would I have ever tolerated any of my children working in an unsafe or exploitive work environment. Unfortunately, safety is not everyone’s highest priority and according to the latest statistics from the National Institute For Occupational Safety and Health Administration every year 230,000 kids sustain workplace injuries. To make matters worse, between 60 and 70 kids die annually from occupational accidents. To put it into perspective, this roughly translates into a youth worker injured every 2 days and a kid killed every 5 days.

Part of the problem seems to be that the penalties for child labor law violations are simply woefully inadequate. That is why I was proud to support the “Child Labor Protection Act of 2007” (H.R. 2637) which passed the House of Representatives unanimously on June 12, 2007. While we must remain vigilant and be prepared to do much more if necessary to strengthen our child labor laws, I believe H.R. 2637 is a good first step.

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Planned Parenthood

Dan Burton — 04/04/2008 08:54

Good morning friends.

As your elected Representative in the U.S. Congress, I have continuously apposed legislation that uses taxpayer dollars to pay for abortions, abortion counseling, or referrals to abortion clinics. While I sympathize with people who hold the opposite view, I believe that I must vote according to my principles and convictions, and I have done so and will continue to do so.

Just last month, the Los Angeles Times ran an article alleging that Planned Parenthood affiliates in California have overcharged state and federal governments an estimated $180 million. This is unacceptable. I have joined several of my colleagues in asking Health and Human Services Secretary Mike Leavitt to audit California Planned Parenthood affiliates and investigate any improper practices or activities. I believe that any alleged improper billing practices by those participating in Federal government programs should be thoroughly investigated to protect American taxpayers from waste, fraud and abuse.

3 Comments

Adoption tax credit

Dan Burton — 04/03/2008 06:54

I am pleased to inform you that I recently joined many of my colleagues in requesting that House Budget Committee Chairman Spratt and Ranking Member Ryan retain Senate passed language in the final version of the Budget Resolution which makes permanent the $10,000 child adoption tax credit.

Senate Amendment 4307 was included as part of the Senate’s budget for Fiscal Year 2009. The amendment text is identical to House legislation, H.R. 471, the “Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act of 2007.” H.R. 471 is supported by 140 bipartisan cosponsors and its Senate companion has been endorsed by eight national associations including the National Council for Adoption, RESOLVE, the National Infertility Association, and the American Academy of Adoption Attorneys.

Rest assured that I am committed to assisting children in the United States find stable, loving, and permanent homes, and I believe the adoption tax credit has encouraged more families to adopt and as a result helped provide a brighter future for thousands of children. It is vitally important that this tax credit does not expire at the end of 2010.

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Mercury

Dan Burton — 04/02/2008 11:27

Good afternoon friends.

As you may know, no one has ever identified a positive health benefit to mercury in the human body. Thus, it was sound public health policy to eliminate mercury from thermometers, blood pressure gauges, light switches, cosmetics, teething powder, horse liniment, hat-making materials, smokestack emission, and mining operations. It would also be sound public health policy to eliminate mercury from all vaccines and dental fillings. That is why I am a strong supporter and co-sponsor of both the “Mercury in Dental Fillings Disclosure and Prohibition Act” (H.R. 2101) – which would prohibit after 2008 the introduction into interstate commerce of mercury intended for use in a dental filling – and the “Mercury-Free Vaccines Act” (H.R. 881) to essentially end the use of mercury as a preservative in vaccines. Both bills are currently pending.

Click here to view the bills.

2 Comments

Veterans

Dan Burton — 04/01/2008 09:21

Good morning friends.

Being a former Member of the U.S. Army and Army Reserves, I understand and appreciate the sacrifices our Nation’s Veterans have made and the hardships they have endured on behalf of our country. Yet, inexcusably, and far too often it seems our Nation is failing to repay our debt to these brave men and women. Certainly, the problems uncovered recently at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center show quite clearly that we have failed to live up to our commitments in the area of veterans’ healthcare. I firmly believe that we have a moral and patriotic obligation to provide the best possible care and treatment to the men and women who honorably serve this country. You can be sure that I will fight hard to keep that promise.

2 Comments

Capital Gains

Dan Burton — 03/31/2008 08:16

Good afternoon friends.

I believe that our unfair and overly complex tax code is one of the biggest burdens on small businesses, which makes it harder for them to create new jobs. Families and entrepreneurs alike spend billions of dollars and thousands of hours trying to figure out how to comply with the extremely complex IRS Tax Code. In fact, it is estimated taxpayers in America will spend 6 billion hours complying with the IRS Code at an estimated compliance cost of $265 billion. This figure has more than doubled in just over the past 10 years, and estimates are it will continue to increase at a faster rate in the future. This statistic is staggering and deeply troubling to me. I firmly believe that the Capital Gains Relief Act is a win-win situation for the individual investor and small business owner. In my mind, eliminating the tax on inflation is not only good for our economy, but it’s a simple matter of basic tax fairness. No Hoosier or any other American citizen should be taxed on something that brings them no value.

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Rebate check

Dan Burton — 03/28/2008 07:28

Good morning friends.

I have received numerous calls from constituents who are unsure of how or when they may receive their rebate check as established in the Economic Stimulus. I want to make sure that every Hoosier who is eligible for a rebate check receives one. The IRS and Treasury Department will be working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Social Security Administration, along with other beneficiary organizations, to ensure that all eligible individuals are able to receive their payments. If you want to be among the 130 million individuals who will receive a check from the Treasury Department beginning in May, you must file a 2007 Federal Income Tax Return, even if you normally would not file. Taxpayers also must have a valid Social Security Number to qualify for the stimulus payment. The IRS will use information on the 2007 tax return filed by the taxpayer to determine eligibility and calculate the amount of the stimulus payment. Most Hoosiers do not need to take any extra steps to receive the rebate; simply file a 2007 Federal tax return and the IRS will do the rest.

If you are unsure if you qualify for the rebate, please call my office at 317-848-0201.

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Employer-provided health insurance

Dan Burton — 03/27/2008 07:03

Good morning friends.

As you know, employer-provided health insurance coverage helps many Americans avoid having to pay solely out of pocket for costly doctor’s appointments and medical treatments. Unfortunately, with the cost of health care continuing to skyrocket, more and more companies are either cutting back health care coverage or shifting more of the costs onto their employees and retirees. Washington has to get serious about tackling the skyrocketing cost of health care in this country. I believe if we focus on three initiatives; ending the medical liability crisis through reasonable limits on non-economic and punitive damages; reducing overhead through updated medical billing codes and greater use of digital health care records; and, lowering prescription drug costs through an international market regime (sometimes called reimportation), with appropriate safeguards to ensure the pedigree of the drugs from manufacturer to consumer, we can make a serious long-term dent in health care costs.

