The Gillmor Bulletin - May 2004
THE GILLMOR BULLETIN - MAY 2004
As your Representative in Congress, I am proud to represent Ohio's Fifth Congressional District here in Washington, DC.
In order to keep the citizens of the Fifth District better informed and up to date on my activities in Washington, DC and back home in Ohio, I have published this third edition of my monthly newsletter. It is my goal to provide you with the information you need to stay informed on the issues important to Ohio. In this edition of my Monthly Update I have focused on the important events that have taken place in the month of April and inform you of upcoming May events in the Fifth District. I hope that you will find this information beneficial. Please contact me should you have any questions or comments.
Realizing the American Dream:
Promoting Homeownership
On April 3, 2004 I was honored to join with the Cardwell family at the site of their future home. The Cardwell's are able to realize the American Dream of Homeownership through the generous support of the Seneca Habitat for Humanity, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Cincinnati and their local lending partner; the Old Fort Banking Company. Members of the Navy and Marine Corps Reserve Center in Toledo were also on hand to dedicate their time and lend their building expertise.
The construction of the Cardwell home is only one project of many across the country that are being organized through the Congress Building America program, initiated in June 2003 with the passage of concurrent resolutions in both the House and Senate. The Congress Building America program encourages members of Congress to participate in building projects with Habitat families and affiliates in their district during the 108 th and 109 th sessions of Congress. The program is a cooperative effort between Habitat for Humanity International, Congress, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), and corporate nonprofit sponsors.
I was glad to be on hand in Tiffin to witness the success of the Congress Building America program in the Fifth District and see all the hard work that goes into making the dream of owning a home into a reality for local families.
Small Businesses:
Driving the American Economy
Over the April Congressional District Work Period, when votes on the floor of the House of Representatives were not scheduled, I had the opportunity to meet with a number of local small business leaders and members of the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB).
It is the small businesses across America that have kept our economy going through some tough times recently and as your Fifth District Representative in Congress, I'm dedicated to do my part to ensure we pursue legislation that will help our local small businesses continue to thrive.
Small businesses represent more than 99 percent of all employers nationwide, and produce two-thirds to three-quarters of all new jobs created in our economy. In addition, small businesses produce 51 percent of private sector output and represent 96 percent of all exporters of goods from the United States.
As many of the participants at the April 19 NFIB lunch I attended indicated, one of the main obstacles faced by small businesses in the Fifth District is the skyrocketing cost of health care. In recognition of this issue and in an effort to ensure America 's small businesses are not forced to leave employees without adequate health care coverage, the House of Representatives has already passed two pieces of legislation addressing this important issue. In March and June of 2003, respectively, I joined with my House colleagues and fellow cosponsors of HR 5, the Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act of 2003 and HR 660, the Small Business Health Fairness Act of 2003 in working hard to see both bills passed by the House of Representatives.
However, our Senate colleagues have still failed to act on either proposal leaving the small businesses in the Fifth District without the health care and medical liability reforms that could end the health care cost crisis that is hammering our small business owners and affecting their ability to create new jobs.
Memorial Day:
Honoring our Fifth District Veterans
The "war on terrorism" has revived a sense of patriotic duty hidden in many Americans during the post-Cold War period. As we send forth a new generation of "American heroes" to defend freedom and democracy it is important to not forget those who have served before them. Our veterans perpetuate the "American spirit" and have ensured that this country remained a beacon of opportunity and prosperity throughout even the most difficult of times. To honor this country's commitment to care for our veterans, the House of Representatives recently passed the Fiscal Year 2005 Budget Resolution, H. Con. Res. 393, authorizing $30.5 billion in discretionary spending for the Department of Veterans Affairs as well as $39.8 in mandatory funding-these levels represent an increase of 4.4% and 23.6% respectively. Currently, final negotiations are under way by a House-Senate Conference Committee to work out the differences in the legislation as it was passed by each chamber.
As a veteran myself, I feel that it is important to honor those who have honorably answered the call of their country to defend freedom. Given the recent surge in military activity after the tragic events of 9/11 we must ready ourselves for an increase in veteran's services. Although we can never fully repay the sacrifices made by our veterans, the proposed increases for VA funding in the FY 2005 budget are aimed at preparing the system to meet the needs of new those new veterans while maintaining our commitment to our heroes of the past.
Memorial Day:
The Opening of the World War II Memorial
The National World War II Memorial in Washington , DC recently opened to the public-nearly one month before its official dedication by President Bush. This memorial, which is scheduled to be officially dedicated on May 29th, honors the service of the 16 million troops that fought to defend freedom in one of the greatest struggles of modern history. Honoring the service of America's "greatest generation" comes at a time when, according to the American Battle Monuments Commission, these icons of American freedom are passing away at a rate of nearly 1,100 per day. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the Battle of Normandy and as we take time this Memorial Day to remember both their service and the sacrifices currently being made by servicemen and women stationed across the world let us not forget that "freedom is never free."
