Pickering's Mississippi E-Memo #41
Pickering's Mississippi E-Memo
Congressman Chip Pickering
Friday - 11/04/2005 - #41
VETERANS DAY: Friday November 11 is Veterans Day: the anniversary of the Armistice which ended World War I in 1918, and now a day to celebrate all the men and women who served in our armed forces in war and in peace. Please make an opportunity to thank a veteran and remember their sacrifices. Our armed forces keep our nation and communities safe and secure from foreign threats. Congressman Chip Pickering said, "We owe our security, our prosperity, our very freedoms to the men and women of the armed forces. Every day the American flag flies above this great nation; every day we freely practice religion and speak our views; every day that the eyes of the world wanting liberty and democracy look to our shores - every day should be Veterans Day. As a member of Congress and as the Representative of Mississippi's Third Congressional District, I thank our veterans for their honor and sacrifices."
Over the past five years, Congress has taken real steps to honor the promises made to veterans. The veterans budget increased more than $20 billion from the FY 2001 amount of $48 billion to $68 billion in FY 2005, a 42 percent increase. Veterans Medical Care Funding rose 46 percent from $19.3 billion in the FY 2001 to $30 billion in FY 2005. GI Bill benefits boosted 46 percent from $23,400 to $35,460 giving our nation's veterans more opportunities to pursue a higher education. VA home loan guarantees increased to $333,700 a growth of 67 percent from the prevailing maximum level in 2001, affording more veterans the opportunity of homeownership. And in 2004, Congress enacted a historic $22 billion concurrent receipt benefit to more than 250,000 disabled military retirees over the next ten years. (For more details see veterans.house.gov)
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: This week Congressman Pickering voted for a number of measures in the House of Representatives including the Online Freedom of Speech Act (HR1606) which would have allowed grassroots activists on the Internet to not be limited by federal campaign finance limits [the measure failed to achieve the two-thirds votes necessary]; the Private Property Rights Protection Act (HR4128) which restricts federal funds from governments which abuse eminent domain; the Department of Veterans Affairs Information Technology Management Improvement Act (HR4061) which streamlines management and technology in the Department of Veterans Affairs; and the Foreign Operations Appropriations Act (HR3057) which funds the Department of State and related agencies. (For more information on the Property Rights measure: www.house.gov/pickering/property.htm)
PICKERING'S HOME ACT FOR KATRINA VICTIMS: Thursday, Congressman Chip Pickering testified before a House Transportation Subcommittee on his bill which provides assistance to homeowners whose property was damaged by storm-surge and flooding, but was not within the previously federally designated flood zone requiring flood insurance. The "Housing Opportunities and Mitigating Emergencies Act of 2005" or "HOME Act" would provide temporary emergency assistance grants - up to $150,000 - to owners of eligible structures to reconstruct or repair their homes. The federal share of the grant is 80%, the state share 10% and the recipient contributing 10%. The owner of the eligible property must purchase and maintain flood insurance in the future, and repair or rebuild in compliance with international building code standards and flood insurance rate maps. An "eligible structure" is a primary residence damaged by "flood" (storm surge) from Hurricanes Katrina or Rita, located in the hurricane zone and covered by insurance policy for wind or windstorm, but not in a flood zone at time of Hurricanes Katrina or Rita. Pickering will formally introduce the legislation next week and it currently has the support of others in the Mississippi and Louisiana delegations. (For more information: www.house.gov/pickering/FloodZone.htm)
