Washington, D.C.—Today, Congressman Joe Donnelly joined members of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee in introducing bipartisan legislation to reduce the time veterans must wait when they appeal a VA decision regarding their benefits.

“Our veterans who have sacrificed so much for our country should not have to jump through so many hurdles to appeal a benefits decision,” Donnelly said. “Often, the appeals process drags on for years, which is simply unacceptable. This bill will help streamline that process and ensure that our veterans can receive the benefits that they deserve in a timely manner.”

The Veterans Appeals Improvement and Modernization Act of 2009 would simplify both the administrative appeals process within the Department of Veterans Affairs and judicial review process through the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims. By cutting out the regional office and having veterans report directly to the Board of Veterans Affairs, much of the bureaucracy that delays the benefits decision would be eliminated. In addition, the bill calls for the creation of a Veterans Judicial Review Commission to serve as an independent arbiter of the disability and survivor benefits claims process and suggest improvements.

Veterans may appeal the VA’s decisions on their claims for benefits and compensation.  Currently, approximately 178,000 appeals are pending before the VA, a process that can take years.

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“America’s brave veterans have made unparalleled sacrifices for our country,” said Donnelly. “On this Veterans Day, we honor their service and pledge to fulfill our duty to provide earned benefits to these courageous men and women. I am proud to present fifteen brave men with medals to display but a token of our gratitude for their valiant service to our nation.”

Veterans and their families are reminded to contact Congressman Donnelly’s district office at (574)288-2780 if they are missing any of their earned medals.

The following veterans received medals:

Clifford Dipert of Kingsbury served in the U.S. Army during WWII from 1943 to 1946. He has earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and WWII Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Frank Farkas of South Bend was involved in the invasion of the Philippines, the invasion of Okinawa, and was his company’s bugler during his time in the U.S. Army from April 1943 until January 1946. He has earned the Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two Bronze Service Stars, WWII Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, and WWII Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Charles Graham of South Bend served in the U.S. Army from July 1951 to July 1953 in the 12th Infantry, 7th Division. He has earned the National Defense Service Medal.

Ernest Huskey of South Bend served in the U.S. Army from December 1951 until May 1972, during which he served in the Korean and Vietnam Wars. He has earned the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, Vietnam Service Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Service Medal, Expert Badge with Carbine Bar, and Sharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar.

George Kline of South Bend served in the U.S. Army during WWII. He has earned the Good Conduct Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with four Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, and Honorable Service Lapel Button.

Russell E. Laycoax of Knox served in the U.S. Army during WWII and was a member of “Darby’s Rangers”.  He was a prisoner of war and a Purple Heart medal recipient. He has also earned the Bronze Star Medal, POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars, WWII Victory Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, Expert Infantryman Badge, and WWII Honorable Service Lapel Button. 

William J. Long of Elkhart served in the Army in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Global War on Terrorism from April 2003 to February 2004 and is currently serving with the Indiana National Guard.  During his time in the U.S. Army, he earned the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with Bronze Service Star, Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Stephen S. Marozsan of South Bend served during WWII in the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946. He has earned the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Discharge Button, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

Bernard S. Nelson of LaPorte served during WWII in the U.S. Navy from August 1944 to June 1946. He has earned the American Campaign Medal, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Navy Occupation Service Medal, Discharge Button, and Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

Ross A. Portolese of Mishawaka served in the Army Air Corps over Europe in WWII from 1943 to 1945. He has earned the Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, and WWII Honorable Service Lapel Pin.

William B. Reasor IV of South Bend served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He has earned the Air Medal and Numeral 30, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal with Silver Star attachment, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with 1960 Device, Marksman Badge and Rifle Bar, and Army Aviator Basic Badge.

Frederick Starke of Elkhart served in the U.S. Army. He has earned the Good Conduct Medal and National Defense Service Medal.