For more information about my position on healthcare, please click here.

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Economic Stimulus Package of 2008

Dan Burton — 03/26/2008 07:23

Good morning friends.

The uncertainty of the economy is affecting every Hoosier. With rising gas prices and increases in home foreclosures, it is difficult to predict the future. It seems to me that more Hoosiers are struggling to make ends meet and that the economy needs a boost. History shows, and I have long believed, that the best way to encourage an economic turnaround, preserve jobs, and spur widespread economic growth is to ensure that job-creating businesses face a lower tax burden.

Recently we have seen a great bi-partisan effort of Congress and the President result in the passage of H.R. 5140, “The Economic Stimulus Package of 2008,” that contains beneficial provisions for small businesses. I voted for this bill because I believe that the provisions are going to benefit Hoosiers by allowing business owners to use their money to create jobs and purchase new equipment.

Click here for more information about the bill.

1 Comments

Child care

Dan Burton — 03/25/2008 14:13

Good afternoon friends.

Many Hoosier parents, like yourself, rely on child care services to go to work and for some, child care is the second highest household expense behind the mortgage or rent payment. For families with both parents working or a single-working parent family, care for young children and individuals who are physically or mentally unable to care for themselves is critical to maintaining participation in the workforce. To assist these families, current law provides two tax benefits related to dependent care: the dependent care credit and the exclusion from income of employer-provided dependent care assistance programs. Both provisions are for employment-related expenses for the care of dependents under the age of 13, or dependents, including a spouse, who are physically or mentally incapable of caring for themselves. As further legislation is introduced to increase tax benefits or income credits for working parents you can rest assured that I would give it my full consideration.

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Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)

Dan Burton — 03/21/2008 07:18

Good morning friends.

For greater than a decade, the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has served as a landmark piece of legislation that has provided crucial aid to women, men and children experiencing violence. VAWA programs and services, with the support of federal, state and private funding, have changed and improved our nation's responses to violence at the federal, state, local, campus, institutional and tribal level. The reauthorization of the VAWA extends core programs on domestic violence, and makes improvements to enhance our ability to combat domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking. Furthermore, it also addresses the problem of violence against children and youth by including programs for college campuses and assistance to youth who are themselves victims of violence. That is why I have been a strong supporter of VAWA and the reauthorization of its programs.

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Predatory lending

Dan Burton — 03/20/2008 07:14

Good morning friends.

Homeownership is not only a general component of the American dream but it is also the most common means for families in the United States to build wealth and pass that wealth on to the next generation. Most Americans of course cannot afford to buy a home outright and must instead obtain a mortgage loan; often an intimidating and confusing process. As a result, in order to negotiate the complex maze of loan terms, fees, and financing documents, most Americans are forced to put a large amount of trust in the bank or other entity lending them the money. The situation has only gotten worse since the early 1990’s, when sub-prime mortgage lending began increasing almost exponentially. However, the good news is that the trend in sub-prime lending has increased the availability of credit to segments of the population that traditionally did not qualify for loans, and contributed to record high homeownership rates. We owe it to vulnerable families to protect them from unscrupulous vendors but need to make sure that we don’t arbitrarily shut low-income families out of the housing market. Currently several bills are pending which attempt to strike this balance and I am reviewing these bills closely to determine their effectiveness.

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Small business

Dan Burton — 03/19/2008 08:44

Good morning friends.

Every year millions of creative women and men start up small businesses in pursuit of their little slice of the American dream. These businesses provide nearly 75 percent of all new jobs, produce 50 percent of our country's gross domestic product, and are often at the leading edge of innovation; helping advance technology and productivity. Since 1953, the Small Business Administration (SBA) has been a critical partner in the success of many of our Nation's small businesses by helping them access critical lending opportunities, protecting them from excessive Federal regulatory enforcement, playing a key role in ensuring full and open competition for Government contracts, and improving the overall economic environment in which small businesses compete.

If you are a business owner or entrepreneur – or would like to become one – find out more about SBA’s programs here.

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Diabetes

Dan Burton — 03/17/2008 09:35

Good morning friends.

I know from first hand experience how hard it is to watch a loved one fight a loosing battle against a deadly disease. Diabetes is currently the sixth leading cause of death in the U.S. Diabetes is widely recognized as one of the top public health threats facing our Nation, and one of the most costly diseases. Perhaps the most tragic thing about it is the fact that adult onset diabetes, and many of its complications, is largely preventable. In fact, modest diet and exercise changes by those with pre-diabetes reduced their development of diabetes by 58 percent. Among those 60 and over, lifestyle interventions had even greater impact; reducing diabetes by 71 percent. The keys seem to be early detection, better education on diabetes self-management, and improved delivery of available medical treatment.

Here are some bills worth mentioning; HR 1193, and HR 4218. Furthermore, click here for more information about Diabetes.

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Religious freedom

Dan Burton — 03/14/2008 09:08

Good morning friends.

As you know, the United States’ foundation rests on the fundamental right of religious freedom. Our Nation was founded by those who escaped religious persecution in their own homelands and who sought to live in a country where believers are not forced to adhere or convert to any faith. As you well know, religious freedom is the first of the freedoms enumerated in the Bill of Rights – a reflection of the Founders' belief that freedom of religion and conscience is the cornerstone of liberty. A government – such as our own – that explicitly acknowledges and protects the freedom of religion and conscience is a government that understands the inherent and inviolable dignity of the human person. In order to protect the principles of freedom that this great Nation was founded on, I believe that it is vitally important that we protect the ability of each and every person in the United States to freely observe their religious practices.

Rest assured that I will continue to fight for your religious freedoms.

1 Comments

Children and obesity

Dan Burton — 03/13/2008 07:00

Good morning friends.

I believe that one of the biggest health care threats facing our children today is the growing trend of obesity. Too often these days, parents are so busy trying to earn a living and put food on the table that they aren’t able to give a great deal of thought into what exactly goes on that table. Pre-prepared, quick-to-cook meals, often high in fat, cholesterol and sodium, have become an increasingly bigger presence in the lives of our children. In addition, as video games and the internet continue to increase their appeal, many of our kids simply aren’t getting the exercise they need to stay fit and healthy. The end result is a generation of obese kids who can look forward to a future of being at increased risk for developing diabetes, strokes, heart disease, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and kidney and gallbladder disease. In addition, obesity may also increase the risk for some types of cancer and it is a definite risk factor for the development of osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. Substantial evidence shows that public health risks can be reduced through increased public awareness and community involvement. Public education campaigns have successfully helped to reduce youth smoking, and I am hopeful that they can do the same with obesity. In the past, I have supported efforts to raise awareness about the risks of obesity and I will continue to do so with your support.

