Congressional Briefs: Lee Hits Bush on Financial Crisis, Touts Iran Bill

Oct. 22, 2008, 12:00 a.m. - Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) released the following statement in response to the new announcements by the Treasury Department and the Federal Reserve:

“Our economy is in turmoil. The collapse of Wall Street is crippling families on Main Street,” Congresswoman Lee said. "The government has stepped in to save Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from failure, helped to finance the sale of Bear Stearns, and bailed out AIG, the world's largest insurance company.

“During my tenure on the House Financial Services Committee, my Democratic colleagues and I repeatedly warned the Administration about mounting excesses due to the rapid deregulation of financial markets, the dangers of predatory lending, and repeatedly demanded more oversight over the financial services industry.

“Our warnings were ignored by this administration and its allies in Congress who continued to champion deregulation as they assured us all of the "fundamental soundness" of our economy.

“The series of bailouts by the U.S. Treasury and the Federal Reserve and the most recent announcement of the need to create another 'Resolution Trust Corporation' to take on the massive amounts of bad debts held by our banks and other financial services companies show just how wrong they were. We are truly seeing the horrific price of these reckless deregulation policies.

“As we work to address this crisis, we must commit to providing economic relief to the millions of those who are suffering all across this country. That means passing a robust economic stimulus package, providing additional assistance so people can keep their homes, and bringing back a system of sound regulation and oversight that will prevent these financial meltdowns from happening ever again.”

Congresswoman Lee Introduces Legislation to Restrict Covert Tactics in Dealings with Iran

Congresswoman Lee (CA-09) introduced the “Transparent Actions over Covert Tactics in Iran Act of 2008” or the “TACT in Iran Act,” which aims to prohibit the Central Intelligence Agency and the Department of Defense from providing covert or clandestine support, including military training or advice or equipment for military activities, for the purpose of overthrowing the Government of Iran.

“This legislation will send a loud message that the United States again recognizes the importance of diplomatic engagement and smart power as the preferred instruments for advancing American interests,” said Lee. “Covert action by the United States to destabilize the Iranian regime would be reckless and contrary to both international law and U.S. interests.

“My legislation will help repair the damage done to our nation’s reputation in the world by making it clear that it is not a policy of the United States to undermine or overthrow by covert or clandestine means the government of Iran.”

Rep. Clarke Testifies About Haiti

U.S. Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke (NY-11), will testify as a witness during a hearing before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere. The hearing’s topic is “The Hurricanes in Haiti: Disaster and Recovery.”

“As one that represents more than 47,000 Haitian-Americans in my district, and a member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I believe it would be irresponsible for our nation not to think strategically about how the events in Haiti, which is only 700 miles away, impact us here in the United States,” stated Rep. Clarke. “I look forward to detailing my experience in Haiti and encouraging my colleagues of the need to do all that we can to help alleviate the widespread suffering of this nation.”

The hearing will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2008 at 10:30am in the Rayburn House Office Building, Room 2172, and Washington, D.C.

Rep. Clarke just returned from Haiti last week and will testify of the devastation she witnessed firsthand and the need for the United States to increase aid.

The House of Representatives passed H.R. 5611, commonly referred to as the National Association of Registered Agents & Brokers Reform Act.

This bipartisan measure was introduced by Rep. David Scott (D-GA) and Rep. Geoff Davis (R-KY) and will reform the current system of insurance agent licensing, officials said. NARAB will provide streamlined non-residential insurance agent and broker licensing, while preserving the market conduct rights of states and their authority to supervise agents and brokers. This measure also aims to create reciprocity in producer licensing and assist policyholders by generating greater competition.

“I, along with my colleague Rep. Geoff Davis, introduced NARAB to help reform and modernize a very important part of state insurance regulation, agent and broker licensing,” said Scott. “This legislation is straight-forward and will most definitely benefit consumers through increased competition among agents and brokers, thus leading to greater consumer choice.”

Lee delivered the following remarks during a prayer vigil on "Fighting Poverty with Faith":

“The faith community has always played the critical role of being the nation’s moral compass on tending to the least of these. It is important and timely that we gather here during this historic moment in our history, to once again focus the nation’s attention on the quiet suffering of the millions of American families who live in poverty.

“With the help and guidance of the faith community we can as a Congress, and a country, seize this opportunity to finally and truly address the needs of our most vulnerable. Record enrollment for food stamps and increasing demand at community food banks and homeless shelters have stretched our communities’ social safety nets to their breaking point.

“Because 37 million Americans living in poverty is 37 million too many. Because 47 million Americans without access to healthcare is 47 million too many. And yet again, our minority communities bear the greatest burden. 31.6 percent Hispanic children under 5 and an astounding 40.7 percent of African American children under 5 grow up under the shadow of poverty.

“That is why we have gathered here today, because working together we will change all that. We, as a nation, must commit to breaking this cycle of poverty.

“The House of Representatives unanimously passed the bill I introduced, H. Con. Res. 198 that sets a goal of cutting poverty in half in a decade. My colleagues and I are working closely with the Half in Ten Campaign to create the legislation and the programs that will make this goal a reality.

“But we need your voice and your prayers and together we can set the stage for the next Congress and the next Administration to strike out on a bold new path. Cutting poverty in half in ten years is a modest and reachable goal and I know that together, we can get there. But as we set this goal, we must also ensure that our nation’s priorities are sound and our budgets are moral.

“We must end the unjust war in Iraq and renew our nation’s commitment to the War on Poverty!”

