E-News From Congressman Murphy

Statement

U.S. Military Action in Syria?

Since 2011, when anti-authoritarian protests spread across the Middle East as part of the so-called "Arab Spring," Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has faced demonstrations and political opposition from his own citizens in an effort to usher in a new government. Assad has been forcibly retaliating against protesters and according to the White House this week, Syrian military forces used chemical weapons against civilians during a raid near Damascus. President Obama has said the use of chemical weapons crosses a "red line" and is now considering a military response against the Assad regime.

In response, Congressman Murphy joined over 140 of his House colleagues in sending a letter to the White House urging the President to consult and receive authorization from Congress before ordering the use of U.S. military force in Syria.

Said Murphy, "Much is still unknown and I am gravely concerned the Administration could go it alone and begin a military response without going to Congress or the American people for consent. Congress must be engaged in a decision-making process of such enormous military consequence, as well as give prior authorization for military action under the War Powers Resolution."

Later that same day, House Speaker Boehner followed suit and called on the President to make the case to Congress and the American people, listing specific questions that need to be answered, such as: What is the intended effect of the potential military strikes? What result is the Administration seeking from the strike?

Murphy expressed frustration that the President has not sufficiently laid out his case to the American people as why it is in the U.S. national interest to pursue a military response and noted the failure of the Administration to articulate a clear agenda or coherent strategy in the Middle East has only compounded the problem as the region has lurched from crisis to crisis. This has led us to the point where the Middle East is dangerously destabilized while our own country's agenda in this sphere remains unknown.

"I am anxious to review the facts, consider the Administration's plan -- if one even exists -- and debate the strategy of responding to the Syrian President's actions. Following that, we must examine the consequences of taking military action and determine what the outcome is that we want."

City Turns Out For Forum On New Healthcare Law

This week, more problems with implementation of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) were revealed.

Under the law, Americans without insurance were supposed to be able to buy taxpayer-subsidized policies through a new health-insurance "exchange" marketplace beginning in the fall. But this week, Reuters news service reported the government won't sign contracts with participating insurers for at least two more weeks, casting doubt on the Administration's ability to meet the October 1 deadline when the exchanges are required to be up and running.

Another missed deadline underscored the concerns of constituents, business owners, and local officials who came out for a public forum and discussion on the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in Washington, Pa., Wednesday night with Rep. Murphy. At the request of Councilman Joe Manning and the Washington City Council, Congressman Murphy spoke at the nonpartisan public meeting, which was covered in the Observer-Reporter, and addressed questions about how the new healthcare law would impact residents and their families.

At the meeting, Oversight Committee Chairman Murphy reviewed the findings of his subcommittee's investigation. Key provisions of the healthcare law like eligibility verification are not ready; individual insurance premiums are set to rise by nearly 100 percent on average; and local SWPA employers are facing complex regulations and higher costs because of the law.

"Even by January 1, we're not ready. The truth is, the government isn't ready," said Murphy.

To stop the flawed law from moving forward, and to save taxpayers from funding the broken ACA, Rep. Murphy signed onto the Defund Obamacare Act of 2013 (H.R. 2682). The bill prohibits Congress from paying for any part of the ACA in a government-funding measure. H.R. 2682 is the House companion to legislation authored by Senator Ted Cruz (TX).

Murphy also explained, to the surprise of many in the audience, that the President, Vice President, political appointees, and federal workers are wholly exempt from the law. But the Washington City seniors face Medicare cuts under ACA.

American people, Congressmen and Senators, and congressional staff are not exempt and must comply with all aspects of the law, including a requirement that they only buy insurance in the new marketplace exchanges. To end special exemptions and carveouts, Murphy is a cosponsor of H.R. 1780 to require all Executive Branch workers to participate fully in the healthcare law.

Among the questions Murphy answered during an expansive Q-and-A was whether Congress could attach legislative language to a must-pass government funding measure for 2014 that would "defund" implementation of the ACA. Current funding for federal agencies expires on September 30.

Murphy explained that ACA implementation continues even if the government shuts down, according to a Congressional Research Service analysis. The reason the law would continue to be funded under a government funding bill is because the original legislation, which Murphy voted against, put Affordable Care Act programs "off-budget" -- effectively running them on auto-pilot like Medicare and Social Security. So if the government were to shut down, tax credits to buy insurance and new taxes in the bill would continue to be dispersed and collected. The marketplace exchanges self-finance through a new tax on health plans. Murphy noted that the only way to truly stop implementation of the law would be through passage of repeal legislation.

Of the $700 billion in Medicare cuts put in place in the law to pay for insurance subsidies for younger Americans, the majority of these Medicare cuts will come from Medicare Advantage plans like Highmark Security Blue and UPMC For Life. To stop the ACA cuts on Medicare, Rep. Murphy reintroduced his Social Security and Medicare Protection Act. The legislation stops the Administration from raiding the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds and diverting money to other programs like the Bridge to Nowhere and other wasteful spending.