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The security of U.S. ports

Dan Burton — 03/12/2008 14:22

Good afternoon friends.

As your Representative in Congressman, I have always believed that one of my top priorities is to ensure the safety and security of all Hoosiers, indeed all Americans. This task has become more important and more difficult in our post-September 11th world. This nation witnessed first-hand on 9-11 the destruction and devastation that comes when too little attention is paid to security. We cannot let that happen again; we have to close all the holes in our defenses and ensuring our Nation’s ports remain impenetrable to terrorists is a vital part of that effort. To date, more than $630 million has been provided to our largest ports to help their security efforts. Working together, private industry, Federal, State and local authorities have put in place a multi-layered defense strategy, including the purchase and installation of sophisticated new screening technologies, designed to keep our ports safe and secure. The U.S. Coast Guard has also stepped up routine inspects and assessments of the security of U.S. ports. Even so, it is important that we remain vigilant for openings that terrorists can use to exploit our systems and procedures. In this fight, there is always room for improvement.

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College costs

Dan Burton — 03/12/2008 08:23

Good morning friends.

You understand that America's higher education system is facing a crisis. Decades of dramatically increasing costs, in both good economic times and bad, are threatening to push the dream of a college education out of reach for millions of students and families. This is a national tragedy as the need for a college education is greater than ever. To make matters worse, the meltdown in the mortgage industry is causing a credit crunch and making it harder for middle-class Americans to borrow the money they need to send their kids to college. My Democrat colleagues believe the answer is a host of new big government programs. I believe, however, that the solution is to give people more control over their own money; because Hoosiers know far better than Uncle Sam how their own money should be spent. That is why I have supported and am currently working to pass HR 686, HR 590, and HR 1437. I believe these bills will truly help families to alleviate the burden of a college education.

For more information, please click here.

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Affordable healthcare

Dan Burton — 03/11/2008 11:33

Good afternoon friends.

I believe that the American people deserve affordable, accessible, high-quality healthcare.
Many people fear, and I believe rightly, that a government-run health care system will take away their freedom of choice in medical care, force them to pay huge new "health-care" taxes, and eliminate medical and personal privacy. Americans do not want government attorneys and government bureaucrats controlling what treatments and tests their doctor will be allowed to give them. However, whether we extend health care coverage through private sector initiatives or through government programs we are simply delaying the inevitable unless we tackle the true problem that is the skyrocketing cost of health care in this country. I believe we can make a serious improvements in controlling health care costs if we focus on three initiatives; ending the medical liability crisis through reasonable limits on non-economic and punitive damages; reducing overhead through updated medical billing codes and greater use of digital health care records; and, lowering prescription drug costs through an international market regime (sometimes called reimportation) – with appropriate safeguards to ensure the pedigree of the drugs from manufacturer to consumer.

For more information about the issue of health care, please click here.

0 Comments

America's dependency on foreign oil

Dan Burton — 03/10/2008 07:14

Good morning friends.

As you know, oil exploration in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) has been debated for over 40 years; recent increases in energy prices have intensified the debate. The Department of Energy estimates the Refuge’s 10.4 billion barrels of oil is more than double the proven reserves of the entire state of Texas and almost half of the total proven reserves in the U.S. I believe that we have the technology to carry out environmentally sensitive oil drilling. I also believe that if we are serious about breaking our dependence upon politically unstable regions of the world, such as the Persian Gulf, Nigeria and Venezuela for our energy, we need to utilize all of our domestic supplies of oil and natural gas.

Click here for more information about my efforts to reduce America's dependency on foreign oil.

1 Comments

Medical expense tax deduction

Dan Burton — 03/07/2008 12:37

Good afternoon friends.

You may have learned during tax season that individuals can only take a medical deduction if the expenses exceed a percentage of the individuals’ gross income. For example, if the percentage is 10an individual earning $50,000 a year would need to accrue more than $5,000 in medical expenses in order to claim the deduction. However, under HR 636, of which I am a co-sponsor, that same individual earning $50,000 could deduct his or her medical expenses whether they amount to $5, $500 or $5,000. Ultimately, HR 636 seeks to amend the Internal Revenue Code to allow individuals to take a tax deduction for all medical expenses. I believe that tax breaks like HR 636 and savings initiatives like Medical Savings Accounts and Flexible Spending Accounts can help more Americans purchase health insurance and take back control of their health care dollars.

Click here to review the bill.

1 Comments

Fraternity and Sorority safety

Dan Burton — 03/06/2008 11:14

Good morning friends.

Colleges and universities may use tax-deductible charitable contributions for infrastructure improvements to student residence halls, common areas, and dining facilities. However, not-for-profit student housing organizations (such as fraternities and sororities) with the same student population cannot. As a result, many college fraternities and sororities lack resources to maintain their housing to current building and safety codes. Because they cannot use charitable contributions, the existing tax law makes it difficult for many fraternities and sororities to find the money necessary to make critically needed safety improvements. In my opinion, this simply makes no sense. College students shouldn’t live in unsafe conditions simply because they choose to move into a fraternity or sorority house rather than a college dorm. College enrollment is rising and however you feel about fraternities and sororities, they are an important part of campus life. That is why I am a proud supporter and co-sponsor of the “Collegiate Housing and Infrastructure Act of 2007.”

Click here to view the bill.

0 Comments

Savannah's Law

Dan Burton — 03/05/2008 08:11

Good morning friends.

I have introduced HR 5494, known as “Savannah’s Law”, after listening to the concerns of my constituent Sheri Reece and her daughter Savannah. In 2003, Sheri was in a terrible automobile accident while she was pregnant with Savannah. Sheri suffered multiple injuries, but unborn Savannah suffered severe brain damage. Savannah, now 4 years old, is unable to sit, stand, walk, dress or feed herself and requires around the clock care. Sheri was offered a settlement by the insurance company that was insufficient to provide Savannah the care she requires and prohibits any further legal action. If the Reece family declines the settlement and moves forward with a lawsuit, the federal bankruptcy court can discharge any judgment she might get from the state civil courts and Savannah would again be denied the necessary care.

I was very upset when I heard the story of the Reece family. The individual that caused this wreck has caused irreparable harm to an entire family. It is important that our laws protect those unfortunate victims of personal injury that results in permanent disability. To view my bill click here, to view the press release click here.

0 Comments

Underage drinking

Dan Burton — 03/04/2008 08:13

Good morning friends.

As a parent, you know that drinking under the age of 21 is illegal, yet young people aged 12 to 20 years on average drink almost 20f all alcohol consumed in the U.S. annually. In fact, a 2005 National Survey on Drug Use and Health conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration estimated that there were approximately 11,000,000 underage alcoholic beverage drinkers in the U.S., and over 90f the alcohol consumed by these kids is in the form of binge drinking. Motor vehicle crashes remain the number one cause of death among youth ages 15 to 20, and according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 28f those 15 to 20 year old drivers who were killed in a motor vehicle crash had been drinking.

