WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is asking Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer to act “as quickly as possible” to improve the safety of a Tombstone street where a British couple recently was killed.
In a letter to Brewer, Giffords cited the Oct. 19 deaths of Arthur and Winifred Wilkinson as a reason to install a crosswalk and lighting.
Giffords, whose 8th Congressional District includes Tombstone, noted there have been five fatalities in 10 years as pedestrians tried to cross State Highway 80 where it passes through the center of the historic western town.
The Arizona Department of Transportation conducted two studies at the city’s request – one in 2001 and the other in 2004 – to determine if safety improvements were needed. Both times the state said a crosswalk was not justified.
“Tombstone, known internationally as ‘The Town Too Tough to Die,’ must not become known as a place where tourists and residents risk their lives when they cross the street,” Giffords wrote to Brewer.
A copy of Giffords’ letter is below.
November 19, 2009
The Honorable Jan Brewer
Governor of Arizona
1700 West Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Dear Governor Brewer:
Like many Arizonans, I was saddened to learn of the recent deaths of a British couple who were hit by a car and killed as they crossed State Highway 80 where it passes through the center of Tombstone. I am writing to ask for your assistance to help prevent future fatal accidents on this very busy street.
The tragic accident that took the lives of Arthur and Winifred Wilkinson on October 19 underscores the need to improve pedestrian safety in one of our state’s most famous tourist destinations. I believe that these improvements should include a crosswalk and lighting.
According to the Tombstone Marshall’s office, there have been five fatalities in 10 years in the City on Highway 80. In June 2001, the Tombstone City Council passed a resolution asking the Arizona Department of Transportation to place signs and crosswalks at the intersection. Unfortunately, the resolution did not result in action from the state.
It is impossible to know if a crosswalk or lighting would have prevented the Wilkinson’s deaths. We do know, however, that they were killed after dark in an unlit section of the highway where there was no crosswalk.
After the accident, an Arizona Department of Transportation spokeswoman was quoted in news reports as saying that the agency, at the City’s request, had conducted two studies about whether to put a crosswalk across the highway. Both times, in 2001 and 2004, the department decided that a crosswalk was not needed. I am requesting that the Department re-evaluate its decision. Pedestrian safety on Arizona 80 in Tombstone is a very serious problem that the state should move quickly to address to protect visitors and residents alike.
When my staff met recently in Washington, D.C., with John S. Halikowski, Director of the Arizona Department of Transportation, they raised this issue. Mr. Halikowski and his staff said a pedestrian safety study will soon be started and would be completed early next year. The department then intends to present its recommendations to Tombstone’s Mayor and City Council.
While I appreciate Mr. Halikowski’s decision to conduct another study, I am concerned with the length of time this would require. Since two studies have already been conducted, could we not use them to reach a decision on how to respond to this dangerous traffic situation?
Tourism is the primary industry in Tombstone, drawing more than 400,000 people per year, including a sizeable number of the 13 million international visitors who came to Arizona last year. Because of Tombstone’s international reputation as a tourism destination, the deaths of Arthur and Winifred Wilkinson have been reported around the world. The Daily Mail in London reported that the couple was killed “during their annual Wild West pilgrimage to Tombstone, Arizona.” And the Blackpool Gazette near the Wilkinsons’ hometown reported the couple’s death while they were “on holiday in the historic Wild West town of Tombstone, Arizona.” The deaths also have been reported in Taiwan and elsewhere.
Tombstone, known internationally as “The Town Too Tough to Die,” must not become known as a place where tourists and residents risk their lives when they cross the street.
I urge you to move as quickly as possible in having the Department of Transportation implement new pedestrian safety measures, including crosswalks and lighting, on Highway 80 as it passes through Tombstone.
Sincerely Yours,
Gabrielle Giffords
Member of Congress
“At a time when some in the United States seem to be questioning whether we should sustain a strong commitment to investing in our space program, the rest of the world has not hesitated to embrace the promise that the exploration and utilization of outer space can offer to them,” said Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). “Those other nations recognize that space activities can spur innovation, help improve the quality of life of our citizens, promote national security and economic competitiveness, and advance geopolitical objectives. That recognition echoes the aspirations of our congressional predecessors when they established NASA and undertook other related actions some fifty years ago.”
The U.S. and Russia (formerly the Soviet Union) dominated the first fifty years of the space age as the only nations capable of launching humans into space. Recently, however, other countries have entered the space arena or are quickly displaying increasing technical capabilities for space activities. China launched a human into space in 2003 and performed a space walk in 2008. China and India have successfully launched their first lunar probes, India has announced plans for a human space program, and numerous countries around the world have established space agencies. A number of foreign nations have acquired the capability to develop satellites and instruments and to deploy them with independent launch systems. Others have purchased space assets such as communications satellites on the commercial market and operate them as part of their national infrastructure.
As more nations pursue an active presence in outer space, the global space landscape is becoming increasingly interdependent and competitive economically and geopolitically. There is also a growing drive to finding global solutions to some of the most pressing societal challenges.
“We can just look at the myriad ways that our space investments have transformed our economy, our defense, and our quality of life over the last fifty years to realize the space has become woven into the very fabric of our daily life,” said Giffords. “So it’s no surprise that other nations, seeing the benefits that space investments have delivered to our nation want to share in those benefits. I, for one, see that as a positive development and not one to fear. While we must always be vigilant against those who would use space capabilities to threaten others, we should not turn away from opportunities for constructive engagement in peaceful space cooperation.”
“Yet if we are to harness global space capabilities in cooperative ventures, the United States needs to make clear to the rest of the world that we are not wavering in our own commitment to space exploration and to the path we have started down,” concluded Giffords.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords voted with a bipartisan majority this week to pass five bills that would offer critical assistance to small business owners, the driving force behind the nation’s economy.
“There are many hopeful signs that the economy is improving, with some experts saying the recession finally is over,” Giffords said. “But small business owners know we still have a long way to go. Assisting them at this critical time is the goal of the legislation we passed today.”
All five bills now go to the Senate consideration.
The bills passed by the House are:
• H.R. 3014, the Small Business Health Information Technology Financing Act, is designed to speed the shift to electronic medical records.
The bill would guarantee up to 90 percent of the amount of a loan to small business health professionals for buying and installing health information technology for the professional’s medical practice. The loan would cover the purchase of computer hardware, software and related technology as long as it is used for medical records.
Electronic records allow different doctors to know a patient’s complete medical history so they can coordinate care. This helps avoid duplication of testing and prescribing medicines that in combination might be dangerous.
• H.R. 1839 would amend the Small Business Act to improve the Service Corps of Retired Executives.
The bill would increase the proportion of small business mentors from socially or economically disadvantaged backgrounds, establish benchmarks for evaluating SCORE’s activities and volunteers and establishes a mentoring program to small businesses by qualified counselors.
• H.R. 1834, the Native American Business Development Enhancement Act, would establish in the Small Business Administration the Office of Native American Affairs with the goal of increasing Native American entrepreneurship.
The bill, introduced by Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick of Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, allows Native American business owners who operate on tribal land to apply for grants to help with outreach and development of business startups and expansions.
• H.R. 1842, the Expanding Entrepreneurship Act, would improve the Small Business Administration's entrepreneurial development programs.
As part of the improvements, the SBA would be required to establish a Web site that provides comprehensive information on its programs, making it easier for business owners to take advantage of assistance.
• H.R. 3738, the Small Business Early-Stage Investment Act, would require the SBA to establish loan programs to support new small businesses in targeted industries.
The loans would be available to businesses in agricultural technology, energy technology, environmental technology, life science, information technology, digital media, clean technology and defense technology.
Giffords, a former small business owner, noted that small businesses created 65 percent of all new jobs over the past 15 years. “As go small businesses, so goes the economy,” she said.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted for legislation aimed at reversing reductions in Medicare and military TRICARE physician payment rates.
“Without the bill we passed this afternoon, the health care of millions of Americans would be at risk,” the Arizona lawmaker said. “The imposition of a cumulative 40 percent payment reduction over the next several years would be nothing short of devastating for Medicare and TRICARE beneficiaries.”
The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act passed the House of Representatives this afternoon in a 243-to-183 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Giffords called passage of the bill critical because it ends a “budget gimmick” that artificially reduces the deficit by assuming physician payments will be cut by 40 percent over the next several years even though Congress has consistently intervened to prevent those cuts from occurring.
The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act is supported by AARP, the American Medical Association and The Military Coalition, a consortium of uniformed service and veterans organizations that represents more than 5.5 million active duty, Guard, Reserve, retired and former service members and their families.
The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act would reverse the 21 percent reduction in Medicare and TRICARE physician payments that is scheduled to take effect on Jan. 1, 2010 unless Congress acts.
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, agrees with The Military Coalition that the cuts would be particularly burdensome for TRICARE beneficiaries who live in areas where there is not a large military population or military hospital.
“Concern over not finding a doctor to treat an ill spouse or child is the last thing our troops should be forced to worry about,” Giffords said.
For Medicare beneficiaries, patients enrolled in physical, speech or occupational therapy would have had their treatment halted on Jan. 1 if Congress did not act.
“NASA deserves a round of applause for developing what TIME called the ‘best, smartest, and coolest’ invention of the year. I am pleased that TIME has acknowledged NASA’s achievement. Over the past fifty one years, NASA has made numerous contributions that have advanced the exploration of space and have also had a significant impact on our daily lives. Improved bullet proof vests for law enforcement personnel, cordless power tools, and fire-resistant clothing are just a few of the down-to-Earth technological advancements that have their roots in NASA’s mission-directed R&D,” stated Gordon. “This recognition by TIME is further proof that in spite of a challenging budgetary environment, NASA continues to demonstrate technological leadership. Once again, I’d like to congratulate NASA and all of the people who have worked on the development of the Ares rockets.”
“It’s great to see the dedicated NASA team that is developing the Ares rockets get the recognition that they deserve,” added Giffords. “They have kept their focus in spite of many distractions and challenges, and are developing the rockets that will lead America into an exciting new age of space exploration. I congratulate them on this award, and I look forward to continued progress on the Constellation program in the months and years ahead.”
The Ares rockets are a key part of NASA’s Constellation program, which is an initiative dedicated to carrying out human and robotic exploration of the solar system, including returning humans back to the Moon and eventually to Mars and other destinations. As the House Committee with jurisdiction over NASA, the Committee has carried out extensive oversight of NASA’s exploration initiatives as well as of NASA’s exploration initiatives as well as of NASA’s other important space and aeronautics activities.
On October 28, NASA successfully launched the Ares I-X test rocket, an aerodynamic model of Ares I, from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The Ares I-X is 327 feet tall and used hundreds of sensors to collect massive amounts of data that will be used to improve the development of the operational Ares flight vehicles.
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TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will be at the University of Arizona this afternoon to announce the introduction of legislation aimed at improving the Post-9/11 GI Bill.
Joining the Arizona lawmaker at the 2:30 p.m. announcement will be UA President Robert Shelton and Matt Randle, the student director of the university’s VETS Office.
Giffords’ legislation would fix three problems in the Post 9/11-GI Bill that limit access to benefits earned by service members and their families.
The Post-9/11-GI Bill was passed by Congress in 2007 and signed into law by President Bush in 2008. Since it went into effect last Aug. 1, it has enabled more than 800 veterans to advance their education at the University of Arizona.
The bill pays for tuition and fees at a public institution, plus $1,000 for books and supplies and a housing allowance. The majority of veterans receiving the benefits served in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, decided to introduce her legislation after hearing from veterans about ways to improve the bill.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords announces legislation improving the Post 9/11 GI Bill
WHEN: 2:30-3 p.m., Thursday, November 12
WHERE: VETS Office, Room 404-O, 4th floor of the Student Union, University of Arizona
TUCSON – As our nation prepares to honor its veterans, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords would like to remind Arizonans that Congress is doing everything it can to meet the needs of those who have served our nation.
“We must never waiver in our commitment to the brave men and women who protected us and our cherished freedoms by serving in our armed forces,” said Giffords. “Veterans’ Day is a fitting time to affirm that commitment.”
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee whose district includes two military installations and a large number of veterans, recently supported three veteran-related bills that were approved by the House:
In addition, Giffords also voted to support four military and veterans-related resolutions:
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today announced that she will vote for landmark legislation that for the first time would guarantee access to health care for all Americans.
“The Affordable Health Care for America Act represents a critical first step in overhauling our nation's inadequate health-insurance system,” Giffords said. “While this legislation is far from perfect, it achieves the goal that the vast majority of Southern Arizonans want – fiscally responsible reform that preserves choice, improves access and curbs ever-rising costs.”
The congresswoman outlined her support of the Affordable Health Care for America Act in a guest opinion that was published Friday in the Arizona Daily Star. First among her eight primary reasons is the bill’s positive impact on the economy.
“It will not add to our nation's debt and deficit,” Giffords wrote. “In fact, the bill is estimated to lower the deficit by up to $100 billion over 10 years.”
Giffords also wrote she was pleased that the Affordable Health Care for America Act includes tort reform, a provision called for by many of the people who attended the three town halls she held recently throughout the 8th Congressional District.
These tort reform initiatives, Giffords wrote, “offer incentives to states that implement changes to traditional medical-malpractice laws.”
The House of Representatives is expected to vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act in the next few days. The bill is strongly supported by President Obama and numerous organizations in Arizona and across the country.
Among the most influential supporters is AARP, the well-respected, non-partisan advocacy group that represents 40 million older Americans. AARP Chief Executive A. Barry Rand said Thursday that the bill will lower drug costs for Medicare beneficiaries and bar insurance companies from denying coverage because of pre-existing conditions or age.
Passage of the bill, Rand said, means that “millions of Americans will start to regain control over their lives.”
Another key supporter is the American Medical Association, which praised the bill for being “consistent with our principles of pluralism, freedom of choice, freedom of physician practice and universal access.
“The time to make health system reform a reality is now,” said AMA President J. James Rohack.
The long list of national supporters also includes Easter Seals, the American Cancer Society, the National Farmers’ Union, the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities and Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports.
Locally, supporters include Dr. Jim Dalen, a noted cardiologist and former dean of the College of Medicine at the University of Arizona.
“I admire Congresswoman Giffords’ continued strong support for the Affordable Health Care for America Act,” Dalen said. “This bill is not perfect – none are – but it is the most important step toward ensuring access to health care for all Americans since the passage of Medicare in 1965.”
A similar view was expressed by Dr. William S. Nevin, a Tucson pulmonologist.
“Speaking as a physician with many years experience in managed care in Arizona, I support the efforts of the House to make much needed changes in our healthcare system,” he said.
Josephine G. Kaple Boswell, a medical economist at the University of Arizona, praised the Affordable Health Care for America Act for putting citizens first.
“As a medical economist who has analyzed costs in this industry for 25 plus years, I commend the House on coming together to put the best interest of our citizens first,” she said. “By increasing competition among insurers, the easily accessible insurance exchanges, coupled with the public option, will provide an opportunity and incentive for uninsured individuals and small employers currently unable to afford insurance for their employees to gain affordable access to a quality health insurance plan. And the options will not exclude them for pre-existing conditions.”
Even organizations that have not taken a formal position on the on the Affordable Health Care for America Act, such as the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, recognize the critical goals it will achieve.
“Like much of the nation, our chamber does not have consensus on this bill,” said Lea Marquez Peterson, the group’s president and CEO. “We are concerned about the uninsured in our nation as well as potential cost increases to the small business community. During this economic downturn, small businesses are struggling to recover. We support legislation that would encourage health insurance companies to create more affordable healthcare solutions for small businesses.”
Giffords has prepared for Saturday’s likely vote on the Affordable Health Care for America Act by reading the bill and reviewing comments from constituents who have taken the time to contact her offices and share their opinions.
“I am fully aware that the vote I cast for the Affordable Health Care for America Act will be one of the most important votes of my tenure in the House of Representatives,” Giffords said. “I am confident it is the right thing to do. I also am confident that by confronting the health insurance crisis facing our country, we are honoring the ideals that have been the foundation of our country for more than two centuries. As Thomas Jefferson wrote, ‘Liberty is to the collective body, what health is to every individual body. Without health no pleasure can be tasted by man; without liberty, no happiness can be enjoyed by society.’”
]]>My prayers and condolences are with the victims of this tragedy and their loved ones. It is unthinkable that this assault happened at one of our nation’s pre-eminent military installations. Fort Hood is the home of the 1st Cavalry Division and the 4th Infantry Division, units which have played a significant role in the ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. It is shocking that the violence confronted by our soldiers on the front lines of battle should be visited upon them here at home.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to extend both unemployment compensation benefits and a credit for first-time homebuyers.