Murphy also explained how his Committee is reviewing the activities of "navigators," who have been hired by the federal government to sign up people for the ACA. Murphy stressed that he wanted to make sure navigators did not misuse a person's sensitive information. Towards that end, Rep. Murphy introduced the IRS Health Records Privacy Act (HR 3041).

Murphy Delivers On New Military Post Exchange

Area military families, veterans and military retirees who served our country will soon have a convenient new facility to buy uniforms, household essentials, and more.

On Thursday, Rep. Murphy was joined by local military leaders and congressional colleagues to launch construction of the new Post Exchange with a groundbreaking ceremony at the store's future home on the grounds of McGarity Army Reserve Center, home of the 316th Army Reserve base.

The PX is a key element in the region's growing military community. It will be located between a soon-to-completed commissary and the 316th Army Reserve, as well as across the street from the 911th Airlift Wing, the 171st Air National Guard, and a new Navy Reserve Operations and Support Center. The PX will serve approximately 30,000 within a 40-mile radius, including active duty of all military branches, Reserves, National Guard, retirees and their families. A grand opening for the PX could follow as soon as June 2014. Taken together, the region's military bases generate $300 million in local economic activity and support thousands of jobs.

"This is for the families, recognizing the sacrifices that active duty, reservists, and guardsmen make," said Murphy. "The new PX is an example of the community working together for the benefit of our region's military families, and a reminder of how valuable Southwestern Pennsylvania is to the nation's Armed Forces," said Rep. Murphy, whose remarks were covered in the Beaver County Times.

The PX groundbreaking was the capstone to years of work and coordination spearheaded by Rep. Murphy beginning in 2005 when the Collier Township C.E. Kelly base, its commissary, and PX were slated for closure. Murphy worked with Rep. Mike Doyle to bring on board additional supporters and educate new lawmakers to help usher the project to fruition. Rep. Murphy secured the necessary support from key congressional committees, and received regular briefings about the new store from officials of the Army and Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES), a division of the Pentagon that will own and operate the new facility. Rep. Murphy also helped to secure approval for a brand-new replacement commissary in Moon.

The Post Exchange will feature a barber shop, retail space, and a military clothing store. The discounted products can help military families make ends meet during the difficult economic recovery.

New NOSC will open in April.

Following the groundbreaking, Murphy toured the construction site of the new Navy Reserve Operations and Support Center (NOSC). The building, which is on the grounds of the 911th,includes office space, drilling facilities, and all necessary amenities for training Navy reservists. The new NOSC will replace an older facility in North Versailles and is expected to be completed in April, at which point members of the Navy Reserve will transition to the new location.

Region Thrives As Tech, Energy Innovator

With greater Detroit's woes tied to the auto industry, Detroit fell into a spiral of blight, crime and debt. The recent bankruptcy of Detroit has drawn reporters to examine the reinvention of Pittsburgh, a city that recovered and evolved anew from de-industrialization. Three decades after steel and industrial industries retrenched, Pittsburgh thrives with a new focus on technology and innovation.

Southwestern Pennsylvania is still home to hundreds of manufacturers, machine shops, metalworkers, steel plants, and equipment makers. It is also increasingly a destination for tech firms large and small.

To see firsthand how Southwestern Pennsylvania businesses are continuing to succeed in a new global economy, Rep. Murphy visited Innovation Works, a South Oakland firm that is the single largest investor in growing companies in SWPA and one of the most active in the country.

Epiphany CEO Tom Joseph explained how his company's products deliver clean water in the developing world.

Innovation Works provides investment capital, business consulting, R&D teams, and other services to the local technology economy, investing $52.3 million in roughly 168 technology startups that provide thousands of jobs and considerable economic benefit to the region. These companies have contributed an estimated $1.5 billion to the local economy.

Innovation Works partners with local universities and the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) to identify promising energy ventures without using federal taxpayer dollars. For example, Innovation Works succeeded in helping one startup work with NETL to turn a carbon-capture byproduct into a high-performing adhesive.

Later in the week Rep. Murphy visited Epiphany Solar Water Systems, a company that helps developing countries without clean water use solar energy to turn contaminated or salinated water into drinking water. Epiphany was partly launched through a $200,000 investment from Innovation Works.

The company promotes an inclusive energy vision for SWPA, including alternative sources, but stresses that sustainable energy such as solar and wind ought to use Epiphany as a model of how companies can prove their viability without government subsidies.

Epiphany's signature product is a water purifier that uses solar heat to vaporize impurities in rainwater and other sources in order to produce clean drinking water. Access to clean water is one of the largest reasons behind civil strife and military conflict. The purifier has even been used by local shale gas companies to separate salt and other additives from excess water at extraction sites; the separated parts can then be used for other applications. The Phipps Conservatory also incorporates the technology. Epiphany is exploring partnerships with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) to help lift developing nations in Africa, Asia, and elsewhere out of poverty.

Closer to home, Rep. Murphy has been working with Allegheny County and local municipalities to rebuild the region's aging water and sewer system. Murphy introduced the Infrastructure Jobs and Energy Independence Act, which would generate trillions of new revenue from expanding safe oil and gas development. A portion of those funds would be dedicated to rebuild aging sewer lines.

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