E-Newsletter, Volume 3, 2007
Press Release
E-Newsletter, Volume 3, 2007
Second Amendment is for All Americans
Congressman Mike Simpson is a cosponsor of H.R. 1399, the District of Columbia Personal Protection Act that lifts the ban on guns in the District of Columbia. "The Bill of Rights is for all Americans, including those who live in our Nation's Capitol," said Simpson. "Once again, we will try to restore the Second Amendment Right to citizens who reside in the District of Columbia."
On March 9, 2007, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the District of Columbia's ban on guns in the home is unconstitutional, violating the individual rights protected by the Second Amendment. The D.C. law is one of the most draconian gun bans in the United States. The majority opinion states: "The phrase the right of the people' leads us to conclude that the right in question is individual."
Since 1977, the District has banned the possession of all handguns not acquired and registered before that year. The law also prohibits keeping an assembled rifle or shotgun in the home.
"Contrary to the claims of gun control advocates, gun ownership is not the source of our gun-related crime problem. Washington, D.C., consistently has one of the highest murder rates in the nation," said Simpson.
This legislation is not new to Congress, the House of Representatives has voted on this issue four different times over the past eight years, but the Senate has yet to consider it. H.R. 1399 currently has 235 cosponsors in the House and 41 cosponsors in the Senate version.
Weekly Website
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Congressman Simpson with Leadership Idaho Agriculture Members; Robin Lindquist, Chad Henggeler, Kim Royer, Jim Wylie, Dale Dixon, Garren Apple, Rick Waitley
Congressman Simpson introduces the "Newborn
Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007"
More Information
Visit:
http://www.marchofdimes.com/
to learn more about newborn
screening.
Washington, D.C. -Congressman Mike Simpson and Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard introduced legislation to eliminate preventable newborn deaths and severe disabilities through the increased use of comprehensive and standardized newborn screening tests.
"Over four million babies are born in the United States each year. Using a blood sample from the newborn's foot identifies infants with genetic or other conditions that can be treated effectively," Simpson said. "This bill gives parents additional resources so that early identification and early treatment can be available for their baby."
Approximately four thousand babies are diagnosed each year in the United States with detectable and treatable diseases through the process of newborn screening. Forty years ago, these infants' disorders would have gone undetected until symptoms appeared, leading to possible death or lifelong disability. Today, a simple blood test detects these lifethreatening genetic illnesses before any symptoms begin, allowing crucial time for early treatment to prevent long-term damage.
"It is unacceptable that babies continue to be born in this country each year with diseases that can be detected by a simple blood test, and then treated to prevent serious complications," Roybal-Allard said. "By encouraging all states to uniformly test for all recommended disorders and by providing resources for states to expand and improve their newborn screening programs, our legislation would help increase awareness among doctors and parents about the tremendous importance of newborn screening and the need for immediate and coordinated follow-up care."
In 2004, the American College of Medical Genetics recommended that every baby born in the United States be screened for a minimum of 29 specific disorders that include: Phenylketonuria (a rare disorder that prevents the normal metabolism of protein foods); sickle cell disease (an inherited blood disorder); and homocystinuria (an amino acid disorder). Unfortunately, there is great disparity from state to state in the quality and number of newborn screening tests an infant may receive. As a result, the March of Dimes estimates that as many as one thousand babies born every year in the United States do not receive comprehensive newborn screening that includes their particular disorder.
The Newborn Screening Saves Lives Act of 2007 (HR 1634) would establish national newborn screening guidelines intended to make comprehensive newborn screening widely available throughout the country. The bill also provides federal funding to educate parents and health care professionals about the importance of newborn screening, and improves the systems for follow-up care for infants detected with an illness through the newborn screening tests. In addition, the bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to ensure the quality of laboratories involved in newborn screening, and establishes a system for collecting and analyzing data that will help researchers develop better detection, prevention and treatment strategies.
The measure, which is endorsed by the March of Dimes and the Association of Public Health Laboratories, is the House companion to S.634, introduced last month by Senators Chris Dodd of Connecticut and Orrin Hatch of Utah. Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard has been honored by the March of Dimes and the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition for her leadership on numerous bills to improve the health of mothers, infants, and children, including the newborn screening initiative and the "Folic Acid Education Act of 2000," which directed the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to undertake a public education campaign on the importance of folic acid in preventing birth defects.
Simpson: A Voice for
Education
Congressman Mike Simpson remains a constant voice for more flexibility to No Child Left Behind and continues to support TRiO programs for higher education.
Congressman Simpson expressed his support for increasing education funding during a hearing in the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education. He challenged Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings, who testified at the hearing, to recognize the specific challenges facing rural schools.
"We can talk about increasing flexibility under No Child Left Behind until we are blue in the face, but for most of these rural schools there are no other options," Simpson said. "We need to take a hard look at these requirements and provide rural schools with the necessary tools to help their students succeed." Simpson's voice for education continued when he met with members from the Council for Opportunity.