“With Arizona having a 9.1 percent unemployment rate and the nation’s second-highest foreclosure rate, both of these extensions are crucial,” said Giffords. “The credit for homebuyers will provide badly needed assistance to the struggling construction and real estate sectors of the state’s economy.”
The measures, widely viewed as critical to the economic recovery, were included in legislation that was approved in a 403-to-12 House vote. The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act of 2009, H.R. 3548, now goes to President Obama for his signature. A similar bill passed the Senate on Wednesday.
The Worker, Homeownership and Business Assistance Act would extend unemployment insurance by up to 14 weeks for jobless workers and extend benefits for six additional weeks for workers in states, including Arizona, with unemployment levels over 8.5 percent. Arizona’s 9.1 percent unemployment rate is the nation’s 22nd highest.
The maximum unemployment benefit in Arizona is $240 per week – less than the national average of about $300 per week.
The 14-week extension would supplement the 26 weeks of benefits Arizona offers and the federally funded extensions of up to 53 weeks that Congress approved in legislation last year and in the stimulus bill enacted in February.
The extension is estimated to cost $2.4 billion over 10 years. The cost will be fully paid by an extension, until June 30, 2011, of the Federal Unemployment Tax Act.
“Extending unemployment benefits is one of the most cost-effective and fast-acting ways to stimulate the economy because the money is spent quickly,” Giffords said. “The legislation we passed today is a real win-win for Arizona – we are helping the unemployed and businesses get through these difficult times.”
The bill also extends expiration of the First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit. The credit now is scheduled to end Dec. 1, but that would be extended to April 30, 2010 under the bill approved today.
For home purchases made after Jan. 1, 2009, the tax credit is equal to $8,000 or 10 percent of the purchase price of the home, whichever is less. The credit must be repaid if the home is sold within three years.
The extension would cover homes that are under a binding contract before April 30, 2010, allowing an additional 60 days to close.
The extension was strongly supported by the National Association of Realtors, which said the credit is responsible for stabilizing housing prices.
There now is a 7.8 month supply of housing on the market – close to the six-month supply that is considered a “normal” housing inventory reflecting a stable market, the Realtors said. “We strongly believe that we are within sight of a ‘normal’ market,” the Realtors association said in a statement.
From July through September, there were 50,342 home foreclosures filed in Arizona, according to RealtyTrac. Arizona’s rate of one foreclosure for every 53 homes is the second-highest in the nation, trailing only Nevada.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to support the Expedited Card Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, a bill aimed at protecting consumers from high interest rates.
“Consumers in Arizona and across the country have been hit hard by high interest rates,” said Giffords. “In these difficult economic times, it is unconscionable for credit card issuers to make matters worse by unfairly raising rates on consumers. This bill will help us quickly end this practice.”
The Expedited Card Reform for Consumers Act of 2009, H.R. 3639, passed the House of Representatives this afternoon in a 331-to-92 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The bill will move up the implementation date of the sweeping reforms called for in the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act. The reforms, which were to become effective in February 2010, included banning unfair rate increases, abusive fees and penalties.
Since the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act was signed into law by President Obama on May 22, many credit card companies have increased interest rates, imposed higher fees and lowered credit limits. According to a recent study by the Pew Charitable Trusts, the 12 biggest credit card companies have raised the median annual rate by two percentage points or more between last December and July of this year.
The bill that was voted on today sets Dec. 1, 2009 as the new effective date. It keeps the original effective date for small credit card issuers with under 2 million cardholder accounts and for prepaid gift cards.
“There would be no need to move up the implementation date if the credit card industry had acted in good faith,” Giffords said. “They did not and this is why Congress had to act.”
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords has invited the leader of a Tucson solar manufacturing company to attend a joint session of Congress on Tuesday.
Olaf Koester, the president and CEO of Solon Corporation, will be in the gallery as German Chancellor Angela Merkel speaks to lawmakers about the close, longstanding relationship between her country and the United States.
Giffords, a leading proponent of solar energy in Congress, asked Koester to join her at the speech because of his personal and professional ties to Germany.
Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act was approved by the House of Representatives on October 22 by a 3-to-1 margin. The bill is aimed at boosting federal research for the development of solar energy technology.
Solon Corporation is owned by Solon SE, one of the largest manufacturers of solar modules in Europe and a major supplier of photovoltaic systems for large-scale solar power plants. The company is based in Berlin, Germany and has offices in Austria, Italy, and Switzerland.
Solon has had a presence in Tucson since 2007 and employs about 100 people at its state-of-the-art production facility on South Country Club Road. At the plant’s grand opening in October 2008, the Tucson Regional Economic Organization said it expects Solon Corporation to be a cornerstone of large scale economic development in Southern Arizona.
Merkel is the first female chancellor of Germany. Like Koester, she was born in Hamburg. Merkel is a physicist by training who was recently elected to a second term. Her address to Congress comes as Germany prepares to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall.
Only one other German chancellor has spoken to American lawmakers – Konrad Adenauer in 1957.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted to improve the well-used trails at one of Southern Arizona’s premier recreation destinations, Saguaro National Park.
“Saguaro National Park is a treasured place for Tucsonans and visitors to hike, bike and savor the Sonoran Desert. It is where some of the most impressive forests of saguaros are preserved on the edge of a rapidly growing city,” said Giffords. “Spending money to improve the trails is a sound investment in the future of this very special place.”
The funding – $398,000 to build or improve 136 miles of trails in the Rincon Unit of Saguaro National Park – is part of legislation to continue funding for the Department of Interior.
“This is good news,” said Erik Bakken, president of the Friends of Saguaro National Park, a non-profit organization that supported the funding request.
Bakken added that many of the park trails need renovation because they are quite old, originally established by settlers passing through the area in the 19th century – well before the park was established in 1933.
The bill includes money to build 12 miles of new trails and improve about 124 miles of existing trails in the eastern unit of the park. Four miles of existing trails will be removed and native habitat will be restored.
Giffords said the work will help the National Park Service implement its new Comprehensive Trails Plan for Saguaro National Park as well as create local jobs.
The funding was included in a bill that funds the Department of the Interior through Dec. 18. It passed the House on a 247-to-178 vote.
The bill makes improving our national parks a key priority. It provides $2.7 billion for national parks – $218 million, or 9 percent, more than in 2009. The funding continues a 10-year initiative to upgrade America’s national parks before the Centennial of the National Park Service in 2016.
The bill also ensures delivery of safe water by providing a large increase for clean water funding, which was severely underfunded during the Bush Administration.
There also is $385 million for climate change research – $155 million above the 2009 level.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted for legislation to support the main engine of our economy – small businesses.
Giffords, a former small business owner, was part of a decisive bipartisan majority in the House to back the Small Business Financing and Investment Act.
“America’s small businesses created 65 percent of all new jobs over the past 15 years,” said Giffords. “They are a driving force in our economy and are absolutely critical to the economic recovery now underway.”
The legislation, which passed today in a 389-to-32 vote, coincides with the announcement by the U.S. Department of Commerce that the economy expanded by 3.5 percent in the third quarter of the year.
“This good news about the economy means little to a small business owner who can’t obtain credit to make payroll or invest in future growth,” Giffords said. “The Small Business Financing and Investment Act would confront this problem head-on by incentivizing $44 billion in new lending.”
The Small Business Financing and Investment Act calls for a series of measures that support small businesses in Arizona and across the nation. They include:
• Supporting public/private partnership aimed at channeling investment capital into small business start-ups;
• Expanding equity investment to low income communities;
• Making microloans more affordable for entrepreneurs;
• Providing greater support by the Small Business Administration to help facilitate small business lending;
• Maintaining fee reductions and increased guarantees on loans that were established through the Recovery Act;
• Taking steps to encourage smaller lenders to participate in SBA programs and to help rural businesses and veteran-owned businesses obtain loans;
• Raising loan amounts for loans to help small businesses access larger amounts of capital; and
• Providing financing options for small health care practitioners to afford new health IT technology.
“These measures will help provide credit-worthy small businesses with the capital they need to not only benefit from the economic recovery, but help drive it,” Giffords said.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed the announcement that the Department of the Air Force has selected the 162nd Fighter Wing of the Arizona National Guard at Tucson International Airport as one of five locations under consideration as a site for pilot training to fly the new F-35 Lightning II.
“Today’s announcement is very good news for Tucson,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “It is clear validation that the Air Force agrees that Southern Arizona provides unprecedented opportunities to train the world’s greatest fighter pilots.”
The Air Force also selected Luke Air Force Base in Glendale as one of the other finalists for an F-35 training site. The final training sites will be selected after completion of Environmental Impact Statements.
“While there is still a long way to go before these aircraft arrive, I believe that this is a ringing endorsement of the quality of men and women who serve in the Guard here in Tucson. It is an affirmation of the great work they do day-in and day-out,” Giffords said. “The Air Force has recognized the unequaled value of Arizona as a training location – with the Barry M. Goldwater Range and excellent flying weather for the vast majority of the year.”
Today’s announcement means that Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson is not currently being considered as an F-35 base.
D-M’s current mission of supporting A-10 training and operations is expected to last until 2025 at which point the base will be re-evaluated as a possible F-35 site. Because D-M currently has a long-term mission, the Air Force did not feel the need to consider the base as an initial site for a new fighter.
The 162nd currently trains F-16 fighter pilots and with three flying squadrons. It is the largest Air National Guard fighter wing in the country. Approximately 1,440 people work at the base – about 1,000 full-time employees, with the rest, traditional Guardsmen, providing forces in support of wartime operations.
The wing also has trained pilots from 23 of the 24 countries that fly the F-16 today. If Tucson is selected as one of the F-35 training sites, the specifics of who will be trained here would be determined as the new planes start coming off the production line.
Giffords noted that Arizona’s military operations are crucial to the state’s economy, creating and supporting tens of thousands of jobs and generating more than $9 billion in revenue, according to a recent study using data from 2005.
“I will continue to monitor the Air Force selection process,” Giffords said. “I am confident that a fair, transparent and open process will result in the Air Force training F-35 pilots at both Tucson International Airport and Luke Air Force Base.”
]]>WASHINGTON – A bill co-sponsored by U.S. Gabrielle Giffords that would toughen U.S. sanctions on Iran passed the House Foreign Affairs Committee today.
“For years the government of Iran has repeatedly dismissed international attempts to negotiate limitations on the country’s nuclear program,” Giffords today told the committee. “Preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons is one of the most pressing challenges for this Congress and for our allies.”
Giffords, a member of Foreign Affairs and Armed Services committees, is one of 327 co-sponsors of the Iran Refined Petroleum Sanctions Act. The Foreign Affairs Committee passed the act today on a voice vote and it now goes to the full House for its consideration.
The act is one of several measures that would make it more difficult for Iran to develop nuclear weapons. It is directed at firms heavily invested in Iran’s energy sector or that provide help to boost Iran’s domestic production of oil.
The measure also would punish companies that provide Iran with gasoline or assist its imports by providing ships or shipping services, as well as companies that insure or finance such activity.
“We cannot allow companies to profit from investments made in a country that sponsors terrorism, promotes religious intolerance, has an abysmal human rights record and threatens the stability of the Middle East,” Giffords told the committee today.
The bill amends the Iran Sanctions Act of 1996 to direct the president to impose sanctions if an individual or business invests $20 million or more in a year that “directly and significantly” contributes to Iran's ability to develop its petroleum resources. Under current law, the sanction threshold is $40 million.
The bill also imposes sanctions on those who provide Iran with any goods, services, technology, information or support that would allow the country to maintain or expand its domestic production of refined petroleum resources. That precludes any assistance in refinery construction, modernization or repair.
Two weeks ago, Giffords was part of a strong bipartisan majority in the House that approved another bill that cut off outside support for Iran’s energy industry. That bill gave educational institutions and state and local governments the authority to prohibit investment in entities that have investments of more than $20 million in the Iranian energy sector.
That legislation does not impose sanctions on Iran but shields states and local governments from lawsuits if they pull their money out of businesses that invest in Iranian energy. Giffords also has supported legislation that bars foreign firms that sell petroleum products to Iran from winning U.S. government deals.
In 2007, the congresswoman introduced the Stop Arming Iran Act, a bill that banned the sale or export of F-14 fighter jet parts to Iran. The legislation was signed into law by President Bush in 2008.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today will attend a White House signing ceremony for a defense authorization bill that includes more than $75 million for military construction projects in Southeastern Arizona.
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, was part of a bipartisan majority in the House to support the National Defense Authorization Act on Oct. 8. Similar legislation already had passed the Senate.
The legislation authorizes $550 billion for the Defense Department and national security programs in the Energy Department. It also authorizes $130 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The bill increases the size of the military by 30,000 Army troops, 8,100 Marines, 14,650 Air Force personnel and 2,477 Navy sailors in 2010 and authorizes an additional 30,000 Army troops in 2011 and 2012.
The bill also provides a 3.4 percent pay raise for all service members, extends the authority for the Defense Department to offer bonuses and incentive pay, expands TRICARE health coverage to reserve component members and their families for 180 days prior to mobilization, prohibits fee increases on TRICARE inpatient care for one year and provides $2.2 billion for family housing programs.
Giffords worked to secure $75.2 million for eight essential military construction projects in Southeastern Arizona. Three projects are at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, five projects are at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and one is for the Arizona Air National Guard in Tucson. The projects are:
Fort Huachuca
• $6 million to construct a new headquarters for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Training Battalion
• $15 million for new facilities for aircraft maintenance, flight operations and unmanned aerial system training
• $6.7 million to design and construct a fire station
Davis-Monthan
• $4.8 million for infrastructure improvements to utilities and roads
• $8.7 million for an operations training facility
• $8.4 million for a flight simulator facility
• $20 million for a 144-room dormitory
Arizona Air National Guard
• $5.6 million for new facilities housing the Predator Unit that recently received an Outstanding Unit award from the Air Force.
Giffords was successful in including several provisions into the bill that benefit renewable energy, border security and military preparedness. Among them:
• Prohibiting the Air Force from retiring tactical fighter aircraft until a plan is submitted that adequately mitigates the fighter gap it would create.
• Requiring the Army to conduct an analysis of the current requirements for missile systems and plans for developing upgraded, next-generation systems and warheads that meet current and future threats.
• Requiring the Defense Department to report to Congress on its efforts to combat Mexican drug cartel activity.
• Requiring the Defense Department to assess the feasibility of using renewable fuels, including domestically produced algae-based and biomass-derived fuels, as alternative for tactical and non-tactical aviation, maritime and ground transportation fleets including technical, logistical and policy considerations.
• Requiring the Defense Department to procure 25 percent renewable aviation fuel by 2025.
• Requiring the Government Accountability Office to examine all Defense Department expenditures on renewable energy programs.
• Requiring the Defense Department to show a preference for hybrid and electric vehicles when purchasing or leasing non-tactical vehicles.
“I want to congratulate the NASA and contractor team on a successful Ares I-X test flight. This is an important milestone in the development of the vehicles that will carry Americans into a new era of exploration,” stated House Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN).
“Today's successful launch was the result of a lot of hard work and solid engineering by a dedicated NASA and contractor team. It is one more significant achievement for the Constellation program, and a clear indication that NASA is on track with its human space exploration program,” added Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today enthusiastically welcomed President Obama’s announcement that a Benson utility will receive more than $32 million as part of a sweeping federal project to modernize the nation’s aging electric grid.
Southwest Transmission Cooperative Inc., based in Benson, will receive $32,244,485 in federal stimulus funding from the U.S. Department of Energy. The cooperative is among 100 utility projects that will share $3.4 billion in federal money to speed deployment of advanced technology designed to cut energy use and make the electric-power grid more robust.
President Obama announced the awards during a visit today to a solar array in Acadia, Fla. Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, is one of Congress’ leading proponents of solar energy.
“This critical investment by the federal government will be key in the large-scale use of solar energy,” Giffords said. “We need a 21st century distribution system to bring the full benefits of solar and other renewable energy sources to as many people as possible. Domestic renewable energy, such as solar, is essential to helping us reduce our dependence on imported foreign energy.”
Southwest Transmission will use the money to upgrade and automate its transmission, distribution and customer service systems. As part of the project, “smart meters” will be installed for more than 44,150 customers. The funding also will pay for installation of communication and digital infrastructure to support a two-way flow of information between the utility and its customers.
Smart meters deliver detailed usage data to customers, including the addition of displays in homes that provide customers with information on their electricity use. Smart meters will allow consumers to view their electricity use in real-time and take advantage of reduced utility prices when there is less demand on the system.
The meters also send additional information to utilities that allow them to improve technology in substations, transformers and other parts of the grid. The Electric Power Research Institute estimates that smart-grid measures could cut electricity use by more than 4 percent by 2030.