This is a national tragedy. We need to do a better job of talking to our children about the dangers of underage drinking and teaching them that alcohol is a unique product that should only be consumed when they’re old enough, and even then, in a responsible manner. Go here to prepare yourself for a discussion with your child.

1 Comments

Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistance Program

Dan Burton — 03/03/2008 12:57

Good afternoon friends.

The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) has provided aid to women, men and children experiencing violence. VAWA programs and services, with the support of federal, state and private funding, have changed and improved our nation's responses to violence. The Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistance Program, which was authorized by VAWA, restores the effectiveness of protective orders to protect women and children from domestic violence. The program places special victim assistants to act as liaisons between local law enforcement agencies and victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking in order to improve the enforcement of protection orders. As a former victim of child abuse who witnessed my father beating my mother many, many times, I know how important it is that we focus on this issue as often as possible. That is why I have encouraged the Appropriations Committee to support funding for the Jessica Gonzales Victim Assistance Program in the Commerce, Justice & Science Appropriations Act for FY09.

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Diabetes

Dan Burton — 02/29/2008 08:50

Good morning friends.

I firmly believe that diabetes is taking a heavy toll on too many Americans and their families. While the medical community has made great strides in understanding and treating this disease, there is still much more work to be done, and that means continuing our strong national commitment to the fight against diabetes. Continued investment in the Type I research program, and the Special Diabetes Program for Indians, will maintain support for research and treatment. It will truly help those who are living with diabetes and help prevent the onset of diabetes in others. That is why I am a cosponsor of HR 2762.

Look over the bill yourself here.

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Youth Leadership Conference

Dan Burton — 02/27/2008 08:06

Good morning friends.

My Twenty-Second Annual Youth Leadership Conference (YLC) will be held Monday March 3, 2007, beginning at 8:30 a.m. at Indiana Wesleyan University, in Marion. I always look forward to my Youth Leadership Conferences. I always find my day with the best and brightest students in my district to be not only fun, but also informative. I am excited to meet and talk with the future leaders of our community, state, country, and world. During the YLC, students will participate in discussions on the Indiana Voter ID Law and Alternative Fuels.

For more information regarding my Twenty-Second Annual Youth Leadership Conference please contact the Conference Coordinator, Alicia Hazelwood, in my Marion District Office at (765) 662-6770 or (877) 846-2936 (toll free) and click here for the press release.

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Energy

Dan Burton — 02/26/2008 09:47

Good morning friends.

I know that you have felt the burden of the highest home heating costs ever, the highest diesel costs ever, the highest gasoline costs ever, and the highest natural gas costs ever. The poor and middle class of this country are struggling to heat their homes and put gas in their cars. And to make matters worse, the high cost of oil ($90 to $100 a barrel) has driven up inflation and pushed this country to the verge recession. What we need is a national energy policy that actually makes energy more affordable by making the supply greater; a policy that brings energy to Americans so they can afford to live their lives; that helps maintain our country’s manufacturing and processing jobs, and that makes it more affordable to move our goods across this country. I am doing my dead level best to pass real energy legislation that would actually do something to produce and enhance our supplies of domestic sources of energy.

Please visit the Energy page of my website for more information.

1 Comments

My opinion on medical imaging

Dan Burton — 02/25/2008 15:53

Good afternoon friends.

I am sure you join me in my belief that medical imaging is an overall cost-saver for patients and the health care system in general because it results in fewer complications, earlier detection, shorter hospital stays, and better pain management. In fact, along with my colleague Representative Elijah Cummings of Maryland, I am spearheading an effort in Congress to focus attention and resources on the challenge of developing better diagnostic imaging tools for detection of prostate cancer. And like many of my colleagues, I am deeply concerned about maintaining sufficient Medicare payments for physicians’ imaging services.

For more information about my efforts, visit the issue center or media center pages on my website.

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The USPS packet on identity theft

Dan Burton — 02/22/2008 09:41

Good morning friends.

You will be receiving some important information from the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) in the coming weeks. The USPS worked with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to provide ways to help Americans protect their identities and information and will be sending out a packet of information with tips and tools to protect your family from identity theft. The FTC brochure, “Deter. Detect. Defend. Fighting Back Against Identity Theft,” is included in the mailing.

You can rest assured that I will diligently do my part to safeguard the personal information of all Americans. Here is a link to the FTC website that offers more information about identity theft and a link to my blog about identity theft and the stimulus.

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Endangered species and property rights

Dan Burton — 02/20/2008 15:46

Good afternoon friends.

I have always believed that the Endangered Species Act (ESA) land use provisions are highly flawed. Protecting an endangered or threatened species does not have to conflict with private property rights. In my opinion, bills like H.R. 1422, which make it more attractive for private landowners to actively contribute to the recovery of species under the ESA is a simple common-sense step in the right direction.

These types of bills seek to turn this conflict between species protection and private property rights into cooperation by allowing certain landowners, whose property contains the habitat of an endangered or threatened species and who enter into a habitat protection agreement, a tax credit for costs relating to habitat protection easements and restoration. In other words, the bill turns wildlife into an asset rather than a liability, which is how it has sometimes been viewed under the ESA.

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Cigarette trafficking

Dan Burton — 02/20/2008 10:00

Good morning friends.

You may be interested to know that one area which continues to be exploited by terrorists and other organized criminal enterprises are tobacco smuggling. Cigarette trafficking is a global problem, but much of it is happening in the United States. A truckload of cigarettes can generate as much as $2 million for a smuggler. According to the ATF because of the huge profits – and low penalties for arrest and conviction – illicit cigarette trafficking has now begun to rival drug trafficking as a funding source of choice for terrorist groups.

I believe we owe it to our law enforcement officials to give them the tools necessary to do their jobs. That is why I am paying very close attention to the recent introduction of bills that promise to resolve this issue. If you would like information about these bills, just search for “cigarette trafficking” at Congress.org for more information.

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Kosovo and Serbia

Dan Burton — 02/19/2008 12:15

Good afternoon friends.

You may have already learned that Kosovo has walked away from peaceful efforts to resolve the status of the province by unilaterally declaring its independence from Serbia. This separation has occurred despite concerted efforts on behalf of Serbia to engage in negotiations to determine a mutually agreed upon solution that would ensure a peaceful, prosperous future for Serbs and Kosovo Albanians alike. It is my fear that this unilateral action could spark another round of violence.

I urge President Bush and Secretary Rice to work with both parties in order to find a common ground from which to work toward a peaceful future. I also urge the people of Serbia and Kosovo, Serbs and Albanians, to refrain from any acts of violence in the coming days, weeks and months. The worst outcome for the people of the Balkan region is more dissension in an area that has already seen so much conflict.

