Preserving Veterans' Stories of Sacrifice

Our nation loses at least 1,000 veterans each day, and along with them we lose their stories of courage and memories of comradeship and sacrifice. Since October 2000, when Congress created the Veterans History Project, the Library of Congress has collected and archived the oral histories, pictures and diaries of more than 66,000 American veterans. More than 600 stories of our own Tennessee Valley veterans have been permanently archived as part of the project. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution that I introduced with Congressman Ron Kind of Wisconsin supporting a National Veterans History Project Week designation. This would encourage more Americans to join in the effort to preserve and honor the sacrifice of the men and women who served our nation in times of war and conflict. It is essential that we preserve their first-hand recollections for future generations, who will have much to learn from those who have so honorably served our nation.

Strengthening Airline Safety

Regional jets carry 400,000 Americans each day and make up the majority of air traffic at East Tennessee airports. In light of the regional jet crash in New York and two pilots missing their destination airport because they were distracted by personal laptops, the public needs to know that boarding an airplane is safe. Pilot fatigue and inexperience have been at the forefront of the aviation safety debate this year, which is why I supported the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act to strengthen pilot training. Every serious regional jet accident in the past decade involved a pilot who previously failed tests, according to USA Today. The bill requires complete access to pilot flight records, enhances pilot training programs, provides new crew fatigue guidelines and increases the number of hours that pilots need before flying regional jets. Making sure our pilots are properly trained is crucial to keeping us all safe in the skies.

Adult Education Prepares Workers for Job Market

Adult education programs provide the preparation necessary to better qualify job seekers for the work force. As more American jobs require advanced training, continued education is critical to developing the skill sets these positions require. For example, a new welder training center in Chattanooga will help build the state’s energy manufacturing base by providing a trained work force for companies in the heart of the Tennessee Valley Corridor. That’s why I cosponsored the National Adult Education and Family Literacy Week resolution that passed the U.S. House of Representatives. It will help raise awareness of adult education programs that are helping prepare our work force to fill important next-generation jobs.

Recognizing Country Music’s Contributions to American Culture

Tennessee is blessed to have many gifted and talented individuals who create the rich art of country music. More than 54,000 Tennesseans are employed in the country music industry which generates more than $6 billion in economic impact in Nashville, home to the Grand Ole Opry and the heart of country music. With ambassadors like the Oak Ridge Boys, George Jones, and Dolly Parton, just to name a few, the distinctly American sound of country music has gained millions of fans worldwide. As a tribute to its popularity and for its contributions to American culture, the U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a resolution with my support declaring country music to be a uniquely American art form.

Marking Civil Rights History

From the first successfully integrated southern school in Clinton to the tragic assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. at the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, many sites in Tennessee symbolize the struggle to end racial injustice during the civil rights movement. Congressman William “Lacy” Clay, Jr., of Missouri, and I authored the Civil Rights Trail System Act of 2009, which overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House of Representatives. The bill would begin planning for the United States Civil Rights Trail System and mark historically significant locations related to the struggle for racial equality in Tennessee and across the United States and its territories. This legislation honors all of those who were part of the movement to make sure everyone is treated equally and has the freedom to achieve the American dream. The trail system would serve as a marker for how far our country has come and would remind future generations of all that is necessary for justice and equality to reign down on our land.

Honoring Efforts to Reduce Infant Mortality

The infant mortality rate provides a good sense of the health of a country, and unfortunately, the U.S. ranks 29th in the world in the number of babies who die before reaching their first birthdays. Infant mortality is far too common in Tennessee, especially in Memphis and Chattanooga. While the loss of a baby is devastating, it has inspired important research at St. Jude’s Hospital in Memphis and UT-Chattanooga. Students and doctors work diligently to discover the reasons why and to develop treatments to reduce the infant mortality rate in Tennessee and across the country. To show appreciation for their work, I was an original cosponsor of a resolution that passed the U.S. House of Representatives honoring the men and women who devote their time and energy to search for causes and remedies for infant mortality that affects too many of our families.

Simplifying Financial Disclosure

Investing and trading in the stock market can be part of a diversified financial plan for Americans to save for their future. Making smart decisions about where to invest involves having good information, but much of it is complex and too inconsistent to understand. Unfortunately, the federal regulations that make sure these reports are consistent and comprehendible have not kept pace with today’s marketplace. The Promoting Transparency in Financial Reporting Act, which I supported when it passed the U.S. House of Representatives, requires members from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Accounting Standards Board and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board to testify in front of the House Financial Services Committee about their efforts to reduce the complexity in financial reporting. If we are to sustain a stable economy, these oversight bodies need to update their standards for reporting financial information, use the same accounting standards and provide more accurate and understandable financial details to investors.