The federal award announced today will pay half of Southwest Transmission’s total project cost of $64,488,970. Southwest Transmission Electric Cooperative Inc. was formed in 1999 to distribute electricity generated by Arizona Electric Power.
Southwest operates and maintains a delivery system of 613 miles of transmission lines and 21 substations. It delivers power into areas served by its member cooperatives, located throughout Arizona and southern California.
Its member cooperatives include Arizona Electric Power in Benson, Sulphur Springs Valley Electric in Willcox, Trico Electric in Marana, Graham County Electric in Pima, Duncan Valley Electric in Duncan and Mohave Electric in Bullhead City. It also delivers power for Anza Electric in Anza, Calif.
Two other Arizona electric utilities received more than $60 million under grants announced today. The Salt River Project, based in Tempe, will receive $56,859,359 to add 540,000 smart meters. And the Navajo Tribal Utility Association in Fort Defiance will receive $4,991,750 to install a smart-grid network and data management system for all of its 38,000 customers.
According to Energy Department officials, consumers will see benefits from the projects. The new meters and energy monitoring systems will give consumers better information to manage their energy use and make it easier for power companies to use more renewable energy.
Electricity from wind turbines or solar power systems tend to come in bursts – when the wind is strong or the sun is bright. A digital grid would be better able to handle those ups and downs.
Last month, Giffords introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which boosts federal research for the development of solar energy technology and authorizes $2.25 billion for solar research over the next five years. The act was approved by the House last week by a 3-to-1 margin.
The project awards announced today come from stimulus funds made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009 as the country faced the greatest economic crisis in a generation.
The act is creating jobs and driving economic growth through a combination of tax relief for individuals and businesses, aid to hard-hit families and state and local governments and funding for science, technology and infrastructure projects across the country. The Council of Economic Advisors estimates that the Recovery Act is responsible for approximately 1 million jobs so far.
]]>TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will tour the site of the proposed Rosemont Mine on Saturday with a top official from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
The official, Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen, is coming to Arizona to get a first-hand view of the controversial open-pit mine that Augusta Resource Corporation wants to operate in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley.
As part of Jensen’s day-long visit, he also will attend two community meetings organized and hosted by Giffords. The meetings – in Elgin and Green Valley – are intended to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed mine.
Giffords and Jensen also will meet with ranchers attending the Empire Ranch Annual Roundup taking place near Sonoita.
Jensen has direct oversight of the U.S. Forest Service, the agency now analyzing the mine’s potential environmental impacts. He was invited to Arizona by Giffords and U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva.
In an Oct. 23 letter to Giffords, Agriculture Secretary Thomas Vilsack wrote that the purpose of Jensen’s visit is "to review the actions that the Forest Service has taken to date with respect to the proposed mine."
The Rosemont Mine – and the way the Forest Service has handled the proposal – has sparked considerable community opposition since it was announced in 2005. If it becomes operational, many fear it would cause irreparable damage to the area’s environment and quality of life.
Augusta, based in Vancouver, Canada, claims the mine will produce 221 million pounds of copper per year.
Speaking at the community meeting in Elgin will be Santa Cruz County Supervisor John Maynard, Morris Farr of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, Nan Walden of the Rosemont Coalition and Wade Bunting of the Mountain Empire Action Alliance.
Speaking at the Green Valley meeting will be Chairman Ned Norris Jr. of the Tohono O’odham Nation, Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry, Gayle Hartmann, president of Save the Scenic Santa Ritas and Mike Carson, president of the Empire Fagan Coalition.
The mine site tour begins at 8 a.m. Media planning on participating in it should contact Rod Pace of Rosemont Copper at 520-445-7462. Media questions can be directed to Mark Kimble in the congresswoman’s office. He can be reached 520-400-7870.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and USDA Deputy Under Secretary Jay Jensen tour proposed Rosemont Mine site
WHEN: 8-9:45 a.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Singing Valley Ranch, 12700 E. Greaterville Road
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a public meeting on the proposed Rosemont Mine
WHEN: 10:15-11:30 a.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Elgin Elementary School, 23 Elgin Road, Elgin
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords attends Empire Ranch Annual Roundup
WHEN: Noon-1 p.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Empire Ranch, off State Route 83, between mileposts 39 and 40, follow dirt road three miles to ranch
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a public meeting on the proposed Rosemont Mine
WHEN: 2:15-3:45 p.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Desert Hills Social Center, 2980 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ bipartisan legislation to boost federal research for the development of solar energy technology passed the House today with strong support from the business community.
“Our ability to harness the power of the sun and put it to work for us depends on technology,” the Arizona lawmaker said after this afternoon’s vote. “Improving this technology means increasing the amazing potential of solar energy to meeting our energy needs. This is what my bill is about. It will advance solar research and help move critical new technologies out of the laboratories and into our homes and businesses.”
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act was approved by the House in a 310-to-106 vote – 247 Democrats and 63 Republicans.
“Democrats and Republicans alike recognize the need to develop American sources of energy,” Giffords said. “We know that sending more than $400 billion a year overseas to buy foreign energy weakens our economy, strengthens our enemies and undermines our national security. Tapping our own energy resources like solar represents an opportunity that we cannot afford to pass up.”
Giffords’ bill went to the floor with 32 co-sponsors – 26 Democrats and six Republicans. It also had the support of numerous companies and organizations, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Solar Energy Industries Association, BP Solar, IBM, Intel and National Semiconductor.
In a letter to House members, R. Bruce Josten, executive vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, urged support for the bill. “To make solar electricity more competitive, the Chamber supports increased funding for research, development and demonstration for solar projects,” Josten wrote.
Reyad Fezzani, chief executive officer of BP Solar, also called for passage of the bill. In a letter to Giffords, he wrote, “This legislation will support significant growth in the solar energy sector by providing the tools and resources necessary to advance the next generation of solar power.”
Fezzani added, “The Solar Technology Roadmap Act is a critical step in furthering the development and deployment of new, cutting-edge solar technology that will provide efficient, economic and low-carbon power solutions to the United States and across the globe. This bill will help the U.S. be a great leader in solar power and renewable energy.”
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act will increase solar funding to the U.S. Department of Energy and help focus research and development funding through a plan created by a private/public committee. The roadmap provision is modeled on the successful National (now International) Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, which has been instrumental in helping semiconductor technology advance rapidly over the past two decades.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer and other members of the House praised today’s passage of the bill.
“I applaud Congresswoman Giffords for her leadership on this important legislation, which will promote innovation and strengthen the development of solar energy technology,” said Hoyer. “Aiding investment and growth in this critical sector is crucial to our efforts to promote domestic energy security and spur the next generation of technologies that foster high quality jobs for American workers.”
“This bill lays the roadmap for the U.S. to lead in solar energy,” said Rep. Jay Inslee of Washington who serves as co-chairman of the Congressional Sustainable Energy and Environment Coalition. “The steering committee established by this bill will be able to respond and address the scientific needs and demands of the growing U.S. solar industry. I commend Congresswoman Giffords for her outstanding work on this bill.”
Rep. Steve Israel of New York, also a co-chairman of the coalition, said the bill “will help to ensure that solar energy technology, and the clean-energy jobs that come with it, are produced here in the U.S.”
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act on Sept. 17. It was approved by the committee Oct. 7.
Giffords’ legislation would require the U.S. Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses. The group would identify research and development that needs to occur to help improve the performance and reliability of solar technologies, decrease costs, reduce water use and mitigate any negative environmental impacts. It would be subject to a comprehensive revision every three years to keep it current.
The legislation also authorizes $2.25 billion for solar research over the next five years.
Passage of the bill was enthusiastically lauded by a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission and a member of the Tucson City Council, both of whom have been at the forefront of efforts to encourage the use of solar energy. A Tucsonan who owns a company that sells and installs renewable energy systems also praised the bill.
Kris Mayes, chairwoman of the Arizona Corporation Commission and a leading proponent of solar energy, praised the House for passing the bill.
“The passage of Congresswoman Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act represents a milestone in the development of a more sustainable energy future,” said Mayes. “The research and development and project funding contained in this legislation will help states such as Arizona deploy efficient, cost-effective solar, which will benefit consumers and drive the solar revolution forward.”
Councilwoman Shirley Scott, whose Ward 2 office is partially powered by solar energy, said Giffords should be commended for introducing legislation that would create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses.
“The city of Tucson has been at the forefront of integrating solar technology into public buildings. Ten years ago, my own City Council office became the first city of Tucson-owned facility to have solar power and have green building principles incorporated into all aspects of design. I have pushed to have solar energy used in more city facilities, and this legislation will aid those efforts,” Scott said. “Passage of the Solar Technology Roadmap Act represents a tangible step forward that will accelerate the pace of solar energy research. It also will bring this technology to the marketplace in a way that more consumers will be able to use.’
Kevin Koch, owner of Technicians for Sustainability, which sells and installs renewable energy systems, said passage of the bill will lead to changes in the nation’s energy future.
“I applaud Congresswoman Giffords’ work in preparing and passing the Solar Technology Roadmap Act,” said Koch. “When it is signed into law, it will mark another milestone in America’s transition to a renewable energy economy. This legislation is the kind of proactive leadership necessary to enable substantive change in our country’s energy future. In providing a forum for the solar industry and the nation to think and learn together, our ability to quickly and efficiently transition to renewable energy will be greatly advanced.”
“The Solar Technology Roadmap Act is a significant step in addressing some of the great challenges our society is facing today, including climate change, energy security and the need to transition our workforce to into new jobs that will support the future health not only of the United States, but of the world,” he said. “Passage of this bill will help to identify and overcome some of the major obstacles to widespread renewable energy adoption, including energy storage, technology selection and policy best practices”
H.R. 3585, the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, establishes a comprehensive process to create this roadmap for solar technology RD&D activities conducted by the federal government in partnership with the private sector, with a focus on the Department of Energy (DOE).
The bill authorizes $350 million for DOE to carry out these activities in FY2011, rising to $550 million in FY2015.
“In Tennessee, over the last few years we’ve seen first-hand the major potential that solar energy has to create new jobs and reduce our dependence on foreign oil in the process,” said Committee on Science and Technology Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN). “But given the massive amount of solar energy resources our country’s been blessed with and the technical challenges we still need to overcome, Tennessee can’t be expected to tackle this alone. That’s why we need a national plan, and that’s why we are discussing this important bill today.”
“This country actually invented the first photovoltaic technologies, and we still have some of the smartest, most talented people in the world working to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of solar cells today,” said bill author Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ). “But in order to use our precious research dollars as effectively as possible, these people – these patriots – need a serious roadmap, and that’s why I’m so pleased to offer this bill today.”
The Secretary of Energy is directed to award grants to carry out these programs on a merit-reviewed basis, and specifically to provide awards to industry-led consortia for RD&D in solar manufacturing.
The bill requires the Secretary of Energy to appoint a Solar Technology Roadmap Committee, which includes industry representation. The Secretary must also appoint a Committee chair, who is not a federal employee. The Committee will create a Solar Technology Roadmap within eighteen months of enactment of the Act.
The roadmap will present the best current estimate of the near-term (up to 2 years), mid-term (up to 7 years), and long-term (up to 15 years) RD&D needs in solar technology. It must also provide direct guidance for solar technology RD&D activities supported by the federal government. The bill requires that 30 percent of DOE solar RD&D funding in 2012 is pursuant to the recommendations of the roadmap, ramping up to 75 percent in 2015. The Committee must update the roadmap annually as needed, and comprehensively review and revise it every three years.
The roadmap provision is modeled on the successful National (now International) Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors, which has been instrumental in helping semiconductor technology advance rapidly over the past two decades.
The bill also authorizes DOE to conduct at least 13 solar demonstration projects of various sizes, and it requires DOE to study the performance of existing photovoltaic installations and identify opportunities to improve the energy productivity of these systems. In addition, DOE must establish a program of RD&D related to the reuse, recycling, and safe disposal of photovoltaic devices.
The bill has been endorsed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Solar Energy Industries Association, BP, IBM, Intel, and National Semiconductor.
This bill passed the Energy and Environment Subcommittee on September 30th, and the Full Committee on October 7th.
]]>Chairman Bart Gordon (D-TN) offered the following comment upon the release of the report:
“While I plan to review the Augustine panel’s final report, the Science and Technology Committee’s September 15th hearing to review the panel’s summary report has already provided me with important information on the state of the nation’s human space flight programs. At that hearing, Mr. Augustine reported his panel’s assessment that a meaningful exploration program can’t be carried out under the budgetary projections that accompanied the Fiscal Year 2010 NASA budget request—that more money will be needed if we are to do anything worth doing as a nation. He also reported that his panel had assessed NASA’s Constellation program and found it to be ‘well managed’ and a program that is ‘executable and would carry out its objectives’ if adequate resources are provided.”
“We Americans fundamentally have to decide whether we want to have a human space exploration program or not—if we do, the Augustine panel makes clear that we will need to invest additional resources. Why should we pursue exploration? As the Augustine panel notes in its final report, human exploration can offer many tangible benefits to our society including ‘driving technological innovation; developing commercial industries and important national capabilities; and contributing to our expertise in further exploration…and can contribute appropriately to the expansion of scientific knowledge.’ In addition, the Augustine panel notes that ‘these more tangible benefits exist within a larger context. Exploration provides and opportunity to demonstrate space leadership while deeply engaging international partners; to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers; and to shape human perceptions of our place in the universe.’ Thus, the president has a clear and important decision to make, and I want to work with him to craft a productive path forward for the nation.”
Space and Aeronautics Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) added:
“When Congress wrote and enacted last year’s NASA Authorization Act, it anticipated essentially all of the issues mulled by the Augustine panel this summer. In endorsing the Constellation architecture, Congress made clear that it saw a return to the Moon as just the first step in a flexible program of human and robotic exploration of the solar system. Congress also embraced the potential of international cooperation to make the nation’s exploration program more productive and cost-efficient. Congress saw the utility of the International Space Station and directed that it be capable of extension at least through 2020. Congress also stressed the importance of a robust technology development program as well as engagement of the commercial sector as appropriate—recognizing the potential of the commercial sector to support NASA’s low Earth orbit activities in the future, but also making clear that we are not prepared to have our astronauts’ access to space held hostage to purchases of seats from non-existent commercial providers. We also advocated for additional resources to ensure that these important initiatives can be carried out successfully. While I look forward to reading the Augustine panel’s final report, Congress has already made its decisions on the issues considered by the panel. Now that both internal and external independent reviews have confirmed that the Constellation program is being well executed, we know what needs to be done. Let’s get on with it and cease contemplating our collective navels. I have no doubt that the president will see the inspirational, geopolitical, scientific, technological, and myriad other benefits of a revitalized commitment to our nation’s space program, and I look forward to working with him to usher in a grand new era of exploration and science.”
The Committee held a hearing on the summary report on September 15, 2009.
]]>“NASA’s technology development activities are critical not just to NASA’s future, but to the quality of life of our citizens and our nation’s competitiveness,” said Subcommittee Chairwoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ).
Since its creation in 1958, NASA has been one of the nation’s leading technology development engines through its investments in advanced aeronautics and space research and technology. Concepts and advanced technologies such as high-energy cryogenic engines, thermal protection for reusable launch vehicles, electric propulsion, solar and nuclear energy power systems, automation and robotics, and sophisticated sensors enabled landing on the moon, travel to other planets, and monitoring of the Earth’s environment. These technologies have spawned applications such as satellite communications, space-based weather observations, and advanced aviation navigation systems, that have become part of our basic national infrastructure.
One example cited by Chairwoman Giffords at the hearing is the extensive set of NASA-developed technologies that have made possible the commercial aircraft that are so vital our economy and quality of life. Chairwoman Giffords cited an image on the NASA website that that illustrated the contributions that NASA-developed technologies have made possible safer, cleaner, and more energy-efficient commercial aircraft—aircraft that are vital to our economy and quality of life.
“Many Members of Congress get in an aircraft like this several times a week, and yet I bet very few of them—or members of the public at large—recognize that NASA R&D made that plane possible,” said Giffords. “This picture is just one illustration of the impact of NASA’s research on our society and our economy. I have no doubt that each of NASA’s other enterprises could provide similar examples—and I hope they will—it’s a story that needs telling and re-telling.”
“I don’t think any of the Members here today need to be convinced that NASA should pursue a vigorous program of technology development,” said Giffords. “Rather, we want to explore what it will take to get such a revitalized program in place at the agency.”
NASA’s technology development efforts and programs have included objectives ranging from soliciting visionary advanced technology concepts to developing technologies for mission-specific requirements, advancing instrument capabilities, and qualifying hardware for space flight.
The 2008 NASA reauthorization (PL 110-422) focused attention on this issue, and included the language:
“NASA should make a sustained commitment to a robust long-term technology development activity. Such investments represent critically important ‘seed corn’ on which NASA’s ability to carry out challenging and productive missions in the future will depend.”
