May 6 Update

Statement

Dear Friends,

I'm pleased to share this update with you on recent events in the Eleventh Congressional District and news about changes in federal regulations, policies and legislation. Please take a moment to learn more about the upcoming new Health Insurance Marketplaces, my efforts to address student loan increases and the unacceptable backlog in veterans' compensation claims, as well as other federal issues impacting American families.

Marcia L. Fudge

In this Issue:

New District Office Opens In Akron
Get Ready for the Health Insurance Marketplace
Superintendents Roundtable with U.S. Education Secretary Duncan
VA Launches New Policy to address Backlog in Veterans Claims
Interest on Student Loans to double unless Congress Acts
SUMMIT COUNTY DISTRICT OFFICE NOW OPEN

On April 6th, I held an open house to welcome constituents to my new district office in the Lawton Community Center in Akron. It was an honor to meet the many residents and community leaders who attended the event. The new office location is designed to improve constituent service for residents of Summit County. It will be staffed by Ginger Baylor, my outreach coordinator for Summit County. I will continue to maintain an office in Warrensville Heights and in Washington, D.C. Addresses and contact information for all offices are located at the end of the newsletter.
Visitors at the District Office Grand Opening Celebration in Akron

HEALTH INSURANCE MARKETPLACES (EXCHANGES)

Beginning October 1, 2013, individuals in every state will be able to shop for health insurance and compare plans through the Marketplace for coverage that begins in 2014. A new website, www.healthcare.gov/marketplace, is now available with useful features, including an introductory video and a checklist for individuals and families of the seven things they can to do prepare to shop for insurance plans. In addition, individuals can sign up for email or text updates. The website also includes information tailored to the needs of small businesses.

U.S. EDUCATION SECRETARY VISITS THE 11TH DISTRICT
MEETS WITH AREA SUPERINTENDENTS

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan joined me in listening to superintendents' concerns about federal education policy and legislation.

At my invitation, U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan came to Ohio and met with local school superintendents. The Eleventh Congressional District now includes 20 public school districts and 18 were represented in the Listening Session held on April 19th at Corporate College East in Warrensville Heights. Secretary Duncan and I fielded questions and noted the concerns presented by our local school leaders on a variety of issues including competitive grants, assessment requirements and reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), also known as No Child Left Behind. USDA Deputy Under Secretary Dr. Janey Thornton from Washington joined Secretary Duncan and our superintendents. Dr. Thornton oversees Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services at the USDA. She listened to concerns and shared policy and other information with the superintendents and nutrition staff from the various school districts.

VA LAUNCHES NEW POLICY INITIATIVE: EXPEDITE OLDEST VETERANS CLAIMS FIRST

Recently I met with the Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), General Eric Shinseki, to discuss the long and frustrating delays thousands of veterans encounter in the processing of their claims for compensation. Other Representatives whose constituents have encountered similar delays also attended the meeting. Shortly after, the VA announced an initiative to expedite claims decisions for Veterans who have waited one year or longer. Effective on April 19, 2013, VA claims raters will make provisional decisions on the oldest claims in inventory, which will allow eligible Veterans to begin collecting compensation benefits more quickly.

The new process also enables Veterans to submit additional evidence for consideration a full year after the provision rating and before VA issues a final decision. This initiative is long overdue. The average length of time to process a claim is currently 286 days, but in reality, many cases fall through the cracks and many of our veterans are waiting more than a year for a decision. I will continue to advocate for the men and women who have served our nation honorably, and work to ensure you receive the benefits you have earned.

Veterans can learn more about disability benefits on the joint Department of Defense VA web portal eBenefits: https://www.ebenefits.va.gov/ebenefits-portal/ebenefits.portal. A link is also available on my website, www.fudge.house.gov.

STUDENT LOANS - WE NEED ACTION NOW OR INTEREST RATES WILL DOUBLE

Unless Congress acts, the interest rate on need-based student loans is set to double on July 1 -- rising to 6.8 percent. The U.S. Department of Education projects this would increase borrowing costs for more than 7 million students. The budget passed by the Republican Majority on March 21 allows the interest rate to rise. I opposed this budget for its many misplaced priorities; among them, the failure to address the needs of low income students who struggle to afford ever rising costs of higher education. Student debt in our nation has already surpassed all forms of consumer debt except home mortgages. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), Congressional inaction will result in passing $4.3 billion in additional repayment costs onto students for the coming school year -- with the typical student borrower paying $1,000 in additional costs. In the immortal words of baseball legend Yogi Berra, "It's like déjà vu all over again."
Congress confronted the same crisis in 2012 until legislation providing a one year fix was approved.We need a long term solution to provide students and their families with certainty. In a competitive global economy, America needs a highly skilled workforce and investing in education is a wise investment for taxpayers. We learned that lesson following World War II with passage of the original GI Bill. It was costly at the time to provide 8 million returning veterans with education benefits, but it more than paid for itself. Years later, a Congressional Budget Office study showed that for every dollar spent on education under the original GI Bill, the U.S. economy gained 7 dollars in benefits through increased productivity, higher wages, consumer spending and tax revenue. I am confident the investments we make in our students today will also benefit our nation for generations to come.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS - SERVICE ACADEMY NOMINATIONS

Each year, I am honored to nominate students from the Eleventh Congressional District to our nation's military and service academies. My office begins accepting applications on May 13, 2013 for fall 2014 enrollment at the United States Air Force, Naval and Army Academies, as well as the Merchant Marine Academy. (The Coast Guard Academy does not require a Congressional nomination.) Information and application forms are available on my website, www.fudge.house.gov or by calling any of my offices.

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