Since taking office, Congressman Maffei has held or participated in dozens of events on health care and related issues with constituents, doctors, nurses, patients, insurance and hospital administrators, medical device manufacturers, seniors, medical school faculty and students, small business owners and advocacy groups. These events included many town halls across the district. As he considers this incredibly important issue, representing the interests of his constituents and district are his primary concern. The following is not an exhaustive list, but a representation of just some of the meetings, town halls and events Congressman Maffei has held or participated in regarding health care. He deeply values the input of his district as he decides how to vote on the health care reform bill, but even after that vote the conversation will continue.
October 27: Teletown Hall with Onondaga County Health Commissioner Dr. Morrow and Dr. Bell of the DCD in Atlanta
Congressman Maffei hosted a telephone town hall that connected more than 10,000 local people with health experts. The experts answered questions on H1N1 for an hour.
October 24: Meeting with Seniors at Canalview Apartments, Lyons NY
The Congressman addressed a group of residents at this senior apartment complex in order to discuss health care reform and efforts to ensure seniors are secure with the issues and up to date on the progress of the legislation.
October 19: Speaks to OASES “Your Government in Action” Class
Q and A more than 50 citizens primarily on health care issues.
October 5: Meeting with Medical Device Companies
Congressman Maffei met with representatives from New York State medical device companies and delivered remarks to more than a hundred attendees at their annual conference.
October 19: Senior coffees in Baldwinsville and Camillus
Speaks with seniors in small group settings at local Centers.
October 2: Tour and meeting with cardiologists at the New York Heart Center
Congressman Maffei toured the facility and met with cardiologist in the practice. The Congressman was able to view cost-saving CT Scanners.
September 21: Meets with Greater Central New York Health Underwriters Association
Discusses healthcare reform with insurance representatives.
September 18: Tour of the University of Rochester Medical Center
Congressman Maffei met with Hospital administrators to discuss health care priorities around the region and for area hospitals. He also received a tour of Strong Hospital’s newest facilities.
September 8: Send off Rally and Press Conference
Local citizens meet Congressman Maffei in front of Federal Building to voice support for health care reform.
September 2: Forum with Upstate Medical Students & Faculty
Congressman Maffei met with faculty at Upstate Medical in a meeting, and then spent an hour answering questions and talking with an auditorium full of Upstate Medical students about their concerns of the future of health care as they enter the field
September 2: Meeting with the Onondaga County Medical Society
Speaks with physicians on a wide range of topics affecting the health care industry.
August 27: Tele-Town Hall on Health Care
Congressman Maffei hosted a telephone town hall where more than 20,000 people in the district participated. He took questions from listeners on a wide range of topics for 90 minutes.
August 27: Meeting with Seniors at MVP in Rochester
Congressman Maffei met with a small group of 20 seniors and administrators at MVP healthcare providers in Rochester to discuss Health Care Reform, and their interests and concerns with how changes in health care may affect their current health insurance plans.
August 27: Healthcare Roundtable with the Finger Lakes Health Systems Agency
FLHSA hosted a discussion with Congressman Maffei regarding Health Care Reform. Key community representatives with focus on all aspects of Health Care, from Doctors, Nurses, Insurance agencies, Medical Centers, Educators, Insured Patients, Senior health representatives. There were over 75 key community players, providing their views and suggestions for Health Care Reform.
August 14: Presentation on Health Care and Other Issues to FOCUS Greater Syracuse Group
More than 150 citizens attended this town-hall style meeting to talk about health care reform and other issues of concern.
August 14: Town Hall on Health Care at Newark Village Hall
Congressman Maffei hosted a town hall in Newark which was so well attended, it had to be split into two separate rooms. He stayed an hour longer than scheduled to talk to everyone about their concerns with health care.
August 10: Visit to Crouse Hospital
Congressman Maffei did the rounds with nurses at Crouse Hospital to get a sense of what they are dealing with in our local hospitals on a daily basis
August 8: Congress on Your Corner/ Town Hall on Health Care at DeWitt Library
After more than 100 people came to the DeWitt Library for Congressman Maffei’s “Congress on Your Corner”, he stayed for an additional hour to host an impromptu town hall on health care
August 7: Meeting with Hospital Executives from Crouse Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center, Community-General Hospital, Hospital Executive Council, and University Hospital
August 4: Attends Assemblyman Morelle’s Health Fair at Irondequoit High School
Congressman Maffei attended a senior health fair in Irondequoit to talk to seniors about their concerns with health care issues and reform
July 27: Meeting with the NYS Department of Health and NYS Department of Insurance
Congressman Maffei attended a briefing on federal health care and its impact on the state about Medicaid, Insurance Exchange, Market Reform, and other affordability issues
July 12: Teamster 1149 & CNY Physician Teamsters Alliance Clambake
July 8: Congressman spoke with the Associated Medical Schools of New York (AMNSNY) at the Annual Congressional Breakfast
July 6: Health Care Town Hall at Lincoln Middle School
Congressman Maffei held a town hall attended by more than 400 people and took questions for hours
May 11: Holds Senior Citizen Fair in Dewitt
Brings together more than 30 Federal, State and Local agencies including Social Security, Medicare and other health care organizations. More than 300 citizens attended.
