Letter to Constituents

Letter

Dear Friend:

Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at http://www.carson.house.gov.

In this week's Carson Courier:

Bullying in Our Schools Must Be Addressed
Holding Wall Street Accountable and Protecting Consumers

Bullying in Our Schools Must Be Addressed

The problem of bullying has been a persistent issue for years, but in the last few months it has received increased local and national attention. All too often, newspaper headlines and news broadcasts throughout the country provide chilling details of bullying at schools and tragic outcomes for victims, including a staggering number of youth suicides.

Countless studies have shown that there is an inextricable link between the prevalence of bullying and school safety. They also demonstrate the need for bullying to be addressed quickly and effectively before tragedy hits.

This is an issue I take very seriously, and as your representative in Congress, I'm looking for legislative solutions that address bullying in our schools and keep our students safe.

Since the 112th Congress began, I have repeatedly supported Congressional efforts like the Bullying Prevention and Intervention Act and the Safe Schools Improvement Act to provide funding for programs that educate students, parents, teachers and administrators about the harm caused by bullying and how to promptly address it. By doing so, we can save lives and prevent our young people from having to deal with the physical, as well as psychological, consequences of bullying in our schools.

We have a duty to maintain a safe and healthy environment for students - an environment where they can learn without fear of ridicule. It is important that our children know that bullying will not be taken lightly, and that there are consequences for such actions. Please know that I am urging House leadership to bring these bills to the floor for a vote, so we can better protect students here in Indianapolis and around the country.

Holding Wall Street Accountable and Protecting Consumers

I joined this week as an original cosponsor of the Overdraft Protection Act, a bill that codifies regulations that stop banks from charging overdraft fees unless consumers specifically request the coverage be provided. The bill also ensures that overdraft charges are reasonable and proportional to the overdraft amount.

I'm sure all of us know someone - or know first-hand - the frustration of making a small purchase and learning later that you were hit with a $35 overdraft fee. According to a recent Pew study, 75 percent of those penalized would have preferred the bank to decline their transaction if they lacked sufficient funds.

As a member of the Committee on Financial Services, I sought to protect the most vulnerable and least-financially capable Hoosiers by limiting the ability of banks to impose high-cost, overdraft penalty fees. Consumers need to know they can avoid incurring these fees. The easiest way to avoid overdraft charges is not to opt into these programs at all.

Thank you for reading the Carson Courier.

Sincerely,

André Carson
Member of Congress

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