Extending Benefits to Disabled Military Retirees

Disabled veterans with less than 20 years of service should not have to suffer financially because their sacrifices on behalf of our country forced them into early retirement. The U.S. House of Representatives passed the Disabled Military Retiree Relief Act with my full support to make sure these heroes receive both VA disability pay and their entire earned military retirement. The bill also encourages our brave men and women wearing the uniform of our Armed Services to reenlist and remain on active duty by extending bonuses. Our nation’s veterans left friends and family to defend our freedom all around the world and should be treated with the highest level of honor, respect and care.

Improving Veterans Care

When the Department of Veterans Affairs does not receive its funding in a timely manner medical staff cannot be hired, waiting times for veterans increase and the quality of care suffers. The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which I voted for, passed the U.S. House of Representatives and will provide the VA with the resources to meet the needs of our veterans one year ahead of schedule. This will help bring stability to the planning and budgeting process so that the VA can provide more timely and predictable care for our heroes.

“In God We Trust”

As Americans, it is important to remember the role religion and faith played in the founding of our great nation. The framers of this country took a stand against the most powerful empire in the world to gain the blessings of liberty and spiritual freedom. We cannot and should not ignore our heritage. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a resolution I cosponsored directing the Architect of the Capitol to engrave the Pledge of Allegiance and the national motto of "In God We Trust" in the Capitol Visitor Center. Visitors to the U.S. Capitol will now be reminded of the faith and courage put forth by our Founding Fathers, who overcame the oppressions of tyranny so we could live in religious freedom.

Honoring our Nation’s Military and Veterans

Every time freedom has been handed from one generation to the next, it has been by American patriots who are willing to stand between a threat and our civilian population. The U.S. House of Representatives approved a resolution that I authored urging the president to issue a proclamation calling on Americas to annually observe the month of May as National Military Appreciation Month. Designating this month to honor the more than 90 million Americans who have served in our nation’s military and their families would encourage communities to participate in ceremonies paying tribute to their service and the crucial role they played in our nation’s history. The selfless devotion of those who have worn the uniform of our armed forces, both past and present, deserves every ounce of our appreciation, respect and gratitude.

Reforming the Defense Purchasing Process

Our brave men and women in the armed forces serving our country around the world deserve to be equipped with the most advanced and reliable equipment. The Department of Defense’s Weapons Acquisition Reform Act, which passed the House with my support, reforms the military purchasing process so that our war fighters receive world-class capabilities on time and on budget. An effective purchasing process will save taxpayer dollars and help meet our national security priorities.

Prohibiting Deceptive Credit Card Practices

Responsible cardholders who pay their bills on time should not be penalized with arbitrary rate increases and hidden fees. We need to put an end to deceptive credit card practices, protect consumers and keep children from being solicited for credit cards without the permission of their parents. The Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights, which I supported and was signed into law, would prohibit credit card companies from raising rates retroactively on current balances and require creditors to provide consumers with at least 45-days written notice prior to any rate increases. This law will help bring transparency to accounts, giving consumers the information needed to understand their bills and the ability to make responsible decisions.

Adopting Children with Special Needs

Adoption is a blessing both for children in need of a loving home and folks longing to start or expand their family. The Protecting Incentives for the Adoption of Children with Special Needs Act was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives and will make sure that the improved Adoption Incentives program is operated as Congress intended. This program encourages states to increase the number of adoptive families for children in foster care, specifically older children and those with disabilities or other special needs. All children deserve a good home with parents who love them, and this bill will help place the children most in need with nurturing families.

Expanding the Trail of Tears

While the Cherokee removal is only one tribe’s story of the Indian Removal Act of 1830, it is the most visible in American history. After rewriting the National Trail of Tears legislation to accurately tell the story of one of the seminal injustices in history, I was proud to shepherd this bill through Congress because of my own Cherokee heritage. The Trail of Tears Documentation Act, which was signed into law, doubles the current Trail of Tears with the inclusion of two primary westward trails – the Benge and Bell routes and other associated components. These routes and were not included in the original Trail due to lack of documentation, but historians now have been able to document these routes with further research and study of military journals, newspaper accounts and vouchers.

