The Hill Report

This week, the House passed the final version of an Iraq withdrawal bill – which is now destined for the President’s veto pen because it undermines our military and diminishes our capacity to fight the Global War on Terror.

The President has made it clear that he will not sign an emergency spending bill that establishes an arbitrary surrender date in Iraq and enables Congress to micromanage a war, taking away decision-making from commander on the ground.

Democrats are well aware that this legislation will be immediately vetoed, and they have chosen to play politics with an emergency military funding bill rather than provide a clean bill to support our troops immediately. I believe that the Majority Party has missed an opportunity to fund our troops forthrightly by pulling political stunts and diluting military funding with non-military projects.

While the most egregious pork barrel spending for peanut storage and spinach farmers has been removed from the legislation, the final spending bill includes over $29 billion in unrelated domestic spending. Additionally, to “pay” for this unrelated non-military spending, the Majority Party chose to eliminate nearly $57 million in previously-approved transportation funding for Texas. Funding for domestic initiatives should be accommodated under the normal budget process – not by slipping it in to an emergency military spending bill and cutting much-needed funding to Texas.

Interestingly, the bill requires the U.S. Commander in Iraq, General David Petreaus, to provide Congress with regular progress reports – even as Speaker Nancy Pelosi refused to meet with General Petreaus this week as he briefed Congress on the efforts in Iraq.

Next week the President will veto this irresponsible bill, and Congress will once again be faced with the task of providing our troops with the funds they need to execute the War on Terror. Current military funding is running lower with each passing day, and I urge my colleagues to demonstrate the courage of their convictions to “support our troops” by producing a clean emergency funding bill.

21st Century Healthcare Update
Over the last few decades, scientists have made dramatic breakthroughs in understanding the human genome, particularly in prevention and early intervention methods addressing genetic susceptibility to diseases. Genetic testing can be done at all stages of human development, including testing in the womb, infancy, childhood and adulthood. These advances have helped develop our 21st century healthcare system, saving lives and improving quality of life for many Americans.

In spite of this great scientific progress, some patients are concerned that genetic testing that reveals a susceptibility to certain diseases could result in a loss of health insurance, increased insurance premiums, or even unemployment.

Consequently, I am pleased to cosponsor the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2007 (H.R. 493), which provides consumer protections to ensure that patients may participate in genetic testing without being penalized. H.R. 493 prohibits insurance companies, employers, and labor organization from discriminating based on genetic information and includes the following consumer protection provisions:

• Prevent insurers from requiring genetic testing or canceling, denying, refusing to renew, or changing the terms or premiums of coverage based on genetic information.
• Prohibit employers and labor organizations from making hiring, firing, promotion, and other employment-related decision based on genetic factors.
• Extends medical privacy and confidentiality rules to the disclosure of genetic information.

The House passed H.R. 493 with my support on Wednesday by a vote of 420-3, building on the genetic testing protections that 41 states have implemented.

In other healthcare news, last week I was pleased to receive the Visionary Award from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, recognizing my legislative efforts toward the advancement and availability of quality eye care.

 
The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the largest national membership association of ophthalmologists — physicians who provide comprehensive eye care, including medical, surgical and optical care. The Academy established the Visionary Award program to recognize Members of Congress and Administration officials for outstanding efforts toward advancing quality eye care.

I grateful for the opportunity to receive this distinguished award, and I will continue working to promote accessibility to quality eye care for all Americans.

 
Trinity River Project Funding
In recent years, the North Texas Congressional Delegation along with Texas U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn have procured federal funding for Dallas’ Trinity River Corridor Project, including improvement to the Dallas Floodway.

As you know, the Dallas Floodway’s levee system guides the Trinity River through downtown Dallas on its route to the Gulf of Mexico. Originally designed in 1960, the flood control capacity of the pumping plants has become inadequate, exposing downtown Dallas commercial and residential development to severe flooding risk.

I am pleased to report that the House has authorized additional funding this year through Water Resources Development Act (H.R. 1495), which passed the House last week. More specifically, the legislation authorized $298 million in federal funding for Trinity River Corridor Projects, including $172 million for Interior Drainage Plans.

This critical funding will provide for flood control improvements with three new pumping plants behind the East Levee and two new pumping plants behind the West Levee. Additionally, numerous existing pumping plants will be renovated to address structural, mechanical, electrical, and automated trash rack improvements.

These projects are essential for flood control and economic development along the Trinity River Corridor, and I thank my North Texas Congressional colleagues and the City of Dallas for their collaborative work to make this federal funding available. I look forward to working with them in the future to support the Trinity River Corridor Projects.