Chairwoman Giffords also cited the finding in the summary report of the Augustine panel on human spaceflight, which acknowledged the importance of technology development:
“The Committee strongly believes it is time for NASA to reassume its crucial role of developing new technologies for space.”
Members and witnesses discussed: the opportunities, challenges, and issues associated with NASA’s analysis of advanced concepts and long-term development of technology; NASA’s progress in responding to the provisions in NASA Authorization Acts and recommendations from external reviews associated with technology development; and NASA’s efforts to collaborate and coordinate with other federal agencies on technology development issues.
“I suspect that there may not be a “one-size-fits-all” organizational structure for technology development at NASA,” Giffords said. “But it’s not just a question of money or how the organizational deck chairs are arranged—NASA has to be smart and opportunistic in seeking out ways to get its technologies out to the private sector and to other potential government users.”
]]>TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will host two public meetings this Saturday on plans by Augusta Resource Corporation to build an open-pit mine in the Santa Rita Mountains near Green Valley.
The proposed Rosemont Mine has sparked considerable community opposition since it was announced in 2005. If it becomes operational, many fear it would cause irreparable damage to the area’s environment and quality of life.
Augusta, based in Vancouver, Canada, claims the mine will produce 221 million pounds of copper per year.
The first public meeting will be in Elgin and the second will be in Green Valley. Each will last 90 minutes.
Attending both meetings will be Jay Jensen, the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and the Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Jensen has direct oversight of the U.S. Forest Service, the agency now analyzing the mine’s potential environmental impacts.
Giffords and U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva invited Jensen to tour the proposed mine site and meet with the residents of nearby communities. In their Sept. 10 invitation, the lawmakers urged Jensen to come to Arizona before the Forest Service releases a draft Environmental Impact Statement.
Participants in the public meetings will have the opportunity express their views directly to Jensen and Giffords. Representatives from Augusta and Save the Scenic Santa Ritas, a group opposed to the mine, will attend both meetings.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a public meeting on the proposed Rosemont Mine
WHEN: 10:15-11:45 a.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Elgin Elementary School, 23 Elgin Road, Elgin
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a public meeting on the proposed Rosemont Mine
WHEN: 2:15-3:45 p.m., Saturday, October 24
WHERE: Desert Hills Social Center, 2980 S. Camino del Sol, Green Valley
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, will speak at about noon at the third annual Welcome Home Event taking place at Tucson Electric Park.
Sponsored by the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System, the event pays tribute to combat veterans who have served in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The ceremony also will recognize the troops’ family members and loved ones who support them.
Earlier on Saturday Giffords will kick off the 10th Anniversary Celebration and Green Village Expo at Civano, the first sustainable master-planned community in the nation.
Giffords, a champion of solar energy who serves on the House Science and Technology Committee, has long viewed Civano as a model for the nation. While there she also will speak at the grand opening of a home which has close to zero net energy use.
The three-bedroom home is a collaboration between Pepper/Viner Homes of Tucson and BASF, an international chemical and building materials firm.
Media are welcome at each of the events.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords kicks off Civano’s 10th Anniversary Celebration and Green Village Expo
WHEN: 10 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17
WHERE: Houghton Road at Irvington
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords participates in the grand opening of a new energy efficient home
WHEN: 10:15 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 17
WHERE: Civano, Houghton Road at Irvington
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords speaks at the Third Annual Welcome Home Event for American troops
WHEN: 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m.
WHERE: Tucson Electric Park, 2500 E. Ajo Way
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today called for an increased federal focus on strengthening security along the U.S.-Mexico border.
Speaking at a hearing of the House Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, the Arizona lawmaker noted that the U.S. Department of Justice considers Mexican drug traffickers the “greatest organized crime threat” to the United States.
“I remain very concerned about stemming the flow of fugitives, drugs and guns across our southern border,” Giffords told committee members.
The Justice Department, in its recent “National Drug Threat Assessment,” estimated that the combination of Mexican and Colombian drug trafficking organizations generate, remove and launder between $18 billion and $39 billion in drug proceeds annually.
Giffords’ 8th Congressional District in Southeastern Arizona is one of only 10 districts nationwide that share a border with Mexico. Last month in Tucson she hosted a multi-agency community briefing on federal drug interdiction policies. The speaker was Admiral Thad Allen, the commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and head of the Drug Interdiction Committee.
At today’s hearing, Giffords said that the use of stored value cards to transfer money across the border is a new concern of local law enforcement officers. Such cards, similar to credit or debit cards, can be used to withdraw cash from ATMs, Giffords said.
“Remarkably, stored value cards are largely unregulated by the U.S. Department of Treasury,” said Giffords, who is working with the Treasury and the House Financial Services Committee to draft a bill that would correct this oversight.
Today’s hearing was held to take testimony on the Western Hemisphere Drug Policy Commission Act, which Giffords cosponsored. The act would create an independent commission to evaluate U.S. policies and programs aimed at reducing illicit drug supply and demand. The commission would be required to submit recommendations on future U.S. drug policy to Congress, the Secretary of State and the Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy.
According to testimony at today’s hearing, the United States accounts for approximately 5 percent of world population but has an estimated 17.2 percent of the world’s users of illegal drugs, according to 2007 estimates.
Latin America is the region with the most countries supplying the United States with illicit drugs. Mexico, through which 90 percent of the cocaine consumed in the United States has transited for the past few years, also is a major supplier of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana, according to testimony to the committee.
Mexican drug trafficking organizations are extremely violent, battling against one another and a government crackdown. Since December 2006, more than 11,000 people have been killed in the violence.
While the kidnappings and murders have not yet crossed the U.S.-Mexico border in the same scope that has occurred in Mexico, this threat remains a possibility.
“This Congress must continue to work to address this crisis in a comprehensive way,” Giffords said.
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WASHINGTON – A provision by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords to improve and extend operation of an employee verification system was part of a $42.7 billion national security appropriation bill approved today by the House of Representatives.
“Employers must be held responsible if they knowingly hire illegal immigrants,” Giffords said. “But employers must also be able to rely on the federal government to provide a reliable system for determining a potential employee’s legal status.”
The legislation also includes provisions by Giffords to extend visa programs for religious workers, doctors serving rural areas and for foreign nationals who invest money in the United States.
The House approved the Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act this afternoon in a 307-to-114 vote. The Senate will now consider the measure.
Giffords, whose 8th Congressional District includes 114 miles of international border, inserted language in the bill to appropriate $137 million to operate the E-Verify program for an additional three years and to improve its accuracy.
E-Verify is an Internet-based system operated by Homeland Security in partnership with the Social Security Administration. E-Verify allows employers to electronically verify that newly hired employees are legally entitled to work in the United States.
Although Giffords supports E-Verify, she believes there is a more effective way for employers to check the status of employees. In 2008 and again this year, Giffords and U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson, a Texas Republican, introduced the New Employee Verification Act, legislation intended to replace and improve on E-Verify.
Known as NEVA, the Giffords-Johnson bill would transition verifications from the voluntary E-Verify process, in which 2 percent of employers participate, to a mandatory process for all new hires.
NEVA would increase the civil and criminal penalties for hiring illegal workers. In some cases, the penalties under NEVA would be more than 10 times greater than the current penalty. If an employer engages in a pattern of knowingly hiring illegal workers, NEVA would elevate the crime to the felony level and increase the maximum fine from $3,000 to $50,000, with a minimum year of imprisonment.
The system would include a standard background check and the collection of a “biometric” characteristic – such as a thumbprint – to secure an employee’s identity and prevent the illegal use of a Social Security number, stolen or fraudulently-obtained drivers’ license or altered identification documents.
“NEVA is the best way to ensure that employees are legally entitled to work in the United States,” Giffords said. “But until it is improved and in place, E-Verify must be strengthened.”
Giffords also included language in the Homeland Security funding bill to extend, for three years, issuance of three specific types of visas:
• R visas, issued to religious workers;
• Conrad 30-J visas, which allow state health agencies to annually hire up to 30 foreign physicians to practice in rural and inner-city communities that have difficulty recruiting physicians; and
• EB-5 visas, issued to foreign nationals who invest at least $1 million and create at least 10 jobs in the United States.
The provisions are part of a bill focused on securing the nation’s borders and preparing for any potential disaster. It funds the full costs of 20,163 Border Patrol agents – an increase of 7,814 agents, or 63 percent, since 2006. More than 17,000 of these agents will be based on the U.S.-Mexico border.
Giffords noted that a particular focus of the bill is increasing security and reducing violence along the Southwest Border, where increased activity by Mexican drug cartels has led to a significant rise in violence, drug smuggling and weapons smuggling.
The bill prohibits Guantanamo detainees from being released into the United States and its territories. It also prohibits Guantanamo detainees from being transferred to the United States and its territories – with only one narrow exception: for the purposes of prosecution.
A detainee can only be transferred to the U.S. for prosecution after Congress receives a plan detailing the risks involved and a plan for mitigating such risk, and the state’s governor receives a certification from the U.S. attorney general that the individual poses little or no security risk.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Thursday will view the University of Arizona’s entry in the Solar Decathlon, a national competition to design and build the most energy-efficient solar-powered house.
“To compete in the Solar Decathlon is a tremendous honor for the University of Arizona,” said Giffords. “This an exciting time for solar energy and every Arizonan should be proud that a team of students from our state is part of it.”
Hosted by the U.S. Department of Energy, the Solar Decathlon is aimed at promoting green technology. More than 800 students from 20 universities in the United States, Canada, Spain and Germany are competing.
Each team now has its entry – a home that can be no larger than 800 square feet – on display in the nation’s capital. They have transformed the National Mall into a temporary village of cutting-edge solar homes.
Giffords will tour the UA’s solar home at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 15. The tour is expected to last 30 minutes. Media are welcome.
“As someone who passionately believes in the promise and potential of solar energy, it is amazing for me to see so many solar homes on display here at the foot of the Capitol,” said Giffords. “These homes and the students who built them represent the kind of innovative thinking that will help lead us into a future of clean renewable energy.”
On Sept. 16, Giffords introduced the Solar Technology Roadmap Act, a bill that would require the Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses. The bill was approved and sent to the full House by the Science and Technology Committee on Oct. 7.
The University of Arizona entry in the Solar Decathlon is a one-story home made of recycled steel and uses solar energy for heating and lighting. The roof is designed to harvest water and supports photovoltaic panels that can produce more than eight kilowatts of electricity – twice what would be needed to power a much larger home.
One of the home’s signature features is a water-filled wall that forms a solar thermal collector – sunlight comes through the glass and the radiant heat is absorbed by the mass and warms the air between the glass and the wall.
“The house is designed to work in the hot, humid climate of Washington, D.C., but also to work very intelligently for the hot climate of southern Arizona,” Larry Medlin, a UA architecture professor, told the Arizona Republic. “Historically, construction has used high technology to overpower nature. But with the questions of resources, global warming and too much carbon emissions, our underlying concept is to interact intelligently and use the resources of nature.”
Each entry in the Solar Decathlon will be judged on whether it can maintain a comfortable temperature and produce sufficient hot water. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the entry’s solar technology, televisions will be left on for six hours each day. The teams also must hold a movie night for neighbors, who rate their hosts based on the quality of the home theater system, as well as “design, ambiance, and overall experience.” Architecture, market viability and engineering are also graded.
Other teams competing are: Cornell University, Iowa State University, Penn State, Rice University, The Ohio State University, Universidad de Puerto Rico, Virginia Tech, Universidad Politecnica de Madrid, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, University of Kentucky, University of Louisiana at Lafayette, University of Minnesota, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Team Alberta, Team Boston, Team California, Team Missouri, Technische Universitat Darmstadt and Team Ontario/BC.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today was part of a strong bipartisan majority in the House who voted to cut off outside support for Iran’s energy industry.
“Let no one doubt the resolve of Congress when it comes to Iran,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees. “Democrats and Republicans stand united in making sure we do everything within our power to reduce the grave threat Iran poses to the United States, to our allies and to regional stability in the Middle East.”
The Iran Sanctions Enabling Act passed the House this afternoon in a 414 to 6 vote. Giffords is a co-sponsor of the legislation.
The bill gives educational institutions and state and local governments the authority to forbid investment in entities that have investments of more than $20 million in the Iranian energy sector.
Passage of the act was welcomed by Stuart Mellan, president and CEO of the Jewish Federation of Southern Arizona.
“We applaud Representative Gifford’s vote for this important legislation, which comes at such a critical moment in our government’s efforts to deter Iran’s nuclear ambitions,” he said. “The issues of Iran's nuclear program, as well as its violations of human rights and support for terrorism, are defining issues of our time. Clearly, strong sanctions are a powerful diplomatic tool—and surely every American must applaud these steps taken to derail the current path to a nuclear Iran.”
The Iran Sanctions Enabling Act was introduced by U.S. Rep. Barney Frank of Massachusetts and was approved by the House Financial Services Committee in April. A similar bill was introduced in the Senate in May and now has more than 30 cosponsors.
“We must make Iran pay an economic price for their behavior,” said Giffords. “Iran’s leaders need to know that there are consequences to their support of terrorist organizations or concealment of nuclear facilities.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today cited the need for a “robust” NASA budget, saying space exploration can inspire and benefit the nation during difficult economic times.
Giffords, chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, told participants at the Sea Space Symposium that she was not surprised by concerns over NASA’s budget in the recently released summary report of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans Committee. Next year’s proposed budget for the agency represents 0.52 percent of the entire federal budget, the lowest percentage in decades.
“Committee Chairman Norm Augustine and his colleagues performed a valuable national service by making it clear that ‘you can’t get there from here’ under the budget plan included in NASA’s Fiscal Year 2010 budget request,” Giffords said. “That conclusion was certainly not a surprise to those of us who watch over NASA, but I think it may have been unexpected for some in the White House and Congress who haven’t spent a lot of time focusing on space issues.”
“As a result,” she said, “I believe that it provides an opportunity for President Obama to step up and embrace a robust budget for NASA and use our civil space program to both inspire and benefit all of our citizens.”
Giffords called human and robotic space exploration “critical to our future,” but said she is amazed how little many citizens actually know about the role that space exploration and utilization actually play in our society.
“We need to get the message out if we are to continue to reap the scientific, economic, national security and societal benefits offered by our nation’s space programs,” she said. “In space exploration as in other endeavors, you get what you pay for. We forget that truism at our peril.”
The Sea Space Symposium is an organization of eminent figures in government, industry and academia who are dedicated to the advancement of scientific research and development in sea and space. Known as S3, the symposium provides a vehicle by which leaders from involved research and development organizations can come together to share ideas about the exploration and utilization of sea and space.
The 39-year-old symposium has approximately 60 members. Their fall meeting is taking place this weekend at the Mayflower Hotel.
Giffords also told symposium participants about her Solar Technology Roadmap Act, which she introduced on Sept, 16 and was sent to the full House by the Science and Technology Committee on Oct. 7. The bill would require the Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses.
“The United States has some of the best solar resources of any industrialized country in the world,” Giffords said. “Our solar resource is a tremendous opportunity that is just waiting to be tapped. Solar energy can help us meet our increasing energy demands with a clean, renewable resource.”
Giffords noted that, in addition to the environmental benefits, “solar power strengthens our national security by reducing our demand for foreign energy, and distributed solar increases the security of our electricity grid and decreases the cost of transmission.”
But because other countries are devoting more attention to the development of solar technology, the congresswoman said American competitiveness in this burgeoning industry is in jeopardy.
“We invented this technology, but we must continue to work hard to retain our leadership,” she said. “That is the essence of my bill.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is welcoming new federal funds aimed at advancing the use of solar energy in Tucson and making it easier for consumers to get comprehensive information on solar from a one-stop center.
The U.S. Department of Energy announced today that Tucson was awarded $389,000 for phase two of its solar initiative.
“This award will allow the city of Tucson to continue its leadership in the use of solar energy,” said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “These federal funds will be put to very good use.”
The award was announced by Energy Secretary Steven Chu at the opening of the Energy Department’s Solar Decathlon on the National Mall. The decathlon is an international collegiate event in which 20 student teams – including one from the University of Arizona – compete to design, build, and operate highly energy-efficient, completely solar-powered houses.
Chu’s announcement comes one day after the Science and Technology Committee passed and sent to the full house Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act. The bill would require the Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses.
Tucson is one of 25 cities designated as a Solar America City by the Department of Energy. Tucson currently has solar photovoltaic panels at 14 locations, providing 1.1 megawatts of power.
“It has been 10 years since we’ve put solar panels on our first city building,” said Bruce Plenk, solar energy coordinator for the city.
