Representative Joe Sestak | Representing the 7th District of Pennsylvania

News from Congressman Joe Sestak

E-Newsletter - May 2008

Congressman Sestak recently voted in Washington to protect Medicaid, prohibit employment and healthcare discrimination based on genetic information, and support the United States Coast Guard. While at home in Pennsylvania, the Congressman hosted his second annual Veterans Summit, announced the upcoming Workforce Development Summit, and attended a groundbreaking ceremony for Delaware County Community College’s new STEM complex, for which he appropriated $170,000 from the federal government. Here, read more about these and other events and initiatives undertaken by Congressman Sestak.

*For the most complete and up-to-date information on Congressman Sestak’s work in Washington and in the 7th Congressional District, please visit http://sestak.house.gov

Around the 7th

• Vets Summit: This May, more than 350 active military members, veterans and their families gathered at Ridley High School for Congressman Sestak’s second annual Pennsylvania 7th Congressional District Veterans Summit with special guests including Congressman Bob Filner, Chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. Congressman Sestak held his first Veterans Summit last September and this summit—titled “Veterans Working for Veterans”—was hosted in response to the many requests for a follow up. The summit consisted of two panels comprised of senior representatives of the Department of Veterans Affairs and other experts to address issues concerning Veterans. The first panel concentrated on health care and benefits; the second on business and educational opportunities. To address individual concerns or needs from Veterans and their families, representatives from various Veterans organizations and other initiatives staffed 35 booths set up outside the auditorium to help with everything from medical claims to Social Security.



• Workforce Development Summit: Congressman Sestak invites all his constituents to attend the 7th Congressional Workforce Development Summit, “Preparing Today’s Students for Tomorrow’s Jobs,” on Tuesday, June 3rd in the chapel of The Williamson Free School of Mechanical Trades at 106 S. New Middletown Rd., Media, PA 19063. Registration begins at 5:30 and the event will go from 6 to 9 PM. This is an important opportunity for students, parents, educators, guidance counselors, business and civic leaders to consider a great challenge facing our region, and nation – how to engage, train and match our young men and women to the current and future workforce needs of the greater Delaware Valley. If you have children from middle school through high school and want to learn about the challenges and opportunities of their future careers, please attend. Also, if you are an educator looking for tools to mentor this generation and the next, or an employer planning to build a 21st century workforce with motivated, well trained, local craftsmen and craftswomen, the Congressman hopes you will attend. To pre-register, visit http://www.sestak.house.gov/workforce_signup.shtml



• Marine V-22 Briefing The Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 263 (VMM-263), known as the “Thunder Chickens,” met with Congressman Sestak to discuss the Boeing V-22 Osprey tiltrotor aircraft and their recent deployment and mission in Iraq. These Marines who briefed the Congressman were part of the first V-22 squadron to complete an operational deployment in Iraq, and they reported that their mission was an unqualified success. Congressman Sestak has long been an advocate of the V-22, a tiltrotor aircraft that has vertical takeoff and landing capabilities as well as short takeoff and landing capabilities. “It was an honor to meet with these brave men and women and to hear a first-hand account of the success of the V-22 Osprey,” said Congressman Sestak. “The V-22 enhances our nation’s defense security while bolstering the economic and job security of our district, and these exceptional Marines confirmed that it was an asset to their combat missions.”



• Congressional Art Competition This April, students, parents, teachers and friends gathered at the Wayne Art Center to enjoy artwork produced by the region’s high-school students. Some 100 pieces of art from high schools throughout the district were entered in the annual 7th Congressional District Art Competition—titled “An Artistic Discovery”—hosted by Congressman Joe Sestak PA – 07). This year’s grand prize winner was Springfield High School’s Hayden Dahmm, a 9th grader who submitted his pastel work “Plate of Mangoes.” His work will be hung in the halls of the United States Capitol. All of the works submitted by the student artists of the high schools in the 7th Congressional District were displayed at the Wayne Art Center until May 9. A list of all winners follows this release. To view a list of all winners, please visit: http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/080419_art.shtml



• DCCC Groundbreaking: Congressman Sestak joined officials from Delaware County Community College for a groundbreaking ceremony for the College’s new Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) Complex this April. The Congressman had successfully supported appropriations of $170,000 during the FY 2008 appropriations process for the new complex. The funds will be used by the College to consolidate and upgrade their science, engineering, and technology facilities into one cutting-edge complex. The complex will include a 100,000 square foot four-story building for modern science laboratories that permits a variety of instructional modalities that will foster cross-discipline activities and student-faculty interaction.

