Letters From Washington

Comment

Comment by Chandrashekar Tamirisa on July 28, 2009 at 4:02pm

Dear Mr. Tamirisa:
 
Thank you for contacting me to express your opposition to the construction of new coal power plants. It=s great to hear from you.
 
I absolutely agree with you that protecting our environment is crucial to ensuring public health. Since coming to Congress, I have worked hard to fight pollution and to protect our natural resources for future generations.
 
You can be sure that I will fight for more renewable energy, like wind and solar, while strengthening the environmental regulations for our coal power plants and safeguarding the thousands of jobs in the mining industry.
 
I also want you to know that I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of the Cleaner, Greener, and Smarter Act of 2009 (S.5) which calls for legislation to improve the economy and the security of the United States by reducing U.S. dependence on foreign and unsustainable energy sources and the risks of global warming.
 
I appreciate your input on this critical issue. Please let me know if I may be of assistance in the future.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator


Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating e-mail account is not monitored.

If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit my Webform at http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm

Comment by Christopher and Daniela Rabalais on July 23, 2009 at 11:32am

Dear Mr. Rabalais:

Thank you for your recent letter regarding global climate change legislation. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this matter.

As you know, President Barack Obama’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget contains a new national energy tax that would raise energy prices on Texas families by assuming revenues in excess of $650 billion from a cap-and-trade program. Recently, the House of Representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009 (H.R. 2454) which would implement President Obama’s initiative to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. I welcome an open debate on how to be a good steward of our environment; however, I cannot support legislation that would create a massive new government bureaucracy, raise energy prices, increase taxes, and send American jobs overseas. Several analyses show that Texas, as the nation’s leading energy producer and key manufacturing center, would be saddled with a disproportionate amount of the cost to implement a cap-and-trade program. In fact, the Texas Comptroller’s office notes that if H.R. 2454 was enacted, it could cost Texas families a total of $6.9 billion dollars and, in its first year of implementation, displace up to 277,000 Texas jobs.

I strongly believe that innovation and technological advances in areas such as clean coal, nuclear, wind and solar energy, will address our nation's environmental challenges more effectively than proposals, such as H.R. 2454, that create more government regulation and stifle economic development. Furthermore, any effort to control potentially harmful emissions should not put the United States at an economic disadvantage—or penalize American families and workers—by allowing other countries, such as India and China, to ignore environmental considerations in their economic policies. You may be certain that I will work to enact sensible policies that protect our environment while also growing our economy and protecting American jobs.

I appreciate having the opportunity to represent you in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator

Comment by www.41WorldUSA.com on July 22, 2009 at 9:50am

A personal letter received from the Honorable Kathleen Sebelius, Secretary of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services dated 23 June 2009 from 639-G Washington D.C...

June 23 2009

"Dear Suzanne, Paul and 41 World USA Global Company:

Thank you for your letter outlining your ideas for reforming our healthcare system. I share President Barack Obama's conviction that "healthcare reform will not wait". No action is not an option. The status quo is unacceptable and unsustainable.

Your ideas and recommendations are most welcome and indicate the thought you have given to this issue. Healthcare reform is one of President Obama's most important priorities, and we welcome and appreciate your ideas. Our goal is to provide affordable, accessible health care for all Americans, reduce costs and improved quality.

If you would like more information on the Administration's approach to Healthcare reform, please visit the White House at www.healthreform.gov.
President Obama and I feel strongly that Healthcare and Energy Independence reform are important initiatives and we truly appreciate your ideas and support.

Again, thank you for your letter. I appreciate hearing from you and welcome your ideas.