“Tucson is a leader, both regionally and nationally in solar,” Plenk said. “This grant means that we can continue to have people work for the city who are focusing on solar instead of it being a small part of their job.”
Today’s award to the city of Tucson will finance:
• Research into creative ways for municipalities to pay for solar installations.
• A study of how solar projects can be integrated into new city buildings from the beginning of planning.
• Establishment of a “one-stop solar shop” that would provide comprehensive, unbiased information to people interested in installing solar equipment on their homes or other privately owned buildings.
Today’s announcement also included $3.3 million for Arizona Public Service Co. to study the impact of running large amounts of photovoltaic electricity through the electric grid.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords joined a bipartisan majority in the House today to support a Defense Department spending plan that includes more than $75 million for military construction projects in Southeastern Arizona.
“Military installations in Southeastern Arizona are at the forefront of our nation’s defense,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Passage of the Defense Authorization Act ensures they will get the funds they need to protect and defend our freedoms.”
The National Defense Authorization Act of 2010 passed the House of Representatives this afternoon in a 281 to 146 vote. Similar legislation has already passed the Senate. It now goes to President Obama for his signature.
The spending plan authorizes $550 billion for the Defense Department and national security programs in the Energy Department. It also authorizes $130 billion for operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“The federal government’s single most important job is to make sure our military has the resources it needs,” Giffords said. “This legislation achieves that goal and demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our men and women in uniform.”
The bill increases the size of the military by 30,000 Army troops, 8,100 Marines, 14,650 Air Force personnel, and 2,477 Navy sailors in 2010 and authorizes an additional 30,000 Army troops in 2011 and 2012.
The bill also provides a 3.4 percent pay raise for all service members, extends the authority for the Defense Department to offer bonuses and incentive pay, expands TRICARE health coverage to reserve component members and their families for 180 days prior to mobilization, prohibits fee increases on TRICARE inpatient care for one year, and provides $2.2 billion for family housing programs.
Giffords worked to secure $75.2 million for eight essential military construction projects in Southeastern Arizona. Three projects are at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, five projects are at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Tucson and one is for the Arizona Air National Guard. The projects are:
Fort Huachuca
• $6,000,000 to construct a new headquarters for the Unmanned Aerial Systems Training Battalion
• $15,000,000 for new facilities for aircraft maintenance, flight operations and unmanned aerial system training
• $6,700,000 to design and construct a fire station
Davis-Monthan
• $4,800,000 for infrastructure improvements to utilities and roads
• $8,700,000 for an operations training facility
• $8,400,000 for a flight simulator facility
• $20,000,000 for a 144-room dormitory
Arizona Air National Guard
• $5,600,000 for new facilities housing the Predator Unit that recently received an Outstanding Unit award from the Air Force.
Giffords was successful in including several provisions into the bill that benefit renewable energy, border security and military preparedness. Among them:
• Prohibiting the Air Force from retiring tactical fighter aircraft until a plan is submitted that adequately mitigates the fighter gap it would create.
• Requiring the Defense Department to report to Congress on its efforts to combat Mexican drug cartel activity.
• Requiring the Defense Department to assess the feasibility of using renewable fuels, including domestically produced algae-based and biomass-derived fuels, as alternative for tactical and non-tactical aviation, maritime and ground transportation fleets including technical, logistical and policy considerations.
• Requiring the Defense Department to procure 25 percent renewable aviation fuel by 2025.
• Requiring the Government Accountability Office to examine all Defense Department expenditures on renewable energy programs.
• Requiring the Defense Department to show a preference for hybrid and electric vehicles when purchasing or leasing non-tactical vehicles.
• Requiring the Army to conduct an analysis of the current requirements for missile systems and plans for developing upgraded, next-generation systems and warheads that meet current and future threats.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords voted with a majority in the House for $254,000 in funding for the Upper San Pedro Partnership.
The funding was approved Wednesday as part of the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010. The bill passed in a 263-to-162 vote and now goes to the Senate.
“The San Pedro River is one of the last major undammed waterways in the American Southwest and one of the most diverse ecosystems in North America,” Giffords said. “It is essential that we find innovative ways to preserve this ecosystem while also providing needed water to a growing area of Southeastern Arizona.”
The funds for the Upper San Pedro Partnership will be made available through the federal Agricultural Research Service to continue scientific support of the partnership. Giffords was successful in making the Upper San Pedro Partnership a permanent project in the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies Appropriations bill for future fiscal years.
The Upper San Pedro Partnership, formed in 1998, is a public-private initiative formed to protect the river. The consortium of 21 agencies and organizations works to help meet the water needs of area residents while protecting the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area.
The San Pedro River flows north from its headwaters in Mexico, requiring the partnership to also work across the border. Achieving a sustainable yield of the Upper San Pedro aquifer is essential for the future of the city of Sierra Vista, the U.S. Army’s Fort Huachuca and the San Pedro River.
Susan Bronson, administrator of the partnership, praised approval of the funding, which she said will be used to continue hydrological work in the Sierra Vista area.
“This will ultimately result in the sustainable yield of the regional aquifer,” Bronson said. “The sustainable management of the Sierra Vista Subwatershed is particularly important because the long-term viability of two national treasures – the San Pedro Riparian National Conservation Area and Fort Huachuca – depend upon it.”
There are rising concerns that, without augmentation of local water supplies, the San Pedro River may run dry due to sustained drought and overpumping of local aquifers.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act is on its way to the full House after earning strong bipartisan support today from her colleagues on the Science and Technology Committee.
The committee’s approval of the bill this afternoon in a voice vote was enthusiastically welcomed by one of Arizona’s pre-eminent solar energy researchers, Dr. Roger Angel, a professor of astronomy and optical sciences at the University of Arizona.
“The United States has the potential to produce much of its electricity from solar energy in Arizona and the deserts of the Southwest,” Angel said. “Congresswoman Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act will help turn this dream into reality with the creation of a plan to guide solar energy research. Among the many beneficiaries of this plan would be the University of Arizona, where we are already working to develop sustainable photovoltaic technology optimized for very large scale production.”
Giffords’ legislation would require the U.S. Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses. The group would identify research and development that needs to occur to help improve the performance and reliability of solar technologies, decrease cost, reduce water use and mitigate any negative environmental impacts. It would be subject to a comprehensive revision every three years to keep it current.
The legislation also authorizes $2.25 billion for solar research over the next five years.
The Solar Technology Roadmap Act has earned the praise of many since it was introduced on September 17. Among them are Katharine Kent, owner of The Solar Store in Tucson; Ardeth Barnhart, co-director of the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy at the University of Arizona; and Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association.
In remarks to the committee before today’s vote, Giffords equated the nation’s solar industry today with our semiconductor industry of the 1980s.
“Twenty years ago, the U.S. was in danger of losing its semiconductor industry to Japan,” the congresswoman said. “In response, the industry created the Technology Roadmap for Semiconductors. The focus of this initiative was creating a roadmap to guide research and development efforts across the industry. By increasing communication between the diverse members of the supply chain, the U.S. semiconductor industry was able to develop standards and avoid the duplication of research efforts. These organized coordination efforts gave rise to U.S. semiconductor giants such as Intel and AMD, and the U.S. continues to lead the world in semiconductor development.”
“Today, solar researchers in the U.S. are in a similar situation,” she said. “To maintain a competitive advantage they must come together to meet their common, precompetitive goals – whether in simulation, developing new materials, energy storage, power and grid management, mounting, or even weather forecasting.”
Giffords noted that her bill would require the Department of Energy to engage diverse stakeholders in the solar community and work across programs to create a comprehensive plan – a roadmap – to guide funding for the research needed to make the U.S. the global center for solar innovation.
“The roadmap would be required to identify short-, medium- and long-term goals and make recommendations for how to channel research and development resources to meet those goals,” she said. “It will make the Department of Energy more responsive to our solar industry’s needs and encourage increased collaboration and communication across technologies with well-vetted strategies.”
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted to honor two Arizonans who were among the nation’s environmental pioneers and led the expansion of our national parks system.
The House today voted to change the name of the Morris K. Udall Foundation to the Morris K. and Stewart L. Udall Foundation. The legislation was introduced by U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva of Arizona’s 7th Congressional District. The congresswoman is an original co-sponsor.
“This is a fitting tribute to two brothers who left a lasting legacy on Arizona and the nation,” she said. “Their combined contributions are like the rugged and wild lands they dedicated their lives to preserving – they will endure through the ages.”
Terry Bracy, chairman of the foundation’s board of trustees, praised today’s vote.
“The Udall legacy is really a shared legacy, rooted in the work of the Udall brothers that dominated environmental reform for three decades,” he said. “The board of trustees at the Udall Foundation is pleased that Congress has decided to pay tribute to this joint legacy, recognizing Stewart Udall’s vision and leadership and honoring him along with his brother Morris by including his name in the title of the Udall Foundation. This is an appropriate acknowledgement by Congress of Stewart’s contributions to the United States.”
The foundation, which is headquartered in downtown Tucson, was established in 1992 to honor Morris Udall’s 30 years of service representing Southern Arizona in the U.S. House of Representatives. Although congressional district boundaries have changed since Udall took office in 1961, much of the region he represented is now in Giffords’ 8th Congressional District.
Morris Udall’s love of the environment resulted in numerous pieces of legislation. His major accomplishment was the Alaska Lands Act of 1980, which doubled the size of the national park system and tripled the size of the national wilderness system. Ken Burns’ recent series, “The National Parks: America’s Best Idea” cited Morris Udall’s work in protecting and expanding national parks.
Morris Udall also championed the rights of Native Americans and Alaska Natives. He used his leadership in Congress to strengthen tribal self-governance.
Morris Udall was appointed to the House when his older brother, Stewart, was named secretary of the interior by President John F. Kennedy. Stewart Udall’s environmental résumé is no less impressive than his brother’s. In 1963, Stewart Udall authored the landmark environmental book, “The Quiet Crisis,” in which he told of those who fought tirelessly against the industrial fouling of air, water and land, the widespread destruction of beauty and the encroachment on open space.
During his eight years as head of the Department of Interior, Stewart Udall oversaw the creation of four national parks, six national monuments, eight national seashores and lakeshores, nine recreation areas, 20 historic sites and 56 wildlife refuges.
Morris Udall died in 1998. Stewart Udall is 89 and lives in New Mexico.
The Udall Foundation has numerous programs. It annually awards about 80 scholarships of up to $5,000 to college students committed to careers related to the environment, tribal public policy or Native American health care.
It also funds 12 Native Americans or Alaska Natives each summer for a 10-week internship in Washington, D.C. and, in partnership with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tucson, takes 12 middle school students every summer to explore Arizona’s natural wonders.
The foundation also includes the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution that provides mediation and other services and training to help parties resolve environmental conflicts.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to pass two measures that will ensure veterans receive health care in a timely manner and can take full advantage of incentives offered to homebuyers.
“Keeping our promises to the men and women who have served our nation is one of my highest priorities,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “These measures show our veterans that they have not been forgotten – even when they leave the military.”
Both measures were strongly supported by veterans’ organizations including the American Legion, Veterans of Foreign Wars, AMVETS and Disabled American Veterans.
The House today passed the Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act, which will ensure reliable and timely funding for the delivery of high-quality medical care for veterans.
The bill authorizes Congress to approve investments in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care one year in advance, and requires the president to request those funds one year in advance. That will provide time for the VA to plan how to deliver the best care to an increasing number of veterans with complex medical conditions.
Giffords said the bill is critical to meeting the nation’s obligation to its veterans. It ensures that any delays in Congress never hinder veterans’ medical care. Last year was the first time in 12 years in which the veterans’ appropriations bill was enacted on time.
The House today also passed the Service Members Home Ownership Tax Act which makes several changes in stimulus funding provisions to assist service members. The bill would:
• Ensure that some payments under the Defense Housing Assistance Program are exempt from tax. The program assists military personnel who are selling a home that has declined in value.
• Ensure service members will not have to repay the first-time homebuyer credit if they are ordered to deploy to a different location and, as a result, forced to sell their home within three years of buying it.
• Extend for one year, to Dec, 1, 2010, the deadline for taking advantage of the first-time homebuyer credit for qualifying service members. This will allow some service members stationed overseas to take advantage of the credit when they return.
“These two measures are small ways that we can show the nation’s gratitude to our men and women in uniform,” said Giffords.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is praising the Senate’s passage of a measure that will prohibit the Air Force from prematurely retiring 249 fighter jets.
“The Senators did the right thing,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Our nation is at a potentially dangerous precipice with a shortage of fighter jets. The last thing we need at this critical time is to make the problem worse than it already is.”
The measure, offered as an amendment to a Defense Department spending bill, passed the Senate on Tuesday in a 91 to 7 vote. It was offered by Sen. Patrick Leahy, a Democrat from Vermont, and Sen. Kit Bond, a Republican from Missouri.
The amendment requires the Air Force to report to lawmakers why they want to retire 249 warplanes used at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base and in other states. Giffords backed a similar amendment the House version of the bill in May as part of her effort to maintain a strong fighter force.
The congresswoman has for months urged the Pentagon to address the potential shortfall in fighter jets. Writing in Politico last June, Giffords warned that 80 percent of all Air National Guard jets will be unusable in eight years unless action is taken. She also was responsible for two other requirements in the Defense Department authorization bill regarding fighter aircraft and is the co-founder of the Fighter Gap Task Force with Rep. Frank LoBiondo, a Republican from New Jersey.
]]>TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords will get a first-hand look at how $3.2 million in federal stimulus dollars are being put to work in Tucson, Amado and Green Valley.
The Arizona lawmaker will begin the day at 9:30 a.m. with a tour and briefing at Tucson International Airport, which has received $1.8 million to strengthen security.
At 10:45 a.m., Giffords visits Solar Technology Research Corporation, a Tucson company that received $100,000 to conduct potentially groundbreaking work into the development of low-cost silicon.
In the afternoon, the congresswoman travels to Amado and Green Valley to see how stimulus funds are paying for upgrades at the Amado Community Food Bank and the United Community Health Center.
She visits the Food Bank at 1 p.m. to learn how $300,000 in stimulus funds will help pay for a needed expansion to meet the growing needs of the community. At 2:15 p.m. she will be on hand at the Health Center to see how $1 million in stimulus funds was used to purchase a new mobile dental unit, as well as staff and operate it.
The congresswoman’s complete schedule is below.
The stimulus funds are being made available through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was signed into law on Feb. 17, 2009 as the country faced the greatest economic crisis in a generation. The Act is creating jobs and driving economic growth through a combination of tax relief for individuals and businesses, aid to hard-hit families and state and local governments and funding for science, technology and infrastructure projects across the country. The Council of Economic Advisors estimates that the Recovery Act is responsible for approximately 1 million jobs so far.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords sees how stimulus funds are being put to work at Tucson International Airport
WHEN: 9:30 a.m., Friday, Oct. 2
WHERE: The Gallery on the second floor of the terminal, Tucson International Airport
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords sees how stimulus funds are being put to work at Solar Technology Research Corporation
WHEN: 10:45 a.m., Friday, Oct. 2
WHERE: 6950 S. Country Club
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords sees how stimulus funds are being put to work at the Amado Community Food Bank
WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2
WHERE: 28720 S. Nogales Highway, Amado
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords sees how stimulus funds are being put to work at the United Community Health Center
WHEN: 2:15 p.m., Friday, Oct. 2
WHERE: 1260 S. Campbell Road, Green Valley
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today joined with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to pass a sweeping appropriations bill that will help pay for a major flood control project in Tucson and solar research at the University of Arizona.
“These projects represent a wise use of taxpayer dollars,” said Giffords. “They demonstrate a commitment to our community’s safety, environment and quality of life. I am particularly pleased with the funding aimed at expanding the use of solar energy – our state’s most abundant natural resource.”
The House of Representatives approved the Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act this afternoon in a 308 to 114 vote. The conference agreement includes funding for $33.5 billion in projects nationwide and now goes to the Senate and President Obama for his signature.
The legislation includes $6,9723,000 for five projects in Southeastern Arizona.
Most of those funds – $5 million – are for completion of flood control work by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers along Arroyo Chico Wash, also known as the Tucson Arroyo. The work is needed to protect downtown Tucson, including neighborhoods and the downtown business district, from flooding.
Congress now has appropriated a total of $66.7 million for the entire project, which started in the early 1990s. It encompasses about 6 miles of the Arroyo Chico from South Alvernon Way to its confluence with the Santa Cruz River near St. Mary’s Road.
Included were detention basins on the Dell Urich Golf Course in Randolph Park and the Cherry Field Detention Basin along South Kino Boulevard, where athletic fields have been built.
The bill approved today also includes $900,000 for the University of Arizona to continue development on new technology for solar power production.
