I. New Legislation Helps Homebuyers and Homeowners

A resurgent housing market will help boost a lagging economy:
I would like to highlight key parts of a bill I recently introduced, H.R. 2619, which I believe will benefit both homebuyers and homeowners. My legislation does two things. First, it opens up the current $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit to ALL homebuyers. Second, it offers a $3,000 credit to homeowners who wish to refinance their principal residence. This tax credit may be applied to: cover the fees associated with refinancing; buy points; or put equity in their home if they’re a little underwater. Opening up the homebuyer tax credit to all homebuyers will help fuel a broad-based recovery in the housing markets while the refinance tax credit will allow homeowners to take advantage of the current historically-low mortgage rates without picking winners and losers.

II. Patients’ Choice Act introduced

Healthcare reform starts with increasing patients’ choice:
As you many of you know, many health care reform proposals have been floating around. I would like to alert you to a free market proposal that I believe will fix many of the problems consumers are now facing without having a government-run system. The legislation I support and have joined as a cosponsor, H.R. 2520 Patients’ Choice Act, is authored by Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA). H.R. 2520 is based on 3 core principles: (1) recognizing the importance of and strengthening the patient-physician relationship; (2) utilizing choice and competition to contain costs; and (3) ensuring affordable health care for all Americans.

The Patients’ Choice Act contains 6 key components:
• The legislation focuses on preventing disease and promoting healthier lifestyles.
• The legislation creates affordable and accessible health insurance options.
• The legislation equalizes the tax treatment of health care, empowering all Americans with real access to coverage.
• The legislation modernizes the Medicaid benefit and protects the Medicare beneficiary choice.
• The legislation ensures compensation for injured patients.
• The legislation establishes transparency in health care price and quality.

You can access more detailed information regarding H.R. 2520 below:
Short Summary
Long Summary
Questions & Answers
Text of the Legislation

III. This week’s votes on the floor, hearings, and markups

Each week I get the opportunity to represent you in Congress by: 1) voting on legislation that comes to the House floor; and 2) participating in committee hearings and markups for the Committee on Financial Services. 

Key House Floor Votes

Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Authorization Act:
On Thursday June 4th, I voted in favor of H.R. 2200 the Transportation Security Administration Act which passed 397-25. TSA, which was created in 2001, is under the jurisdiction of the Department of Homeland Security and is in charge of protecting passengers and our nation’s infrastructure. One of the highlights of this bill is the Secure Flight Program which increases the frequency of updates to Congress (to every 90 days) on the status of individuals on the “no-fly” list.

Committee on Financial Services

Regulation and Disclosure in a New Economic Environment:
On Wednesday, June 3rd, the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit held a hearing entitled “Remittances: Regulation and Disclosure in a New Economic Environment.” Testifying before the Subcommittee were representatives from: Inter-American Dialogue; Appleseed; The Western Union Company; and financial Service Centers of America.  

Section 8 Vouchers:
On Thursday, June 4th, the Subcommittee held a hearing entitled “The Section 8 Voucher Reform Act.” Testifying before the Subcommittee were representatives from: National Low Income Housing Coalition; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; National Alliance to End Homelessness; National People’s Action; Supportive Housing Network of New York; Housing Authority of the City of Angeles; Raleigh County Housing Authority; Public Housing Authorities Directors association; National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials; Council of Large Public Housing Authorities; and the National Affordable Housing Management Association.

IV. In the 24th District

Star of the 24th:
I would like to recognize Jina Park, District 24 winner of the 2009 Congressional Artistic Discovery contest, as the very first person to be recognized as “Star of the 24th.” Park, a junior at Coppell High School, showed tremendous artistic ability in her painting “Brio.” You can read Jina’s profile and see her artwork here. To submit a nominee for future consideration, please click here:

24th District service academy appointments announced:
Last week, my office announced that 32 students from the 24th District have received an appointment to one of the U.S. service academies. This highly-coveted honor is bestowed upon students after a meticulous examination of their records, which includes intense scrutiny of their overall academic and non-academic achievements and interviews. Those receiving this distinction are to be congratulated. You can access the entire list of appointments here.

V. Great Quotes in History

“Power always thinks…that it is doing God’s service when it is violating all His laws.”
-John Adams, 2nd President of the United States

“I believe there are more instances of the abridgement of freedom of the people by gradual and silent encroachments by those in power than by violent and sudden usurpations.”
-James Madison, 4th President of the United States

“You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves.
-Abraham Lincoln, 16th President of the United States

I am honored to represent the 24th District of Texas, and appreciate your interest in my e-newsletter.  Please contact my District or DC office with any further questions you may have or visit my website at www.marchant.house.gov. You can also become my Facebook friend here or follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/RepKenMarchant.