Sincerely,

Signed/ Kathleen Sebelius
Secretary, US Health and Human Services
Washington, D.C. 20201 USA"

Comment by www.41WorldUSA.com on July 22, 2009 at 9:41am

July 17, 2009

Dear Suzanne, Paul and 41 World USA,

In the U.S House this week marked another milestone in our long quest for Health Care for All in this country.  After years of hearings and months of discussion, three House committees, including one on which I sit, produced a plan for Health Care reform,  America’s Affordable Health Choices Act (H.R. 3200) promises to lower costs, provide better care, and keep our insurance industry competitive and fair for all consumers. I’m proud to have make my opening statement at the committee mark-up. Over the years, I have listened to, and shared, your worries, concerns, and frustrations with the current health care system.  Our reform proposal will prevent insurance companies from denying you coverage because of a pre-existing medical condition. It will ensure that workers can still have health insurance if they lose or change their job, or start a new business. And it includes a health insurance exchange that will allow families and small businesses to compare prices and quality so they can choose the health care plan that best suits their needs.

Under our proposal, if you like your doctor and the plan you have now, you may keep them. If you are not satisfied with your coverage or if you are one of the 47 million Americans currently uninsured, you will have additional and more affordable options. I worked hard to include a provision allowing states flexibility to test innovative ideas. Wisconsin offers shining examples of state innovations to expand coverage to more people, Badger Care Plus being just one example. And I'm working hard to ensure a robust public health insurance option. Including a public option among the many plans offered will make health care affordable by increasing competition, providing more choices, and keeping the insurance companies honest.  Here, again, Wisconsin is a model for the nation. Under a federal waiver, our state has a highly successful public health insurance to provide a prescription drug benefit to seniors as an alternative to Medicare Part D. Called Senior Care, this plan enjoys broad, bipartisan support and has been operating well since 2003. Despite this competition, private plans continue to flourish here with a large number of available plans and fair premium rates.

In 2007, every member of our state’s Congressional delegation rallied successfully to keep the waiver that allows this public health plan option. Republican opposition of reform makes no sense. Health care for all is finally within our grasp, but our work is not done.  In the coming weeks and months, you will be bombarded by forces massed trying to deny us this dream. These special interests, funded by the big drug and insurance companies are not at all concerned with the well-being of America's hard-working, middle-class families. And why should they be? While working families are struggling to keep their heads above water, the average salary for the top seven health insurance company CEOs last year was $9,719,891. One $10 Million dollar salary of just one CEO is enough to give health coverage to 648 families. 

The loud, well-financed campaigns of the naysayer’s, the cynics, and the keepers of the status quo will not trump the millions of Wisconsinites and Americans who know that enough is enough. The status quo is not sustainable. In the coming weeks, I'll keep you informed on the progress of our health care reform proposal as it moves from committees to the full House.  As always, I welcome your input and your activism and leadership as we strive to make affordable, quality health care accessible to all Wisconsinites and Americans. I’m working hard in Wisconsin and Washington to make affordable health care a priority as I have been and will be a big proponent of our Country’s Clean Energy Initiatives. Thank you for your efforts and support.

Sincerely,

Tammy Baldwin
Your Member of Congress

DID YOU KNOW?
In  1943, Congressman John Dingell, Sr. (D-MI) introduced the first bill in Congress to ensure Health Care for All.  In 1945, Harry Truman was the first President to propose such a measure.

MADISON OFFICE
10 East Doty Street
Suite 405
Madison, WI 53703
(608) 258-9800
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WASHINGTON OFFICE
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(202) 225-6942 Fax

Comment by Chandrashekar Tamirisa on July 14, 2009 at 5:34pm

Dear Mr. Tamirisa:

Thank you for getting in touch with me again about a renewable energy standard.

You have obviously given this a great deal of time and thought ‑‑ I've learned from hearing your views. I want to be responsive to the needs of all Marylanders when I make decisions. Information from people like you is essential if I'm to reach that goal.

Again, thanks for keeping in touch with me. Please let me know if I may be of assistance in the future.

Sincerely,
Barbara A. Mikulski
United States Senator

Please do not respond directly to this e-mail. The originating e-mail account is not monitored. If you would like to get in touch with me again, please visit my Webform at http://mikulski.senate.gov/Contact/contact.cfm

Comment by Christopher and Daniela Rabalais on July 10, 2009 at 2:56pm

Dear Mr. Rabalais:



Thank you for contacting my office regarding energy issues. I appreciate your thoughts on this important matter.