I am saddened that this outcome has come to pass but I am still hopeful that all parties will work together to build a better future.

1 Comments

America's security

Dan Burton — 02/19/2008 09:04

Good morning friends.

I am very upset that my colleagues on the other side of the aisle continue to drag their feet on this issue. I am sure you would agree that one of our most important jobs here in Congress is to provide our intelligence community with the legal authority to collect foreign intelligence. If we fail to pass a long-term fix, the information that protects Americans like you from terrorist attacks will be unavailable, as well as the information that our soldiers in harm’s way rely upon to do their duty. That is completely unacceptable. I urge the House of Representatives to follow the example of the Senate and pass the bipartisan bill updating FISA, allowing our intelligence community to continue to do their jobs and keep America safe.

For more information about FISA visit Congress.org.

1 Comments

Blog comment policy

Kerry Byrne — 02/14/2008 08:35

Comments Policy

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Adoption tax relief

Dan Burton — 02/13/2008 14:09

Good afternoon friends.

I am committed to assisting children in the United States find stable, loving, and permanent homes, and I believe the adoption tax credit has encouraged more families to adopt and as a result helped provide a brighter future for thousands of children. It is vitally important that this tax credit does not expire at the end of 2010 as scheduled. That is why I am a strong supporter and cosponsor of H.R. 471. The Adoption Tax Relief Guarantee Act will permanently extend the 2001 adoption incentive and will help more families break the financial barriers and successfully adopt a child.

I am sure you will agree that we owe it to future generations of children in need to make these provisions permanent.

3 Comments

Congressman Tom Lantos

Dan Burton — 02/12/2008 12:50

I was deeply saddened when I heard that Congressman Lantos passed away yesterday. Tom was a tireless fighter for human rights and oppressed people across the world. He was a fine example of the American dream and I, along with all my colleagues, had great respect for him and will miss him. I want to extend my prayers and deepest sympathies to his family during this difficult time

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DC ban on handguns

Dan Burton — 02/12/2008 12:38

Good afternoon friends.

Last week I joined over 250 of my colleagues in filing a friend-of-the-court brief urging the Supreme Court to uphold a lower court ruling that the ban on handguns in the District of Columbia violates the Second Amendment. I am also a cosponsor of HR 1399 the “District of Columbia Personal Protection Act,” granting law-abiding residents of the District of Columbia the right to own a gun.

I want you to know that I will continue to defend all our sacred rights embodied in the U.S. Constitution.

4 Comments

Veteran's mileage reimbursement

Dan Burton — 02/12/2008 08:46

Good morning friends.

I just wanted to take a moment to remind you that the veteran’s mileage reimbursement increase took effect this month for veterans traveling to Veterans Affairs (VA) medical facilities. As you may recall, the amendment, which was added to the Wounded Warrior Assistance Act of 2007 by Rep. John Barrow of Georgia (H.R. 1538), states that our veterans will be reimbursed for their travel to and from VA facilities.

I was pleased to support the bill and the amendment and hope you are actively taking advantage of the services now offered to our veterans. For more information, please contact Tresa of my staff.

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Supporting improvements in prostate cancer detection

Dan Burton — 02/08/2008 11:47

Good morning friends.

This week I joined my colleagues in bipartisan support to urge improvement in prostate cancer detection. We specifically urged the Department of Health and Human Service and the National Institute of Health to assign “explicit high priority” in the current budget to research and development of technologies for early detection and treatment.

I am sure you join me in my belief that such a federal investment in prostate cancer, a disease that strikes a man every 2.5 minutes and kills a man every 18 minutes, would save millions of lives and billions of dollars. Please visit my press release page for more information.

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My concerns with mandatory mental health screenings

Dan Burton — 02/07/2008 15:15

Good afternoon friends.

Although I appreciate the value of mental health problems being diagnosed and treated early, I have concerns about mandatory mental health screening (MMHS). I am worried that Federally funded MMHS in schools without parental consent could potentially lead to labeling more children as “A.D.D.” or “hyperactive” and force kids into taking possibly dangerous psychotropic drugs. I think there are legitimate concerns that MMHS could be used to provide justification for stigmatizing children from families that support traditional values.

I know that some of you believe that my concerns are overblown but I feel very strongly that you have a fundamental right to raise your children as you see fit. That includes making decisions about evaluation and treatment of mental health conditions. Please check out HR 2387, a bill to which I am a cosponsor. HR 2387 addresses my concerns.

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End illegal immigration and embrace legal immigrants

Dan Burton — 02/07/2008 13:44

Good afternoon friends.

I have talked with countless people like you who feel that we have some serious issues to resolve during the illegal immigration debate. First we must stop the flood of humans and contraband flowing into our country and we should deploy whatever means are necessary to accomplish this vital national security task. Next, we must decide what to do with the estimated 12 to 18 million illegal aliens already in this country. Multitudes of potential solutions have been proposed but let me be clear; I do not support amnesty. I introduced HR 3638 to end the cycle of illegal immigration in the United States.

The cornerstone of our great Nation is our diversity. There is little doubt that legal immigrants have made significant contributions to strengthen and enrich our American society. But, the common thread binding these diverse individuals into one coherent society has been the English language. The drive toward multilingualism has only fractured our society into ethnic groups and inflamed ethnic tensions. I firmly believe that English should be our national language, and that anyone who wants to become a U.S. citizen must learn and understand English.

If you have any questions about my position please call Kerry or email me.

7 Comments

I am working hard to promote adoption

Dan Burton — 02/06/2008 12:26

Good afternoon friends.

You have likely wrestled with the issue of abortion yourself. While I sympathize with people who hold an opposite view, because of my religious convictions, I long ago concluded that a fetus is no less a human life than a newborn child. Our Constitution guarantees rights to every person and I believe that abortion is an unacceptable alternative, and I have voted accordingly. I also continue to oppose legislation that uses taxpayer dollars to pay for abortion.

I believe that we need to promote adoption as a replacement for abortion. Many families are waiting to adopt a child; increased efforts need to be made to emphasize adoption as a viable alternative to abortion. I am a Member of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption and I work hard to promote adoption and make it more accessible to families.

Please post your thoughts in the blog or email me.

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U.S. Military Service Academy appointments

Dan Burton — 02/06/2008 11:14

Good morning friends.

I would like to congratulate the fine young men and women who received offers of appointment to our distinguished United States Military Service Academies (USMSA). You represent the best and brightest in Indiana’s Fifth Congressional District, and I am confident that you will continue to make us very proud.

I wish you all the best luck in your future endeavors. For a list of these outstanding young people, please visit my press release page on the website.