Luke Stigler of South Bend served during the Global War on Terrorism in Iraq and sustained injuries after encountering a land mine.  For wounds received as a result of this hostile action, he has earned the Purple Heart.

Ronald A. Thomas of Argos served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. He has earned the Purple Heart with two Bronze Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon, Combat Infantryman Badge 1st Award, and Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar.

Roy C. Watt of South Bend served in the U.S. Navy from 1978 until 1984. He has earned the Humanitarian Service Medal and an Honorable Discharge.
 

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Health care spending comprises almost one-fifth of our economy, and will be an even greater burden on businesses and families in the future unless fundamental improvements are made. A recent report by the non-partisan Kaiser Family Foundation predicts that in just ten years, the average family plan will cost $30,000 per year. This bill is designed to make health insurance more affordable and secure for all Americans.

If you have health coverage and like it, the new bill will not force you to change your plan or your doctor. The goal is to protect the doctor-patient relationship and the doctor’s decision-making ability, which is critical to effective health care. For those who do not have coverage, the bill creates a national marketplace of competing insurance plans, offering minimum benefits, as well as a limited public plan for the uninsured and small businesses. Since 2000, premiums have more than doubled, including for most small businesses. These rising premiums have become one of the largest cost concerns for our small businesses, and the goal of this bill is to foster greater competition among insurers and lower premiums.

As hundreds of thousands of Hoosiers know, having health care one day doesn’t necessarily mean you will have it the next. Under our current system, if you lose your job, you often lose your access to affordable health care as well. By creating the new marketplace and providing affordability credits, working- and middle-class families will be guaranteed access to affordable insurance policies that provide a good standard of care regardless of their job status.

This legislation also strengthens care for seniors by immediately improving Medicare and curtailing age discrimination by insurers. The bill will help close Medicare’s “donut hole” gap in prescription drug coverage for seniors, and for those seniors in the “donut hole”, the bill will cut in half the price of name-brand drugs. It also caps the premiums private insurance companies can charge older Americans because of their age.

For years, many people with diabetes, arthritis, and other conditions have been turned down for health insurance. The Affordable Health Care for America Act would finally prohibit insurers from denying coverage for “pre-existing conditions.” This bill also prevents illegal immigrants from receiving taxpayer-funded insurance. As a pro-life member of Congress, I want to also state that this legislation prohibits any federal funds from being used to pay for abortion-related services.

Even though it is important to make health care more secure and to lower health care costs, it is just as important to ensure this reform is accomplished in a way that reduces our deficit. The legislation passed by the House of Representatives has been judged by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office to reduce the deficit by $110 billion over the next ten years. I will continue to work nonstop to reduce the deficit even further, as there is nothing more important to our nation’s future than creating jobs and reducing the deficit.

This legislation is not perfect, and I am working hard to make it better. It will not become law until merged with legislation from the United States Senate. As the process moves forward, I will continue to advocate for a final bill to include additional cost reductions that would reduce our deficit even further.

I know this is a big decision, but if reform fails, out-of-pocket spending will continue to rise, more Americans will go without health care, more businesses will drop their coverage, and long-term government spending on Medicare and Medicaid is guaranteed to grow until the programs are no longer solvent. In fact, at our current rate of spending, Medicare is expected to run out of money by 2017. Our families, seniors, and businesses can no longer afford to shoulder the costs of the status quo.

If you have any questions, suggestions, or ideas about how to improve this legislation before it becomes law, give my office a call. It would be great to hear your ideas. It is a privilege to serve as your Representative.

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“The first-time homebuyers tax credit has boosted the housing market and helped make possible the dream of homeownership for many Americans,” Donnelly said. “Extending this tax credit is a common-sense way to continue to strengthen our housing market and, in turn, our economy. The concept from my bill that was included in this bill will allow thousands of homebuyers who enter into contracts ahead of the deadline to receive the credit even if they are unable to close before that same deadline.”