Manufacturing:
The Backbone of the American Economy was also able to take advantage of our Congressional District Work Period on April 12, to visit Bard Manufacturing Company in Bryan.
The Manufacturing sector is the largest employer in Williams County and thirteen other counties in Ohio's Fifth District, making it the second largest industry district wide.
In recognition of the important role manufacturers play in our communities, I introduced legislation supporting the goals of National Manufacturing Week back in February and was happy to see it unanimously passed by the House Committee on Energy and Commerce on April 27.
I feel it is important that Congress congratulate manufacturers like the Bard Manufacturing Company and their employees for their important contributions to growth and innovation. For more than a century, the manufacturing sector has been the primary source of economic growth in the United States. Manufacturing is central to both economic and national security and in fact, every dollar in manufacturing goods sold generates an additional $1.43 in intermediate economic activity.
Tax Relief:
Permanent Relief from the Marriage Penalty Tax
On April 28 the House took an important step forward by voting to permanently eliminate the current marriage penalty tax, providing important tax relief to over 36 million married couples. I was happy to join with 94 of my House colleagues in sponsoring the Marriage Penalty Relief Bill (H.R. 4181). Continuing to relieve the tax burdens of the American family remains one of the most important goals for Congress this year. If this legislation had not been passed, the average family of four would see their taxes increase by over $300 a year with the following results:
Income Range Average Current Income Tax Liability Average Tax Increase % Increase In Tax Burden
$10,000 to $15,000 $6 $33 563%
$15,000 to $20,000 $168 $116 69%
$20,000 to $25,000 $592 $126 21%
$25,000 to $30,000 $954 $127 13%
$30,000 to $40,000 $1,525 $178 12%
$40,000 to $50,000 $2,466 $188 8%
$50,000 to $75,000 $4,645 $260 6%
$75,000 to $100,000 $8,274 $573 7%
I hope the Senate will also do their part to help the American taxpayer and move quickly to pass H.R. 4181 and give the more than 290,000 married couples in the Fifth District this much-needed relief.
Medicare Prescription Drug Discount Cards:
Available May 3rd
As a result of the Medicare Reform Bill passed by Congress last year, beginning on May 3rd eligible seniors can enroll in their choice of a Medicare prescription drug discount card. The discount cards are intended to help offset your drug costs until the implementation of the Medicare drug benefit program in January 2006. Discounts from the prescription drug cards will be available as early as June 1st.
A recent study by Harvard Medical School estimates that seniors currently without prescription drug coverage will save approximately 17.4 percent on the cost of their prescriptions through the drug discount card program. In addition, millions of seniors will qualify for a $600 subsidy towards their prescription purchases. Therefore, low-income seniors will receive an even far greater savings off the costs of their prescriptions.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services will be aggressively monitoring the discount card program to ensure safety from fraud and abuse. By law, your prescription drug card cannot cost you more than $30 per year. To guarantee your card choice is Medicare approved, please look for the symbol displayed in the right hand corner of this article.
Unless you are already receiving drug coverage from Medicaid, there are many choices of discount cards available for Medicare beneficiaries. To decide which card is right for you, please use the Medicare Website at www.medicare.gov or speak with a Medicare consultant at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). I would also encourage you to visit my website at www.house.gov/gillmor/prescription.htm for more information on the Drug Discount Card Program.
Focus on the Fifth District:
Local Champions
This year the Fifth District is the proud home of two State Men's High School Championship Teams in their divisions.
Head Coach David Sweet and his Ottawa-Glandorf Titans men's basketball team won their first state championship this year in Division II. The Titans ended their outstanding championship season with only one loss, setting a school record with 27 season victories.
Head Coach Paul Wayne also led his Holgate Tigers to their first state men's basketball championship in Division IV. The Tigers held their championship game opponents to the lowest score in a state championship game since 1963 in their first state appearance in 51 years, finishing their championship season with an outstanding 21-6 record.
May Casework Onsites
One of my goals as Congressman is to make sure that casework services are readily available to all my constituents. Unfortunately, the size of our sixteen county district makes travel to my Defiance, Tiffin, or Norwalk offices prohibitive for many. In order to ensure that my staff is accessible to all my constituents, I have scheduled casework onsites in Henry and Lucas Counties as follows:
Thursday, May 20, 2004 Thursday, May 20, 2004
9:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Hamler Village Hall Waterville Village Hall
871 East Hubbard Street Council Chambers
Hamler, OH Waterville, OH
If you are in the area, I encourage you to stop by and my staff will be happy to assist you with any problems you are having with the federal government.
Contact Me
If you have any suggestions on topics you would like to see addressed in my monthly updates, require any additional information, or would like to inform me of your views on matters concerning the federal government, please contact me anytime in Washington, DC or in any of my Ohio offices.
If you wish to forward your questions or concerns via U.S. mail please address your correspondence to one of my Ohio offices as mail sent to the Longworth House Office Building in Washington is subject to a lengthy screening process and may not reach my office in a timely manner.