The Cherokee led by John Benge traveled 734 miles starting at Fort Payne, Alabama, continuing through Tennessee, Kentucky, Missouri, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The Treaty Party Group led by John Bell traveled 765 miles starting at Charleston, Tennessee, crossing west over Moccasin Bend and traveling through Arkansas. It was the only one of the 17 detachments that did not disband in Oklahoma. There are 29 forts and emigration depots concentrated around Fort Payne, Alabama; Ross’s Landing – present day Chattanooga, Tennessee; and Fort Cass – present day Charleston, Tennessee, where the Cherokee initially were rounded up from their homes and forced on the long journey west by foot, horseback, boat and wagon. The designation and interpretation of the additional sites and trails associated with the Cherokee Removal in the Trail of Tears Documentation Act will enhance public understanding of American history and more fully reflect this tragic saga of a proud people’s forced removal.

Honoring Green McAdoo and the Clinton 12

Telling the story of Green McAdoo is important to the community in Clinton, Tennessee, but also to the cause of justice and equality in America for its vital role in school desegregation. The Clinton 12 successfully integrated in 1956 without federal intervention one year before Little Rock Central. The Green McAdoo National Historic Site Study Act that I authored was signed into law, allowing the Secretary of the Interior to study and determine whether this site should be recognized, protected under the National Park System and receive federal funding for operational costs.

The formerly segregated all-black Green McAdoo School and all-white Clinton High School played a vital role in the school desegregation crisis that preceded and followed the Supreme Court’s decision in Brown v. Board of Education in 1954. On August 25, 1956, 12 students from the Green McAdoo School, later dubbed the “Clinton 12” met at the school before walking together to the all-white Clinton High School to become the first African-American students to effect the integration of a southern, state-operated school. On September 1, 1956, Clinton became the first southern town to be occupied by National Guard troops in an effort to quell violence sparked by protestors opposed to school integration. The Green McAdoo National Historic Site Study Act is the first step to giving national status to the brave people of Green McAdoo in Clinton.

Helping Veterans Succeed

The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that there are approximately 154,000 homeless veterans any night of the week and twice as many experience homelessness at some point during the year. Providing our nation’s veterans with the proper resources after completing their military service is vital to their success in reentering civilian life and achieving the standard of living they deserve. The House of Representative approved legislation that I supported improving access to family-style housing, job skill training and employment placement assistance and child care services for homeless veteran families. This new grant program for community organizations providing these services will help our veterans get off the streets and our nation keep its commitment to those who have defended our freedom in uniform.

Vision Care for Children

Untreated vision disorders can lead to irreversible damage and hinder a child’s development, making access to proper vision care important for life-long vision health. The House of Representatives recently approved legislation with my support to provide grants for comprehensive eye examinations and follow-up treatments for children with potential vision disorders. The legislation also promotes education to help parents, teachers and health care practitioners recognize signs of visual impairment in children. Funding would be prioritized for low-income children with the greatest need for vision care services.

Alien Smuggling and Terrorism Prevention

More than 17,000 people were brought into this country last year through illegal smuggling. With my support, the House of Representatives recently approved legislation that provides tools for law enforcement to combat human smuggling. It also amends sentencing guidelines by establishing a mandatory minimum sentence of five years for any person convicted of these crimes and adds even longer prison sentences for convicted smugglers who expose victims to dangers, including kidnapping and rape. Additionally, the legislation directs the Department of Homeland Security to check all smugglers and those brought into the country against the Terror Watch List. This bill will assist all levels of law enforcement to detain and fully prosecute those smuggling individuals across our nation’s borders.

Protecting Elders from Abuse

An estimated one to two million Americans age 65 or older have been a victim of elder abuse. The U.S. House of Representatives approved legislation with my support to study the special needs of elder abuse victims. The bill would support local, state and federal law enforcement and prosecutors in elder justice cases. It is important to provide essential services to protect our seniors and effectively prosecute those individuals who engage in abusing and exploiting the elderly.

Promoting Science and Technology

Nanotechnology is a relatively new area of science where scientists learn about the basic components of matter and put them to use in beneficial ways. Researchers are able to discover new behaviors and properties of materials at a miniscule scale, which behave quite differently from those at a larger scale. A nanometer is so small, that the thickness of a sheet of paper is about 100,000 nanometers. The House of Representatives passed a bill to ensure that our nation capitalizes on the commercial developments that flow out of new discoveries resulting from our substantial investment in research. The bill incorporates provisions that address science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) workforce needs, and builds on the National Science Foundation Math and Science Partnership program to use nanotechnology education activities as a vehicle to raise the interest of secondary school students in possible STEM careers.

