Congressman Bob Filner's
Congressional Update

August 2004

In this Issue:

• Fighting to Bring Down the Costs of Prescription Drugs!
• Providing Support for Important Community Projects
• If it Ain't Broke, Don't Fix Credit Unions' Tax Status
• Temporary Relief for Shigeru Yamada
• Community Events
• Fall Internships Available with my Office
• Constituent Mailbag
• Hot Bill: Eminent Domain Relief for the Little Guy Act
• Cool Web Site: Stopping Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing, and E-mail

The new Medicare law passed last year fails to address the most pressing issue at hand: prescription drug costs are out of control!  Our community's seniors living on fixed incomes just can't keep up with the cost of medication.  That is why I am taking on the pharmaceutical industry to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

New Medicare Law Does Nothing to Address Rapidly Rising Drug Costs!
In 2003, the cost of prescription drugs for seniors rose more than four times the rate of inflation.  A new Families USA study released in June shows that the top 30 brand-name drugs dispensed to seniors have increased by nearly 22% over the past three years.  This must stop!

Seniors Shouldn't Have to Pay More than Canadians Do!
It's unfair that seniors living in Mexico, Canada, and Europe pay a fraction of what our community's seniors spend on the same name brand prescription drugs.  Today, millions of Americans are crossing our borders to find the same drugs their doctors prescribe for 30-80% cheaper.  

I strongly supported the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2003, which would have allowed Americans to import FDA approved drugs--giving seniors access to lower prices and forcing pharmaceutical companies to lower their prices in order to compete.  Unfortunately, the drug lobby was successful in preventing this from being included in the final law passed by Congress.

Visit my Health & Medicare issues page

Medicare and Prescription Drugs
Families USA is a national nonprofit, non-partisan organization dedicated to the achievement of high-quality, affordable health care for all Americans.  Families USA tracks price increases in the top drugs prescribed for seniors.  Their recent report, “Sticker Shock: Rising Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors,” provides new data about recent drug price changes, and also provides a context for determining whether the new Medicare drug discounts will make prescription drugs more affordable than they have been in the past.  The Families USA Web site also has additional information on the new Medicare law.

Providing Support for Important Community Projects

San Diego Regional Transit Busway
I recently had the opportunity to bring more federal funding to expand transportation in the San Diego area. On June 30th, I presented a check in the amount of $400,000 to the San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), to be used for the development of the San Diego Regional Transit Busway.  This innovative “Bus Rapid Transit” demonstration project will provide a direct connection between South Bay residential communities and job centers in downtown San Diego.  It is always gratifying to bring home funds that will help make our community better, especially when the impact proves positive for both the transportation and the economy of the district.

Congressman Filner presents a giant check to SANDAG for the San Diego Regional Transit Busway

Fetal Monitoring at Paradise Valley Hospital
Many of the communities in the service area of Paradise Valley Hospital (PVH) are elated to hear of the news that the Hospital will now have the ability to expand its fetal monitoring system.  In some communities in the PVH area, the infant mortality rate is shockingly high!  Many pregnant mothers, especially teen-age, are finding it increasingly difficult to afford just the basic pre-natal care.  With adequate health care insurance lacking and scare finances to undergo proper testing and check-ups out of reach for many of our pregnant mothers, this contract award for fetal monitoring will go far in easing the cost burdens that they face.  I was happy to support this effort that will improve outreach and pre-natal health care to many pregnant mothers in our community.

Cleaning up Border Sewage

A House Committee of which I am a member, the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, recently approved legislation that will give more time and money to the landmark Federal effort to clean up Mexican sewage flowing into the Tijuana River Valley.  About 50 million gallons of raw sewage flows through our community every day into the Pacific Ocean.  This has gone on for generations, but after much hard work we are closer to a solution.  In 2000, I authored legislation, signed into law by President Clinton, which authorized the United States to join with the private sector to build a sewage treatment plant in Mexico.  Such a plant would end the 50 year problem of Mexican sewage flowing into the United States.  The bill approved by the House Transportation Committee, H.R. 4794, extends the program authorization and increases the funding from $156 million to $230 million.   I remain committed to helping the International Boundary Water Commission (IBWC) implement the plan laid out by Congress four years ago, and I am pleased that my colleagues on the House Transportation and Infrastructure voted unanimously in support of this important bill for the entire San Diego community.