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Defending our 2nd Amendment rights

Dan Burton — 02/05/2008 08:54

Good morning friends.

I have always been a strong advocate and defender of our Second Amendment rights. I will continue to defend all our sacred rights embodied in the U.S. Constitution. I believe law-abiding people own guns and use them safely and responsibly for hunting, sporting activities, and personal protection and have done so for centuries. The possession of guns by law-abiding people is not the problem, and restricting honest, law-abiding folks from possessing or using firearms is not the solution.

We need to tackle the real source of the crime problem. I believe that one of the best ways to lower crime is to make sure the Federal courts are not hamstringing State and local government from putting and keeping offenders in prison. At a time of increased threats of terrorism, sniper attacks and other forms of violent crime, the federal government should not prevent citizens from protecting themselves and their families with legally owned firearms.

I would love to read your thoughts on the issue. Please post a comment about how you feel.

3 Comments

ID theft and the economic stimulus

Dan Burton — 02/04/2008 15:33

Good afternoon friends.

I am sure that you are excited about the pending economic stimulus package. Although I share in your excitement, I am deeply concerned about recent information of crooks using the growth package to trick hardworking Hoosiers into revealing financial and personal information.

The IRS has informed me that people are already receiving phone calls from crooks that claim to require your bank account information to ensure you get a rebate. Emails have also surfaced with viruses and spyware that could open you up to identity theft.

I am doing everything I can to ensure that the package has mechanisms to thwart identity theft. You should also do all you can to keep your identity safe. The FTC website has an abundance of information on ways to protect yourself and your family from these crooks.

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"Cancer" evokes powerful emotions

Dan Burton — 02/04/2008 08:43

Good morning friends.

The word “cancer” evokes powerful emotions. My first wife passed away from cancer. I know first-hand the devastation to the individual and their family upon diagnosis.

You probably already know that breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among women and the number one cause of death in women between the ages of 30 and 54. The diagnosis of breast cancer is frightening enough without the burden of forcing women to fight insurance companies over treatment. I have long supported increasing federal investment in all types of cancer research and I am a proud co-sponsor of the “Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act of 2007.” I am working hard to persuade my colleagues to pass this bill and get it to the President for his signature as soon as possible.

There are numerous resources for survivors and their family. Please visit the Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization webpage or call Kerry of my staff for more information.

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My personal experiences with autism

Dan Burton — 02/01/2008 14:38

Good afternoon friends.

You may already know that my grandson has autism. Due to my personal experiences with autism, I feel it is my duty so long as I am privileged to represent Indiana in the House of Representatives to continue to speak out about autism and advocate for research into the condition. You and I have a responsibility to do everything we can to not only stop the further spread of this disease but to help the millions of children, adults and families already affected by it.

I am proud that Indiana and Riley Hospital is leading the charge. The Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center at Riley Hospital is the only pediatric academic and research program on autism in Indiana and one of the largest autism treatment and research centers in the United States. The Center is committed to helping the 1 in every 124 children in Indiana with autism and related disorders achieve their potential and to participate as fully as possible in family, school, and community life.

I suggest you visit Riley’s webpage and read more about the wonderful things happening at the Christian Sarkine Autism Treatment Center at Riley Hospital. Also, feel free to contact Monica of my staff to talk more about autism.

1 Comments

Teachers and environmental education

Dan Burton — 02/01/2008 08:54

Americans – as well as people around the world – are more aware of the complex interaction between human beings and our environment than ever before. The international scientific debates over global warming, clean water and air, species extinction and non-fossil fuel sources of energy, has so far made the environment one of the dominant public policy issues of the 21st century. Like you, I believe in the importance of clean air, clean water and responsible environmental stewardship. Preserving our environment depends upon government at all levels, Federal, State and local, to enact laws that responsibly balance the needs of business with the needs of the environment but it also depends a lot on personal responsibility; which is the focus of H.R. 3036.

The “No Child Left Inside Act” would provide funding to States to train their teachers in the field of environmental education, and it would provide support for outdoor environmental education programs for children and a model environmental education curriculum. The bill would also create incentives, through new funding, for States to develop environmental literacy plans to make sure students have a solid understanding of our planet and its precious natural resources. Finally, the legislation would reestablish the Office of Environmental Education within the U.S. Department of Education to oversee environmental education activities.

1 Comments

Drug Reimportation

Dan Burton — 01/30/2008 08:34

Today, millions of American seniors are forced to struggle with the difficult choice of buying their prescription drugs, paying their electric bills or buying food. America’s high prescription drug prices are even more shocking when compared with the prices people in industrialized countries like Germany and France and Switzerland pay for the exact same drugs. In Germany, thirty 20 milligrams tablets of Nexium cost $60.25. In the United States the same drug costs $145.33 for the thirty tablets. Similarly, thirty 10 milligrams tablets of the drug Zocor cost $23.83 in Germany and $85.39 in the United States. These are the exact same drugs made in the same plants under the same U.S. Food and Drug Administration oversight yet they cost three to four times as much here in the United States as in Germany or other industrialized countries. That’s inexcusable and almost criminal.

I believe it is well past time to give Americans access to world-class drugs at world-market prices; which is why I have been and continue to be a strong supporter and co-sponsor of H.R. 380. This bill if enacted into law would allow U.S.-licensed pharmacies and drug wholesalers to import FDA-approved medications from Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, and Japan and pass along the savings to their American customers. This approach would allow Americans to benefit from lower prices on their prescription drugs while still enabling them to use their local pharmacy. The bill also allows individual consumers to import prescription drugs for their own personal use.

One of the leading arguments thrown up time and time again by opponents of this bill is the safety of the prescription drugs that are sold abroad. H.R. 380 addresses this issue by requiring strict safety measures – such as anti-tampering and anti-counterfeiting technology and strict “chain of custody” procedures – to guarantee that only safe, effective FDA-approved prescription drugs are imported. Health care costs nationwide that are spiraling out of control, and prescription drug prices account for a large percentage of those costs. We need to take action to address this issue now and I firmly believe that allowing the safe reimportation of prescription drugs is a critical step in the right direction.

1 Comments

Americans and long-term care

Dan Burton — 01/29/2008 09:22

In December 2006, the AARP released a shocking survey which found that a full 59 percent of American adults age 45 and older overestimated Medicare coverage for long term care. Other studies have shown similar results. Taken together the implication is clear; far too many Americans do not have a clear perception of long-term care costs or to what extent long-term care is covered by public programs. For example, Medicare pays for care delivered in skilled nursing facilities to patients who require longer term medical treatment, but Medicare does not pay for custodial care needed to assist frail and disabled beneficiaries with eating, bathing and other activities of daily living. Medicaid only covers those types of services if you are impoverished or become impoverished – and it provides far fewer quality care choices than are offered through typical long-term care insurance plans. With only 10 percent of seniors currently covered under private long-term care insurance policies to help cover long-term care costs, the average cost of a private room in a nursing home running about $75,000 a year, and our nation’s baby boom generation beginning to retire, we are literally facing a huge health care train wreck.