April 16: Health Care Reform Press Conference
Participates in press conference to discuss need for reform in nation’s health care delivery system
April 15: Tour of the Wayne-Newark Hospital
Toured the Hospital with doctors and administrators for an hour to talk about issues rural hospitals face.
April 9: Town Hall Meeting-Irondequoit Town Hall
Around fifty people attended the town hall to discuss various issues affecting people in Monroe County.
April 7: Town Hall-Newark Village Hall
Around forty people came to Congressman Maffei’s town hall in Wayne County
April 6: Town Hall-LeMoyne College
Hundreds of people came to Congressman Maffei’s first town hall, where he took questions from constituents for hours.
March 28: Congress On Your Corner, Nichols Grocery Store in Syracuse area
Met with constituents to hear directly from them in about their issues and concerns
March 21: Congress On Your Corner, Starbucks in Rochester area
Met with constituents to hear directly from them in about their issues and concerns
March 13: Holds first meeting with Health Care Advisory Committee (first of many meetings that have happened this year)
Meets with physicians and other healthcare professionals and stakeholders from throughout the community
February 27: Health I.T. Event at Crouse Hospital
Went to Crouse Hospital to see what upgrading systems to electronic medical records can do for doctors, nurses and patients
February 9: Visit to Syracuse Veterans Administration Hospital
Meets with administrators, physicians and staff at the facility and talks with patients about their concerns.
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When Congress was initially considering the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, banks and card issuers pleaded that they needed months or years to make all of the necessary changes to be in compliance with the Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. However, as soon as it passed the same card companies managed to quickly raise interest rates on consumers across the country. Rep. Maffei’s amendment would make all the reforms off the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights effective immediately, instead of waiting weeks or months as currently proposed.
Below is the text of the statement Rep Maffei delivered:
“Thank you Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Frank and Representative Maloney for all their work on this pressing issue. Today I am offering a simple amendment to make all provisions of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights effective immediately upon enactment, instead of waiting till December 1st. Why should we care about enacting the bill immediately instead of waiting a matter of weeks?
“Earlier this year, we worked diligently to pass the Cardholders’ Bill of Rights. It was a necessary piece of legislation to protect consumers from the abusive practices that many banks had made standard practice. While we were working on that legislation, I heard from banks that they could not possibly enact all the changes by the deadlines we proposed. The banks claimed that to ensure quality customer services, they would need months, or even years, to make the proper changes.
“Well, that was just last May, and I’m frankly disappointed to have to address this situation again today. Since we passed and enacted the Credit Card Holder’s bill of rights, credit card companies have attempted to fleece customers and hope that Congress didn’t have notice or time to act. The same companies that were in my office that claimed they needed months at least to make changes to their systems, apparently only needed in some cases days to find ways to raise interest rates and decrease credit limits on customers across the country.
“One caseworker in my Syracuse office watched her card go from 6.9 percent last year, to 13.9 percent earlier this year, to a whopping and punitive 29.9 percent in the past few weeks. She carries a balance on the card, but with an interest rate that is suffocating her finances she almost certainly will not be able to pay that off, so she can’t even close the card. Every day I hear from more and more constituents who have good credit, that they pay their bills on time, but the card issuers have found a way to raise the rates to extraordinarily high levels.
“That is why I want to make all provisions of the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights effective immediately. Consumers, especially in this economy, cannot wait any longer for these protections. The card companies, apparently, are able to make any on changes interest rates and procedures instantaneously so why not we demand that of them today? If we give them a week or two, they will slam our constituents, even with high rates, trying to squeeze more blood from a stone in the middle of a recession. We are not allowed to pass legislation retroactively, even though card companies are retroactively raising interest rates on consumer balances. What we can do is ensure we make sure we enact this legislation immediately.”
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You can watch video of Rep Maffei delivering his remarks here or by entering the following link into your browser:
Rep Maffei is also a cosponsor of the Credit Cardholders Bill of Rights and the Expedited CARD Act
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Today Congressman Dan Maffei offered an amendment to the House Financial Services Committee that would change how pension funds and individual investors are treated by the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC. After the Madoff firm collapsed last year, it was discovered that more than 30 local unions across Upstate New York had invested pensions funds with Madoff. Some funds were left more than 50% exposed, devastating the funds for nearly 60,000 hard working people. After Maffei offered the amendment and addressed the House Financial Services Committee, Chairman Barney Frank announced the Committee would hold a hearing on the matter on November 19th. Additional details on the hearing will be forthcoming.
