Championing America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009
Posted by: Maurice Hinchey (10-01-2009, 01:14 PM)
Today, the House Committee on Natural Resources' Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands held a hearing on H.R. 1925, America's Red Rock Wilderness Act of 2009. I've sponsored this important piece of legislation every session of Congress since 1994. I had the opportunity to testify on the merits of the bill at today's hearing. Here is what I said:
Posted in Environment | View Full Posting
Protecting Our Drinking Water Supplies from Hydraulic Fracturing
Posted by: Maurice Hinchey (09-16-2009, 10:49 AM)
Every person deserves access to safe, clean drinking water -- our most precious natural resource. New York, in particular, has long prided itself on having some of the nation's most naturally pure drinking water supplies. It has achieved that high standard, and continues to do so, under New York state laws passed more than two decades ago. I'm determined to maintain that high standard.
Posted in Environment | View Full Posting
Improving Medicare
Posted by: Maurice Hinchey (09-08-2009, 04:31 PM)
The primary focus of any health care legislation before Congress this year is to insure the nearly 46 million Americans with no coverage, to improve coverage for those who already have some form of insurance, and to reduce the skyrocketing cost of health care. It's also an important opportunity to strengthen Medicare, the health insurance program already used by 45 million seniors and disabled Americans. For more than four decades, Medicare has provided quality health care for those members of our population who need it most while serving as a remarkable example of the good that government can do for our people. It's also been cost-effective: approximately 5 percent of Medicare spending is devoted to administrative fees while private insurance companies spend up to 30 percent of their budget on administrative, advertising, and overheard expenses.
Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
Cost of Living Adjustments for Social Security
Posted by: Maurice Hinchey (09-02-2009, 03:43 PM)
I strongly believe that Social Security is an essential program that we must preserve. For more than 70 years, Social Security has provided income security for retired Americans regardless of economic circumstances. Recently, it has been reported that there may not be a cost-of-living-adjustment (COLA) for Fiscal Year 2010, 2011, and 2012. This news greatly concerns me as well as all of the seniors out there who depend on this small but much needed increase from year to year.
I am committed to fixing this and understand that the Social Security Administration faces enormous challenges that Congress must help solve. We need to ensure that all Americans will receive their Social Security benefits once they retire and that those COLA increases take place every single year. I am dedicated to looking for ways to strengthen Social Security and would not support any plan that would jeopardize the economic security of today's seniors and the future of Social Security for the next generation of retirees. Please be assured that I will do everything possible to ensure seniors receive a cost of living adjustment in next year's benefits.
Posted in Social Security | View Full Posting
Where I Stand on Health Care Reform
Posted by: Maurice Hinchey (07-29-2009, 01:20 PM)
I am very concerned with how expensive health care is and how many people go without it. All Americans should have access to quality health care and I think the best solution is to establish a national health care system. Over 45 million Americans have no health insurance today, and millions more have inadequate insurance. Employers who have long provided quality coverage for their employees are cutting back benefits and raising workers' out-of-pocket expenses to deal with the rising cost of health premiums. Most of those who do have health insurance have to rely on their employers to provide it and as a result they have little or no choice about what kind of coverage they will have, and little or no security about whether they will remain insured, should they lose their job.
Posted in Health Care | View Full Posting