Congressman Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chairman of the House Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation, released the following statement in response to the Subcommittee’s hearing this morning examining the circumstances surrounding the collision of a tanker and a barge that resulted in the release of nearly 300,000 gallons of oil into the Mississippi River over the summer:

“There is clearly a significant deficit in the regulation of the towing industry, the scope of which became alarmingly evident this morning.

“It is unfathomable to me that within two weeks, the same company would be involved in two marine casualties while illegally operating towing vessels—one of which resulted in the release of nearly 300,000 gallons of oil into the Mississippi River, shutting down a portion of this vital artery of commerce for nearly a week. Worse yet, this is not the first instance in which this company has been caught operating towing vessels with improperly licensed personnel. It is simply unacceptable that a company with such a history would be allowed to continue its illegal—and, frankly, unsafe—practices.

“In 2004, the U.S. Coast Guard was ordered by law to create a rule that would require the inspection of towing vessels. Additionally, it was authorized to set limits on the number of hours that crewmembers work each day. Neither set of rules has been issued. And, here we are, four years later, discussing a catastrophic incident that may very well have been prevented had the Coast Guard taken action.

“One of the most important elements of effective leadership is possessing a sense of urgency and effectively acting on that urgency. Failure to do so inevitably leads to problems such as the one we see today—the release of a harmful pollutant into our environment, wreaking havoc on marine life as well as on the industries that depend on commerce along the Mississippi River.

“The lack of resources and personnel for the Coast Guard to fulfill its increased responsibilities is an issue that our Subcommittee examines regularly. I am completely committed to ensuring that the Coast Guard has all of the resources necessary to effectively and efficiently perform all of its duties. However, increased resources are only as useful as their implementation, and I remain concerned that there is a lack of motivation within the Coast Guard to complete its backlog of rulemakings—including those related to the towing industry.

“I told the Coast Guard today that it must give the Congress specific details of what is needed to address issues such as the backlog of rulemaking and enforcement of rules. While I assured the Service that my colleagues on the Subcommittee and I will work to provide those resources, I emphasized that these resources must be met with the motivation that is necessary to get things done. Rear Admiral Watson assured us this morning that the Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for the towing inspections would be issued in the Spring of 2009, and we will strictly hold them to that commitment.”

Sen. Clinton and Rep. Lee introduce resolution calling for a national AIDS strategy

In light of new statistics showing annual new HIV infections at levels higher than previously believed, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA-09) have introduced a resolution in both chambers of Congress calling for a national AIDS strategy.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, using new methodology, recently estimated that 56,300 individuals were newly infected with HIV in 2006, a considerably higher figure than previously estimated. The CDC statistics are also evidence of the continued disproportionate impact of HIV/AIDS upon African American and Hispanic communities.

“The sobering new statistics on HIV and AIDS in the United States show that this disease continues to take a heavy toll right here at home—particularly in minority communities. It is unacceptable that we are not doing more to address the epidemic in populations where infections rates are highest. This news must serve as a call for a national strategy to combat HIV and AIDS that will partner with individuals and communities who are heavily impacted and bring resources where they’re needed most. We need to renew our commitment to expanding access to effective HIV prevention and increasing the availability of care and treatment for Americans living with HIV. In light of these new findings, now more than ever we must remain vigilant to the task of halting and reversing the spread of HIV and AIDS,” said Senator Clinton.

"It is shameful that 27 years into this global pandemic, the United States still does not have a national strategy to combat HIV/AIDS. If we can require other countries to have a national AIDS strategy before we give them funding through our global AIDS programs, then the least we can do is hold our own government to the same standard. Any such strategy must provide clear and ambitious targets to reduce HIV infection rates, increase access to testing, care, and treatment, and address the spread of this disease among the communities who have been most impacted—especially among African Americans and young gay men,” said Congresswoman Lee.

On Aug. 6, the CDC released a new estimate of the annual number of new HIV infections in the United States, revealing that the HIV epidemic is worse than previously known. The estimate indicated that approximately 56,300 people were newly infected with HIV in the United States in 2006, which is higher than CDC’s previous estimate of 40,000. The new estimate also confirmed that gay and bisexual men of all races, African Americans, and Hispanics were most heavily affected by HIV. The data show the overall impact of HIV is greatest among African Americans, who make up approximately 13 percent of the U.S. population but represented 45 percent of new HIV infections in 2006. The CDC report also shows that Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HIV, representing 18 percent of new HIV cases in 2006 while making up only 15 percent of the U.S. population.

Senator Clinton has been a vocal advocate of the need for prevention, testing and early treatment in order to combat the AIDS epidemic in the United States. She has led the push to increase appropriations for domestic AIDS funding in the Senate, encompassing prevention and treatment efforts at multiple agencies. She introduced the Early Treatment for HIV Act, which will allow low-income individuals with HIV to access Medicaid before they become ill. Earlier this year, she and Congresswoman Lee introduced a resolution commemorating June's National HIV Testing Day.

Congresswoman Lee has been a leader in the fight against the global HIV/AIDS pandemic. She co-authored legislation signed into law creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria in 2000, the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2003, the PEPFAR Reauthorization Act in 2008, and legislation addressing the needs of orphans and vulnerable children affected by HIV/AIDS in 2005. She is the only member of Congress serving on both the House Committee on Foreign Affairs and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and the Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services and Education which have jurisdiction over all US global and domestic AIDS programs.