Rep Maffei’s statement to the committee is below:
“I offer this amendment for myself a and with the gentleman from Minnesota, Mr. Ellison, with the understanding that we will offer and withdraw today – but we are eager to take Chairmen Frank and Kanjorski up on their offer to hold a hearing on issues surrounding the Madoff scheme and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation, or SIPC, and soon find a legislative way to deal with the problems we have identified.
“Currently SIPC, which advances money to investors who have lost due to failed brokerage firms, like Madoff, treats individuals and pension plans identically. Individuals are limited at $500,000, and pension plans are limited to $500,000 per plan. So, pension plans with multiple participants – as are many in my congressional district - and funds meant to support the retirement of hundreds or thousands of retirees are only eligible for the same investor protection as one individual. This inequity makes no sense.
“Union pension funds in and around my congressional district have been hit hard by the atrocious actions of Bernie Madoff and his now infamous Ponzi scheme. More than thirty Upstate New York labor funds were invested in Madoff. These labor pension funds invested over $300 million in Madoff, which has exposed nearly 60,000 retirees to devastating losses. Some funds were more than 50% exposed. Destroying so many retirement funds has meant real financial insecurity and hardship for many of my hard working constituents, amounting to postponed retirements and increased fees for enrollees and customers. Just one tangible result of these losses, I’d like to share: local plumbers in my district have nearly doubled the hourly rate they pay to their pension fund compared to what they were previously contributing just to keep it afloat.
“I’d like to ask unanimous consent to submit this list reported in the Syracuse Post-Standard of Central New York affected pension funds to the record.
I feel this is a matter of simple fairness. I’d again like to thank the chairmen for their willingness to hold hearings in the past and for their promise to address the issue in the near future. Before I ask to withdraw this amendment, I yield to the gentleman from Minnesota”
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Rep. Maffei said: “Syracuse and other cities in the industrial northeast have the infrastructure and the work force to lead the way in clean energy innovation. We are particularly well positioned in my district because of our exceptional research institutions and proximity to valuable natural resources. We just need some extra tools and incentives to make this new clean energy economy a reality, and this legislation will provide some of those for communities which are poised to make that leap.”
Matt Bennett, Vice President of the think tank Third Way, which helped develop the Clean Energy Empowerment Zone Act, said: “While investments in the Internet helped some communities in America grow in the 1990s, many others were left out. Done right, clean energy could have a much broader impact than the Internet. Rep. Maffei’s plan will give cities like Syracuse that have skilled workforces and great research institutions the tools they need to attract clean energy businesses.”
This program would be modeled on the some of the success stories from communities that were able to take advantage of Empowerment Zones, but would be distinct and would focus specifically on helping communities take advantage of clean energy. The zones would provide businesses substantial financial incentives to build such sectors including employment tax credits, increased business expense deductions, and favored capital gains treatment. The bill also provides those tax incentives for business that retrofit their buildings to be more energy efficient and environmentally friendly.
Original co-sponsors of H.R.3919 include Rep. Michael McMahon (D-NY), Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD) and Mike Thompson (D-CA). Rep. Maffei welcomes this bi-partisan support and is committed to continuing to gain the support of colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
]]>This weekend I announced energy efficiency funding for the town of Irondequoit. Irondequoit already had an impressive energy plan in place, so they will make the most of their $440,000 grant. Irondequoit will pursue projects like replacing light bulbs at public parks and creating a Deputy Commissioner of Public Works for Sustainability. The Recovery Act is providing grants that are smart short and long-term investments, and is giving communities in my district the flexibility to make the improvements and create jobs that best fit our needs.
]]>Rep. Maffei said: “Our veterans served America with honor and they deserve the best our government can possibly offer. This $500 per month payment will help these service members who have literally served above and beyond the call of duty. This special payment is in recognition of the hardship placed on these troops and their families by being forced to remain on active duty longer than planned.”
The Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay is available to service members who had their enlistment extended or retirement suspended due to Stop Loss between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009. Service members from every branch of the military will receive compensation.
Service members may begin submitting their claim for Retroactive Stop Loss Special Pay today. All applications must be submitted to the respective services no later than Oct. 21, 2010. Service members must provide documented proof they were Stop Lossed with their claim. Family members of deceased service members should contact the appropriate military service for assistance in filing their claim.
Army: https://www.stoplosspay.army.mil
Today Congressman Dan Maffei joined a majority of his colleagues on the Financial Services Committee to pass legislation that will overhaul the market for financial derivatives. Today’s bill, which was approved by a vote of 43-26, represents a key part of a broader effort by Congress and President Obama to modernize America’s financial regulatory system in response to last year’s financial crisis.
