Rep. McCarthy Encourages Constituents Stay Prepared for Hurricane Season

Statement

Dear Friends,

Rep. McCarthy Encourages Constituents to Prepare for Possible Hurricane

This week, the National Weather Service has encouraged residents along the east coast, including the Long Island Region, to prepare for a possible hurricane. Hurricane Earl is an intense storm that has traveled up the East Coast from North Carolina and will continue into New England.

Although the threat to Long Island has decreased, residents must still be prepared for heavy winds and rain which could lead to downed trees and power lines. The Nassau County Office of Emergency Management, LIPA, and National Grid have all been following the path of the storm and have put into place emergency response plans to address any issues that result from this storm.

While the effects of Hurricane Earl may not be as severe as originally predicted, I encourage residents to take this opportunity to ensure that they are prepared for the possibility of a hurricane or major storm in the near future. Hurricane season began on June 1, 2010 and will continue through November 30. There are a number of resources that suggest steps and instruct residents on how to prepare for a major storm. I urge constituents to review and to take advantage of these resources and to pay attention to the directions of emergency management officials in case of a storm in the near future.

For more information and storm safety and preparedness tips:

1. http://www.lipower.org/stormcenter/safety.html
2. http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/oem/hurricane/prepare.html
3. http://m.fema.gov/

Rep. McCarthy Honors America's Workers This Labor Day

The first Monday in September is about more than just marking the symbolic end to summer, Labor Day is the day dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. Labor Day serves as a tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our nation.

The current state of our economy has hit laborers and working families hard. As Chairwoman of the House Education and Labor Committee and as a member of the Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions, I have been working with my colleagues in Congress to pass legislation to ease the burden caused by this economy.

Just last month the House passed the Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistance Act by a vote of 247-161. The measure has already been signed into law by President Obama. The bill saves and creates jobs and reduces the deficit by $1.4 billion and closes tax loopholes that allow corporations to ship American jobs overseas. Failure to pass this bill would have forced states to lay off more workers, cut more services, and raise taxes to balance their budgets.

Additionally, Congress has been working this session to boost manufacturing by investing in industry and innovation, improving manufacturing infrastructure, and create a level playing field for American companies to compete worldwide thus strengthening the American workforce.

Last month Congress passed the U.S. Manufacturing Enhancement Act. This Act will make it cheaper for American companies to obtain the materials they need to manufacture goods. This legislation has also been signed into law by the President.

Congress has also passed several other measures to help American workers. The Lily Ledbetter Fair Pay Act has evened the playing field for women with regards to fair pay. Congress also increased the minimum wage by 70 cents per hour-- from $6.55 per hour to $7.25 per hour -- the final of three increases. This gave 4.5 million workers a badly needed boost in their pay.

While we have much more work to do to get our economy back to where it should be, Congress has been able to help workers. These pieces of legislation are a step in the right direction towards our nation's economic recovery.

On this Labor Day, we celebrate the achievements of the American worker and our nation's commitment to helping all families pursue the American Dream. Many continue to face difficult times. I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to move America's middle class forward, put Main Street first again, and create jobs here at home.

It is an honor and privilege to serve as your representative in Washington. I encourage you to utilize my office as a resource and stay in contact as it enables me to better represent the beliefs and values of our district. Please visit my websitefor more information about this, and other important issues in Congress.

Sincerely,

Carolyn McCarthy
Member of Congress

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