• Protecting Homeowners from Foreclosure: Washington, DC – Congressman Sestak voted in favor of HR 3221, the American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008, a housing package that will begin to repair the economy, restore confidence in the markets, limit the damage to families and neighborhoods, and help build new affordable housing. “In this time of economic uncertainty, it is critical that Congress address the ever-increasing mortgage crisis. In Pennsylvania alone, one in every 1800 homes is facing foreclosure, and my caseworkers and I have seen a spike in the number of individuals facing a housing crisis, requesting assistance in funding relief from rising mortgage rates, health insurance premiums and food costs.” said Congressman Sestak. “The current economic climate is a ‘perfect storm’ that is challenging our seniors on fixed incomes and our middle and working class families. Something had to be done and this is a step.” In late March, the Congressman held a roundtable on this important issue in his District Office. To learn more about the provisions included in this legislation, visit http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/80508_housing.shtml



• Prohibiting Discrimination based on Genetic Information: The Congressman recently voted for HR 493, The Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) of which he is a cosponsor, and which protects individuals from discrimination in health insurance and employment on the basis of genetic information. The legislation passed by a vote of 414-1. “I was proud to cosponsor this legislation, as it decreases the potential for discrimination in our society based on data gleaned from genetic information,” said Congressman Sestak. “This alleviates the concerns of individuals who may be worried that they will be precluded from healthcare coverage or being hired for certain jobs based solely on genetic information.” To read more about GINA, please visit http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/080502_GINA.shtml



• Supporting the Coast Guard: Congressman Sestak voted in support of the Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007 (HR 2830), which provides resources, builds capacity and takes care of Coast Guard Personnel; strengthens port security, immigration enforcement and drug interdiction and reorganizes the Coast Guard to meet its multi-mission responsibilities among other provisions. “The Coast Guard Authorization Act bolsters our nation’s defense security, as it enhances the number of Coast Guard personnel, increases port security, and strengthens immigration enforcement,” said Congressman Sestak. “National security begins at home, and this legislation ensures that the Coast Guard has the right resources necessary to protecting America’s waters and borders.” To read more about this important legislation, visit http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/080428_CoastGuard.shtml



• Security Medicaid: Congressman Sestak voted in support of H.R. 5613 the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net Act of 2008 (HR 5613), of which he is as cosponsor. This bill postpones for one year — until April 1, 2009 — the implementation of new rules proposed by the administration that would reduce federal Medicaid payments to the states. Specifically, the Protecting the Medicaid Safety Net establishes a one-year moratorium on regulations that would: eliminate payment for some rehabilitation services for Medicaid beneficiaries, such as children in foster care of individuals with mental illness; limit state Medicaid payments to public hospitals, and thereby limiting federal matching payments; bar compensation for state child welfare agencies that provide Medicaid services; bar the use of Medicaid funds for the transportation of school-age Medicaid patients to and from school, and prohibit the use of Medicaid funds for administrative activities performed by a school employee; limit state taxes on Medicaid providers by redefining what the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services considers to be an “allowable” provider tax; restrict Medicaid payment for certain outpatient services, such as dental and vision services provided to Medicaid patients in outpatient clinics; prohibit Medicaid payments for graduate medical education; and limit Medicaid payments to hospitals and nursing homes that service Medicaid patients. To learn more, visit http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/080423_Medicaid.shtml

• The Treasury Department is issuing stimulus checks to more than 130 million Americans. It is anticipated that the checks will be issued over a period of months through the spring and early summer with the initial round of payments completed by early July. For tax returns processed by April 15, the stimulus checks will be sent out in the order of the last two digits of the Social Security number used on the tax return. Those who filed their tax forms electronically will receive their rebates sooner than those who filed a paper return. A schedule of payment dates based on Social Security numbers can be found on at www.irs.gov. No checks will be issued after December 31, 2008. The IRS has an economic stimulus calculator on its website for taxpayers to use to calculate the amount of their stimulus check. Generally, the bipartisan Economic Stimulus Package provides rebate checks of up to $600 per individual and $1,200 per married couple, plus an additional $300 per child. For more information, please visit www.irs.gov or call the Congressman’s office.



• The Delaware Valley Veterans Career and Education Fair will be held on Friday, June 6, from 10 AM until 2 PM at Montgomery County Community College’s College Hall, located at 340 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell, PA 19422. Visit with more than 40 local employers from Pennsylvania and New Jersey, receive information and meet with representatives from colleges to learn about scholarship, grants and other education benefits, attend a resume workshop and meet with Pennsylvania and New Jersey Career Link county veteran service officers. For more information, contact Paul Raetsch, Cathy Obey or Tyrone Beach at 215-218-3886.



• As the federal designated metropolitan planning organization, The Delaware Valley Regional Planning Commission develops the Transportation Improvement Program, which is the regionally agreed-upon list of priority projects, as required by federal law. The organization is welcoming comments on its TIPS for 2009 as well as its Destination 2030 long-range plan. To view these plans, please visit www.dvrpc.org. Comments on the TIP must be received no later than 5 p.m. on June 2, 2008, and comments on Destination 2030 must be received by no later than 5 p.m. on June 20, 2008.