Giffords applauded a provision of the bill that calls for the federal government to invest in the creation of “energy innovation hubs” for the research and development of energy efficient buildings systems and fuels from solar technologies.
Southern Arizona projects included in the bill are:
• Tucson Drainage Area Urban Flood Control Project – Pima County – $5 million: This will allow the Army Corps of Engineers to advance flood control improvements along the Arroyo Chico Wash. The second and final phase of this project began in 2007. Congress increased authorization for the total project to $66.7 million because of a significant increase in costs for fuel and construction materials.
• Concentrator Photovoltaic Technology – University of Arizona – $900,000: Continues research and development of new technology to make the cost of utility-scale solar electric power competitive with fossil fuel. The project furthers development of a new type of concentrator photovoltaic approach to solar power production. Previous federal funding resulted in demonstration of the new reflector manufacturing technology. This second phase will prove the concept with a fully functioning 15 kilowatt sun-tracker unit, designed for low-cost replication in very large quantities suitable for utility-scale electricity generation.
• Tucson Public Building Solar Arrays – City of Tucson – $450,000: Will allow the city of Tucson to install 120 kilowatt solar panels on the roofs of two city buildings. One building at 9640 E. Golf Links Road, houses the Miller-Golf Links Branch of the Pima County Public Library as well as a Tucson Police Department substation. The second building houses Sun Van, which provides transit-related services for physically impaired people. As part of the project, the city will include a web-based monitoring system to allow students and the public to access solar production and other solar information.
• Sierra Vista Subwatershed Augmentation Feasibility Study – Upper San Pedro Partnership – $289,000: Funds a study of three alternatives for augmenting water supplies in the Sierra Vista area. Due to a combination of persistent drought and increased groundwater pumping, aquifer levels are falling below the level necessary to maintain base flows in the San Pedro River. If the river were to run dry, it would threaten the viability of the riparian ecosystem, including at least one listed endangered species. If the water supply is not augmented, measures to prevent the river from running dry could include curtailing or ceasing operations at nearby Fort Huachuca.
• Tres Rios del Norte – Pima County – $233,000: Money will be used to conduct preliminary engineering and design on the restoration of more than 18 miles of the Santa Cruz River, from Prince Road to Sanders Road. This environmental restoration project will provide flood control, groundwater recharge and recreation.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today praised the Department of Veterans Affairs for quickly changing a policy that would have required Arizona veterans to travel to Phoenix to collect emergency education benefits.
“The Department of Veterans Affairs did the right thing,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “It now will be easier for veterans in southern and rural Arizona to apply for the education benefits they deserve.”
The requirement that veterans drive to Phoenix to collect benefits made available under the new GI Bill was criticized by Giffords on Monday. On Wednesday, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki announced that veterans will be able to apply online for the payments or request transportation to the nearest benefits office.
To facilitate the online application process, Giffords said any veteran attending college in Arizona is welcome to use the computers at her Tucson and Sierra Vista District offices. The Tucson office is located at 1661 N. Swan, Suite 112, and the Sierra Vista office is located at 77 Calle Portal, Suite B-160. Computers also are available at public libraries.
There are more than 3,400 veterans at four Southeastern Arizona colleges certified under the GI Bill. Pima Community College has the most, with more than 2,400 eligible veterans. The remainder attend the University of Arizona, UA South and Cochise Community College.
It is estimated that only 75 of these veterans – approximately 2 percent – have received their benefits.
The delays in the distribution of benefits forced veterans across the nation to take out loans, put off buying textbooks or dig into savings. The new GI Bill took effect last month and provides money to cover the costs of attending college for veterans who served in the military after September 11, 2001.
Shinseki announced last week that emergency payments of up to $3,000 would be made available beginning Friday, Oct. 2. But the checks would have been distributed only at 57 VA regional benefits offices across the country. The only such center in Arizona is in Phoenix.
Starting on October 2, Veterans can apply for emergency education funding online at www.va.gov. To request transportation on a first come first served basis, veterans in Southern Arizona can call the Veterans Medical Center in Tucson at 520-629-1819.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today applauded passage of her Solar Technology Roadmap Act by a key House subcommittee.
“This legislation will help take solar research and development in the United States to a new level,” the Arizona lawmaker said. “It is rooted in the common sense belief that we need a detailed plan in place to tackle the energy technology challenges confronting our nation.”
The bill was approved with bipartisan support today in a voice vote by the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Committee on Science and Technology. It now goes to the full committee for consideration.
Giffords’ legislation would require the U.S. Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses. The bill also authorizes $2.25 billion for solar research over the next five years.
After the hearing, Republican Rep. Roscoe Bartlett of Maryland said he appreciates Giffords’ “collaborative leadership in making sure that the Department of Energy’s solar research and development programs are the most effective they can be.”
Those comments were echoed by Republican Rep. Vernon Ehlers of Michigan. “Much more needs to be done to increase the use of renewable energy sources, and solar energy is one of the most promising,” he said. “We should encourage more investment in solar technology so that it is more efficient and available.”
Establishment of an 11-member Solar Roadmap Committee to create a much-needed roadmap for solar technology research is the centerpiece of the bill. It would identify research and development that needs to occur to help improve the performance and reliability of solar technologies, decrease cost, reduce water use and mitigate any negative environmental impacts. It would be subject to a comprehensive revision every three years to keep it current.
“In the private sector, success is built on a business plan,” Giffords said. “We need to follow that example.”
The Department of Energy’s solar technology program includes research in photovoltaics, concentrating solar power, solar hot water, solar space heating and cooling, solar lighting, solar manufacturing and integration of solar technology in buildings.
“This legislation is aimed at charting the course for federally funded solar research, development and demonstration projects,” Giffords said. “It will help the Department of Energy to allocate research and development funds wisely, thereby helping to advance emerging solar technologies quickly and effectively.”
Giffords’ bill is being greeted enthusiastically by representatives of the solar industry in Southern Arizona and nationally.
“This is a great step forward for our country as it works to develop a resource that we have in abundance,” said Katharine Kent, owner of The Solar Store in Tucson. “This act will encourage development of solar and allow the United States to be a leader in this field, making us less dependent on energy sources imported from other countries.”
Ardeth Barnhart, co-director of the Arizona Research Institute for Solar Energy at the University of Arizona, praised the bill for developing “a platform for ongoing research, development and very importantly, demonstration of solar energy technologies that will drive innovation to improve solar technologies and decrease costs over time. It catalyzes a major shift in research for solar energy and will make it possible for ideas to move from universities and laboratories to the marketplace in an effective long-term way.”
Rhone Resch, president of the Solar Energy Industries Association, said his organization strongly supports Giffords’ bill. If enacted, he said the bill “would have significant economic, energy and environmental benefits” and “send a message that it is time to diversify our energy portfolio and expand the clean energy future for our country.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today was urged by a Catalina Foothills High School student to support legislation that will establish voluntary national guidelines to help schools manage the risk to students affected by food allergies.
Abigail McCourt met with Giffords today as part of a national effort organized by the Food Allergy & Anaphylaxis Network, a non-profit organization with nearly 30,000 members worldwide. McCourt, who lives with her parents in Giffords’ 8th Congressional District, urged the Arizona lawmaker to support the Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act.
“Most schools don’t realize how severe allergies can be and how hard they are to deal with,” said the 15-year-old student. “If schools know about this, they could prepare for it, instead of just winging it.”
After the meeting, Giffords told Abigail she would not only support the bill when it comes before the House, but would sign on as a co-sponsor.
“Abigail made a very persuasive case,” Giffords said. “She is one of more than 2 million students across the nation with food allergies. They are the human face of a serious and growing problem that needs to be addressed.”
The Food Allergy and Anaphylaxis Management Act passed the House last year in a voice vote but was not taken up by the Senate. The House is expected to vote on it again soon.
The bill requires the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop and make available to schools voluntary guidelines to manage the risk of food allergies and anaphylaxis, a life-threatening type of allergic reaction. It also provides for school-based food allergy management incentive grants to support the implementation of food allergy guidelines in schools.
Abigail, who is allergic to fish, shellfish, peanuts and tree nuts such as almonds and cashews, is among about 80 students from across the country who traveled to Washington to urge lawmakers to support the bill. She was accompanied by her parents, Mark and Carol McCourt.
“We are very proud of her,” Carol McCourt said. “She wanted her voice to be heard. This is something good coming out of something bad.”
Carol added that the trip to the Capitol was “a treat” for the entire family. “None of us have met a member of Congress before,” she said.
TUCSON – Military medals secured by U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords for a Tucson couple who served in the Korean War will be presented today at the congresswoman’s District Office in Tucson.
Presenting the medals on behalf of the congresswoman will be retired Gen. John Wickham, a Korean War veteran who served as Army Chief of Staff under President Ronald Reagan.
Wickham will present the medals to Levon and Mildred Raybon. The couple met during the war and on Sunday celebrated their 58th wedding anniversary.
Mr. Raybon asked the congresswoman to help secure the medals last month so he could give them to his wife on their anniversary. Mrs. Raybon is a member of the Paiute nation who is terminally ill. The couple, both in their late 80s, has lived in Tucson since 1972.
The couple’s service records were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center in St. Louis. At the request of the congresswoman, their military files were reconstructed to confirm they were entitled to receive the medals.
Mr. Raybon will receive the Korean Service Medal with three Bronze Stars, a Good Conduct Medal and the United Nations Service Medal. Mrs. Raybon will receive a World War II Victory Medal, the Women’s Army Corp Medal and the Honorable Service Lapel Button.
WHAT: Medal presentation to Levon and Mildred Raybon
WHEN: 3 p.m. TODAY
WHERE: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ Tucson District Office, 1661 N. Swan, Suite 112
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today called on the Department of Veterans Affairs to change its policy requiring Arizona veterans to travel to Phoenix to collect emergency educations benefits.
Giffords praised the VA for authorizing the emergency payments while the agency works to resolve problems that have delayed reimbursement for post-9/11 veterans. But she urged that a VA representative be dispatched to Southern Arizona to dispense benefits instead of having payments made only in Phoenix. The University of Arizona has made a similar request.
“Our veterans were there for us when we needed them most,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “We need to be there for them. It is totally unacceptable to delay payment of promised education benefits and require veterans to travel to Phoenix if they need emergency assistance.”
There are at least 240 veterans – and likely many more – enrolled at UA who are waiting for the benefits, which are being made available under the new GI Bill. Many other veterans in Sierra Vista and across Southeastern Arizona also have not received promised benefits.
Thousands of veterans across the nation attending college are being forced to take out loans, put off buying textbooks or dig into savings because of delays by the VA in issuing benefit checks. The new GI Bill took effect last month and provides money to cover the costs of attending college for veterans who served in the military after Sept. 11, 2001.
Nationwide, more than 277,000 veterans and their eligible relatives applied for assistance but the VA has fallen far behind in processing payments.
To ease the burden on students, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric K. Shinseki said the VA will make emergency payments, beginning this Friday, of up to $3,000 to students who have applied for educational benefits and who have not yet received their government payment. But the checks will be distributed only at VA regional benefits offices across the country. The only such center in Arizona is in Phoenix.
University of Arizona officials have asked the VA to send a representative to Tucson to process emergency payments for UA and Pima Community College students, but have not yet been told if that is possible.
Giffords today strongly supported that request and also asked that a VA representative be sent to Sierra Vista to process emergency payments to students attending UA-South and Cochise Community College.
Tommy Mendoza, a Marine who served in Afghanistan, is studying computer repair and network administration at Cochise Community College and has yet to receive VA benefits due him under Post 9/11 GI Bill. The payment, for college tuition and books, computer tools and living expenses, was supposed to arrive in August before classes started.
The college allowed Mendoza to enroll pending payment of his tuition. But he had to borrow computer tools and spend $330 to buy books because the VA check hasn’t yet arrived.
Mendoza said he has called the VA numerous time to ask when the benefits will be processed but has been unable to get an answer. “All they can say is they don’t know,” the 30-year-old student said.
Mendoza said it would be impossible for him to take a day off classes to travel to Phoenix to apply for an emergency check.
“These veterans have done everything asked of them, but they have not received their promised benefits,” Giffords said. “We must not make them now take time away from classes and family to make up for the failings of a federal agency.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today applauded the Arizona Legislature’s decision to help pay for a new skilled nursing home for veterans to be built in Tucson.
Federal stimulus money from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will pay $18.5 million, or approximately 65 percent, of the facility’s total cost. The remaining $10 million was approved Tuesday by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee.
A Tucson veterans home has been in the planning stages for five years and Giffords’ efforts to secure the federal share of the funding began in 2007.
“The Legislature did the right thing for our veterans,” said Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee. “Southern Arizona veterans have waited far too long for a skilled nursing home they can call their own. Thanks to state and stimulus funds, the wait will soon come to an end.”
Work is scheduled to start on the facility in February and the four 30-bed, long-term-care units should open by September 2011. The home will be located next to the Southern Arizona VA Health Care System at 3601 S. Sixth Ave.
“This project is long overdue,” said Giffords. “There are about 600,000 veterans in Arizona and we should have at least five veterans homes. But until now there was only one – in Phoenix.”
Giffords’ 8th Congressional District is home to an estimated 94,000 veterans – the ninth-largest veteran population in the country. This is why the congresswoman is fighting for a Vet Center in Cochise County.
To serve the sizable veterans population in Sierra Vista and the surrounding area, Giffords’ recently urged Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to reconsider his decision last month not to establish a Vet Center in Cochise County.
In a letter to Shinseki, the congresswoman wrote that there is a robust military presence in the Sierra Vista area and that Fort Huachuca’s main responsibility is to train and deploy military intelligence operators – a job that subjects soldiers and their families to a high level of stress.
“Vet Centers remain the only option for an active duty soldier who cannot get or would not pursue behavioral health care and counseling at a base clinic,” she said.
There are currently 232 Vet Centers across the country, including six in Arizona. The Tucson center, on North First Avenue, is the only one in Southern Arizona. The centers provide readjustment counseling and outreach services to veterans who served in any combat zone. Services are also available for their family members for military related issues. The benefits are provided at no cost.
“I will continue to look for ways to ensure that those who have worn the nation’s uniform are treated with respect and gratitude,” Giffords said. “Our veterans were there for us when we needed them most. We need to be there for them.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today issued the following statement on President Obama’s decision to nominate Alan Bersin as the new commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency is our nation’s largest and one of our most important law-enforcement agencies. Its 57,000 employees require the leadership of a skilled professional with extensive knowledge of the border. Alan Bersin is that person.
Mr. Bersin is a former U.S. attorney who oversaw a crackdown on illegal immigration along the California-Mexico border a decade ago. Since April, he has advised Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano on issues related to Mexico and the border.
In only four months at DHS, Mr. Bersin has had a direct and positive impact on border security operations in Southern Arizona. He has been to our region several times to assess the situation on the ground and has met with residents, law enforcement personnel and community groups concerned with border issues. Mr. Bersin understands that the Tucson Sector is the most porous part of our border with Mexico and is committed to sending us the resources we need. Those resources have already begun to arrive.
The challenges facing those who guard our borders are enormous. They must keep terrorists and their weapons out of our country; facilitate travel and trade; and enforce our immigration and drug laws. They need a professional like Mr. Bersin calling the shots.
I am confident that Mr. Bersin can meet these challenges. I hope he is quickly confirmed by the Senate so he can assume his responsibilities as soon as possible.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted with a strong bipartisan majority in the House to protect seniors and people with disabilities from unfair increases in their 2010 Medicare Part B premiums.
“Rising premiums are a threat to Arizona seniors and people with disabilities because they limit access to preventive health care at an affordable price,” said Giffords. “This legislation will reduce that threat and it could not come at a better time.”
The Medicare Premium Fairness Act, H.R. 3631, passed the House this morning in a 406 to 18 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Because of automatic provisions built into the current Medicare law, more than a quarter of the 42 million people enrolled in Medicare Part B are due to see their premiums rise next year. The increases are expected to raise the current premium of $96.40 to between $110 and $120 per month. The increase would impose a burden on states, which are obligated to pay premiums for many low-income seniors.
To alleviate this unfair financial burden, The Medicare Premium Fairness Act will keep Part B premiums at the current rate.
The bill was supported by numerous organizations in Arizona and across the country, including AARP, the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare, the Center for Medicare Advocacy, Alliance for Retired Americans and the National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association.
Passage of the bill was welcomed in Southeastern Arizona by the Pima Council on Aging and the SouthEastern Arizona Governments Organization (SEAGO) Area Agency on Aging.