For the Imperial Valley
I was also pleased to support several project in the Agriculture Appropriations bill, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on July 13, and is now being considered by the U.S. Senate.  

The bill would uphold funding for the Brawley Agricultural Research Station in Imperial County.  The Agricultural Research Station performs crucial research work under the arid saline conditions of the Imperial Valley in support of U.S. agriculture in desert and arid environments.  For example, crop salinity trials are conducted in conjunction with the U.S. Salinity Lab based in Riverside, California. The salinity work done at Brawley could not effectively be performed at Riverside because smog negates the scientific validity of the findings.  Such research has worldwide application as saline soils are a constant challenge to farming practices in many regions.  The Brawley Field Station currently headquarters research facilities and personnel from USDA and the California Department of Food & Agriculture.

The bill also directs the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Under Secretary for Rural Development to give consideration to fund a myriad of projects that would directly benefit the Imperial Valley:

Imperial Valley Sugarcane/Renewable Energy/Ethanol Project
This economic conversion project includes development of sugarcane acreage in the Valley, as well as construction of a new sugarcane processing facility on the site of an existing sugar beet processing facility in the Valley.  The project would also allow the creation of a power plant reliant on renewable fuels, principally from residue from the production and processing of sugarcane.  Further, the project includes plans for ethanol production from the sugarcane.  Sugarcane-to-ethanol production in the Imperial Valley will greatly benefit the economic well-being of our community--as well as reduce renewable and clean fuel costs for the nation while protecting environmental quality.

Environmental Technology Business Park
The County of Imperial is working to catalyze development of an EcoPark for location of renewable energy and “green technology” industrial projects.  The EcoPark is expected to attract more than $400 million in private investment and sustain more than 4,000 jobs in the related industry and agricultural sectors.  The EcoPark will be a beacon of economic and environmental development for renewable fuels projects.

Desert Farming Institute and The National Center for the Study of International Trade in Agriculture at the San Diego State University's Imperial Valley campus
The Institute's primary mission would be to compile, analyze, and disseminate information on desert farming and its commercial viability; to study the environmental and health issues related to desert farming; to compile, analyze, and disseminate information on international trade in agriculture, including trends in agricultural production around the world; and to form collaborative research partnerships with other institutions around the world to encourage research in the development of desert farming.

Neighborhood House of Calexico Youth Center
The Neighborhood House of Calexico provides services, to low-income families in the community, such as day care, youth violence prevention, micro-business development, and shelter for homeless and abused women and children.  The Neighborhood House Youth Center has been successful in interacting with at-risk youth, in diverting gang activities and helping youth obtain job skills, conflict resolution skills, increased level of interaction between adult role models and youth, and recreational activities.  This project would provide youth mentoring, assist youth in obtaining job training, and creating youth employment opportunities.

Calexico Telemedicine Center
Pioneers Memorial Hospital and the Heffernan Memorial Hospital District, the two major healthcare providers located in other cities in Imperial County, have partnered to open an urgent-care center in the vacant city of Calexico Hospital building, which could be wired for telemedicine.  Telemedicine will allow patients to have appropriate medical treatment without having to travel across the county, or to other counties, states, or even countries, for service.

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If It Ain't Broke, Don't Fix Credit Unions' Tax Status

Although credit unions run on a not-for profit basis, the Chair of the U.S. House of Representatives' Ways and Means Committee is considering ending their exemption from federal income taxes.  The added tax burden would be passed directly to consumers, namely the 84 million members of credit unions.  At a time when our military families are making such sacrifices, the two million members of the Navy Federal Credit Union would also feel the pinch in their pocketbooks.

A new tax on credit unions, which already pay payroll taxes, sales taxes and property taxes, would make a negligible contribution to the national Treasury.  The real winners would be the banks, which have claimed that credit unions' tax status gives them an unfair competitive advantage.  The truth is that banks are earning record-setting profits, and owned $8.95 trillion in assets as of September last year, while total credit union assets reached a relatively modest $622 billion.  Unsatisfied, the bank's lobbyists are prodding their allies in Congress to bully the credit unions.

The good news is 20 of my colleagues in Congress recently signed a letter I wrote to the Chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation protesting his call for altering credit unions' tax status.

