Weekly Update from Rep. Denham

Dear Friend,

 

I want to thank all of you who participated in our tele-town hall earlier this week. It was a great opportunity to hear many of your questions, concerns and advice as we head into the end of the year. If you missed me on Tuesday night, I will be hosting more tele-town halls before the end of the year. If you would like to be added to our list and be one of the first called next time, please call my Modesto office at 209.579.5458 or my Fresno office at 559.449.2490and ask to be added to the VIP tele-town hall list.

Since the tele-town hall on Tuesday, a lot has happened here in the Capitol.  This morning I spoke with Liz on KMPH's "Great Day" in Fresno about the new high-speed rail plan, which has a new estimate that shows costs skyrocketing to almost $100 billion! With California's economy in shambles and over 12% of its population unemployed, we need to spend our taxpayer dollars wisely. The money should be put towards shovel ready projects that will get people back to work today, not in 2033.

 

Another project much like this is the plan to build a third Federal courthouse in LA. Congress appropriated $400 million for this project 5 years ago, but construction hasn't started, the lot still sits vacant and the government has burned through nearly $150 million in design and overhead costs.  I held a hearing this morning to provide oversight over the construction of this project and examine the amount of waste in the federal court system as a whole. I wanted to know, is a third courthouse in LA necessary? What we found out today is not only is a third courthouse not necessary, but the Government Accountability Office testified and said that the judges can all fit inside just one courthouse complex; one that already exists, mind you.  They already have too much space. In a time when Congressional leaders are scrambling to find ways to reduce our $14.3trillion deficit, the government should not be finding ways to spend money, but instead identifying the tens of thousands of excess buildings it doesn't need.  I have introduced the Civilian Property Realignment Act to ensure the sale or consolidation of these unneeded properties occurs because the upkeep and management has cost the taxpayer too much for too long. You can watch the video and read testimony from the hearing here.

 

Earlier this week, I was honored to attend the U.S. Marine Corps (early) birthday celebration in the Library of Congress.  I also joined the Red Cross that morning to sign holiday cards for service members, veterans, and their families.  Both events were great reminders of the courage and bravery of our service members.  While many of our troops will be coming home for the holidays this year, we must continue pray for our troops that are separated from their families this holiday season.

 

In an effort to make the transition home for these service members as seamless as possible, last week, I introduced the Efficient Service for Veterans Act. Next week, as we celebrate the U.S. Marine Corps birthday and Veterans Day, I will be touring a couple of facilities in our area to see the direct effect this legislation will have on veterans and employees at Vet Centers across the country . More details will be posted on my website early next week.

 

I am looking forward to seeing many of you next week.   For information on my events in the district, be sure to visit the events page on my website, and remember that following me on Facebook and twitter is an excellent way to get updates on my activity and our actions in Congress. I also encourage you to tell your friends and family members to signup forthis weekly re-cap.

 

A special alert:  On November 9, 2011,at 2 PM (EST), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will conduct the first-ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS).  At that time, an announcement will come on every TV and radio channel indicating that the emergency alert system has been activated.  This is only a test.  Please do not be alarmed when you see this message. You will not need to take any action. Details will be available on my website next week.

 

Sincerely,

 

JEFF DENHAM

United States Representative

Weekly Update from Rep. Denham

Dear Friend,

 

Last night, I voted to support the passage of a bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) that doubles President Obama's own request for emergency disaster aid and will keep the government operating through November 18th.  The CR continues government operations and services and allows time for Congress to complete the Fiscal Year 2012 appropriations bills that provide annual funding for the federal government. 

 

I was proud the House made the choice to put people before politics and keep the government running; and more importantly, I know we made the right decision by voting to ensure that people suffering damages from recent disasters across the country will be able to receive relief. Unfortunately, the Senate blocked the legislation, making it a real possibility that FEMA will run out of vital disaster emergency funding on Monday. 

 

The House also voted to pass the bipartisan Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts to the Nation (TRAIN) Act, H.R. 2401, an element of the our Plan For America's Job Creators. Before we voted, I was able to speak with Jennifer Fraser and Jeff Rose from Vantage Data Centers, two job creators from California who support the TRAIN Act.  Their company has become an industry leader in performance efficiency and environmental stewardship; and still, their business is negatively impacted by the Environment Protection Agency's (EPA) new Utility MACT standards that force many American businesses to ship jobs overseas. 

 

The EPA has proposed regulation after regulation that would stifle job creation, hurt American economic competitiveness abroad, and increase energy prices on families already strained by the tough economy.  Jeff and Jennifer were in the House Gallery when we voted to pass the TRAIN Act and when I spoke on the House Floor about how the legislation will help their business.