Supporting the Israeli-Palestinian Peace Process

Working toward a non-violent coexistence is in the best interest of Israel and the Palestinian people. The U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution with my support reaffirming Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from terrorists in the Gaza Strip and expressing strong support for the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Continued diplomatic pressure by the international community is critical to relieving the humanitarian crisis in the Gaza Strip and moving toward the establishment of peace and security in the Middle East.

Promoting Online Privacy Awareness

In an age of increasing electronic communication, more than 55 percent of online American teens between 12 and 17 use social networks. However, not all of these young people are aware of the dangers of failing to protect their personal data. A “National Data Privacy Day” resolution passed the U.S. House of Representatives to promote privacy awareness and education among teens, helping them think critically about protecting the privacy of their personal information online.

Weeding Out Government Waste

While Congress authorizes and designates federal funding, the money is actually spent by executive branch agencies under each presidential administration. To re-establish Congressional oversight on how taxpayer dollars are spent, the U.S. House of Representatives passed a resolution to require each standing Congressional committee to hold hearings on waste, fraud, abuse and mismanagement in federal government agencies. Restoring accountability to the spending process will weed out government waste and give more confidence to the American public that a systematic review process is in place to make certain that tax dollars are being properly spent.

State and Local Sales Tax Relief

Providing additional tax relief to Tennesseans is critical during this time of economic uncertainty. Congress recently approved legislation with my support to provide a two-year extension of the state and local sales tax deduction. This extension is a matter of simple fairness for the millions of individuals and families who reside in states without an income tax. It means that citizens of Tennessee will be on equal footing with other states by having the ability to deduct their state sales taxes from their federal returns. The Tennessee Department of Revenue estimates that the resulting federal tax savings from deductions for Tennessee sales tax for 2007 equals approximately $250 million, which will provide nearly 550,000 Tennesseans an average of $455 in additional tax relief.

The legislation also prevents millions of middle class Americans from receiving large and unintended tax increase through the Alternative Minimum Tax and renews tax credits for the research and development of alternative energy sources when we’re running out of gas in our state.

Improving Mental Health Services

Millions of Americans are afflicted with mental health illnesses. Patients seeking mental health treatments sometimes face higher co-payments and stricter treatment limits. I am a strong supporter of parity in coverage of mental health and physical illnesses and became an original co-sponsor of the Paul Wellstone Mental Health and Addiction Equity Act. This legislation requires private health insurers to provide mental health benefits equal to traditional medical benefits. Congress approved this legislation and the President recently signed it into law to improve services for individuals diagnosed with a mental illness.

Creating Dysphagia Awareness

Dysphagia is a medical condition incorporating any difficulty with swallowing and affects as many as 15 million Americans. It can be caused by any condition weakening or damaging the muscles and nerves used for swallowing, including strokes, nervous system complications and head injuries. Dysphagia awareness is particularly important to Tennessee, where stroke incident rates are relatively high, as it can cause additional life-threatening complications for stroke survivors, such as pneumonia, malnutrition, dehydration and airway obstruction. The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality estimates that 60,000 Americans die annually from complications associated with the condition.

Unfortunately, dysphagia is vastly underreported and not widely understood by the general public. That’s why I introduced a resolution to establish a National Dysphagia Awareness Month to raise public awareness about the disorder and the need for early detection and treatment. My measure had bipartisan support and the backing of the Dysphagia Awareness Society, the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association and the American Occupational Therapy Association, and was passed by both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

Promoting Interfaith Dialogue

There is a time for war, and there is a time for peace. The House of Representatives passed a bipartisan resolution that I authored with two other Congressman to promote interfaith dialogue among Christians, Jews and Muslims, condemns terrorism, intolerance, genocide and ethnic and religious hatred, and advocates for global peace and understanding. The resolution encourages the United States to risk peace and encourage the moderates in Islam to stand with Christians and Jews against terrorism and radicalism to have the hope of a world that could exist together in peace.

Finding Missing Children

A child goes missing every 40 seconds in the U.S., more than 2,100 per day. Time is a critical factor in recovering missing children. To help assist law enforcement in the search and early safe recovery efforts of children, the House of Representatives recently approved A Child Is Missing Alert and Recovery Center Act to help locate missing children during the first hours of disappearance. Via a rapid-response neighborhood alert program utilizing high-tech systems, the “A Child Is Missing” alert program can place 1,000 emergency telephone calls every 60 seconds to residents and businesses in the area where the child was last seen even before an AMBER alert is issued.