Donnelly introduced The First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit Guarantee Act last month to make sure that, in the event that the tax credit was not extended, first-time homebuyers would be able to claim their tax credit as long as they were in a contract by November 30, 2009. The original tax credit stipulated that homebuyers had to close on a house by that date.

In addition to the extension, the legislation also includes a new $6,500 tax credit for current homeowners buying a new primary residence, as long as they have lived in their current primary residences for five consecutive years. It also expands the credit by increasing the income cap by 50,000 for individuals and $75,000 for married couples to $125,000 for individuals and $225,000 for married couples.

The legislation also extends unemployment insurance by an additional 20 weeks for workers in states like Indiana with unemployment levels over 8.5 percent.

The legislation will now go to the president for his signature.

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“Now that we have a final healthcare reform bill, I am reading it in its entirety and weighing it against concerns, criticisms, and ideas that have been shared with me over the past months. I spent a lot of time traveling around north central Indiana to listen to the opinions of as many folks as possible.  I understand that this legislation will affect every Hoosier, which is why it’s so important to me to get it right. After I finish reading the bill, I will make my decision as to whether to support the bill.

“As I read through the bill, I will be looking to make sure that it meets my requirements that I’ve stated before:
•    not force people to give up the insurance they have, if they like it;
•    not add to the national debt;
•    make health insurance more affordable for the uninsured;
•    increase competition in the health insurance market, possibly, in part, by setting up a public plan;
•    lower the costs of health insurance that are squeezing families and small businesses; and
•    prohibit insurance companies from denying coverage to those who suffer from serious illnesses.

“I invite anyone who would like to express an opinion to contact my office. I also want to remind folks that the bill is available to the public at Thomas.loc.gov or by clicking here.”

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Investors rely on credit rating agencies to provide guidance as to the level of risk of an investment. In the wake of the September 2008 near-collapse of our financial system, many believed that inflated credit ratings largely contributed to the crisis.

“Credit ratings agencies perform an essential function in our financial system," Donnelly said. "That’s why it’s critically important that investors be able to rely on their ratings.  A common-sense system of regulation would go a long way toward ensuring these credit rating agencies don’t artificially inflate ratings in pursuit of profits.  My amendment will ensure that the people charged with enforcing such a system of regulation have the tools they need to do their jobs effectively.”    

The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

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“This is common-sense, bipartisan legislation that will eliminate uncertainty among first-time homebuyers seeking the tax credit, as well as help the nation’s housing market get back on its feet,” Donnelly said. “I hope Congress extends the deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit, but unless and until that happens, my bill will continue to encourage first-time homebuyers to enter into the market.”

As it is currently written, the $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit is available only to those who close on their purchases on or before November 30. This could prevent thousands of homebuyers who enter into contracts ahead of the deadline from receiving the credit because they may not be able to close before that same deadline.

In addition to many first-time homebuyers not realizing how long it takes to close on a home, the current economic climate has caused the closing process to take even longer than before. Lenders are more closely scrutinizing potential homebuyers before approving them for mortgages and, as a result, realtors are suggesting that homebuyers expect the process to take about 60 days or longer instead of the traditional 30 to 45 days.

Donnelly’s legislation specifies that as long as a first-time homebuyer enters into a contract on or before November 30 and closes on the purchase within 90 days of the tax credit’s expiration date, he can claim the credit. It would also allow those who sign a contract ahead of the expiration date but close after the New Year to treat the purchase as having occurred on December 31, 2009, allowing the credit to be claimed retroactively for the 2009 tax year.

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“This legislation will ensure that our veterans are provided with comprehensive and timely healthcare even if Congress fails to pass a budget on time—as has been the case 20 out of the past 23 years,” Donnelly said. “We are taking another step to ensure more dependable and accessible care for America’s veterans, which has been a priority of mine since taking office. I thank the many veterans service organizations for working so closely with us to get this landmark legislation passed.”