Under the bill, all standardized swap transactions between dealers and large market participants, referred to as “major swap participants,” would have to be cleared and must be traded on an exchange or electronic platform. A major swap participant is defined as anyone that maintains a substantial net position in swaps, exclusive of hedging for commercial risk, or whose positions creates such significant exposure to others that it requires monitoring. OTC derivatives include swaps, which are contracts that call for an exchange of cash between two counterparties based on an underlying rate, index, credit event or the performance of an asset.
Congressman Dan Maffei said: “The multi-trillion dollar ‘over the counter’ derivatives industry evolved outside of the structure our government had in place for regulating financial services. Watching the economy nearly collapse last year under the stress of financial systems very few people understood, it was abundantly clear that we need to overhaul regulations. Under the leadership of Chairman Frank, we are taking important steps to protect the market and consumers.”
Read more about this legislation at the Financial Services Committee website here and Bloomberg news here
Read Congressman Maffei's Statement for the Record from the Financial Services Committee mark-up
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Secretary Chu and Congressman Maffei made the announcement following a tour of renewable energy projects at the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry in Syracuse (SUNY-ESF). While in Syracuse, Secretary Chu also toured Syracuse Center of Excellence (SyracuseCoE).
Representative Maffei said: “I am honored to have Secretary Chu here in Syracuse and proud to be able to show him all the innovative work of our universities and the SyracuseCoE. The announcement that Syracuse will receive more than $1.4 million for Energy Efficiency programs is another example of what the Recovery Act is directly doing for Syracuse and Central New York. The Recovery Act has saved jobs for school teachers, funded more cops for our streets, provided tax cuts for working families and extended unemployment benefits for those in need. Energy Efficiency programs will provide a boost for our economy, and are smart long term investments.”
Secretary of Energy Steven Chu said: “States and local communities are the engines of our economy and the laboratories of innovation. This funding will provide the state New York the resources to put in place innovative energy efficiency and renewable energy projects that will create jobs across the state, while reducing carbon pollution and helping to shift how America uses energy.”
The following funding was announced today:
Syracuse Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (EECBG) - Awarded $1,444,500
Syracuse will receive $1,444,500 in Recovery Act EECBG funds to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lowering the city’s energy costs, while creating local green jobs. Specifically, funds will be used to perform an energy retrofit of the City Hall Commons (CHC), including the installation of three high-efficiency heating and air conditioning units and the replacement of the building’s windows and doors. The city will also install solar panels on the CHC, which will generate clean renewable electricity for daily operations. Additional EECBG funds will be put toward several energy efficiency upgrades across the Syracuse community.
At the Southwest Community Center, the Syracuse Fire Department Training Facility, Meacham Ice Rink, and Sunnycrest, McChesney, and Burnet Parks, inefficient existing light fixtures will be replaced with high-efficiency fixtures, reducing energy use while actually increasing lighting levels. Three heavily used parking garages will also be retrofitted with new control systems line conditioners, which will reduce excess energy use. Based on a recent energy audit, these upgrades at the Harrison St., Warren St. and Washington St. garages will reduce energy costs by 20-35 percent.
Remaining EECBG funds will enable Syracuse to establish an Office of Conservation, Sustainability, and Energy Initiatives. Overall, these Recovery Act-funded activities are expected to result in substantial energy and cost savings for the City of Syracuse.
State Energy Program Funding - Awarded $61,555,000
The Department of Energy had previously awarded the first 50 percent of New York’s State Energy Program (SEP) funding. The remaining 50 percent announced today was delivered to the state after aggressive oversight, reporting, and accountability measures were put in place.
New York will direct its State Energy Program Recovery Act funding to programs that will accelerate the introduction of alternative-fuel vehicles into New York communities, boost the energy efficiency of buildings across the state, increase compliance with the state’s energy codes, and expand the use of solar power.
The Clean Fleet program will provide funding for eligible entities - such as cities, counties, public school districts, public colleges and universities and others - to accelerate the deployment of alternative fuel vehicles in their fleets. Recovery Act funding will also provide financial support for energy efficiency and retrofit projects in the municipal, K-12 public schools, public university, hospital, and not-for-profit sectors.
A third project aims to achieve at least 90 percent compliance in the commercial and residential sectors for a new statewide Energy Code. With Recovery Act funding, the state will offer technical assistance and local compliance support to local municipal officials, as well as those professions who work closely with energy code buildings, such as architects, engineers, and home builders. Finally, New York will provide SEP funding to encourage installation of a range of solar photovoltaic (PV) and solar thermal systems across the state, and to provide training opportunities for installers. New York has now received its entire Recovery Act allocation of $123,110,000.
