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News From Congressman Vic Snyder-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recent News on Capitol HillThe House recently passed H.R. 2346 to provide $96.7 billion in supplemental funding to pay for ongoing war operations in Afghanistan and Iraq for the remainder of fiscal 2009. The bill would also fund non-military features of our national security.
We also passed the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act, providing significant incentives to lenders, servicers, and homeowners in hopes that they will work together to modify loans and to avoid foreclosures. The President signed it into law on May 20, 2009.
Last week we passed the Fraud Reinforcement and Recovery Act. The President signed it into law on May 20, 2009. This legislation equips the Justice Department with tools to prevent mortgage and corporate fraud; and it creates the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission, an oversight commission to examine the causes of the events that led to our current economic downturn.
I am pleased President Obama signed the conference agreement last week to enact the Weapons Systems Acquisition Reform Act into law. I was a cosponsor of the House bill, and served as a conferee at the House-Senate conference committee which convened last week to finalize the legislation. This law takes a big step forward to reduce Pentagon waste and cost overruns. It ensures that Americans are safer by efficiently acquiring the weapons systems needed for the 21st Century environment, while setting controls to keep the purchasing within a reasonable and disciplined budget.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recent News from my CommitteesOver the past few weeks, the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) has held a series of hearings to discuss the fiscal year 2010 budget. The first hearing was held on Wednesday, May 13th with Secretary of Defense Robert Gates. On Thursday, May 14th, budget hearings were held with the Departments of the Army and Navy. The following week, the HASC held a budget hearing with the Air Force. On Thursday, May 21st, the HASC Military Personnel Subcommittee received testimony from each branch of the military on the fiscal year 2010 budget request on military personnel. The House Armed Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held its first hearing of several to study the military's professional military education system. From time to time, it helps to assess the goals of our professional military schools and what their purpose is for the nation. Specifically, we are looking at whether the military education system is educating our forces in the best way to meet our country’s current needs. We are asking about the mission focus of each school; whether they pursue their program with rigor; what they are doing to ensure the highest quality staff, faculty, and students; and whether the curricula has the appropriate balance between the elements of what military professionals need to know and what they need to understand about the new challenges facing the nation. As you may know I am a member of the Joint Economic Committee, a bi-cameral (House and Senate combined) committee. I recently participated in a hearing named "Oil and the Economy: The Impact of Rising Global Demand on the U. S. Recovery." I expressed my concern about the need for more predictability of the supply and price of energy. I asked specifically about Arkansas and the difficulty of obtaining credit in this economy to get new green industries up and working. There is a lot of opportunity for job creation and increased exports. In order to take advantage of these opportunities, we need to continue developing new energy sources and technologies.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- Recent News from the DistrictThis week I worked in the District and met with constituents. On Monday, I spoke at "Memorial Day in the Park", a wonderful Memorial Day event in Conway honoring our nation’s veterans, military, retirees, and all our military families, especially those families who lost loved ones while serving our country. Our freedom is made possible by these courageous and caring people who willingly stand and have stood ready to endure the rigors of conflict. American lives are blessed and America is strong because of these men and women who have given their lives to fight for our country. Memorial Day is much more than a three-day weekend that marks the beginning of summer: it is a time to pay gratitude to our nation's thousands of veterans, to pay tribute to those who died for our country in public service, and to provide service, support and friendship to the families of military personnel. Their commitment to our nation should always be respected and will never be forgotten. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- Other NewsThe deadline for the DTV conversion is approaching. By June 12, 2009, all full-power broadcast television stations will be required to stop broadcasting in analog and continue broadcasting in digital only. The federal government is offering each U.S. household up to two $40 coupons that may be applied toward purchasing eligible converter boxes. To access these coupons, please contact the 24-hour toll-free hotline at 1-888-DTV-2009 or go online to www.dtv2009.gov. If you have any issues or questions about the DTV process, please contact our District office at 501.324.5941. Also, The Veterans’ Affairs Department is taking applications for the Post 911 GI Bill. The Website to apply is: www.gibill.va.gov. The GI Bill Hotline is: 1-888-GIBILL-1. If you have any questions about your eligibility or have any issues applying, please contact Randy Bartlett in our District office at 501.324.5941. |
Featured Photo
On May 27, 2009, Rep. Snyder spoke to children attending Bayou Meto Elementary school's Middlebound ceremony. |
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