[StBernard] Washington Report from Rep. Richard H Baker

[Westley Annis]

November 2, 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.

WRDA Veto Override Next Week

President Bush vetoed the Water Resources Development Act this morning. Click here to read the latest news from Congressman Baker. <http://www.baker.house.gov/html/news_item.cfm?id=709> 

Update on Veterans Appropriations

Earlier this year, Congress provided the highest level of funding in the history of the Veterans Administration (VA). As Louisiana’s only member of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs, Rep. Baker proudly voted for more than $87.5 billion in total funding to care for our veterans.  This historic legislation passed both the House and Senate with overwhelming support, and the president has promised to sign it into law. Rep. Baker has just learned that the new majority in Congress has not sent this legislation to the President because they intend to combine veterans' funding with a highly controversial bill that President Bush has vowed to veto.  Veterans lose $18.5 million in health care and benefits each day this bill waits to be sent to the President. Adding this critical funding to legislation that will be vetoed means more lost time, and more lost resources for veterans. This is the wrong decision for America’s veterans.  Rep. Baker will continue to fight to keep the promises made to the men and women who have served our nation with distinction and honor and will work to ensure that this historic funding for the VA is passed by the Congress. 

VA Issues Policy on Flag-folding Recitations

In mid-October, the VA issued a policy that disallowed the use of the 13-fold flag recitation during funeral services at U.S. veterans’ cemeteries. The flag-folding recitation, which makes references to Judaism and Christianity, became a point of contention when there was a complaint to the Riverside National Cemetery in California about the religious references within the reading. The VA instructed federal workers and volunteers not to perform the recitation even if requested by the family.  Subsequent to the VA’s misguided policy, veterans groups voiced their concerns to Congress and the VA. Rep. Baker is pleased to report that the VA has reversed its policy. Click here to read the press release from the VA. <http://www.baker.house.gov/files/VArelease.pdf>   

President Bush Signs Seven-Year Internet Tax Moratorium

On October 31st, President Bush signed legislation to ban most taxes on the Internet for the next seven years.  The Internet has revolutionized the way we do business, learn, and communicate. Taxing the Internet  would harm this progress, and Rep. Baker strongly supports the seven year Internet Tax moratorium.

Receive Updates from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)

Product recall information has been the subject of numerous media reports over the past several weeks. As the holiday season approaches, Americans will be purchasing toys and gifts and may have questions about product safety. While Congress debates the best way to improve the safety of both domestic and foreign products, consumers can turn to the CPSC to help educate themselves in order to make the best choices. The CPSC website also allows you to sign up for updates concerning the safety of numerous products. If you would like to receive these alerts, visit http://www.cpsc.gov/.

SSA Announces Cost-of-Living Adjustment for Social Security and SSI Beneficiaries

The Social Security Administration announced that the 2008 cost-of-living adjustment for Social Security and SSI beneficiaries will be 2.3 percent. This adjustment is based on the increase in the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) from the third quarter of one year to the third quarter of the next, as announced by the Department of Labor. For more information, click here <http:// www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/2008cola-pr.htm.>  for a fact sheet announcing the 2008 adjustment.