“Hats off to Representative Giffords and those who supported H.R. 3631,” said Jim Murphy, president and CEO of the Pima Council on Aging. “Particularly in this time of economic stress, the majority of individuals who are on Medicare are also on fixed incomes without the ability to offset rising medical and other costs. With no increase in Social Security benefits planned for these same individuals, keeping Medicare Part B premiums level is the least we can do for those who have contributed significantly all their lives and now need a little support.”
Murphy’s sentiments were echoed by Kathleen Heard, director of the SEAGO Area Agency on Aging.
“The impact on state budgets whose Medicaid programs would have to pay the increase in Part B premiums for those in the Medicare Savings Program is significant,” Heard said. “In addition, the cost to individual Medicare beneficiaries who have lost their Low Income Subsidy or who are new to Medicare will be significant. Legislation that protects state Medicare programs and individual Medicare beneficiaries from these increases makes sense.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed the passage of legislation creating a National Heritage Area in Southern Arizona’s Santa Cruz Valley.
“The Santa Cruz Valley is a national treasure,” said Giffords. “Arizonans have long appreciated its tremendous historic, cultural and environmental significance. Now every American has a standing invitation to enjoy it as we have.”
The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act passed the House today in a 281 to 142 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Passage of the legislation was welcomed by Carol Cullen, executive director of the Tubac Chamber of Commerce.
“Establishment of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area is a win-win,” said Cullen. “It’s a win for businesses in a part of Southern Arizona that has been hard hit by recession and it’s a win for the environment that makes our valley so special.”
The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area Act was introduced on Jan. 8, 2009 by U.S. Rep. Raúl Grijalva. Giffords is a co-sponsor.
National heritage areas differ from national parks because they do not impose federal zoning rules or regulations on land use. The designation does not affect private property rights or prevent the renovation or removal of existing buildings on private property.
The Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area will encompass approximately 3,325 square miles. Within its boundaries are cactus-covered slopes, open grasslands, rugged canyons, forested mountain ranges and rare desert streams. It also is home to Spanish missions, fortresses, ghost towns and old mines. Traces of human habitation in the valley stretch back more than 12,000 years.
In many communities with National Heritage Areas, the designation has stimulated local economic growth through increased tourism activities.
“This vote by the House of Representatives helps make sure that preservation and conservation efforts in the Santa Cruz Valley will be based on voluntary decision-making at the local level,” said Giffords. “My hope is that the Senate will follow the House’s lead and vote on this legislation as soon as possible.”
Establishment of the Santa Cruz Valley National Heritage Area is supported by a diverse collection of organizations and governments. They include the Arizona Office of Tourism, Metropolitan Tucson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Tucson Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, Patagonia Area Business Association and Santa Cruz Tourism Council.
Prior to final passage of the bill, Giffords was part of a bipartisan majority to vote for an amendment that strengthens its border security provisions. The amendment requires the Department of Homeland Security to review the Heritage Area’s management plan and makes clear “that nothing in the bill would modify, restrict, impede, or supplant any border enforcement, including drug interdiction or immigration control.”
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is hosting a student from Tucson to mark the 45th anniversary of Job Corps.
As part of Job Corps Day: 45 Years of Building Lives and Launching Careers, Giffords is hosting Olatocha Payne, a 2009 graduate of Pueblo Magnet High School.
Olatocha, 19, is a student from Fred G. Acosta Job Corps Center. She attends classes at Pima Community College and hopes to become a registered nurse.
Olatocha will spend her day on Capitol Hill being exposed to the inner workings of the legislative branch of government and learning about the role an elected official plays in the decision-making process.
Olatocha said she is honored to intern with Giffords for the day and said she may decide to go into public service.
“I believe there is nothing like Job Corps to motivate and inspire you,” Olatocha said. “Job Corps has taught me to utilize my ability to want more, learn more and achieve more. It has taught me that getting a diploma wasn’t enough. I need to reach for my dreams and that there is no limit to what I can conquer.”
Over the past 45 years, Job Corps has provided opportunities to nearly 3 million economically disadvantaged young Americans. Administered by the U.S. Department of Labor, Jobs Corps is a voluntary, residential training program that offers vocational, academic and social skills training to students aged 16 to 24 at 123 centers nationwide. Each year, Job Corps serves more than 60,000 young people.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is welcoming an announcement that almost $7 million in federal stimulus funding will be distributed to Tucson agencies to prevent homelessness and build facilities to benefit neighborhoods.
Tucson and Pima County will receive nearly $3.6 million aimed at helping people and families facing a sudden financial crisis that could lead to homelessness.
These funds, part of the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing program, will be awarded in a competitive process to non-profit agencies with homeless-prevention programs. The agencies provide short- and medium-term rental assistance and services to prevent individuals and families from becoming homeless or to quickly re-house those who are homeless.
A Tucson advocate for homeless people said the funds are badly needed.
“The number of homeless people seems to be increasing, and more of them are the newly homeless” said Dia Barney, co-chair of the Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless.
A 2009 count by the council found 1,372 homeless people in the Tucson area – a 25 percent increase from last year. The study also found that chronically homeless people made up a smaller percentage of the total than in previous years.
The grants provided are not intended to provide long-term support nor will they offer mortgage assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure.
The money can be used for short-term rental assistance of up to three months and medium-term rental assistance of up to 18 months, as well as security deposits, utility deposits and/or utility payments, moving cost assistance and hotel vouchers. Payments will not be made directly to households, but only to third parties, such as landlords or utility companies.
Giffords also welcomed the announcement that Tucson and Pima County will receive nearly $2.4 million to build three facilities that will provide services to residents in different areas of the community.
The city of Tucson will receive $1.66 million to add a multipurpose room to the Cherry Avenue Neighborhood and Recreation Center, 5085 S. Cherry Ave.
Pima County will receive about $700,000 for two rural facilities: the Catalina Community Services Building in the community of Catalina north of Tucson and the Amado Food Bank and Community Center Building in the community of Amado south of Tucson.
The money is part of the Community Development Block Grant program that enables state and local governments to undertake a range of activities intended to create suitable living environments, provide affordable housing and create economic opportunities.
The funding comes from The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, which was passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. It provided immediate relief for American families and jump-started billions of dollars in projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and strengthen local economies.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today joined a bipartisan majority in the House to support extending unemployment benefits for Americans who have been unable to find jobs.
The Unemployment Compensation Act of 2009, H.R. 3548, passed the House in a 331 to 83 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
“While some indicators show the economy is improving, there still are nearly six unemployed Americans for every available job,” Giffords said. “This extension of benefits is critical because 5 million Americans – one-third of those who are unemployed – have been without work for longer than six months.”
The legislation would extend unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks to jobless workers in states that have been especially hard-hit by job losses. Arizona is among the 29 states included in the bill.
Under the bill, the additional benefits go to unemployed workers in states with a three-month average unemployment rate above 8.5 percent. The latest statistics show Arizona has a 9.0 percent unemployment rate averaged over the past three months.
Some 5,142 Arizonans whose unemployment compensation is due to expire by the end of September will be the first to benefit from the extension. About 22,600 Arizonans whose benefits are scheduled to expire by the end of the year also will benefit.
The maximum unemployment benefit in Arizona is $240 per week – less than the national average of about $300 per week.
The 13-week extension would supplement the 26 weeks of benefits Arizona offers and the federally funded extensions of up to 53 weeks that Congress approved in legislation last year and in the stimulus bill enacted in February.
Giffords stressed that the benefits extension will not add to the deficit. The $1.4 billion cost of the extension is largely paid for by continuing a federal unemployment tax extended by the Bush Administration.
Peggy Hutchison, executive director of the Primavera Foundation, called the additional compensation “extremely important.” Among the many services provided by the foundation is rent assistance for people facing eviction.
“We have run out of those funds,” Hutchison said.
With the extended unemployment benefits, fewer people will need to apply for that assistance, she said. The additional unemployment assistance is crucial for families.
“It buys them some time, it keeps the family safe and under a roof and it buys time for the economy to pick up,” she said.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today was briefed on Army intelligence assets and the war in Afghanistan by commanders at the Intelligence and Security Command (INSCOM) at Fort Belvoir, Virginia.
The Arizona lawmaker received briefings on cyber and aviation operations, biometrics and the National Ground Intelligence Center. She also participated in a video teleconference with intelligence officers in Afghanistan.
“As a member of the House Armed Services and Foreign Affairs committees, I am briefed regularly by top officials from the Pentagon and State Department,” Giffords said. “But nothing is more valuable than hearing directly from the commanders on the front lines about ongoing operations and pending needs.”
The congresswoman’s visit to INSCOM comes on the heels of her recent congressional delegation trip to Afghanistan and Pakistan. She also recently received briefings at Luke Air Force base in Phoenix, Fort Bliss in Texas and the Defense Language Institute and Navy Postgraduate School in California.
INSCOM soldiers and officers, who are trained at Fort Huachuca in Sierra Vista, provide critical intelligence support to national and military leaders Gen. Ray Odierno in Iraq and Gen. Stanley McChrystal in Afghanistan. INSCOM personnel are stationed at more than 180 locations worldwide.
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is hosting a top official from the Department of Homeland Security for a multi-agency briefing on federal efforts to keep drugs from entering the country.
Admiral Thad Allen, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard and the head of the drug Interdiction Committee, will brief community leaders and representatives from local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
“Arizona is on the front lines of our nation’s border security crisis,” said Giffords. “This briefing is an opportunity for all of us who are working to strengthen border security to hear directly from Admiral Allen and share with him our insights about the fight against the drug cartels.”
The briefing will be held at the University of Arizona’s National Center for Border Security and Immigration, which was recently asked by the U.S. Border Patrol to help measure the effectiveness of the agency’s checkpoint on Interstate 19.
The center is a consortium of 14 institutions that is developing technologies, processes and policies to protect the nation’s borders, foster international trade and enhance long-term understanding of immigration-related issues. UA President Robert Shelton is among the community leaders who will attend the briefing.
Also attending will be Tucson Sector Border Patrol Chief Robert Gilbert and representatives from law enforcement agencies in Pima, Cochise, Santa Cruz and Pinal counties; police departments in Tucson, Oro Valley and Sahuarita; the Drug Enforcement Agency; Immigration and Customs Enforcement; U.S. Marshal; Arizona Governor’s Office; and Arizona National Guard.
Allen, a Tucson native, is in Southern Arizona to conduct an assessment of border security needs. His Interdiction Committee is comprised of 13 federal agencies that advise the U.S. Interdiction Coordinator and the Office of National Drug Control Policy on the operational and tactical adequacy, integration and use of interdiction assets.
Allen is the 23rd commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, the largest component of the Department of Homeland Security. He assumed the post in May 2006 after he was widely praised for directing the federal response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
After the briefing, Giffords will travel with Allen to Bowie for a celebration of Bowie schools. This event is sponsored by the Bowie Unified School District, Bowie Chamber of Commerce and the Bowie School Alumni Group.
Details on the briefing and the celebration events are below.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts Admiral Thad Allen for briefing on federal drug interdiction efforts.
WHEN: 8:30-10:30 a.m., Friday, Sept. 18
WHERE: University of Arizona, McClelland Hall, 1130 E. Helen St. Paid parking is available in the parking garage immediately west of the building.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords and Admiral Thad Allen attend a “Pride Rally at Bowie Schools”
WHEN: 1 p.m., Friday, Sept. 18
WHERE: Bruce E. Brown Gymnasium, 125 W. 5th Street, Bowie, Arizona
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today voted for legislation aimed at expanding access to higher education by simplifying the way students receive financial aid.
“Investing in education today will pay tremendous dividends tomorrow for individuals, families, businesses and the future prosperity of our nation,” said Giffords. “This bill will expand access to higher education by transforming and simplifying the way our student loan programs are administered.”
The Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act passed the House this afternoon in a 253 to 171 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
Among the bill’s provisions is an increase in the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarship. The current limit of $5,350 would be increased to $5,550 next year and to $6,900 by 2019. Investments in the scholarships total $40 billion nationally and more than $76 million in Giffords’ 8th Congressional District.
“This investment will have a significant impact on Southern Arizona students and their families,” said Giffords. “In my district alone, more than 16,300 students will be eligible for Pell Grants in the 2010-2011 academic year.”
Another direct impact on Southern Arizonans, Giffords said, are the bill’s benefits for veterans. They include expanding aid available under the new GI Bill and allowing service members to transfer credits while in the military.
Passage of the legislation was welcomed by educators in Arizona, which will receive more than $1.8 billion in educational investments over the next decade if the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act is signed into law. The bill was supported by both the University of Arizona and Pima Community College.
“Passage of the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act is a historic moment for community colleges,” said Chancellor Roy Flores. “The act recognizes the key role Pima and the nation’s other community colleges will play in educating and training a workforce that can succeed in the competitive 21st-century global marketplace.”
Students also welcomed passage of the bill. As the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act was being voted on, students from the University of Arizona visited Giffords’ Tucson district office to thank her for her support. They said that for just 300 UA students who attended an on-campus event yesterday, the total debt is projected to be $2.3 million.
Among those students was Lindsey Forry, an 18-year-old freshman. Although she receives academic scholarships, Forry anticipates that she will be $14,000 in debt by the time she graduates in 2013.
“Even with scholarships it’s still hard,” she said. “The amount of debt is disconcerting.”
Cecily Sweet, a 20-year-old UA junior, said the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act represents a wise investment in our economy. “Education is one of the most important things we can do to get us out of the economic crisis we’re in,” she said.
In addition to increasing the maximum annual Pell Grant scholarships, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act also:
• Invests $3 billion to bolster college access and completion support programs for students;
• Strengthens the Perkins Loan program, a campus-based program that provides low-cost federal loans to students, by providing the program with more reliable forms of credit from the federal government and expanding the program to include significantly more college campuses;
• Keeps interest rates low on need-based – or subsidized – federal student loans by making the interest rates on these loans variable beginning in 2012. These interest rates are currently set to jump from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent in 2012;
• Provides schools with access to funding for green, energy efficient modernization, renovation and repair projects;
• Converts all new federal student lending to the stable, effective and cost-efficient Direct Loan program. Beginning July 1, 2010, all new federal student loans will be originated through the Direct Loan program, instead of through lenders subsidized by taxpayers in the federally-guaranteed student loan program. Unlike the lender-based program, the Direct Loan program is entirely insulated from market swings and can therefore guarantee students access to low-cost federal college loans, in any economy; and
• Increases the number of low-income children entering kindergarten prepared to succeed by reforming state standards and practices for birth-to-five early learning programs. The legislation would create an Early Learning Challenge Fund, which would award competitive grants to states that implement comprehensive standards-based reform of the state’s early learning system that will transform early education standards and practices, build an effective early childhood workforce, and improve the school readiness outcomes of young children.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today introduced legislation that would require the federal Department of Energy to appoint a group of experts to create a long-term plan to guide solar energy research and its transition into commercial uses.
The 11-member Solar Roadmap Committee would be formed as part of Giffords’ Solar Technology Roadmap Act, a bill that authorizes $2.25 billion for solar research over the next five years.
The centerpiece of the bill is the establishment of a committee to create a much-needed roadmap for solar technology research.
“The Solar Technology Roadmap would help guide the solar industry and research community in their efforts to advance emerging solar technologies quickly and effectively,” said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “It also would help the federal government to allocate research and development funds wisely.”
Under Giffords’ bill, the roadmap would identify research and development that needs to occur to help improve the performance and reliability of solar technologies, decrease cost, reduce water use and mitigate any negative environmental impacts. It would be subject to a comprehensive revision every three years to keep it current.
The bill also would require the Department of Energy to award grants for solar demonstration projects and research on photovoltaic waste and recycling.
The bill will be heard next week by the Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the Science and Technology Committee. A copy of the bill is attached.
Giffords has championed solar energy since entering the House in 2007, calling it one of her top priorities in Washington.
“Harnessing the power of the sun offers a tremendous opportunity for Arizona, and all of America,” she said. “It will help us address some of the largest challenges we face, like improving our economy by creating green jobs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil and cutting green house gas emissions.”
Since 2007, Giffords’ office has been conducting the popular Solar 101 community education series to help individuals, businesses and governments learn about the benefits of solar energy. The series has become so popular that it recently was offered in Phoenix.
Giffords recently was invited to address the National Academy of Sciences on solar issues and earlier this month addressed the Solar Economic Forum meeting in Washington, D.C.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today was part of a strong bipartisan majority in the House to support legislation aimed at funding essential research into batteries that will be used to power the next generation of vehicles.
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act will have a direct impact on Sion Power Corporation, a Tucson-based company conducting research into innovative lithium-sulfur batteries.
“Research being conducted right here in Southern Arizona and across the nation is critical to helping us reduce our dependence on foreign oil and create green jobs,” said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “This bill will help us achieve these goals.”
