News from Congressman Joe Sestak

E-Newsletter - December 2007

During the last months of 2007, Congressman Sestak has been hard at work in Washington and in the 7th Congressional District. In addition to voting on important legislation regarding taxes, veterans, education and FISA, he has been busy at home, hosting the first-ever Business Procurement Summit, speaking out about the importance of a comprehensive energy policy, and listening to and meeting with constituents. 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

  • FAA Redesign: Congressman Sestak, joined by his colleague Congressman Robert Andrews (NJ-01), held a press conference updating citizens about the state of the FAA Airspace Redesign. Since taking office, Congressman Sestak has repeatedly asked for a redesign time table, and was recently assured that the FAA was at least eight months to a year from beginning redesign. However, as Congressman Sestak and Congressman Andrews announced, the FAA plans to rush redesign by beginning the process on December 17, before the release of a GAO report that will detail the ramifications of the redesign. Congressman Sestak and Congressman Andrews called on governments affected by the redesign to file emergency litigation to stop the FAA from moving forward until the GAO can complete its full study and Congress can review the results of the findings.
  • Business Procurement Summit: On Monday, December 3, Congressman Sestak hosted the first-ever 7th Congressional District Business Procurement Summit. He was joined by featured speakers Congressman John Murtha (PA-12), Congressman Ike Skelton (MO-04) and Vice Admiral David Architzel. More than 420 businessmen and businesswomen filled rooms to capacity at the district's first Business Procurement Summit, which featured exhibits by more than 40 large businesses and contracting officers from over 15 federal and state government agencies. Sessions throughout the day were tailored to helping local businesses fairly compete for government contracts, and focused on topics ranging from an introduction to government marketing to a panel discussion on regional economic development opportunities.
  • Veterans Day Weekend: Congressman Sestak participated in many events to honor our nation’s veterans during Veterans Day Weekend. He attended commemorative ceremonies including one at the Philadelphia Veterans Administration Medical Center; met with and spoke to numerous veterans at American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars posts throughout the district; attended the Knights of Columbus Annual Dinner Dance, where he was presented with a large check for the LTC Mark Patrick Phelan Foundation to aid wounded American soldiers and the families of those killed in action (The foundation’s mission is to sustain and honor the memory of LTC Phelan, a 1979 graduate of Upper Darby H.S., who was killed in action in Mosul, Iraq, on October 13, 2004); marched in various Veterans Day parades; and met with students at several local schools, including the Great Valley High School where he taped a segment for a joint Comcast/History Channel project titled “Take a Veteran to School Day.”
  • Focus on 7th District Families: On November 20, as part of National Family Week, Congressman Sestak held the first of his series of roundtables titled Focus on 7th District Families. Joined by representatives from Philabundance, Loaves and Fishes Food Pantry, and the Mitzvah Food Project, the Congressman and participants discussed the impact of rising prices on their respective organizations and working families in the region.
  • Environmental Advocacy: The Congressman joined Lt. General Robert Kelly, USAF (Ret), and a representative from the Clean Air Council to educate the public about federal energy policy proposals at the PennEnvironment and Clean Air Council town hall meeting. He also spoke at GVF Transportation’s 2007 conference, titled “Going Green,” which focused on ways to protect the environment in a major metropolitan region that daily confronts issues of mass transportation. Earlier in the month, the Congressman was a featured speaker at The National Day of Climate Action/Step It Up 2007 initiative, where environmental advocates from across the district and Philadelphia region gathered to demand government action to address the crisis of global warming and climate change.
  • Events throughout the District: This fall, Congressman Sestak attended many events throughout the district, including several ceremonies honoring local Eagle Scouts, where he noted the example of civic-mindedness that these young men set for their fellow citizens. He also attended the Upper Darby NAACP’s Annual Freedom Fund Dinner, where he spoke on the historic importance of that organization in establishing a more socially just society. He also addressed the League of Women Voters of Central Delaware County, updating them on issues of national importance. In addition, the Congressman joined Delaware County Daily Times editor Phil Heron at Cabrini College to film a half-hour television piece on the war in Iraq.

In Legislation

  • Enhancing FISA: Congressman Sestak voted for the passage of the Responsible Electronic Surveillance that is Overseen, Reviewed, and Effective Act of 2007, the “RESTORE Act” (H.R. 3773). The bill provides the U.S. Intelligence Community with effective tools to conduct surveillance of foreign targets outside the United States but restores the Constitutional checks and balances that were not contained in the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) legislation passed by Congress in August. To learn more about this critical legislation, visit http://sestak.house.gov/list/press/pa07_sestak/071118_FISA.shtml
  • Raising Veterans’ Assistance: Congressman Sestak voted for legislation that would secure earnings assistance and tax relief for the men and women who dedicate their lives to public service. The Heroes Earning Assistance and Relief Tax Act (H.R. 3997) includes tax provisions intended to assist military personnel and their families, veterans and public service volunteers. To read more about the specific provisions included in the bill, visit http://sestak.house.gov/list/press/pa07_sestak/pr_071106.shtml

  • • Voting to Redeploy Troops:

    Congressman Sestak voted for passage of the Orderly and Responsible Iraq Redeployment Appropriations Act of 2008 (H.R. 4156), which takes a bipartisan approach to ending the war in Iraq. In addition to requiring that troops in Iraq be redeployed within 30 days of its enactment, the bill also calls for a goal—rather than a “date certain”—for completion of redeployment of December 15, 2008. The bill also calls for a diplomatic approach for political accommodation in Iraq, by requiring the President to submit to Congress a comprehensive regional stability plan for the Middle East. To read more about this bill, visit http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/071115_4156.shtml

  • Supporting Extension for AMT Tax Relief:

    Congressman Sestak voted for the passage of the Temporary Tax Relief Act of 2007 (H.R. 3996), legislation that extends tax relief to middle-class families facing the alternative minimum tax (AMT), originally enacted in 1969 to deny wealthy Americans from tax loopholes. The bill will protect 23 million families, including 93,181 in our district, from the AMT this year. The bill also extends over 30 popular tax credits and deductions, such as an expanded child tax credit, extensions of deductions for property taxes, and student tuition payments, among many tax provisions. The bill provides special incentives for families, businesses, students, teachers, active duty troops and veterans. To learn more about the tax relief package, visit http://sestak.house.gov/list/press/pa07_sestak/071110_taxrelease.shtml

  • Crafting a Comprehensive Energy Policy:

    Congressman Sestak voted for the Energy Independence and Security Act (H.R. 6), which is a bold step towards reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil and strengthening our national security, lowering energy costs, increasing America’s supply of home-grown renewable energy, investing in cutting-edge research on renewable fuels, and reducing harmful pollutants to the environment. To read more about this landmark legislation, visit: http://sestak.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa07_sestak/071206_Energy.shtml