View a map of Recovery Act Spending in New York's 25th Congressional District here.
]]>Today Representative Daniel Maffei (NY-25) led a letter to Congressional leaders, with U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri (NY-24), U.S. Representative Scott Murphy (NY-20) and 17 other members of the House asking Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer to exclude a tax on medical devices in health care reform legislation.
While the House is not currently considering such a tax, Senator Max Baucus, Chair of the Senate Finance Committee, has included a $40 billion tax over 10 years on medical devices in his proposed version of health care reform legislation.
The letter expressed concerns about the potential impact of a tax on the medical devices industry, a field that employs more than 350,000 workers across the country, many of which work in small firms that employ less than 100. In these difficult economic times, it is critical we find ways to reform the health care industry that will not place undue burdens on support companies or slow research and development in the medical field.
The proposed Senate legislation would have a negative impact on companies like Welch-Allyn in Skaneateles, ConMed in Utica, Transonic outside of Ithaca, Covidien in Oriskany Falls and several others across Upstate New York.
Congressman Maffei said: “I want to thank my colleagues for joining me in the effort to bring attention to this issue. Across Upstate New York, we have a number of companies that employ thousands of workers in the medical device field, as well as Universities who actively pursue research and development in this field. Health care reform is critical, but as we consider deficit-neutral proposals to reform the industry, we must be aware of harmful unintended consequences.”
Congressman Arcuri said: “I have met with many medical device manufactures across Upstate New York that provide our communities with good jobs and make state-of-the-art equipment that is vital to medical care. I join with my colleagues in supporting these local businesses and keeping the tax on medical devices out of any healthcare reform legislation so that we can benefit both the manufactures and the patients that desperately need the technology created by these companies across Upstate New York.”
Congressman Scott Murphy said: “A tax on medical device companies, many of which are small businesses, could potentially cripple the medical device industry, costing thousands of New Yorkers their jobs, and drastically reducing our nation’s ability to provide the best possible medical care. We must focus on ways to cut costs from the system without stifling the research and development that lies at the heart of American innovation.”
Read the letter here.
]]>Today, Congressman Dan Maffei announced more than $800,000 from the Department of Justice’s Community Oriented Policing Service (COPS) program for law enforcement agencies in our area. The funding will be used by local law enforcement officials to enhance school safety and crack down on child sexual predators.
Congressman Maffei said: “Our local law enforcement needs more financial support from the federal government, especially during these tough economic times. I am proud to have worked on COPS in the Judiciary Committee and to announce these important grants for two local organizations so they can better fight crime and protect our children.”
In this round of grants, more than $27 million were approved for two other COPS programs: Secure Our Schools and the Child Sexual Predator Program (CSPP). Secure Our Schools grants, which are two years in duration, are designed to help local governments pay for measures that will improve security in our schools. CSPP grants, which aim to prevent child endangerment and protect communities from sexual predators, are designed to help local law enforcement agencies prosecute predators, enforce state sex offender registration laws, and establish partnerships with federal law enforcement, prosecutors, parole and probation offices, and social services agencies.
The two organizations in our area that received grants are:
The Town and Village of Camillus received $349,000 through the Secure Our Schools Program
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office received $483,961 through Child Sexual Predator Program
The COPS program has a long history of success. The COPS hiring grants program was created in 1994 and soon hired 117,000 additional police officers to staff undermanned local law enforcement groups. This achievement won it accolades from a broad group of leaders, ranging from President Bill Clinton to then-Senator John Ashcroft. However, severe cuts under the Bush administration undermined the program to the point where it lacked any federal funding in 2006 and 2007, leaving community law enforcement agencies on their own.
In response, the House Judiciary Committee, on which Congressman Maffei sits, met this March to endorse improvements to the COPS program. The passage of these measures by the broader House of Representatives made it possible for jurisdictions around the country to hire and train tens of thousands of new police officers. Central New York alone gained enough funding for the addition of an estimated 113 new cops dedicated to preventing and investigating crime in our communities.
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H.R. 3639, the ‘‘Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009,” would move up the effective date of the remaining provisions of the Credit CARD Act, which are now scheduled for February and August 2010.
Representative Maffei said: “Protecting consumers from unfair credit card company practices has been a primary concern of mine since I took office. I was proud to work on the Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, but the work is not done. Credit card companies fought the Cardholders’ Bill of Rights, claiming that to ensure good customer service they needed years to put in place all of the changes. Now those same companies are rushing to increase fees and interest rates before the Cardholders’ Bill of Rights fully takes effect. That is why we need this bill, to expedite the process and effectively protect consumers.”
