9-11 Commission Issues Report
The National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, better known as the “9-11 Commission,” issued its final report on July 23, 2004. A copy of the report can be found on-line at http://www.9-11commission.gov/.
The House Committee on Government Reform, on which Representative Todd Platts serves, will be holding a special hearing on the Commission’s report on Tuesday, August 3, 2004. 9-11 Commission members, relatives of September 11 victims, law enforcement officials, and critical infrastructure industry officials are all scheduled to testify. The hearing will be broadcast live over the Internet at http://reform.house.gov/ beginning at 10 am.
Other committees have scheduled hearings on the 9-11 report over the month of August as well, including: the Senate Governmental Affairs Committee; the House Select Committee on Intelligence; the House and Senate Armed Services Committees; and, the House Homeland Security Committee.
President Signs Summer Foods Pilot Program for PA into Law
On June 30, 2004, President George W. Bush signed legislation to reauthorize child nutrition programs (S. 2507). Included within the measure is language sponsored by Congressman Todd Platts (PA-19) which is designed to increase participation in the Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) for Pennsylvania’s rural areas.
Many of the schools, local government agencies, and non-profits in Pennsylvania’s rural areas with relatively high rates of poverty do not currently participate in the SFSP, which states that 50 percent of children in a given area must be eligible for free or reduced price school meals for programs in that area to openly enroll children. This is largely because rural programs often have high overhead costs related to lower population density and the need to separately qualify each child for the program. The pilot program would lower the “area eligibility” for SFSP from 50 percent to 40 percent in rural areas of Pennsylvania, thereby opening more areas to open enrollment.
Lawmakers Urge Permanent Health Care Coverage Options for Members of the National Guard and Reserves
Representative Todd Platts joined a group of colleagues, including Representatives Michael Turner (TX-02) and Tim Ryan (OH-17), in sending a letter to a House-Senate conference committee on the fiscal year 2005 defense authorization bill (H.R. 4200). The letter urges conferees to include in the final defense bill a provision requiring the federal government to pay on a cost-share basis the civilian health insurance premiums of National Guard and Reserve members.
“The federal government covers part time workers, who work a minimum of 16 hours per week, under the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program,” the letter states. “At a minimum, we owe our Citizen Soldiers that level of commitment when it comes to health benefits for themselves and their families. As you know, even without activation, Guardsmen and Reservists train a minimum of 48 hours per month and an additional two weeks per year. With activation they, too, are separated from their families and their jobs; and represent a vital component of our front lines in the war on terror.”
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
House Passes H.R. 4259
Bill sponsored by Congressman Todd Platts would require greater financial accountability at the Department of Homeland Security (http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/dhshouse.html).
The Month in Review
The following is a list of some additional key votes taken by the United States House of Representatives during the month of July 2004:
Food Allergen Labeling (S. 741)
The House approved without objection a bill which would require food manufacturers to use plain English words like "milk" or "wheat" rather than less familiar words like "casein" or "semolina" to identify common food allergens on ingredients lists.
Military Housing Cap (H.R. 4879)
The House approved without objection a bill which would increase a cap on investment in private military housing projects, including the Residential Community Initiative (RCI) at Carlisle Barracks, Pennsylvania.
The Stock Option Accounting Reform Act (H.R. 3574)
The House voted 312-111 to pass a bill which would block a rule proposed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB). The FASB rule would require corporations to account for employee stock options as an expense. Opponents of the legislation argued that overruling FASB sets a bad precedent and that disclosure of stock options is important in light of recent corporate scandals. Representative Platts voted against this legislation and in favor of allowing the FASB rule to proceed.
Veterans COLA (H.R. 4175)
The House voted 421-0 to pass a bill which would provide a cost-of-living adjustment for veterans in 2005.
The Vietnam Human Rights Act (H.R. 1587)
The House voted 323-45 to pass a bill which would bar any assistance—other than humanitarian assistance—to Vietnam until the government of Vietnam shows it has made progress in respecting religious freedom, property rights, and human rights. Representative Platts voted in favor of this legislation.
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