There is still time to stop it from happening, though, by educating Americans about the scope of coverage and expanding opportunities to learn about and purchase long-term care policies. For example, several legislative proposals – such as H.R. 3363 – have been to allow long-term care insurance to be offered among employer-sponsored cafeteria plans and flexible spending arrangements (FSAs). Currently, benefits such as medical insurance, disability income, life insurance, and a variety of other voluntary benefits are cafeteria style, but long-term care insurance is not – nor can long-term care insurance be purchased using FSA dollars. I strongly support these kinds of legislative efforts, and I believe that these kinds of simple, common-sense changes in Federal policy will take an important step towards helping Americans prepare for their long-term care and retirement security needs.

1 Comments

American Heart Month

Dan Burton — 01/28/2008 10:03

Heart disease continues to be one of the leading causes of death in the United States for men and women of every age and race. Although advances in medical research have significantly improved our capacity to fight heart disease by providing greater knowledge about its causes, innovative diagnostic tools to detect the disease, and new and improved treatments that help people survive and recover from this disease, Americans can significantly reduce their changes of developing heart disease by changing their lifestyle or seeking appropriate medical treatment for major risk factors such as: high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking tobacco products and exposure to tobacco smoke, physical inactivity, obesity, and diabetes.

Every year since 1964 the President has issued a proclamation designating the month February as `American Heart Month' in order to encourage more Americans to be heart healthy. H.Con.Res. 52 expresses the support of the House of Representatives for the goals and ideals of American Heart Month; reaffirms our Nation's commitment to fighting heart disease by promoting awareness about its causes, risks, and prevention and by promoting new education programs, supporting research, and expanding access to medical treatment; and encourages every American to exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight, develop good eating habits, avoid tobacco, drugs, and excessive alcohol, and have regular checkups to take advantage of screenings that can detect heart-disease related problems early. H.Con.Res. 52 was debated and voted on by the House of Representatives on February 28, 2007. I was proud to join with my colleagues to help pass the resolution by an overwhelming bipartisan majority of 412 to 0.

1 Comments

Congressman Burton expands mobile office schedule

Kerry Byrne — 01/25/2008 14:16

Congressman Dan Burton [R-IN-05] announced that he is expanding his Mobile Office schedule to better connect with his constituents in Kokomo. Starting next week, the Mobile Office will be visiting Kokomo and Greentown every second and forth Tuesday, and Wabash every second and forth Thursday. In Kokomo, the Mobile Office will be located at the City Building located at 100 S. Union St. from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In Greentown, the Mobile Office will be at the Public Utilities Office located at 112 N. Meridian St from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. In Wabash, the Mobile Office will be at the Chamber of Commerce located at 111 S. Wabash St. from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Congressman Burton remarked, “I am very proud of my Mobile Office. It makes it easy for my constituents to speak directly with a member of my staff about any problems they may have. I’m glad we are able to expand the schedule to better serve my constituents.”

0 Comments

Federal Employee Combat Zone Tax Parity Act

Dan Burton — 01/25/2008 12:48

United States military personnel serving in combat zones or hospitalized for wounds, diseases, or injuries incurred while serving in a combat zone receive a specialized tax credit. The Federal Employee Combat Zone Tax Parity Act extends the tax credit currently received by military personnel to the civilian Federal employees working alongside them.

When the combat zone tax credit was first created back in 1913, Federal civilian employees were not typically dispatched to combat zone; so it may have made sense for Federal civilian employees to be left out. But today things have changed. Today, Federal employees are on the front lines of the Global War on Terror – the first American to die in Afghanistan was actually a CIA agent from Virginia. Federal employees are in Iraq helping the Iraqi people to build a free nation. In fact, throughout the world, America's civil servants are serving our Nation often in the most dangerous locations. They are on the ground in the war on terrorism taking over new roles to relieve military personnel of tasks civilian employees can perform. They are all playing a vital role in keeping us safe so it seems to me unfair not to give them a fair and equitable tax credit that recognizes their hard work, dedication, and sacrifice. While I may not always agree with some of the decisions our Federal bureaucrats make, I firmly believe that they deserve to be treated with respect and fairness. That is why I am a co-sponsor of H.R. 1974.

0 Comments

Asbestos

Dan Burton — 01/24/2008 09:42

the Environmental Protection Agency has classified asbestos as a category A human carcinogen, the highest cancer hazard classification possible. While many Americans believe that asbestos has been banned in the United States and that there is no risk of exposure to asbestos through the use of new commercial products.

The fact is that in 1991, the United States Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit overturned portions of EPA’s regulations – promulgated under title II of the Toxic Substances Control Act – to phase out asbestos in consumer products by 1997. The case was never appealed to the Supreme Court so as a result, while new applications for asbestos were banned, asbestos was still allowed to be imported and used in some consumer and industrial products in the United States. According to the latest statistics, in 2006, the United States consumed 2,000 metric tons of asbestos. Although that figure is down sharply from almost 800,000 tons consumed in the mid-1970s, that is still a troubling figure to many experts who argue that there is no known safe level of exposure to asbestos and that even low level exposure to asbestos may cause asbestos-related diseases, including mesothelioma – some estimates suggest that as many as 10,000 Americans die each year from mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases.

To date, asbestos has been banned in some 40 countries around the world, including Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Chile, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Latvia, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, the Slovak Republic, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. Several bills have been introduced in Congress – including H.R. 3285 – to close the loophole created by the Court of Appeals’ 1991 decision. In fact Senate bill S.742, also known as the “Ban Asbestos in America Act,” passed the United State Senate unanimously on October 4, 2007.

0 Comments

Social Security Fairness Act of 2007

Dan Burton — 01/23/2008 11:23

I am a supporter and co-sponsor of HR 82 the "Social Security Fairness Act of 2007." HR 82 solves the problem of the Government Pension Offset provision that reduces earned benefits for more than 300,000 Americans – over 3,300 Hoosiers) each year, by upwards of $3,600. For many Americans affected by the GPO, especially those who rely on Social Security for the bulk of their retirement income, this means the difference between a comfortable retirement and poverty. In 1977, Congress enacted the GPO provision– as part of the 1977 Social Security Act Amendments – and closed this supposed loophole by declaring government pensions equal to Social Security benefits. While the reforms that led to the creation of the Government Pension Offset were meant to prevent public employees from being unfairly enriched, the practical effect is that those providing critical public services are being unjustly penalized.