 

Government regulations, at both the state and federal level, have caused the highest level of long-term unemployment our country has seen since the Great Depression. Here in the Valley, we all know a friend or family member out of work and truly understand the importance of freeing employees from these overbearing regulations.  I came to Washington to get people back to work, and my record is proof of this. This week, I was honored to be recognized by the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) for my 100 percent pro-worker legislative score.  You can see the photo and read the press release from the ceremony on Capitol Hill on my website. 

 

I will be back in the district next week discussing many of these job-creating measures I have voted on, as well as answering your questions about recent actions in Congress.  I hope to see you at an event. In the meantime, be sure to check the events page on my website for updates throughout the week. 

 

Two events I am very excited to announce are the Academy Nights I'm hosting in Modesto and Fresno on Tuesday and Wednesday.  If you are interested in serving your country and attending one of America's prestigious military academies, please stop by and talk to a representative from the Academies to see how you can get involved. 

 

One of the best ways to stay in touch with me and stay up to date with my most recent activity is to follow me on facebook or twitter. You can also check in with me at my online office—my website—where you can email me, read press releases and previous newsletters, look through photos and watch videos, and much more from the past nine months. 

 

I hope you have a great weekend. 

Sincerely,

JEFF DENHAM

United States Representative

VIDEO: Weekly Update from Representative Denham

Dear Friend,

 

Yesterday, USMC Cpl. Dakota Meyer, who risked his life to save 36 others, was presented the Medal of Honor for his heroic actions in Afghanistan. As we honored USMC Cpl. Dakota Meyer for his bravery and service to our country, we also remembered the life of Naval Petty Officer James Ray Layton. The heroism of Cpl. Meyer ensured that Petty Officer Layton, from Riverbank, was able to receive a proper burial here at home.  At the request of Cpl. Dakota Meyer, my office held a ceremony yesterday to coincide with the Medal of Honor presentation in Washington D.C. Pictures from the ceremony in Escalon can be seen here. 

 

Cpl. Meyer ensured all of his fellow service members returned home that day in Afghanistan; unfortunately, this is not always the case. Today, on National POW/MIA Recognition Day, we pause to remember those who never returned; not just those who perished, but the thousands whose final fates are still unknown. Today is dedicated to these men and women who have gone missing in service to their nation, and their families who were not able to say goodbye. 

 

Brave men and women risk their lives every day for our great nation; and back at home, we must make sure that we give them a reason to fight.  We must put politics aside and focus on putting people back to work and making America's businesses competitive again. Here in the Valley, we all know someone who is out of work and our communities continue to struggle with some of the worst unemployment rates in the nation. 

 

Right here in our district, we have robust natural resources that we can use to create jobs.  Unfortunately, bureaucracies and environmental regulations have continually prevented us from doing so. In order to effectively utilize one of our most renewable resources—water—we must make an investment in the necessary infrastructure used to store and convey it.  Utilizing our natural resources will create jobs in our state and ensure that we maintain our farmland, which is some of the most productive in the country. 

 

Earlier this week, I introduced two bills to streamline emergency preparedness efforts.  Recent disasters in our district and across the country emphasize how important it is to have a fast and effective warning system in place to alert people of impending disasters.  Our country's emergency warning system is currently the same used in the 1950's.  One of my bills, the IPAWS Modernization Act of 2011, requires FEMA to modernize the system and take advantage of modern technologies in order to reach a much higher percentage of the population and target alerts to those in danger.  

 

The second bill, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Reauthorization Act of 2011, reauthorizes funding for FEMA at levels which were approved by the House of Representatives earlier this year.  In the coming months, I will be holding hearings in my Subcommittee to determine what we can do to improve disaster response. FEMA Administrator Craig Fugate will testify at my hearing in October and I have invited California EMA Secretary Mike Dayton as well. You can watch my interview on "Great Day" in Fresno on these two bills and how we can bring jobs to the Valley here.

 

On the floor this week I voted to help pass the Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act, eliminating one more regulation blocking private-sector job growth. The bill blocks the federal government's National Labor Relations Board from telling businesses where they can and can't create new jobs.  I've talked with many small business owners at townhalls and roundtables at home about the regulations that they face, and how these obstacles have prevented them from growing or hiring.  With unemployment rates as high as 20% in parts of our district, we must do all we can to create jobs. This bill is one of many the House has passed in our effort to make America's businesses competitive again. 

 

The House is back in session next week; the following week, I will be home in the district.  I encourage you to stay up-to-date with my activities on my website, and follow me on facebook and twitter to see how you can get involved. 