House Financial Services Committee Chairman Barney Frank said: “Dan Maffei has demonstrated leadership on protecting consumers since Congress began and this is a continuation of that work.”
Representative Maloney said: “Pew Charitable Trust reports that interest rates have spiked by an average of 20% on credit cards representing more than 91% of the $864 billion in outstanding credit card balances. It’s clear that credit card companies are taking advantage of this period between the signing of my bill and the current effective date. The breadth and depth of the rate hikes happening now point to the need for faster consumer protections. Americans need relief now.”
For complete bill text, click here.
]]>Today Congressman Dan Maffei announced the Department of Transportation has awarded a grant in the amount of $2,518,000 for Centro to build a New Downtown Syracuse Transfer Hub.
This grant provides funds to the Central New York Regional Transportation Authority to move its current transfer hub to an off street location to provide safer access to the transit system, while also providing protected areas from the weather for riders.
Representative Maffei said: “I want to congratulate Centro on receiving this grant. This significant funding for a new transfer hub will go a long way in improving service for riders and safety for all drivers and pedestrians in downtown Syracuse.”
The funds in this grant will be used for land acquisition, engineering and design, and construction management services that will lead to the construction of a new bus transfer facility to replace the existing on-street transfer operations that serve existing Centro bus routes. The new facility will be on a 1.43 acre site bounded on the south by East Adams Street, on the north by a parking garage operated by the Syracuse Industrial Development Agency, on the east by South Warren Street, and on the west by South Salina Street. Elements of the project include a climate controlled waiting area for riders with an extended wait between transfers, weather protected outdoor waiting areas for short term transfers, information/supervisor office, driver waiting room, and an automated fare vending machine.
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Rep Maffei said: “I have been concerned since before the day I took office about our lack of focus on the military mission in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, the more we learn about the situation, the less convinced I am that increasing troop levels will result in success. Without a clearly defined mission, I do not think investing billions more in this war and asking more service men and women to risk their lives is the right answer.”
Read the letter here.
]]>Congressman Dan Maffei and Secretary Tom Vilsack today announced that the Agriculture department is providing $62.5 million in loans and grants for 705 renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, including three projects in Onondaga County, under the Rural Energy for America Program (REAP), an important initiative to help rebuild and revitalize rural America.
Congressman Maffei said: “As a huge fan of maple syrup, I am very pleased to announce investments that will improve both the economic climate and energy efficiency of our local maple syrup farms. The reverse osmosis systems installed in these farms will dramatically reduce their energy usage, which will allow them to spend less on energy and hopefully more on expanding their businesses.” Maffei continued, “Recently when Vice President Biden visited Syracuse, SUNY ESF presented him with a bottle of energy efficient maple syrup. I hope the Vice President enjoys that Central New York maple syrup as much as I do!”
“President Obama and I are committed to helping rural businesses become more energy efficient – it’s good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for the workers and customers who depend on the goods and services these businesses provide,” Vilsack said. “While the REAP grants will continue to provide an important jump start to a clean, renewable energy future, Congress must act to pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation to create the green jobs our economy needs and get our nation on the path to being truly energy independent.”
Grant Recipients in Onondaga County are:
Cedarvale Maple Syrup Company in Syracuse, NY will receive $8,294 to install a reverse osmosis system.
Dutch Hill Maple in Tully, NY will receive $3,750 to install a reverse osmosis system.
Komrowski Maple in Memphis, NY will receive $3,224 to install a reverse osmosis system.
Renewable energy funding from USDA has already helped many rural businesses. In Newton, Kan., WK Real Estate LLC has been selected for a $3,670 grant to install new energy efficient lighting. This project highlights the fact that replacing existing lighting with energy efficient lighting is one of the easiest measures businesses can take to reduce their utility bills. Rural Development’s grant will enable WK Real Estate to lower its electric bill by more than 50 percent. It is estimated that the recipients in Onondaga County will be able save approximately 70-87 percent on energy usage after installing their reverse osmosis systems.
Last night, Rep. Dan Maffei voted to provide stability to American families by extending unemployment insurance benefits to those hit hardest by the recession. The Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009 will provide immediate assistance, extending relief to the estimated 314,000 workers who would otherwise exhaust their unemployment benefits by the end of September, and one million more whose benefits would run out by the end of the year. The bill extends unemployment benefits to states which have a three month average unemployment rate greater than 8.5 percent. New York State, with a three month average of 8.7 percent, is included in that group.
Rep Maffei said: “This is just one more crucial step to provide immediate relief to struggling families and get our economy moving in the right direction. We know that those families who receive these benefits will be putting money right back into our local economy.” Maffei continued, “While some economists are predicting the recession is ending, for people who are still looking for jobs it certainly does not feel like the end is here yet. This extension will help families our hardest hit areas make it through these tough times.”