Each July, the VA will be required to report to Congress if it has the resources it needs for the upcoming fiscal year in order for Congress to address any funding imbalances.  This will help to safeguard against the VA’s health programs facing uncertainty related to delays in the passage of congressional funds.

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“Investing in our rural infrastructure will not only allow us to become more energy efficient, but it will also help save our farmers money on their energy bills,” Donnelly said. “I am pleased that, as a result of this grant money, Mr. Sroufe was able to purchase a new, energy-efficient grain dryer.”

“Last year, we had a problem drying our corn, which was coming out very wet,” said Mr. Sroufe. “Our existing dryer was getting old and was not very efficient, so we decided to invest in a new dryer with the help of this grant money. This year, my corn is coming out the wettest I’ve ever seen it, but, hopefully, this new dryer will speed things up and save me money on the LP gas we use.”

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“Investing in our rural infrastructure will not only allow us to become more energy efficient, but it will also help save our farmers money on their energy bills,” Donnelly said. “I am pleased that, as a result of this grant money, Mr. Baltes was able to purchase a new, energy efficient grain dryer.”

“Recently, we learned that a new grain dryer was available, and the USDA grant made it a whole lot easier to purchase,” said Mr. Baltes. “From what we’ve been told from other people who have the same grain dryer, it uses about 30 percent less energy to dry grain. This was a deciding factor as to why we went with this dyer.”

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“I was deeply troubled to see a video recently in which ACORN employees offered to falsify tax documents and help individuals supposedly involved in prostitution obtain a mortgage,” Donnelly said. “In the face of stark proof that ACORN has systemic problems supervising its workers and a corresponding loss of the public’s trust, I do not believe that federal funds should be used to support this organization.”

The House of Representatives and the Senate have passed different versions of the spending bill that funds the Department of Transportation and the Department of Housing and Urban Development and negotiators from each chamber will meet to craft compromise legislation. In the Senate’s version of the bill, an amendment was adopted that would prohibit ACORN from being eligible for any funds under the bill.

To read a copy of the letter, click here.

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“The pork industry has fallen on hard times with both the worldwide recession and the H1N1 virus directly affecting its sales.” Donnelly said. “A helping hand for the industry right now—in the form of targeted, temporary assistance—would go a long way toward getting the industry fully back on its feet. Over 13,000 Hoosiers, many of whom live and work in north central Indiana, are employed by the pork industry. This is about our friends and neighbors and their livelihoods.”

The letter Donnelly sent asks that the United States Department of Agriculture:

•    Purchase an additional $100 million of pork for various federal food programs,
•    help the industry to combat H1N1 from passing from human to swine,
•    work with the U.S. Trade Representative to open export markets to U.S. pork.

To read a copy of the letter, click here.

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“18,500 Hoosiers are proudly employed by a thriving medical device industry, and they want to continue being part of the solution to America’s health needs.  I’ve always said that health reform legislation must not add to our debt, and that means some tough decisions will have to be made about how to pay for it.  I worry, however, that the impact of the proposed tax would burden our communities in particular.”   

To read a copy of the letter, click here.

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“The $8,000 tax credit provides the perfect incentive for folks who are considering purchasing their first home,” Donnelly said. “As we continue to weather this difficult economic climate, providing these types of incentives will not only stimulate the housing market, but also allow first-time home buyers to achieve the American dream of owning a home. I hope to see this tax credit extended so we can continue to give a boost to the housing market.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act increased the tax credit from $7,500 to $8,000 and removed the repayment requirement for first-time home buyers who purchase a house between January 1, 2009 and November 30, 2009. (The credit in effect in 2008 required that the tax credit be repaid over a 15-year period, effectively turning it into an interest-free loan.) The National Association of Realtors has said that 1.4 million first-time home buyers have taken advantage of the tax credit so far this year and about 350,000 of them have specifically cited the tax credit as the reason they decided to purchase their new home.

