[StBernard] Washington Report from Rep. Richard H. Baker

[Westley Annis]

June 15, 2007

Thank you for signing up for Congressman Baker’s newsletter. Below are issue updates that you may find interesting. As always, please visit his website at http://www.baker.house.gov <http://www.baker.house.gov/>  for the most up-to-date news and information on what Congressman Baker is working on in the Sixth Congressional District of Louisiana.  

Transportation Committee Includes Baker Amendment on Rail Safety

The Transportation Committee passed H.R. 2095, the "Federal Railroad Safety Improvement Act of 2007," which contained Congressman Baker’s amendment to require Class I railroads to report to the Federal Railroad Administration all expenditures on safety improvements.

Congressman Baker is pleased his amendment was included, which will require America’s largest railroads to annually catalog all their expenditures for safety improvements throughout their networks. At a time of record profits, excessive fuel surcharges, and oppressive monopolistic practices, it is important to know how much of their capital is returned back into their networks to improve safety. Congress is being asked by the railroads to raise taxes on Americans to help build out their capacity, so it is important for the taxpayer to be as aware as the shareholder on where these dollars are spent.

Victory for Transparency on Secret Earmarks

Congressman Baker was pleased that the Majority Leadership abandoned their plans to pass the annual appropriations bills with slush funds for secret earmarks. The plan announced last month by Appropriations Chairman Obey (D-WI) to keep all earmarks secret until "air-dropping" them into conference reports will be dropped, effective immediately. Two appropriations bills (Homeland Security, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs) that include little or no earmarks moved forward; however, all 10 remaining appropriations bills will come to the floor with their earmarks fully disclosed and subject to review by every Member.

News for Consumers: Digital TV Upgrade 

In February 2006, the President signed into law the "DTV Transition and Public Safety Act of 2005," which will move our nation from analog to digital television (DTV). This upgrade will enable public safety entities to better communicate during emergencies, and local broadcasters will be able to broaden their programming capabilities to better serve their communities. This will affect about 15 million households nationwide and certain steps will need to be taken before the February 17, 2009, deadline. This will only affect televisions that rely on "rabbit ears" or rooftop antennas. If you still use an antenna, you may be eligible to receive a coupon to reduce the cost of transitioning. To learn more about the DTV Transition, please click here. <http://www.ntia.doc.gov/dtvcoupon/preparingforthedtvtransition.pdf> 

Purple Heart Stamp to be Re-Issued 

The U.S. Postal Service will re-issue the Purple Heart stamp nationally in August at the First-Class Mail rate of 41 cents. This is the third issue of the Purple Heart definitive postage stamp, and Congressman Baker is pleased that the stamp will be re-issued in a demonstration of our nation’s gratitude to our servicemen and women. The Purple Heart is awarded to members of the U.S. military who have been wounded in combat or to the next of kin of those killed in action. 

Latest Information on U.S. Passport Policy

U.S. passport offices are experiencing an unprecedented demand for passports as Americans work to comply with new border documentation requirements. As a result, there will be a temporary lift on the requirement that U.S. passports be used for U.S. citizens flying to and from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda. Instead, travelers will be allowed to fly without a passport to those selected destinations through the end of September 2007 if they present a State Department receipt showing they have applied for a passport and government-issued identification, such as a driver’s license. Those who have not applied for a passport will not be allowed to travel. Please click here for more detailed information.  <http://www.travel.state.gov/>