The extension will provide immediate, effective stimulus to the local economy. The Congressional Budget Office has cited unemployment benefits as one of the most cost-effective forms of economic stimulus, and every dollar spent on unemployment benefits generates $1.63 in new demand, according to Moody’s chief economist Mark Zandi. The extension is fully paid for, is deficit neutral, and strengthens reporting requirements to reduce unemployment insurance overpayments.
The legislation will help families in at least twenty-seven states with the highest unemployment rates, where it is most difficult for workers to find employment. Workers in these states who have exhausted or will soon exhaust their benefits will be eligible for an additional thirteen weeks of insurance, bringing the total to forty-six weeks.
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SAFRA will expand access to an affordable college education to more American students, transform early education opportunities, and build a world-class community college system. The bill also included an amendment introduced by Congressman Maffei to expand employment opportunities to those in Job Corps and Youthbuild programs and community college students.
Congressman Maffei said: “This is a crucial step toward rebuilding the American economy, making sure young people have the ability to attend college or get career training, and that our work force remains the most highly skilled and effective in the world. Earlier this year I introduced an amendment to ensure we’re expanding opportunities to community colleges, and I am pleased it was included in this bill.”
“The nation’s community colleges have a key role to play in our economic recovery. The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act and the American Graduation Initiative will increase the capacity of community colleges to support the success of millions of students of all ages and backgrounds across the United States. Onondaga Community College is grateful to Congressman Maffei for his leadership in supporting this important legislation,” said Debbie L. Sydow, Ph.D., president of Onondaga Community College.
SAFRA is a major step forward in President Obama’s initiative to make sure America once again leads the world in college graduates by 2020. This bill will reform the system of federal student loans to save the taxpayers $87 billion and will direct $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending. SAFRA will change the way the student loan system functions by originating new loans through the government’s Direct Loan program, but will maintain competition among private lenders and non-profits to provide top-notch customer service for student borrowers. This simple change will make college loans more reliable for students and families -- and ensure that loans operate in the best interests of borrowers by reducing many of the potential conflicts of interest that exist in the current loan system.
With the largest-ever investment in higher education, this bill will also significantly increase government grant and loan assistance for college tuition payments. Pell Grants, already distributed to more than 7 million students, will increase to $6,900 by 2019 from $5,350 today. SAFRA also keeps interest rates low on government-subsidized loans, makes substantial investments in early childhood education, expands the Perkins low-cost loan program to every U.S. college, and simplifies the process of applying for student financial aid.
Congressman Maffei continued: “With tuition costs soaring as families struggle through a difficult economy, I’m thrilled we could come together to expand critical opportunities for higher education in this country. This bill includes major investments in our community colleges across the county, and outlines a commitment to ensure they produce highly trained students who are prepared to enter the skilled workforce of the 21st century. Allowing our students to graduate with a better education and less debt is the best way to insure that American workers remain competitive long into the future.”
Learn more about what SAFRA will do for our district here.
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Rep. Dan Maffei said: “We know that an investment in early childhood education pays dividends for years and years. This is a smart investment of Recovery funds and I commend the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency on their commitment to such a valuable program.”
Rep. Mike Arcuri said: “Using Recovery Bill funding to expand our local Head Start programs to provide a quality early education to our area’s children is critical to their growth and development. I look forward to the continued success of the Head Start program and want to congratulate the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency on this grant and look forward to the results that it will yield for years to come.”
The Recovery Act funding for the Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency was awarded through the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) discretionary grant program. The Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency will use this funding to expand their Head Start program to Cato, NY in Cayuga County in order to serve 17, three-year old children with a combination of home and in-class programs. The Cayuga/Seneca Community Action Agency developed a partnership with the Cato-Meridian Central School District to operate their in-class Head Start program in space donated by the school district.
The funding announced today, administered by HHS, was included in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to ensure that the necessary investments are made in Head Start programs across the country. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which Maffei and Arcuri voted for, was signed into law by President Obama in February 2009.
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On September 17, the House passed H.R. 3221, The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act.
This bill is the single largest investment in aid to help students and families pay for college in history – and at no cost to taxpayers. The passage of this bill is critical to building a stronger, more competitive American economy for the future. The bill is one of the most important bills to be considered in this Congress – and is a top priority of the Obama Administration and the Democratic Congressional Leadership.
The bill reforms the system of federal student loans to save taxpayers $87 billion – and then invests $77 billion of those savings back into education, particularly by making college more affordable, and directs $10 billion back to the Treasury to reduce entitlement spending. Among its many provisions, it increases the maximum Pell Grant from $5,350 in 2009 to $5,550 in 2010 and $6,900 in 2019 and keeps interest rates low on subsidized federal student loans. Learn more about how SAFRA will impact OUR area here: NY25 district information on SAFRA.pdf
And learn more about how SAFRA will help community colleges here.