 

Have a great weekend. 

 

Sincerely,

JEFF DENHAM

United States Representative

"The Entire Country is Behind You"

Yesterday, President Obama traveled to New Jersey to tour areas damaged by Hurricane Irene and reassure residents affected by the hurricane that the federal, state and local governments will be there to help them rebuild:

“The main message that I have for all the residents not only of New Jersey but all those communities that have been affected by flooding, by the destruction that occurred as a consequence of Hurricane Irene is that the entire country is behind you and we are going to make sure that we provide all the resources that are necessary in order to help these communities rebuild.

And I know that there's been some talk about whether there's going to be a slowdown in getting funding out here, emergency relief.  As President of the United States, I want to make it very clear that we are going to meet our federal obligations -- because we're one country, and when one part of the country gets affected, whether it's a tornado in Joplin, Missouri, or a hurricane that affects the Eastern Seaboard, then we come together as one country and we make sure that everybody gets the help that they need.  And the last thing that the residents here of Paterson or the residents of Vermont or the residents of upstate New York need is Washington politics getting in the way of us making sure that we are doing what we can to help communities that have been badly affected.

So, again, I want to thank federal, state, local officials who have been working around the clock to respond to this crisis. We know it could have been worse but we should not underestimate the heartache that's going through a lot of these communities and affecting a lot of these families.  And we want to make sure that we're there to help, and I'm going to make sure that even after the cameras are gone and attention is somewhere else that FEMA and federal officials continue to work with our local officials to make sure we're doing the right thing.”

Weekly Update from Representative Denham

Dear Friend,

 

From California to Washington, D.C., we all learned the importance of emergency preparedness last week. From the earthquake in D.C., which I missed because I was back home in California, to Hurricane Irene, and the fire in Yosemite; all of these events devastated hundreds of thousands of families and homes and demonstrated the importance of coordination at all levels to save lives. 

 

While in Yosemite last Thursday, I had the honor of remembering the lives of a beloved doctor in the Merced community, Gregory Wayne Meyer, MD and his physician assistant, Richard Fox, who both served as examples of excellence to those in our community.  Both men were swept to their deaths while trying to cross a bridge at Wapama Falls, which was swollen by near-record ice melt and an unseasonably late thunder storm. 

 

I also had the privilege of extending my gratitude, and that of Greg's family, to Mark Alee, the California Conservation Corps professional who bravely risked his life trying to save Richard and Greg; Steve Yu, the lead investigator with the National Park Service; Rebecca Lund, the family liaison with the National Park Service; and the many men and women who searched tirelessly for Greg after the accident under extreme conditions. The heroism and strength of character each of these rescuers embody is something we will never forget. 

 

While in Yosemite, I drove through the fire that started that day, witnessing first-hand the devastation the fire has caused to the hundreds of families and homes.   While we cannot always predict fires or natural disasters, proper preparedness will save lives, minimize costs, and ensure our response and recovery efforts are coordinated and organized.  In a hearing I chaired in July on emergency preparedness, I stressed the importance of increased coordination between all levels of government.  This coordination is critical to streamlining emergency response efforts and ensuring common-sense risk assessments for the safety of California's residents.  

 

Each year, FEMA designates the month of September as National Preparedness Month to raise awareness about the importance of being prepared for all disasters and emergencies. As Chairman of the Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings and Emergency Management, I am honored to serve as Co-Chair of this year's National Preparedness Month and help turn awareness into education and action within our homes, businesses and communities.  The theme for the 2011 National Preparedness Month campaign is This September: A Time to Remember. A Time to Prepare. Visit http://www.ready.gov/ to learn more about the effort and how you can help make this the most successful and coordinated effort to date. 

 

This year, the 10th anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks,  we are honoring the first responders throughout the nation that keep us safe and support the many volunteer opportunities found on http://www.serve.gov/ that help us prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. Let this last week's natural disasters remind us once again of the men and women who help keep us safe on a daily basis and thank them for their service.  All risk some and some give all, so let's keep them in our thoughts and prayers. 

 

This week I will be back at home in the district and will look forward to seeing many of you.  I will be touring Kaplan College on Wednesday to see first-hand the quality education that career-oriented colleges provide.  Kaplan enrolls about 850 students each year, and I'm very interested to hear how Kaplan has prepared them for their career search.  I will also be at the Stanislaus Medical Society discussing recent developments with health care and Paul Ryan's Path To Prosperity to preserve Medicare for future generations.

 

For updates throughout the week, be sure to follow me on twitter and like my facebook page. Let your friends know they can sign up to receive this newsletter on my website as well.  

I hope to see you in the district this week!