In recent years, health care, gas, and college have become significantly more expensive. At the same time, real incomes have fallen, Social Security and Medicare have come under attack, and our national debt has soared.

I’m working with my colleagues to take America in a new direction. Our efforts include legislation to:

MAKE HEALTH CARE MORE AFFORDABLE:
It is past time we fix the prescription drug program and put people ahead of drug companies and HMOs by giving government the authority to negotiate for lower drug prices. Also overdue is significant health care reform. In late July, I introduced AmeriCare, legislation modeled on Medicare that would make health care more accessible to the 46 million people without insurance.

LOWER GAS PRICES AND ACHIEVE ENERGY INDEPENDENCE:
Rather than support price gouging with billions in subsidies to the oil industry, America should invest in renewable energy. I support providing relief to consumers hit hard by high gas and energy prices and encouraging the development of alternative fuels.

HELP WORKING FAMILIES:
Congress should raise the minimum wage and repeal tax subsidies that encourage companies to move jobs overseas. Because the last minimum wage increase occurred in 1997, millions of Americans are making less today, adjusted for inflation, than they have at any time in the last 50 years.

CUT COLLEGE COSTS:
Every student deserves the opportunity to attend college. But in February, Congress increased interest rates for new student and parent loans. Instead, we should lower rates, make tuition a tax-deductible expense, and expand popular Pell grants.

ENSURE A DIGNIFIED RETIREMENT:
Even as corporate executives receive hundred million dollar retirement packages, workers pensions are being slashed or eliminated. I support pension fairness and oppose the privatization of Social Security, a program that provides economic security to 49 million Americans.

REQUIRE FISCAL RESPONSIBILITY:
Under President Clinton’s leadership, America achieved a $5.6 trillion budget surplus. Today, we have a $3.2 trillion deficit. We should restore the budget discipline of the 1990s that helped eliminate deficits and spurred record economic growth.

If we can turn Congress’ attention to these priorities, we can move America forward to a brighter future. I hope you agree.

PROTECTING YOUR PRIVACY
FROM ATTACK

As Americans, we cherish our right to privacy. As embodied in the Fourth Amendment and supported by the Supreme Court, this fundamental right of citizenship protects us from unsanctioned government or corporate intrusion into our private lives.

Unfortunately, the Bush Administration is endangering this core American value. The Internal Revenue Service, the National Security Agency, and Republicans in Congress are currently overriding certain privacy protections and threatening to weaken others.

The IRS recently proposed a rule change that would allow tax preparers such as H&R Block and Jackson Hewitt to sell or distribute the sensitive information contained in tax returns – including name, address, Social Security number, employer, income, and charitable donations – to any and all interested third parties.

At the President’s request, the NSA is collecting the domestic phone call records of tens of millions of Americans. Using data provided by AT&T, Verizon, and BellSouth, the NSA is keeping track of who people are calling, and when. Even more troubling, the government is currently eavesdropping – without warrants – on Americans’ international calls and emails.

In the name of promoting health information technology – a goal I support – the majority party is endangering the privacy of our medical information. A bill under consideration would give the federal Secretary of Health and Human Services the authority to override stronger state privacy laws, risking dissemination of HIV/ AIDS status, mental health treatments and reproductive history. Unauthorized release of this information could have dire consequences for a person’s ability to obtain or maintain employment and health insurance.

I am fighting against efforts to erode our privacy rights. I introduced the Taxpayer Privacy Act to prevent the sale and distribution of confidential taxpayer information and co-sponsored legislation directing the President to cease NSA wiretapping. I also authored amendments to the health information technology legislation before Congress that would strengthen medical privacy and protect state laws.

The majority party has rejected these efforts and the bipartisan tradition of protecting American privacy. But I will continue to work with like-minded colleagues to ensure that fundamental rights aren’t abridged in the name of “freedom” or corporate profits.

TIPS ON PREVENTING
IDENTITY THEFT

Even as President Bush and the Republican Congress weaken privacy rights, consumers can take proactive steps to protect their personal and financial data. Here are a few easy steps you can take:

• Protect your Social Security number. Don’t carry your Social Security card in your wallet or give your number to strangers who contact you.
  
  
• Shred important documents. Shred financial statements, medical information, and receipts before throwing them away.
  
  
• Guard your mail. Take outgoing mail to a collection box or your post office. If you have Internet access, consider paying your bills online rather than sending checks through the mail.
  
  
• Get checks at the bank. When ordering new checks, pick them up from the bank rather than having them mailed to you.
  
  
• Never click on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know.
  
  
• Review your credit report for errors. Federal law requires consumer reporting agencies to provide consumers with a free copy of their report once a year. Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call (877) 322-8228.
  
  If you suspect you’re a victim of identity theft…
  
  
• Place a “Fraud Alert” on your credit reports. This makes it harder for new accounts to be opened in your name. A call to one company is sufficient:
  
  . Equifax: (888) 766-0008
  . Experian: (888) 397-3742
  . TransUnion: (800) 680-7289
  
  
• Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established fraudulently.
  
  
• File a police report. A copy of the report will help you work to re-establish your credit.
  

Not yet subscribed to my
email newsletter?

Interested in receiving more frequent updates?

Visit my website and sign up!

Please contact my Fremont
office,send me an email
or visit my website
for assistance with federal
agencies, updates on
important legislation, and
information on visits to
Washington, D.C.

Fremont Office
(510) 494-1388

Email
www.house.gov/stark/contact

Website
www.house.gov/stark

If you no longer wish to receive these and other e-mail updates, please let me know:
http://www.house.gov/stark/contact/