I. 10 Prescriptions for a Healthy America Act introduced

I was proud to join as a cosponsor of H.R. 3700 10 Prescriptions for a Healthy America Act (a.k.a. Health Care Bill of Rights) authored by Rep. Phil Gingrey, Co-Chair of the Medical and Dental Doctors in Congress Caucus. This legislation highlights key principles for any consideration of health care reform.

H.R. 3700 states that Congress should enact health reform legislation that:
1. protects individuals with pre-existing conditions;
2. reforms medical liability law and curbs abusive litigation;
3. reduces the overall cost of health care for all;
4. does not include government-run health insurance;
5. does not reduce benefits for seniors under the Medicare program;
6. does not increase the deficit;
7. does not impose new taxes;
8. does not allow the Federal government to ration care;
9. does not impose individual or employer mandates; and
10. denies taxpayer-funded health insurance to illegal immigrants.

II. 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

Hate Crimes Bill is attached to the Defense Authorization Act
On Thursday, October 8th, I voted against H.R. 2647 Defense Authorization Act because the Hate Crimes Bill was attached to it. I would have voted in favor of the Defense Authorization Act as a stand alone bill; however, I found the use of the Defense Authorization bill as a vehicle to pass the Hate Crimes Bill to among the most incredulous things I have seen in my nearly five years in Congress. I find it stunningly ironic that the very same people who supported inclusion of the Hate Crimes Bill as part of the Defense bill are the same ones who voted, in committee, against including service members and veterans as part of the protected classes in the Hate Crimes Bill. At the time, one member implied that veterans are not ‘real victims’ and said that the inclusion of service member and veterans is ‘belittling of the respect’ of the other protected classes. That statement came not long before two uniformed soldiers were shot outside an army recruiting office in Arkansas in what was later determined to be a terrorist act based on the victims’ membership in the armed services. Fundamentally, I believe that all crimes, no matter who the victim is, must be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. I just find it grotesque that the majority would slip the Hate Crimes Bill into the typically-bipartisan Defense Authorization Act simply to further their social engineering experiment. 

Committee on Financial Services

Capital Markets Regulatory Reform
On Tuesday, October 6th, the full Committee held a hearing entitled “Capital Markets Regulatory Reform: Strengthening Investor Protection, Enhancing Oversight of Private Pools of Capital, and Creating a National Insurance Office.” Testifying before the Committee were representatives from: North American Securities Administrators Association; Financial Industry Regulatory Authority; Fund Democracy, Inc.; Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association; Investment Advisor Association; American Council of Life Insurers; Property Casualty Insurers Association of America; Reinsurance Association of America; Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America; National Association of Insurance Commissioners; American Insurance Association; Managed Funds Association; Private Equity Council; Coalition of Private Investment Companies; and National Venture Capital Association.

OTC Derivative Market Reform
On Wednesday, October 7th, the full Committee held a hearing entitled “Reform of the Over-the-counter Derivative Market: Limiting Risk and Ensuring Fairness.” Testifying before the Committee were representatives from: Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Securities and Exchange Commission; Cargill Inc.; Fisher College of Business, The Ohio State University; Prudential Financial; Chatham, Financial Corp.; Securities Industry & Financial Markets Association; Managed Funds Association; Deere & Company World Headquarters; and Wholesale Markets Brokers Association.

Credit Card Interchange Fees
On Thursday, October 8th, the full Committee held a hearing entitled “H.R. 2382, the Credit Card Interchange Fees Act of 2009 and H.R. 3639, the Expedited CARD Reform for Consumers Act of 2009.” Testifying before the Committee were representatives from: Vermont Grocer’s Association; University of Chicago Law School; Electronic Payments Coalition; U.S. PIRG; Independent Community Bankers of America; Merchants Payments Coalition; Consumer Action; American Bankers Association; National Small Business Association; National Association of Federal Credit Unions; and The Pew Charitable Trusts.

The Future of the FHA’s Capital Reserves
On Thursday, October 8th, the Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity held a hearing entitled “The Future of the Federal Housing Administration’s Capital Reserves: Assumptions, Predictions and Implications for Homebuyers.” Testifying before the Subcommittee were representatives from: U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development; HIS Global Insight; Maryland Association of Realtors; Mortgage Bankers Association; National Association of Mortgage Brokers; National Reverse Mortgage Lenders Association; Mortgage Insurance Companies of America.

III. Academy Night in the 24th

My office will host an Academy Night on Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at Carroll High School, 800 N. White Chapel Blvd, Southlake, TX 76092 from 6:30-8:00 pm. The event is free and open to the public. Students and parents will have an opportunity to meet with representatives from the Service Academies (West Point, US Naval Academy, US Merchant Marine Academy, US Coast Guard Academy, US Air Force Academy) as well as ROTC and Prep School representatives.  For more information, contact Amanda Calongne at (972) 556-0162.

IV. Great Quotes in History

“Liberty has never come from government. Liberty has always come from the subjects of it. The history of liberty is a history of limitations of governmental power, not the increase of it.”
-Woodrow Wilson, 28th 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.