Preserving Civil War Sites

Tennessee has more than 30 Civil War battle sites throughout the state. The House of Representatives passed the Civil War Battlefield Preservation Act, which encourages community volunteers and hobbyists to invest in the preservation and interpretation of these historic sites, including Tennessee’s Civil War resources.

Updating Terrorist Surveillance Law

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) is the law that allows our intelligence community to conduct surveillance and gather information on future threats. This ‘real time’ intelligence capability has helped prevent terrorist attacks in the United States since September 11, 2001. The bill was originally passed three decades ago and needed to be updated to account for the significant advances in technology that exist today.

House Democrats let the law expire in February, which permitted terrorists to talk to each other undetected through our own telecommunications infrastructure for close to 21 weeks. In July, Congress finally passed a compromise bill that the president signed into law in July. We now have an agreement on FISA that strengthens America’s surveillance laws and allows our intelligence community to intercept terrorist communications, while continuing to protect the privacy rights of American citizens.

Preserving our Nation’s History

History comes alive with the words and memories of people who have witnessed first hand the important events of our nation. It is important to honor these individuals, record the historic events and preserve their stories for future generations. The House approved legislation that I supported to authorize the Preserve America and Save America’s Treasures programs, which provide grant funding to historic preservation, tourism and education projects of national significance. The City of Oak Ridge and Lincoln Memorial University have been recipients of grants from these vital programs to help preserve historical events in our area.

Homes for Heroes

Our veterans have answered the nation’s call and made sacrifices to defend us, and it is our duty to make sure the nation gives back. That is why I supported the passage of Homes for Heroes Act, which was approved by the House. This legislation provides rental housing assistance for homeless veterans and enhances the network for services that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Veterans Affairs Administration provide to our most disadvantaged veterans.

New Identification Technology at Airports

Each person has unique physical features that can be used to confirm their identity. Biometric identification systems use fingerprint, retina and iris scanning technologies that provide a higher level of security by using these distinctive physical characteristics in identification. The identification system is linked to an ID card that is exclusive to the individual carrying it. This provides an unparalleled level of security as the cards can neither be copied nor shared. That is why I supported the Biometric Enhancement for Airport-Risk Reduction Act, a bill that passed the House of Representatives and requires the Transportation Security Administration to study ways in which airports can adopt such technology to help better protect the traveling public and airline workers.

Fighting Childhood Cancer

Childhood cancer occurs regularly, randomly and spares no social, economic or ethnic groups. More than 12,000 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year. In the United States, the incidence of cancer is increasing among adolescents and young adults at a greater rate than in any other age group, except those older than 65 years. The cause of most childhood cancers is unknown. Because of increased awareness and advocacy, a diagnosis of pediatric cancer is no longer the death sentence it once was, and survivors of childhood cancer can grow up to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

To build on improvements in pediatric cancer research and treatments, the House of Representatives approved legislation to create new programs and grant initiatives at the National Institutes of Health to support and fund pediatric cancer research and awareness. In addition, this legislation will require the National Institutes of Health to award a grant for the operation of a national childhood cancer database to help researchers analyze trends of childhood cancers and aid in prevention and treatment approaches. The bill also provides educational and informational services to patients and families to make sure they have access to appropriate clinical treatment and the array of vital support services.

Honoring Our Nation’s Disabled Veterans

Freedom is not free and the price of freedom is borne by our brave men and women serving our nation in uniform. No one knows this better than our disabled veterans. I was honored to support legislation that recognizes the sacrifices and contributions made by disabled veterans and their families. It calls on the people of the United States to honor all disabled American veterans; encourages local, state and national organizations to participate in the effort to honor the sacrifices of America’s disabled veterans and supports the goals and ideals of a Disabled American Veterans’ Week.

Expanding Health Care Services to Underserved Communities

The House of Representatives approved bipartisan legislation to reauthorize and expand the Health Centers Program, which provides access to preventive and primary health care to underserved communities, including millions of Americans without health insurance. The bill would allow Health Centers to serve 23 million patients across the country in the next five years and expand access to services such as mental health and dental care. More than 273,000 Tennesseans receive quality primary care services through 24 federally-funded Community Health Centers around the state. These centers employ more than 1,300 full-time employees, such as physicians, dentists, clinicians and administrative staff.

