Congressman Pete Stark: Representing California's 13th District http://www.house.gov/stark/ Highlights Bush Hypocrisy of Protecting Overpayments to Private Insurance Companies While Hiking Premiums for Beneficiaries http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-02/15-trigger.htm “The Congressional Budget Office report confirms what other economists have been saying for years. A carbon tax would be predictable, transparent, universal and difficult to game." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-02/15-CBO.htm The three town meetings will allow constituents to ask questions about important national issues. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-02/15-town.htm "I have rarely seen an official document filled with so much misleading rhetoric and so few thoughtful suggestions. It is nothing short of disingenuous to claim concern about Medicare’s future after what this Administration has done to the program." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-02/14-budget.htm "I am deeply saddened by the passing of Representative Tom Lantos, a true public servant and a passionate voice for international human rights"... http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-02/12-lantos.htm "If press reports are accurate, President Bush’s budget would endanger the health care of America's seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income children." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-01/31-medicade.htm "If the government negotiated with drug companies instead of overpaying private plans by billions of dollars, more senior citizens and people with disabilities would get the medications they need." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-01/31-partd.htm Stark leads floor debate and votes to override the President’s veto. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2008-01/23-schip.htm "This bill was designed by the Republicans to support their rich friends, the pharmaceutical industry, the for-profit insurance industry and to destroy Medicare as millions of American seniors have known it, to harm children, and to cast blame at illegal immigrants and working single parents." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-12/19-medicare.htm Energy legislation would reduce greenhouse gases, create jobs. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-12/18-cafe.htm "He refuses to spend $35 billion to provide health care to 10 million children even as he asks for nearly $200 billion more for his failed War in Iraq,” said Stark. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-12/12-grinch.htm “President Bush’s veto threat confirms that he desperately wants to privatize Medicare,” said Stark. “It also demonstrates that he is more interested in promoting his radical ideology than in speaking the truth. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-12/04-veto.htm “President Bush is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the insurance industry,” said Stark. “How else to explain his opposition to enabling states to investigate and prosecute private insurance companies that deceive seniors?" http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-12/04-medicare.htm “Patients and their families deserve to know if they are in a substandard nursing home – especially if CMS is going to allow these facilities to continue to provide care to Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries," http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/29-nursing.htm Likely topics include the Congressional response to the oil spill in the San Francisco Bay, funding for the War in Iraq, President Bush’s new push for peace in the Middle East, and the legislative calendar for the rest of the year. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/28-townmeetings.htm Open enrollment for the Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit begins today. I am concerned about potential complications for low-income subsidy beneficiaries transitioning between plans. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/16-partd.htm Despite improvements in some areas of quality, there is still much to be done. The lives of our most frail senior citizens are at stake, and our return to this issue is long overdue. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/15-nursing.htm Anti-War Congressman Supports an Immediate End to the War In Iraq http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/14-nowhere.htm “The Food and Drug Administration’s second warning in less than a year should give pause to every patient and doctor using or prescribing Epogen or Procrit,” http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/08-epogen.htm I rise in opposition to a Peru Free Trade Agreement that is neither free nor fair. Much like the North American and Central American Free Trade Agreements, this agreement will hurt both working families and the environment. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/07-Peru.htm No job applicant should be discriminated against because of his or her race, religion, gender, ethnicity, age, disability, political affiliation -- or sexual orientation or gender identity. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/07-ENDA.htm CMS has no firm plan to recoup these funds or prevent future overpayments. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-11/07-HHS.htm The three meetings will allow constituents to ask questions about important national issues. Given recent news, likely topics include military contracting, children’s health care, warrantless wiretapping, and the War in Iraq. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/31-townmeeting.htm Representatives Stark, Butterfield, Inslee, and Gillibrand lead 42 of their colleagues in sending a letter to House and Senate leadership urging inclusion of environmental safeguards in ethanol production mandates. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/25-schip.htm "I rise in strong support of this third version of legislation to improve and extend the Children’s Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP). I hope the third time will be the charm." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/25-ethanol.htm “I apologize for this reason: I think we have serious issues before us, the issue of providing medical care to children, the issue about what we’re going to do about a war that we’re divided about how to end." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/18-children.htm "I have nothing but respect for our brave men and women in uniform and wish them the very best," said Stark. "But I respect neither the Commander-in-Chief who keeps them in harms way nor the chickenhawks in Congress who vote to deny children health care." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/18-children.htm "Facts are stubborn things," said Stark. "The FDA letter confirms what Amgen and Johnson & Johnson are spending millions of dollars to deny." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/16-epogen.htm "The Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, CMS’ own Actuary and the Congressional Budget Office each estimate that Medicare Advantage Plans are overpaid. MEDPAC estimates the average overpayment is 112% of Medicare’s costs with plans in some areas exceeding 150% of Medicare’s rates. It’s no secret that many of us find this wrong – as do many of America’s taxpayers." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/16-audits.htm We are writing to raise serious concerns about a classified program. According to recent court documents and media reports, United States snipers are scattering military equipment including detonation cords, plastic explosives and ammunition as “bait,” then shooting to kill the Iraqis who pick up these items. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/09-baiting.htm "President Bush and Senator Ensign want Medicare to wither on the vine," said Stark. "Increasing premiums and deductibles on some seniors would further erode Medicare's social insurance status – in which we all pay in and we all get the same benefits. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/05-partd.htm "Medicare should always act in the best interests of patients, guided by objective scientists and academics, not politicians, and consistent with the principle that treatment should first 'do no harm'" said Stark. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/04-cancer.htm I don’t know what he thought he was doing when he talked about improving the lives of children and preventing disease and promoting community health, because he’s just following a position that denies a million kids the right to health care. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/03-floorstatements.htm "President Bush is a one-man axis of evil," said Stark. "I am disgusted by his veto of a bipartisan compromise that would have provided care to nearly four million uninsured children." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-10/03-veto.htm Dear Administrator Weems: Congratulations! As CMS’ new Acting Administrator, you’re the lucky guy who gets to clean up the mess your predecessors left behind. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-09/28-callcenter.htm "People shouldn’t find out at the last possible moment that their homes were added to FEMA’s flood zones and that they are required to buy flood insurance," said Stark. "Instead, they should be notified promptly and directly after preliminary maps are drawn." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-09/27-flood.htm "The mental health parity law we passed in 1995, while an important step forward, leaves far too much room for abuse. As a result, patients with mental health and addiction disorders have not been able to get the treatment they need." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-09/26-mentalhealth.htm "Today’s legislation is a huge victory for the 11 million kids for whom it will provide health care and the 43 million seniors whose Medicare benefits it will improve." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/2007-08/index.htm Democratic legislation will provide health care to millions of kids and improve and protect Medicare for seniors and people with disabilities. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070801/champ.htm Democrats endorse providing health care for kids and improving and protecting Medicare for seniors. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070801/members.htm The Children’s Health and Medicare Protection Act Improves and Protects Medicare for Seniors and People with Disabilities. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070801/index.htm Columnists endorse providing health care for kids and improving and protecting Medicare for seniors. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070731/column.htm Across America, editorial boards are endorsing the Children's Health and Medicare Protection (CHAMP) Act, Democratic legislation to provide health care to 11 million kids, improve Medicare's benefits for seniors and people with disabilities, and protect Medicare from Republican efforts to privatize the popular and successful program. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070731/index.htm My apologies to the three journalists for associating them with this reprehensible lobby. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070727/integ.htm Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on Medicare payments to hospitals and post-acute providers. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070522_mediadv.htm An array of providers representing hospitals and post-acute providers on Tuesday voiced concerns about the Medicare Advantage (MA) program at a Ways and Means Health Subcommittee hearing. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070517_mediadv.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the House Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today introduced the MediKids Health Insurance Act to guarantee quality health care to all children in the United States. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070517_medikids.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on Medicare payments to hospitals and post-acute providers. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070515_medicare.htm Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on financial assistance programs for low-income Medicare beneficiaries. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070503_lowincome.htm U.S. Representatives Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means Subcommittee on Health, and Steven LaTourette (OH-14) today introduced the Safe Nursing and Patient Care Act. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070503_nursing.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), a senior member of the Committee on Ways and Means with jurisdiction over U.S. tax policy, today introduced the Save Our Climate Act. This legislation would impose a tax on carbon-based fossil fuels to slow climate change. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070426_carbontax.htm I must again make the difficult decision to vote ‘present’ on the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act.' http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070425_iraq.htm Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on the 2007 report of the Board of Trustees of the Medicare Trust Fund. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070425_medicare.htm Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today issued the following statement in response to the 2007 report of the Board of Trustees of the Medicare Trust Fund. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070423/20070423_medicare.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13) will speak with residents of the 13th Congressional District at town meetings on Saturday, April 21 in Union City, San Lorenzo and Alameda. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070420_town.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13) today introduced the Catherine Skivers Currency for All Act. This legislation would make U.S. currency accessible to all blind and visually impaired Americans. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070418_money.htm Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on mental health parity. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070327_mentalhealth.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, on Friday introduced the Medicare Health Modernization Act of 2007 (H.R. 1663). http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070326_medicare.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on the “Medicare Advantage” program. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070321_medadv.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to the Joint Committee on Taxation's release of revised estimates for the tax effects of President Bush's health care proposal. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070320_healthcare.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, delivered the following opening remarks at today's hearing on genetic nondiscrimination. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070314_drugs.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to recent press releases and public statements about so-called “Medicare Advantage” plans. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070309_medicare.htm Rep. Pete Stark and Sens. Max Baucus and Chuck Grassley are asking more questions about how a specialty hospital in West Texas was allowed to participate in the Medicare program despite an enrollment suspension on specialty hospital participation. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070306_txhospital.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today responded to new data released by the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC) and to comments made by MedPAC’s Chairman, Glenn Hackbarth, at a Subcommittee hearing on the commission’s March report. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070301_medpac.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13) released the following statement today on H.R. 800, the Employer Free Choice Act, which passed the House with bipartisan support by a vote of 241-185. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070301_workers.htm Thirty-three Members of the California Democratic  Congressional Delegation sent a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee calling for the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) to be funded and expanded. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070228_schip.htm U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), a member of the Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support, today introduced the “Foster Children Self Support Act” to protect the Social Security benefits of eligible foster children. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070216_fosterssi.htm U.S. Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA) and U.S. Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT) and Chuck Grassley (R-IA) today reiterated their concerns about physician-owned specialty hospitals. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070208_medicare.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today responded to the release of President Bush’s budget for fiscal year 2008 http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070205_budget.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) today responded to the release of an Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report that found that humans are responsible for global warming. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070202_climate.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to CMS' latest enrollment numbers for the Medicare Part D prescription drug program. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070130_cms.htm Reps. Pete Stark (D-CA), Jim Ramstad (R-MN), and Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) today introduced the "Keeping Families Together Act." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070124_family.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, issued the following statement in response to President Bush’s State of the Union. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070123_sotu.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today responded to reports that President Bush will in the State of the Union propose a tax increase on working families and small businesses http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070122_bushhealth.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), the recently announced Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, plans to speak with residents of the 13th Congressional District at town meetings on Saturday, January 20 in Fremont, San Leandro, and Alameda. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070119_townmeetings.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), the recently announced Chairman of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today released the following statement on H.R. 4, the Medicare Prescription Drug Price Negotiation Act, which passed on the floor with bipartisan support by a vote of 255-170. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070112_medicare.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) tonight responded to President Bush’s Iraq policy address. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/110th/pressreleases/20070110_iraq.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today applauded the release of a proposal to cover California’s uninsured in the online version of the journal Health Affairs. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20061213_kaiser.htm Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today responded to a new report by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20061212_healthcare.htm Today, the Government Accountability Office (GAO) released a report, requested by Ways and Means Committee Chairman Bill Thomas, that examines the Medicare payment structure for treatment of kidney failure, known as End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20061206_gao.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA), Ranking Democrat on the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, today responded to a new study released by the Commonwealth Fund. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20061130_medicare.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13) today responded to news reports about the April 2006 National Intelligence Estimate (NIE). http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20060925_intel.htm Nearly 7 million seniors and individuals with disabilities who purchased stand-alone prescription drug coverage are now at risk of falling into the "doughnut hole." http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20060921_medicare.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (CA-13) today responded to Majority Leader John Boehner's comments about Democrats' commitment to keep America safe. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20060912_boehner.htm U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA) today reflected on the fifth anniversary of the September 11th attacks. http://www.house.gov/stark/news/109th/pressreleases/20060911_911.htm