Ben's Briefing - The Chesapeake Bay, Health Care, And Veteran's Day

Statement

CHESAPEAKE BAY HEARING: As chairman of the Environment and Public Works Water and Wildlife Subcommittee, on Monday I will hold a hearing on Great Water Body Legislation: S. 1816, the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act of 2009, and S. 1311, the Gulf of Mexico Restoration and Protection Act. The Chesapeake Bay and Gulf of Mexico are two of our nation's most treasured water bodies. Both the Bay and the Gulf serve as the backbones of their respective regional economies, and they both are seriously threatened by nutrients and sediments. Together, the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act, which I authored, and the Gulf of Mexico Restoration and Protection Act would strengthen and formalize programs that are in place on the federal, state, regional, and international levels.

REDUCING HEALTH CARE DISPARITIES: On Monday, I will join Congressman Steny Hoyer, State Senator Thomas M. "Mac" Middleton and officials from the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health to announce two grants that will help reduce health disparities in minority and rural communities. The first grant includes $2.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) to establish a study in Southern and Western Maryland that will focus on whether home telehealth care can close rural gaps in health care. The second ARRA grant of $2.4 million will create a national Bioethics Research Center to study ways to reduce the lack of diversity in clinical research participation.

HEALTH CARE FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS: On Tuesday, I will join Democratic Senators Patty Murray, Kay Hagan, Ted Kaufman and Paul Kirk at a press conference to discuss how health insurance reform will provide stable, affordable coverage for the middle class. Currently, the cost of health care is rising three times faster than wages, chipping away at the paychecks of hardworking Americans. Reform will lower costs and help ensure that middle-class families will have the health care coverage that they need.

NOMINATION OF JUDGE DAVIS: On Monday, the Senate will finally vote on the nomination of Judge Andre M. Davis to the Fourth Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals. Judge Davis is an exceptional jurist with a clear appreciation for the Constitution and a demonstrated commitment to protect civil rights and civil liberties. Born and raised in Baltimore and a fellow University of Maryland Law School alumnus, Judge Davis would be an asset to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals and a source of pride to all Marylanders.

VETERANS' DAY: In anticipation of Veterans' Day on November 11, this week the Senate we will be considering The Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2010, (S. 1407). The bill would provide a total of $109 billion for the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), to meet the growing needs of our nation's veterans, improve VA services and facilities, and provide for the long-term needs of veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, including critical programs for research and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. The bill also includes appropriations to ensure a stable and uninterrupted source of funding for medical care for veterans. I believe we have a commitment to honor the promises we made to our soldiers when they signed up to defend and protect our nation. Chief among these promises is providing our veterans with world-class health care.

UPCOMING MEDIA: On Tuesday (11/10) I will be live on XM-Sirius radio at 8:10 talking to Bill Press about health care reform.

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