 “The tax credit absolutely helped in our decision to purchase our first home,” said Chuck Lamphier, who, along with his wife, Sarah, joined Donnelly inside of their new home.  “The extra money allowed us to put more of a down payment on the home and, as a result, we were able to invest more in the house to make it more of a home.”

In order to receive the first-time home buyer’s tax credit, the house must be closed on by November 30. Real-estate professionals recommend that buyers be in contract for a house 30 days to 45 days before the deadline if they hope to close by the deadline.

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“These funds will help address the housing needs of and expand economic opportunities for people in Elkhart and LaPorte,” Donnelly said. “As we begin to slowly emerge from these difficult economic times, funds like these greatly help our communities.”

The City of Elkhart will receive $748,528 and the City of LaPorte will receive $500,135. The grants were allotted through formula funding.

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“The RV industry plays an important role in north central Indiana’s economy, and these vehicles are used by many families across the country,” Donnelly said. “We’ve seen what spikes in fuel prices can do to RV sales and the direct impact on jobs.  By explicitly including RVs in DOE research and development under The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act of 2009, federal researchers will be put to work devising new technologies to help make RVs more fuel efficient.  Doing so will reduce our dependence on foreign oil and help protect RV owners and makers from the impact of rising energy prices. With both government experts and RV makers working to usher in a new generation of fuel-efficient vehicles, we can help to ensure the industry’s continued competitiveness and success.”

H.R. 3246 authorizes DOE programs that examine technology solutions to increase a vehicle’s fuel efficiency, reduce its emissions, and improve its safety. In addition to research and development by the DOE for passenger vehicles, the legislation will also set aside funding for medium- and heavy-duty vehicles. Donnelly’s amendment includes RVs in the category of medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.

“A comprehensive federal vehicle research and development program is critical at a time when the RV, automotive, and commercial trucking industries have limited resources for increasingly expensive research and development,” Donnelly said.

The bill is endorsed by:  the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, the United Autoworkers, the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, Daimler, Magna International, Delphi, ArvinMeritor, Robert Bosch LLC, Caterpillar, Dueco Odyne, Achates Power, EcoMotors, the Engine Manufacturers Association, the Connected Vehicle Trade Association.

Congressmen Mark Souder (R-IN) and Peter DeFazio (D-OR) co-sponsored Donnelly’s amendment.

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“What a special opportunity to wish our veterans the best as they embark on their trip to our nation’s capital,” Donnelly said. “These heroes, who selflessly served our country, worked extremely hard to raise funds for this trip and make sure they could accommodate as many area veterans as possible. I look forward to hearing about their experiences and especially about their visit to the World War II Memorial.”

On Saturday, a Donnelly staff member, who is also a native of Elkhart, will meet the group by the World War II Memorial on the National Mall to present them with a flag that has been flown over the United States Capitol. In addition, Donnelly was able to secure a White House tour for the group on Saturday morning.

Donnelly’s office will send pictures of the group’s trip to the local media.

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“I am happy that the USDA decided to invest in Marshall County and the people who live here,” Donnelly said. “The investment, which was made possible by the recovery package Congress passed earlier this year, will generate economic activity through the construction of this facility and improve the delivery of many of the social services that county residents rely on.”

The Marshall County Neighborhood Council, a non-profit corporation, has been working on the concept of a community resource center for over 20 years. In rural communities like Marshall County, many social service agencies are open on a part-time basis and have limited staff and budgets. Putting many of these agencies in the same location will allow for the service providers to share equipment and eliminate duplicative services, thereby reducing overall costs.

The Council applied for a loan from the USDA in July 2008. Donnelly wrote a letter in support of their loan application and worked with Marshall County to follow up on the status of the loan. He was notified this past May that the center was granted the loan.

“We’re very thankful that the USDA deemed our project worthy of financing,” said Rev. Ronald Liechty, president of the board of the Community Resource Center.  “This is an important project for community, and we’re excited to move ahead with it in the near future.

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