We are defending credit unions because they represent economic democracy in action, with members also serving as owners.  They put people before profits and embrace members who don't pull down the big bucks.  Instead of issuing stocks or pay dividends to outside stockholders, credit unions return their earnings to their members through lower loan rates, higher dividends on deposits and lower fees.

Temporary Relief for Shigeru Yamada

On July 7, 2004, I was notified that the Bureau of Immigration and Customs Enforcement used its prosecutorial discretion in deciding that Shigeru Yamada--who was left without legal immigration status when his mother died in 1995--should not face immediate deportation.

This decision reflects the extraordinary nature of the case, the extraordinary character of Shigeru, and the extraordinary show of support for Shigeru by the Chula Vista community.  Shigeru is an all-American young man, even if he does not have all the documents to show it.

Congressman Filner celebrates with Shigeru Yamada and friends after the government's decision to not immediately deport him.

View previous story on Shigeru Yamada

Community Events

Boys League International Baseball Tournament
During the week of August 7th to August 14th, the San Diego International Boys Baseball Team U.S.A. League will host the 23rd annual Boys League International Baseball Tournament. Twelve teams will participate including Brazil, Chinese Taipei, Japan, Mexico City Verda, Baja California Mexico Rojo, Italy, Korea, Alameda, and Fresno. 

I am honored to have been invited to the Opening Day Ceremony at San Diego State’s Tony Gwynn Stadium on August 10th, 2004 at 9:00 a.m. to welcome the teams--and to throw the first pitch!

Twentieth Anniversary of Kiku Gardens
On July 17th, 2004, I was privileged to present Kiku Gardens with a proclamation to commemorate their 20th Anniversary.  Kiku Gardens, a non-profit benefit corporation dedicated to providing quality affordable housing for seniors, offers its residents an opportunity to live independently, and in a safe and comfortable environment. 

Kiku Gardens is a marvelous example of how balanced development can help solve the need for affordable housing and quality living for our seniors.

Fall Internships Available with my Office

Internships for the fall are now available in my Community Office! The internship offers students a unique opportunity to see the inside workings of a Congressional office. My internship program is a means to gain invaluable experience, political awareness and involvement in the American democratic system.

My office is looking for college students with a positive attitude and excellent writing skills.  English language proficiency is required and computer skills are strongly desired.  Course credit is available through the intern's college or university.

Qualified interns will be selected on a first come-first serve basis and preference will be given to students from California’s 51st District. If you are interested in interning in the Chula Vista or Imperial Valley office, please call 619-422-5963.

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From Chula Vista:
Genocide is taking place in Sudan, and we must act to stop it.  Aid agencies are routinely turned away from camps by the government-backed Janjaweed militia.  We must act today to do everything we can to stop the killing of people in Darfur.  President Bush and Secretary Powell have been unwilling to call these atrocities genocide, but that is exactly what they are.  Our nation is morally and legally bound to prevent genocide; that is why you must act.  Please support the bipartisan resolutions moving through Congress that call the killing in Darfur genocide.

Congressman Filner:
I wholeheartedly agree that the U.S. government must take steps to pressure the government of Sudan to respect human rights and end the violence in Darfur!  As you requested, I co-sponsored and voted for H.Con.Res. 467, a resolution declaring genocide in Darfur and calling for action to halt the Sudanese government’s attacks against innocent civilians.  The resolution passed the House of Representatives on July 22 on a 422-0 vote.

I recently introduced a bill, H.R. 4603, the Eminent Domain Fairness for the Little Guy Act.  There currently exists a rule in our tax code, which mandates that those who sell property under eminent domain must reinvest in real estate within three years.  If they do not follow this rule, they face paying taxes on the compensation that the government gives them in exchange for their property.  This unfairly compounds the problems that eminent domain causes property owners and violates a common sense of fairness.  My bill would fix the problem by eliminating the requirement for individuals and small businesses that income from sale of property under eminent domain be reinvested.  H.R. 4603 would allow these small property owners the freedom that they deserve.

Cool Web site: Stopping Unsolicited Mail, Telemarketing, and E-mail

Annoyed by having your mailbox filled with unsolicited mail and credit card offers? Had it with dinnertime telemarketing calls? Tired of having what seems like hundreds of junk messages in your inbox every time you check your e-mail? Unfortunately, there's no sure-fire way to totally eliminate the unsolicited mailings, calls, and e-mails you receive, but the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) has assembled some tips that can help you cut down on the junk.