KATRINA COMMITTEE UPDATE: Wednesday at the Select Committee on Hurricane Katrina Response, Congressman Pickering noted only 1.29% of FEMA's prime contracts and only 5.6% of the Corps of Engineers' prime contracts for Hurricane Katrina relief currently go to Mississippi companies. "That is not preference; that is a failure to comply with the Stafford Act," Pickering said. "Local contractors can do the job quicker, cheaper and better because they are rebuilding their home. They are rebuilding their own towns, communities and neighborhoods." The Corps of Engineers testified they are unclear of what "preference" means and are unsure of whether they have authority for a "geographic set aside." Pickering said, "The Stafford Act is not a suggestion; it is the law. It is obscene to me that the Corps of Engineers claims confusion over the word 'preference.' I can tell them the intent of Congress; it is clear to me. Preference means local contractors should be considered before out-of-state contractors. Congress made this decision as macro policy. It saves taxpayer money by infusing the devastated economy with financial strength. It employs those who lost their jobs to the hurricane. It provides a salary for those who need food. And it is not for the Corps of Engineers to decide to ignore the law." Pickering advised that the federal bureaucracies continue to be unable or unwilling to share the information needed by the committee and suggested if that continues, the committee may begin issuing subpoenas. (For more information see www.house.gov/pickering/Contractors.htm)
CONTRACT WORKSHOPS: The Mississippi Development Authority will host a series of statewide workshops designed to make the contract procurement process easier for small, disadvantaged and minority business owners. The workshops are free and open to the public but pre-registration is required (contact Deirdre Floyd with MDA at 601-359-3448). Representatives from the Department of Homeland Security, FEMA, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Small Business Administration and the General Services Administration, as well as prime contractors, will be in attendance to answer questions and provide resources for business owners. Each program will run from 8am to 1:30pm. (For more information see www.mississippi.org)
Meridian - November 7: Delaney Hall, Meridian Community College
Jackson - November 9: Mississippi E-Center, JSU, 1230 Raymond Road
Greenville - November 15: Washington County Convention Center, 1040 South Raceway Road
Columbus - November 17: Trotter Convention Center, 2nd Avenue North, Columbus
CONGRESS FUNDS VETERINARY SERVICES ACT: Last Congress, President Bush signed into law a measure Chip Pickering drafted and sponsored in the House and Thad Cochran sponsored in the Senate to create a student loan repayment program for veterinary school graduates who agree to work in underserved areas of the country. Trained veterinarians from facilities like Mississippi State University are our nation's front line defenders against animal related diseases and threats including agri-terrorism. They will be the first to diagnosis emerging infectious disease outbreaks like: Avian Influenza (bird flu), West Nile virus, SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and monkey pox. Last week the House and Senate passed the Agriculture Appropriations Conference Report and funded this program to $500,000. (For more information on the value of Veterinarians to Homeland Security see: www.house.gov/pickering/SecuringFood.htm)
CHIP PICKERING ONLINE NEWS:
H.O.M.E. Act to Provide up to $150K for Storm-Surge Victims Outside Flood Zone (Release: 11/3)
Pickering: For Mississippi Contractors, Home is the Incentive (Release: 11/3)
Pickering: House Passes Property Rights Bill (Release: 11/3)
Committee members irked by Katrina contracting practices (Congress Daily: 11/3)
Katrina Recovery Officials Unsure What's Been Spent (Washington Post: 11/3)
Mississippi salt domes eyed for reserves (Associated Press: 11/3)
Two months after Katrina, politics tightens purse strings (The Hill: 11/2)
Medicaid: Katrina demands more options (Jackson Clarion Ledger: 11/1)
Fire grant will assist New Hebron (Brookhaven Daily Leader: 10/31)
Pickering seeks Medicaid aid (Jackson Clarion Ledger: 10/30)
Collinsville VFD now better prepared (Meridian Star: 10/30)
Lawsuit limitations passed (Jackson Clarion Ledger: 10/30)
Full Medicaid funding passes key U.S. hurdle (Tupelo Daily Journal: 10/29)
Panel OKS federal funds for Medicaid (Jackson Clarion Ledger: 10/29)
Pickering recommends hurricane strike force of National Guard (Columbus Commercial Dispatch: 10/28)
NAB Joint Board Gives Prexy Rehr Full Briefing (Billboard Radio Monitor: 10/28)
http://www.house.gov/pickering/EMemo41.htm