I am committed to reducing the United States' dependency on foreign sources of oil. We cannot rely on unstable regions in the world to supply our energy. Exploring domestic sources of energy will reduce our reliance and drive down our oil and gasoline prices at home. The United States should explore all alternatives to eliminate our foreign energy dependence. This includes developing wind, solar, nuclear, and other practical energy alternatives. But America should also use the abundant energy we have in this country - natural gas, crude oil, and clean coal.



Prohibiting exploration of domestic sources of energy leaves the United States vulnerable to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) price fixing. OPEC's control has led to a low supply and high prices of oil over the past few years.



In response to this I have introduced the DRILL NOW Act (H.R. 1143). This bill allows for further exploration of natural resources while rewarding states that want to control their own energy supply and continue respecting the environment. The DRILL NOW Act allows states to decide on drilling off their shores and share in the millions of dollars that are paid by oil and gas companies to the federal government for leases. This will bring more crude oil and natural gas to the US while creating more jobs and would keep American money in America.



I will only support practical legislation that takes advantage of our domestic energy resources without tax increases on the American consumer.


Thank you again for contacting me with your thoughts. For additional information regarding current legislation and my representation of the Second District, please refer to my website at poe.house.gov. While you are visiting the website, be sure to sign up for my electronic newsletter.


God and Texas,











TED POE

Member of Congress

TEXAS



TP\ac


God and Texas,

TED POE
Member of Congress
TEXAS

Comment by Christopher and Daniela Rabalais on June 28, 2009 at 1:42pm

Thank you for contacting me regarding the American Clean Energy and Security Act. I welcome your thoughts and comments.

In our effort to reduce emissions, I believe we must invest in alternative sources of energy. Wind, solar, nuclear, and biomass are clean, safe and effective sources of power. Their increased use would create thousands of jobs and allow us to produce energy for Americans, by Americans.

Some Members of Congress have expressed their intent to mandate a cap-and-trade policy to be imposed on all Americans. I believe that cap-and-trade would increase energy prices. In 2008, Peter Orszag, who then served as the Director of the Congressional Budget Office, and who now serves as the Director of the Office of Management and Budget, testified before the U.S. Senate’s Committee on Finance on the implications of a cap-and-trade regime. In his testimony, Director Orszag stated, “Under a cap-and-trade program, firms would not ultimately bear most of the costs of the allowances but instead would pass them along to their customers in the form of higher prices.”

For this reason, I believe that a cap-and-trade approach to address climate change would be onerous and would adversely impact the economy. It could create economic hardship for farmers, ranchers, workers and small businesses, in addition to consumers. The last thing our nation needs during this time of economic hardship is higher energy prices and higher levels of unemployment due to a federal mandate passed down from Washington.

As cap-and-trade legislation comes before the Senate, I will keep your comments in mind. I appreciate hearing from you, and I hope you will not hesitate to keep in touch on any issue that is important to you.

Sincerely,
Kay Bailey Hutchison
United States Senator

284 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
202-224-5922 (tel)
202-224-0776 (fax)
http://hutchison.senate.gov

Comment by Ted Wallace on June 27, 2009 at 9:41am

Missy, I cheated. They have an option under "tools" to allow you do add this button.
I got one of those long strings with smybols like < >. When I pasted it here, bingo!

Comment by Ted Wallace on June 27, 2009 at 9:38am

Comment by Missy Steichen on June 27, 2009 at 9:06am

Want to see how your congressmen/women voted on the passing of the American Clean Energy & Securities Act? I STILL havent figured out how to get a "direct link" to the website, so copy & paste this link in another browser:

http://www.opencongress.org/roll_call/show/5807

And if anyone can teach me how to put in a direct link for websites & video, I will be eternally grateful & indebted to you!

Missy :-)
DL MN-08

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