The Serrano Report, Vol. X, #18

On Capitol Hill

Appropriations Committee Begins Consideration of Financial Services Bill

On Wednesday, the Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee marked up the fiscal year 2014 appropriations bill that funds the Department of Treasury, the Securities and Exchange Commission, and a number of other agencies in the federal government. Congressman Serrano is the Ranking Democrat on the Subcommittee, and during the markup, he outlined his opposition to the bill:

“The level of funding in the bill is simply not sustainable for large parts of our government,” said Serrano in his opening statement.  “This bill is $4.3 billion below fiscal year 2013, a 20 percent cut.  Rather than allowing the Appropriations Committee to do its job, the Ryan budget and the lack of a solution for sequestration have hamstrung this Committee. 

“As is to be expected at this funding level, many agencies are grossly underfunded.  The SEC is funded at a level of $1.371 billion, which is more than $300 million below the President's request.  The SEC has new mandates and missions as a result of both Dodd-Frank financial reform and the JOBS Act, but this committee's funding levels have not kept pace with these additional responsibilities.  We have seen the result of insufficient SEC enforcement funding in the past - and I am concerned that we a just asking for a future crisis at this funding level.  

“The Internal Revenue Service, which sustains an extreme 30 percent cut from the President’s budget request.  We all know that the IRS has been in the news lately for the wrong reasons.  We also know that their inappropriate targeting efforts affected liberal and conservative groups alike.  I share the majority's outrage over these improper practices, but a multi-billion dollar cut to the agency will do nothing to solve these problems.  Rather than attempting to fund training and reform programs, the majority has chosen to lay off thousands of IRS employees - almost all of whom had absolutely nothing to do with this issue.  This funding level is something that will make tax cheats everywhere smile.

“On top of these wholesale budget reductions, this bill is hindered by a plague of unnecessary and harmful riders.  Let me name just a few of the more egregious.  Within the Department of the Treasury, the bill includes a rider attempting to roll back our nation's 'people-to-people' Cuba travel policy, as well as a rider preventing IRS implementation of the individual mandate portion of the Affordable Care Act.  The bill also includes riders attempting to limit the President's power to issue signing statements and to create executive orders.  The bill attempts to undermine the ongoing Dodd-Frank implementation effort by requiring a biased report of the costs of implementation.  And the bill includes two controversial abortion riders: one that prohibits plans offered through the Affordable Care Act from offering coverage for abortion services, and one that continues to prevent the District of Columbia from using its own funds to pay for abortion services.  I find both of these riders to be highly objectionable, and I am troubled that we continue to restrict how the District uses its own funds in this regard.

“Very few, if any, of these riders are likely to survive in the end.  As in past years, they simply serve political ends, and are a huge impediment to reaching reasonable agreement in the appropriations process.

“Unfortunately, this is not a bill that I, or anyone on my side, can support.”

The bill was eventually passed out of the subcommittee, and now moves on to the full Appropriations Committee for further consideration.

Serrano Votes against FARRM Bill

On Wednesday, Republicans introduced H.R. 2642, the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act of 2013, which eliminated important nutrition programs that are normally included in the bill. This would be the first time in decades that nutrition programs were not considered alongside agriculture, conservation, and trade issues, and without the nutrition programs, the bill is largely composed of subsidies to farmers.Although the Chairman of the Agriculture Committee vowed to continue work on the nutrition programs, there is no guarantee that the House will be able to come to agreement on a bill that only includes the nutrition programs.  

During the debate on HR 2642 on Thursday, Congressman Serrano and many of his colleagues rose in strong opposition to the bill because of its failure to provide assistance to hungry Americans.  Specifically, it would leave approximately 3 million New Yorkers and 48 million Americans without SNAP benefits. SNAP is a highly effective and efficient program that offers nutrition assistance to low-income individuals and families and provides economic benefits to communities. SNAP is the largest program in the domestic hunger safety net.

The FARRM Act passed the House of Representatives last night by a vote of 216-208.

Serrano Praises Inclusion of PR Plebiscite Language in CJS Bill

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano applauded the inclusion of $2.5 million in funding for Puerto Rico to conduct a plebiscite to resolve its status. The funding is included in the House version of the fiscal year 2014 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) Appropriations bill. Serrano, a member of the CJS Subcommittee, had worked to include this funding in the bill.

"This funding is an important step forward in resolving Puerto Rico's status,” said Serrano. “It is clear that the current colonial status of Puerto Rico must change, and that a majority of the Puerto Rican people feel that this unequal status cannot continue. I am pleased that the CJS subcommittee has taken a giant step forward in that process."

"The inclusion of this funding is historic, and will allow Puerto Rico to conduct the first federally sponsored plebiscite on its status in the 115 years that Puerto Rico has been part of the United States.

"I'd like to thank Chairman Wolf and Ranking Member Fattah for their understanding of this issue, and for their willingness to include this important provision. I will continue to defend this funding as the bill works its way through the legislative process."

The funding was originally requested in the President's fiscal year 2014 budget request.

The Bronx

Bronx Groups Awarded Funding to Help with Obamacare Rollout

On Wednesday, Congressman Serrano announced that five institutions in the Bronx had been awarded more than $850,000 total to help Bronx residents with enrollment in the health care options under the Affordable Care Act. The grants will be used to hire outreach and eligibility assistance workers and are part of $7.2 million awarded in New York State for the program.

“The funding announced by HRSA is precisely what the Bronx needs—coordinated and expert help for people to understand what assistance they can get from Obamacare in 2014,” said Congressman Serrano. “The institutions selected in our community have proven track records of helping people and are trusted by people in our borough. They will be excellent guides for individuals exploring the new options for health care coverage under Obamacare .”

The institutions  and amounts awarded are as follows:

• Bronx Community Health Network -- $193,486
• Bronx Lebanon Integrated Service System -- $194,399
• Montefiore Medical Center -- $81,253
• Morris Heights Health Center -- $203,265
• Urban Health Plan Inc. -- $190,890

“And while this program, like the ‘navigators’ program, will provide personal counseling and advice to people in our neighborhood, I urge people to begin exploring their options today via the healthcare.gov website or the 24-hour-a-day call center at 1-800-318-2596,” Congressman Serrano added. “Getting educated on what the law will mean for you is the single most important step people can take at this time. Both the website and the phone line have Spanish and other languages available.”

The awards, according to the administration, will complement the “navigators” program, which is funded through the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. This program will also help determine an individual’s eligibility for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program; any financial help they can get; and enroll them in new affordable health coverage options. 

The Department of Health and Human Services noted that “In New York, 57 health centers operating 591 sites served 1,588,439 patients last year, 23 percent of whom were uninsured. With these funds, the awardees expect to hire 133 additional workers, who will assist 137,637 New Yorkers with enrollment into affordable health insurance coverage.”

“As we move towards full implementation of the Affordable Care Act, it is important that our community gets all the help possible to ensure that not a single person misses out on benefits under the law,” Congressman Serrano concluded. “We will see many people who were without health care options find that they have insurance and support. This is a huge step forward for our nation and for our community. The grants awarded today are a step in the path towards a healthier Bronx.”

Grant

Construction Safety Grant

Deadline: August 30, 2013

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health recently announced the availability of funding to help prevent and reduce construction related injury and illness. Successful applicants will take a holistic approach to researching problems and translating them into best-practices, education, and other preventive measures. Institutions of higher education, non-profits, and other qualified organizations, including state and local governments are encouraged to apply.

Please visit the National Institutes of Health website for more information.

For more information about other federal grants please visit grants.gov.