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Congressman Maffei today voted to strengthen our economy and national security by boosting American innovation in alternative energies and fuel efficient vehicle technology. The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act, which passed by a vote of 312-114, will create the most comprehensive national vehicle research and development program to date, to build on the achievements of this Congress in advancing clean American energy and fuel efficiency. Congressman Maffei also went to the floor to voice his support for the bill earlier today. Read his floor statement here.
Upon passage of the Act, Congressman Maffei said: “Our national and economic security is at risk when we export billions of dollars overseas for oil. By investing in American energy and technology that boosts fuel efficiency, we are creating jobs that can’t be sent overseas, rebuilding our economy and protecting our national security.”
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act will build on the historic fuel efficiency standards enacted under a Democratic-led Congress in 2007 and our success with the Cash for Clunkers program – a national program that rewarded Americans who turned in almost 700,000 gas-guzzling and air-polluting older cars for newer, more fuel-efficient models.
Rep. Maffei continued: “Cash for Clunkers was an enormous success, boosting car sales for the auto industry and reducing car emissions at the same time. We need to keep the momentum going. Now this bill will spur research to develop new, more efficient cars for American consumers. Universities and colleges in our area are already leading the field in research and development of alternative fuel technology. This will be the future of our economy, and we need to make investing in green, clean fuels a priority now.”
The bipartisan Advanced Vehicle Technology Act is supported by a broad coalition, including labor groups like the United Autoworkers, auto makers such as Ford, General Motors and Chrysler, business groups like the Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Manufacturers, and environmental groups such as the Sierra Club and Natural Resources Defense Council.
Earlier this year, the House also passed an historic clean energy jobs bill that will help the private sector create millions of new American jobs that can’t be shipped overseas and help energy-intensive industries transition to a cleaner, more profitable future. It will also allow us to export American technology and innovation to rest of world and cut our oil use by 5 million barrels a day by 2030 – the equivalent of what we import now from Venezuela and the Middle East.
This week, the Obama Administration also announced new auto fuel economy standards that increase efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help consumers save money at the pump and decrease our dependence on foreign oil.
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“Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you very much to the distinguished Chairman of the Science and Technology Committee, Bart Gordon. I also want to thank my colleague on the Financial Services Committee, a very distinguished new member of the house, Gary Peters, the sponsor of this bill. By increasing the power of alternative and renewable energy, we have the opportunity to break our addiction of foreign oil, reduce global warming and create millions of new jobs in the process - ones that cannot be shipped overseas.
“In my own region, we are doing research in alternative fuels such as butanol at the school of Environmental Service and Forestry in Syracuse. And we have hydrogen fuel cell technology going on at the Rochester institutes of higher education, as well as the Adelphi plant there.
“We are already using these new fuel vehicles, the ones that have already come out. On Monday I stood at an old train station in downtown Syracuse, which had been abandoned years ago and was creating an eyesore. By using stimulus money, Clean Cities will turn this building into a charging station for electric cars, as well as alternative fueling hub for ‘Cuse Car, an alternative fuel car sharing company in Syracuse.
“Using this bill, it can become a center for the research on the practical use of these advanced technology vehicles. Our energy policy is heading in the right direction, and the Advanced Vehicle Technology Act ensures that we are charting the right course for our new energy future.”
To watch video of Congressman Maffei’s speech, click here.
Or copy and paste the following address into your browser: http://www.c-spanarchives.org/flash/player-time.html?start=2009-09-16%2013:19:50&stop=2009-09-16%2013:21:41&net=1
]]>I have heard from constituents and stake holders across my district and there is a broad agreement that we need reform now. We must expand access, we must control costs, we must provide a sense of security that health care will be available regardless of a “pre-existing condition” or if you find yourself between jobs.
Most importantly, we need to bring the focus of health care back to the relationship between doctor and patient. Not doctor and insurance company, or patient and bureaucrat. We need a system that rewards wellness, not a system that encourages unnecessary tests. We need reform that reimburses primary care physicians and encourages more young doctors to move to locations and fields where they are desperately needed.
We have already made more progress than any Congress in a generation, and I believe we will be able to deliver a bill that will give Americans more security with their health care, set a good foundation to lower costs, and improve preventive care. Under President Obama's leadership, we have cleared the air. Now it's time for Congress - House and Senate - to do the work.
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Funding for the Cayuga County project includes $1,019,000 through a direct loan and a $2,570,600 grant for Phase 2 of the project and a $1,549,000 direct loan and a $3,107,000 grant for Phase 4.
On August 27th Rep Maffei hosted his first telephone town hall, where he heard from constituents about their health care concerns. Please take a listen.
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