He shared his support for increasing funding to the TRiO programs. "I believe that any student who wants it, should have an opportunity to go to college," said Simpson. "Money should never be an obstacle to pursuing higher education."
The TRiO Programs were created to support Congress's commitment to providing education opportunities for all Americans regardless of race, ethic background, or economic circumstances. TRiO grants support low-income, firstgeneration college students and serve 7,500 Idahoans to succeed in high school and enter college programs each year.
"Many low-income students face a multitude of obstacles when they consider furthering their education," Simpson said. "If these students are the first in their families to pursue a college education, these challenges can seem insurmountable. The TRiO programs have a profound impact on the lives of these students."
Hold on to Your
Purse Strings
Democrat Budget Promises Unrealistic
Growth and Tax Increases
Congressman Mike Simpson opposed the House Democrat's budget proposal that was considered by the House Budget Committee . The proposal increases federal spending by $24 billion and raises taxes to pay for the increase.
"The voters were very clear in Novemberthey want less spending and more fiscal responsibility.
Based on this budget, however, it looks like Republicans are the only ones who got that message," said Simpson. "The one thing the Democrat Budget will do is reverse the record economic growth this nation has enjoyed since Congress enacted tax relief in 2001 and 2003."
The Democrat budget would create the largest tax increase in U.S. history, allowing important tax cuts for American families and pro-growth policies to expire in 2011. The Marriage Tax Penalty relief, the Child Tax Credit increase and the Estate Tax relief will all be gone. Families who are married will pay more than if they were single, the child tax credit will be cut in half and the estate tax returns full force.
Republican tax relief has led to unprecedented economic growth and dropped the unemployment rate. More importantly, tax relief gives back to Americans their own money. The robust economic growth in this nation over the past few years is proof that individual Americans use and invest their dollars much more wisely than the federal government does.
Congressman Simpson is also concerned that the Democrat Budget Proposal ignores the reality of our nation's fiscal situation by not addressing the out-of-control growth of entitlement spending.
"We owe it to our children and grandchildren to start fixing this problem that gets worse each year," said Simpson. "Both Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke and US Comptroller General Walker warned us that increases in entitlement program spending are causing growing deficits that cannot be solved by higher tax rates or even faster economic growth, we must start making tough decisions today for future generations."
Funding for Our Troops Must Not Be Cut
Simpson Signs Discharge Petition to Force House Vote on Fully Funding Our
Troops in Combat
Congressman Mike Simpson added his name to the growing list of members of congress signing a discharge petition to force House consideration of Congressman Sam Johnson's (R-TX) legislation supporting our troops.
"Congressman Johnson knows first hand the sacrifices being made by America's Armed Forces today and I proudly stand with him in his quest to fully fund our troops," said Simpson.
Rep. Sam Johnson introduced H.R. 511 in January this year. The bill mandates that "Congress will not cut off or restrict funding" for troops in Iraq or Afghanistan. H.R. 511 has 176 co-sponsors, but the Democrat majority has not scheduled a vote on it. In order to force the bill's consideration a discharge petition is being signed, once 218 members (a majority) sign the petition the bill must be considered.
"We can debate the President's war strategy all day long, but the one thing we must not do is cut off funding for our troops," said Simpson. "Americans will not stand for it as our Armed Servicemen and women deserve better."
Bill Would Expand Minidoka National Historic Site
Idaho Senators Larry Craig and Mike Crapo and Rep. Mike Simpson introduced legislation
to expand the Minidoka National Historic Site. The site was one of ten internment camps for
Americans of Japanese descent during World War II.
The legislation authorizes the expansion of the monument so that it will now include Hermann Farm. The Farm is significant because it was originally part of the Camp and was part of a program to give land to veterans of World War II upon their return. As one of the few "Farm-
In-A-Day" promotions, local community members turned the land from desert to a farm in one day by joining together and demonstrating the same American tenacity and ingenuity that won the
War.
It also authorizes an eight acre site in Bainbridge Island, Washington, as part of the Site. It is the site of the first internment camp and will house the Nidoto Nai Yoni ("Let it not happen again") memorial that commemorates this tragedy.
Craig, Crapo, and Simpson introduced the legislation and said, "History is taught so that
we replicate the good and don't repeat the bad. Interning Japanese Americans was a dark day in
American history, but the homesteading helped develop our land and provide income for those who sacrificed for our freedoms. This Monument will help educate Americans about our past, which helps us shape our future."
"I am pleased that the Minidoka site will provide the Magic Valley and the nation with opportunities to learn about the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II," said Matsuye Koto, a former internee at Minidoka and retired Magic Valley small business owner. "Thanks to the leadership of the Idaho Congressional delegation, Minidoka will now tell the story about life in camp to future generations."
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