Recognizing Foster Parents

Mothers play a crucial role in families around the world. Taking the first step in a longer road toward new policies and more resources from the U.S. government to reduce maternal mortality and pregnancy-related injuries in the United States and throughout the world, the House of Representatives passed a resolution to reduce maternal mortality at home and abroad. This resolution recognizes maternal health as a human right and states that the House of Representatives will make a stronger commitment and greater financial investment and participation in global initiatives.

Reducing Maternal Mortality

Foster parents unselfishly open their homes and family lives to children in need. The House of Representatives passed a resolution to recognize American foster parents, and signaled its commitment to provide critical assistance to children and families involved in the foster care system. By implementing family friendly policies designed to help children reunite with their parents or find a loving and permanent home when they cannot return to their biological parents, Congress can emphasize the importance of strengthening families and reducing the need of foster care placement for children.

Preserving Access to Student Loans

Congress recently approved the Ensuring Continued Access to Student Loans Act, which is bipartisan legislation to both maintain stability in the student loan market and provide students and families with greater access to student loans. The bill would expand loan availability through higher unsubsidized loan limits and authorize the Department of Education to purchase student loans to provide a temporary backstop in the student loan market. I supported this legislation to help preserve the availability of student loans, particularly during this time of economic uncertainty. The President signed this bill into law in May 2008.

Providing Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Veterans

The House continues to work on meeting the needs of our nation’s veterans and their families. Each year, Congress considers an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for veterans, which is based on changes to the Consumer Price Index, a measure of inflation. The House recently passed a bill to provide a much-needed COLA for disability compensation for veterans with service-connected disabilities and for dependency compensation for survivors. This increase would be effective December 1, 2008.

Genetic Discrimination Ban

Congress recently passed a bill to keep employers and group health care plans from discriminating against employees with certain genetic conditions. The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act was signed into law by the President in May 2008 to protect workers with a predisposition to certain illnesses without adding cumbersome mandates that could discourage employers from offering health care to their employees.

I co-sponsored this legislation, and was an early supporter of similar bills since 2003. The law prohibits employers from requiring genetic testing or using genetic information, such as data about cancer or heart disease, in employment decisions. The bill also bars group health plans from adjusting premiums or contribution amounts or establishing enrollment restrictions based on information from genetic tests. The bill includes a provision that records containing genetic information will be maintained according to the standards provided under the Health Insurance Portability and Accessibility Act (HIPAA).

Small Business Assistance

America ’s 25 million small businesses drive our economy and, according to the Small Business Administration (SBA), create 60 to 80 percent of the net new jobs in our economy. Because of the innovation and job creation that small businesses provide, the U.S. House of Representatives approved initiatives that I supported to help these economic drivers continue their key role in the growth of our nation.

The SBA Entrepreneurial Development Programs Act would expand the role of Small Business Development Centers to target the most pressing economic challenges facing entrepreneurs today, from the rising costs of health care and energy to regulatory burdens and compliance costs. To increase small business access to capital, the Small Business Investment Improvements Act would reform the SBA’s Small Business Investment Company and the New Markets Venture Capital programs designed to aid small enterprises, particularly those owned by women, minorities and residents of low-income areas. The Small Business Lending Improvements Act would lower the cost of financing for small businesses by modernizing SBA lending initiatives, allowing entrepreneurs to invest further in their ventures and create jobs.

Three additional initiatives would increase business development and opportunities for women, Native Americans and veterans. The SBA Women’s Business Programs Act would dedicate resources to strengthen centers and increase their services in underserved communities, the Native American Small Business Development Act would provide technical and educational assistance to Native American entrepreneurs and the SBA Veterans’ Programs Act would in turn create additional Veterans Business Outreach Centers and offer business development services targeted to veterans.

Addressing Rising College Costs

College education costs have continued to increase across the board over the past five years, which has placed the dream of a college degree further out of reach for many students. To address the soaring costs of higher education, the House of Representatives approved the College Opportunity and Affordability Act to reform and strengthen the nation’s higher education programs to make sure they are operating in the best interests of students and families. Keeping college affordable is an important part of strengthening our workforce and our country’s future competitiveness.

The bill would address these rising prices by encouraging colleges to rein in price increases and ensure that states maintain higher education funding, strengthening the Pell Grant and Perkins Student Loan programs, simplifying the federal student aid application process, increasing college aid and support for veterans and military families, making textbook costs more manageable, boosting campus safety and disaster readiness plans and creating programs to bolster students’ interest in science and technology. These measures and other provisions in the bill would help open the doors of higher education for students all across the country.