H.R. 82 solves this problem by repealing the GPO. I understand that repealing the Government Pension Offset will be costly. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) and the Social Security actuaries, elimination of the GPO would cost $31.3 billion over 10 years, and in the long run would cost 0.06f taxable payroll; which would increase Social Security’s long-range deficit by about 3Modifying the GPO to eliminate the most detrimental affects of the provision may be a more fiscally viable approach to solving the problem but I am open to considering all options that move us toward the goal of removing this unfair penalty and allowing all Americans to keep the Social Security benefits to which they are entitled.

0 Comments

Nursing Relief Act of 2007

Dan Burton — 01/22/2008 11:44

According to the latest statistics, the United States is in the midst of a nursing shortage that is only going to intensify as baby boomers age and the need for health care grows. Adding to the problem is the fact that nursing colleges and universities across the country are behind the curve in terms of expanding enrollment levels to meet the rising demand for nursing care. Studies suggest that the high nurse turnover and vacancy rates are affecting access to health care and some recent studies suggest a connection between adequate levels of registered nurse staffing and safe patient care.

In comparison, some foreign countries, such as the Philippines, India, and China, have an apparent oversupply of nurses. As a result, a significant number of major hospital systems in the United States are devoting a lot of time and money to recruiting foreign nurses. H.R. 1358 seeks to make it easier to recruit foreign nurses by creating a new nonimmigrant visa category (the W-visa) for an alien coming to the United States to work as a professional nurse. Supporters of the bill argue that under current immigration law health care providers cannot efficiently and effectively recruit qualified foreign nurses. They contend that with certain limited exceptions, current law requires health care providers to sponsor desired nurses for permanent resident status while the nurses remain outside of the United States, which can take as much as 3 years. In addition to the delay this causes in filling critical positions, this cost is passed on to consumers and added to the rising cost of health care. Opponents of the legislation on the other hand argue that we can address the nursing shortage without increasing immigration to this country by; encouraging hospitals and health care providers to partner with schools of nursing; subsidizing nurse faculty salaries, reimbursing nurses for advancing their education in exchange for a work commitment, and providing scheduling flexibility to enable staff to attend classes as well as designing more flexible roles for advanced practice nurses given their increased use as primary care providers.

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S. Korea U.S. Free Trade Agreement

Dan Burton — 01/18/2008 15:28

South Korea is already the United States seventh largest trading partner, the sixth largest market for U.S. agricultural products, and a critical destination for U.S. goods and services exports that support American jobs. A comprehensive and commercially meaningful FTA with South Korea – that encompasses all products, sectors, and services – could potentially further boost U.S. exports to this vital market and return tangible benefits to U.S. consumers, farmers, workers, and businesses. On February 2, 2006, the United States and South Korea formally started FTA negotiations. After several rounds of talks, a draft FTA was completed on April 1, 2007 and signed by representatives of both governments on June 30, 2007.

However, the proposed FTA still requires Congressional approval before coming into force, and as always, the devil is in the details. Before a final vote on any implementing legislation I am confident that the House and Senate will thoroughly vet the proposed agreement within the context of a host of bilateral U.S.-South Korean trade details, including: the South Korean ban on imports of U.S. beef; imports of U.S. vehicles into South Korea as compared to South Korean’s automotive exports back to the United States; the appropriate value of the South Korean won against the U.S. dollar; U.S. visa policy towards South Korea; anti-Dumping practices; and telecommunications among other things.

For more than half a century, South Korea and the United States have been strategic allies. South Korea has been a strong partner in the global war against terror, having dispatched troops to Iraq (the third largest contingent after the United States and Great Britain), and Afghanistan (where a South Korean soldier was killed during hostile action), and to Lebanon in support of peacekeeping operations. A ratified free, and most importantly fair, trade agreement with South Korea will further solidify our security and political partnership with South Korea and provide the United States a solid economic foundation in Northeast Asia. We still have a long way to go before the deal is done though and you can rest assured that I will keep your thoughts about this issue firmly in mind when the matter is finally considered by the House of Representatives.

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FBI name check backlog HR 3828

Dan Burton — 01/17/2008 12:15

The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) assists in the processing of name and background checks for immigration cases. Usually these checks are completed in a timely fashion and without incident. Sometimes though, applicants may experience a lengthy delay during these checks. As I understand the process, normally, a name is submitted by an agency, such as the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), on a data tape – the FBI’s National Name Check Program (NNCP) receives over 62,000 name checks every week, with over 27,000 coming from USCIS on a weekly basis – and the names on the tape are electronically checked against the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Universal Index (UNI). The searches seek all instances of the individual's name appearing in both main files and reference files. A main file name means that an individual is himself or herself, the subject of an FBI investigation, whereas a reference file name is someone whose name appears in an FBI investigation because of an association to a case. The majority of name checks submitted via data tape are electronically checked and returned to the submitting agency as having "No Record" within 48-72 hours. A secondary manual name search conducted within 30-60 days usually identifies additional requests as having a "No Record." Overall, usually about 10f the names originally submitted are identified as possibly being the subject of an FBI case.

At that point, the FBI record must be retrieved and reviewed. If the record is electronic, it can be reviewed quickly. If not, it must be retrieved from an existing paper record. The average time to complete an FBI name check request is case specific—it depends on the number of files an analyst must obtain (which is dictated by the number of "hits" on a name), the location and availability of those files, and the amount of information contained in a file. If a file is stored locally, an analyst will be able to obtain the file within a matter of days. If a file is located in a field office or other FBI location, the applicable information must be requested from that location. There are over 265 different FBI locations that could house information pertinent to a name check request. If a file is electronically available, an analyst will have immediate access to that file. Additionally, once an analyst receives the file, or the pertinent information contained in a file, the analyst must review it for possible information related to the name check request. Many times, the delay associated with the processing of the remaining name checks is not due to the actual time it takes to process a name check, but because of the time it takes for an analyst to obtain the files in order to process it.

H.R. 3828 seeks to speed this process by requiring that any person’s name check request from USCIS held in the possession of the National Name Check Program for longer than 6 months be referred to the Secretary of Homeland Security, who shall adjudicate interim benefits in connection with the application with which the FBI name check was requested, unless the Secretary certifies there is reasonable cause to suspect that the applicant poses a threat to national security, otherwise poses a threat to the United States, or has broken United States immigration law. I agree that the current name check system seems to be unwieldy but I am concerned, knowing the threat our Country faces in our post-9/11 world, about undermining the validity of background checks by short-circuiting the process. We should consider whether improvements to computer systems, so that all records may be transmitted, maintained, and checked electronically; creation of a centralized secure single searchable database; and improvements in how the FBI communications with USCIS would be a better solution to the problem.

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