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act passed this afternoon in a 312 to 114 vote. It now goes to the Senate for consideration.
The bill would fund a program of research and development in vehicle technologies at the Department of Energy. The ultimate goal is to reduce petroleum use and emissions in passenger and commercial vehicles.
The bill includes about $550 million per year in grants for five years for companies researching battery technology.
Sion is among the companies that could benefit from such grants. While most battery research has focused on lithium-ion technology, Sion is studying a lithium-sulfur combination that could produce a more powerful and longer-lasting battery.
According to the company, lithium-sulfur will enable many new applications in which the limited energy available from current batteries is holding back the advancement of new products or is limiting the features of current ones.
In 2007, the company’s batteries enabled an unmanned aerial vehicle to beat the world record for the longest unmanned flight.
The vehicle, which weighed 68 pounds and had a 62-foot wingspan, stayed aloft for 54 continuous hours using a combination of Sion Power’s lithium-sulfur batteries at night and solar power during the day. During the flight, the craft flew up to 58,370 feet high, or more than 11 miles in attitude.
The Advanced Vehicle Technology Act has been endorsed by General Motors, Ford Motor Company, Chrysler, the United Autoworkers, the National Association of Manufacturers, the Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association, Caterpillar, the Engine Manufacturers Association, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Natural Resources Defense Council, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Sierra Club and the League of Conservation Voters.
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It is unfortunate that Congressman Wilson has not apologized to our colleagues for his rude outburst. He should. Heckling the President of the United States while he is addressing a joint session of Congress is totally unacceptable for a member of this body. The American people know this and Congressman Wilson knows this – that is why he apologized to President Obama. We should not waste any more time on this matter. We need to stay focused on health insurance reform and improving our economy.
Wilson, a Republican from South Carolina, shouted “You lie!” to the president as he explained his proposal to reform the nation’s health insurance system. Giffords was one of a dozen Democrats to oppose the resolution, which was introduced by House leadership.
The resolution passed the House with the votes of 233 Democrats and 7 Republicans. Ten House members did not vote and 5 voted “present.”
]]>Giffords calls the report “a sobering reminder that our position as the world’s leading spacefaring nation is not a given—we continually need to re-earn that preeminent position through our actions, and we can’t just rest on past laurels.”
The report’s most important finding, she said, is the “serious mismatch between the challenges that we have asked NASA to meet and the resources that have been provided to the agency.”
Witnesses at today’s hearing include Norm Augustine, chairman of the Review of Human Space Flight Plans Committee; retired Vice Admiral Joe Dyer, chairman of NASA’s Aerospace Safety Advisory Panel; and Dr. Michael Griffin, a professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering at the University of Alabama in Huntsville.
The statement by Giffords, chairwoman of the House Subcommittee on Space and Aeronautics, is part of the hearing’s official record.
Today we will be discussing no less than the future of America’s human space flight program. The program that I think every politician in Washington and across the country points to when we talk about America’s great innovation and technological superiority.
I know that each of our witnesses today will bring important insights to our deliberations.
Yet as we start this hearing, I have to say that I am extremely frustrated, in fact, I am angry.
With all due respect to Mr. Augustine and his panel, I have to say that I think we are no further ahead in our understanding of what it will take to ensure a robust and meaningful human space flight program than we were before they started their review.
In fact, I’d argue that we have lost ground.
Let’s review the facts.
Probably the most important finding of the Review of U.S. Human Space Flight Plans is the panel’s determination that there is a serious mismatch between the challenges that we have asked NASA to meet and the resources that have been provided to the agency.
In other words, we can’t get anywhere worth going to under NASA’s projected budgets.
Well, we certainly didn’t need an independent commission to tell us that.
That’s been painfully obvious for some time now.
And the impact of that shortfall is that the good work being done by NASA’s civil servants and contractors risks being undone.
I’m glad they highlighted the problem, but it’s not exactly news to anyone who has been involved in the budget battles of recent years.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m not denigrating the work done by Mr. Augustine and his panel. Mr. Augustine has an excellent reputation and I know that he has put a lot of work into this commission.
They have given us a sobering reminder that our position as the world’s leading spacefaring nation is not a given—we continually need to re-earn that preeminent position through our actions, and we can’t just rest on past laurels.
The rest of the world has discovered space too, and we are seeing the emergence of impressive capabilities in other countries that we need to take seriously.
That said, I think the men and women of NASA have demonstrated that they are up to the challenge.
Over the past four years, they have moved from initial concepts into design and development of the Constellation systems.
They have successfully completed a number of important design reviews, have undertaken test activities—including test-firing just last week the five-segment booster that will power the Ares I rocket into space and planning for a test flight of the Ares I-X rocket at the end of next month.
And they’ve done all of this even though the budgetary sands keep shifting under them, taking away resources that they thought they could count on and forcing them continually to replan and rephase even while they are trying to complete the hard technical and programmatic work that has to be done if Constellation is to succeed.
So when it was announced that Mr. Augustine would be leading an independent review of the nation’s human space flight program, I thought that they would take a hard look at the Constellation program and tell us what should be done to maximize its chances for success.
But that’s not what they did.
Instead of focusing on how to strengthen the exploration program in which we have invested so much time and treasure, they gave only glancing attention to Constellation—even referring to it in the past tense in their summary report—and instead spent the bulk of their time crafting alternative options that do little to illuminate the choices confronting Congress and the White House.
And so where does that leave us?
Well, in place of a serious review of potential actions that could be taken to improve and strengthen the Constellation program, we have been given set of alternative exploration options that are little more than cartoons—lacking any detailed cost, schedule, technical, safety or other programmatic specifics that we can be confident have been subjected to rigorous and comprehensive analysis and validation.
So, I have to ask my colleagues on the Committee—what are we to do with this report?
In the absence of evidence of mismanagement or technical or safety “showstoppers”—none of which the Augustine panel has indicated has occurred in the Constellation program—can any of us in good conscience recommend canceling the exploration systems development programs that Congress has funded for the past four years on the basis of the sketchy alternatives contained in the panel’s report?
I know that I can’t justify doing so, and I would suspect that you can’t either.
Hoping that “maybe things will work out” if we try something new is no substitute for the detailed planning and design and testing that has been the hallmark of successful space flight programs in the past.
Nor do we gain anything by confusing hypothetical commercial capabilities that might someday exist with what we can actually count on now to meet the nation’s needs.
We’ve made that mistake in the past, and we’ve suffered the consequences.
So I have to say that I just don’t get it.
I don’t see the logic of scrapping what the nation has spent years and billions of dollars to develop in favor of starting down a new path developed in haste and which hasn’t been subjected to any of the detailed technical and cost reviews that went into the formulation of the existing Constellation program.
For the nation’s sake, I hope that we can break this cycle of false starts in our nation’s human space flight program. It does not serve America well.
As far as I can tell, the Constellation program’s only sin is to have tried to implement a very challenging program with an inadequate budget.
Yet, some would now advocate walking away from that program, not because it is not performing, but because we are unwilling to face the truth that, as Mr. Augustine said in testimony before our Committee more than five years ago, “it would be a grave mistake to try to pursue a space program ‘on the cheap’”.
I hope that the Administration and this Congress finally take those words to heart and do the right thing. The future of America’s human space flight program is at stake.
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WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed President Obama’s call for stricter regulation of the financial sector, saying Wall Street excess must never again be allowed to risk the nation’s economic health.
“We must never forget how close we were to plunging off an economic cliff one year ago today, with the collapse of one of Wall Street’s oldest and most respected investment firms,” said Giffords. “The bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers triggered a global recession and threatened us with another depression. Preventing future crisis means stricter oversight of the financial community.”
President Obama, speaking earlier today in New York, called for regulatory reform that protects consumers and investors and guards against excessive risk. He called on the financial community to support “strong rules of the road to guard against the kind of systemic risks that we’ve seen” in the past.
Giffords, a former small business owner, applauded the president’s remarks.
“At the top of the list of lessons we learned over the past year is that the actions of Wall Street have a direct impact on Main Street,” the congresswoman said. “Toughening the rules of our financial system will help ensure that families in Arizona and across the nation can finance a business, buy a home and save for retirement or their children’s education without worrying that our economy will come crashing down.”
Last October 3, Giffords supported the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act, legislation proposed by the Bush Administration that provided critical assistance to financial institutions.
“Government assistance was a matter of necessity, not choice,” Giffords said. “We had to act. And we should remember that, less than a year after we did, taxpayers are seeing a return on their investment. More than $70 billion has been repaid to the Treasury from financial institutions who needed financing during the worst of the crisis.”
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today welcomed House passage of a resolution recommending that U.S. Constitution be taught to high school students in September of their senior year.
“Two-hundred twenty-two years ago on Thursday, delegates to the Constitutional Convention met to sign the document that was to become the fundamental law of our nation,” said Giffords. “Passage of this resolution is an appropriate way to mark Constitution Day and to make sure that the next generation of Americans appreciates our Constitution’s enduring value.”
House Resolution 686 passed today in a voice vote. Giffords is a co-sponsor.
The resolution states that “all high school seniors across the country should spend at least one week learning about the United States Constitution in September of their senior year, as knowledge of this historic document, which constitutes the very foundation of our country, is critical to being an effective citizen.”
The complete text of the resolution is below.
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. RES. 686
Recommending that the United States Constitution be taught to high school students throughout the Nation in September of their senior year.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
July 28, 2009
Mr. GRAYSON (for himself and Mr. PAUL) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Education and Labor
RESOLUTION
Recommending that the United States Constitution be taught to high school students throughout the Nation in September of their senior year.
Whereas the United States Constitution is the fundamental law of the United States;
Whereas people in the United States of all ages, income levels, and political beliefs fail tests of civic literacy;
Whereas a 1998 survey revealed that more teenagers knew who the `Fresh Prince of Bel-Air' was than the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, more knew the star of the motion picture `Titanic' than who was the vice president of the United States, and more can name the Three Stooges and the 3 American Idol judges than can name the 3 branches of government;
Whereas three-quarters of people in the United States cannot distinguish the difference between a judge and a legislator;
Whereas fewer than half of all people in the United States can name the three branches of the United States Government;
Whereas nearly half of the States in the Nation no longer require the teaching of civics and American history;
Whereas students at top colleges and universities in the United States scored an average of only 59.4 percent for seniors and 56.6 percent for freshmen on tests of civic literacy;
Whereas people in the United States aged 25 to 34 score an average of 46 percent on a test of civic literacy and people aged 65 and over score the same 46 percent;
Whereas research shows that an increase in civic knowledge, including that of the United States Constitution, almost invariably leads to the beneficial use of that knowledge; and
Whereas research shows that greater civic learning leads to more active citizenship, and people in the United States who fulfill their civic obligations beyond voting are more knowledgeable about their country's history and institutions: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that--
(1) all high school seniors across the country should spend at least one week learning about the United States Constitution in September of their senior year, as knowledge of this historic document, which constitutes the very foundation of our country, is critical to being an effective citizen; and
(2) upon reaching voting age, high school seniors should petition the government on an issue of importance to them to demonstrate their understanding of their rights and responsibilities as citizens of the United States.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is welcoming $9,593,500 in federal stimulus funds to support a wide range of energy efficiency and conservation projects across Arizona.
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, said the funding will make it possible for state and local governments to cut energy costs while also allowing them to shift to renewable sources of energy and create green jobs.
The funding will be distributed through the Department of Energy’s Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program. Nationwide, 22 states will share more than $354 million in grants.
“The money will be used in Arizona to achieve a set of important goals,” said Giffords. “It will help our fast-growing state reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage the development, promotion and application of advanced building codes and green buildings statewide.”
Eighty percent of the money allocated to Arizona will be administered by the state’s Energy Office. The remainder will be distributed to cities and counties to start their own energy efficiency programs.
A competitive process will be used to select communities that receive money. There will be an emphasis on projects that demonstrate a high return on investment and a shared community project approach, create jobs and work in cooperation with community colleges and technical and trade schools.
In announcing the funding, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said the money will allow states across the country to make major investments in energy solutions that will strengthen America’s economy and create jobs at the local level.
“It will also promote some of the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have – energy efficiency and conservation – which can be deployed immediately,” he said.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. It provided immediate relief for American families and jump-started billions of dollars in projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and strengthen local economies.
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords is welcoming $362,610 in federal stimulus funds for medical research at the University of Arizona.
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, said the funds will strengthen the university’s nationally recognized programs in medical and biomedical research.
The funds will be distributed through the National Institutes of Health and will go to three researchers. The largest award, $159,438, will help increase the number of minorities pursuing advanced degrees in biomedical research.
Marc Tischler, director of the Minority Access to Research Careers program at the university, said the money will be used to assist minority undergraduate students to perform well in key classes needed for advanced degrees.
According to Tischler, several minority groups are underrepresented in medical research. He said that by increasing the number of researchers from those groups, it is more likely that research will be conducted into diseases most likely to affect those specific ethnic groups.
In addition, Marek Romanowski, an assistant professor in biomedical engineering, received an award for $108,000. Sally Dickinson, a research associate at the Arizona Cancer Center, received a $95,172 award. Both are conducting cancer-related research projects.
Earlier this week, six university researchers received $1.46 million in stimulus funds for biomedical research work. Today’s announcement means the university has received a total of $1.8 million in federal stimulus funding this week.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. It provided immediate relief for American families and jump-started billions of dollars in projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and strengthen local economies.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords’ strong support of the Arizona National Guard will be recognized Saturday, when she travels to Nashville to receive an award from the National Guard Association of the United States.
Giffords, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, will be presented with the honor before more than 4,000 active and retired National Guard members at the association’s 131st conference in the Tennessee capital.
The Arizona lawmaker has been a strong advocate for the National Guard since before her election to the state Legislature in 2000. As a businesswoman, Giffords served on the Minuteman Committee, the civilian support group for the Tucson-based 162nd Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard. Last year, she succeeded in persuading the U.S. Air Force to keep an F-16 fighter jet maintenance facility in Tucson, a decision that saved more than 200 jobs from leaving the area.
Giffords will receive the Charles Dick Medal of Merit, an award given only to elected representatives in state and federal governments. The award acknowledges individuals who have demonstrated positive and lasting support for the National Guard over an extended period of time.
The congresswoman is the first federally elected official from Arizona to receive the award. State Sen. Jim Waring of Phoenix received it in 2008. Giffords and Waring served together in the Legislature.
Past recipients include Sens. Mitch McConnell, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Carl Levin and Joe Lieberman, as well as former Sens. Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton. Giffords is among seven officials receiving the award this year. The others are Gov. Brad Henry of Oklahoma, Gov. John Lynch of New Hampshire, Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, U.S. Rep. Steve Israel of New York, U.S. Rep. Earl Pomeroy of North Dakota and state Rep. Jean Doerge of Louisiana.
Among the attendees at the Nashville conference will be numerous National Guard officials from Arizona. They include Col. Gregory Stroud, commander of the 162nd Fighter Wing, and Maj. Gen. Hugo Salazar, the Adjutant General the Arizona National Guard.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords this week outlined the future of solar power and its potential for growth, telling a conference in the nation’s capital that energy from the sun is becoming cost-competitive with traditional energy sources.
Giffords spoke Thursday at the Solar Economics Forum USA. The event, held at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center, was an opportunity for policymakers, investors, utilities and solar companies to explore the economics and debate the viability of solar power as part of the U.S. energy mix.
Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, told the forum that solar power has made tremendous strides in recent years – even recent months. But she pointed out that most people, including many of her colleagues in Congress, are unaware of solar’s exciting recent advances.
The Arizona lawmaker said the biggest hurdle now facing the solar industry is not so much technological as psychological. She said the solar industry needs to do a better job of telling its story so more people understand how it can make a serious contribution to meeting our nation’s energy challenges.
The text of Giffords’ prepared remarks is below.
Solar Economics Forum
“Telling the Solar Story”
U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
September 10, 2009
Good morning everyone. It’s great to be with you all today to take part in this important discussion on the future of solar energy.
As many of you may know, I’m relatively new to Washington. I was first elected to Congress in 2006 and I am now serving my second term. I’m proud to say that I have been a strong supporter of solar power since the day I arrived, and it is one of my highest policy priorities.
As a member of the House Science and Technology Committee, I have had an especially good position to advocate for increased solar research and development. In fact, I am working with the committee right now on a bill to reauthorize the solar R&D program at the Department of Energy.
I have been a strong advocate for other pro-solar policies as well, including the investment tax credit, a renewable electricity standard, a manufacturing tax credit, loan guarantees, and workforce development programs. I have also been promoting solar in my other committees, especially the Armed Services Committee, where I have been an outspoken supporter of renewable energy leadership by our military.
People sometimes ask me why I’m such a big fan of solar power. Well, there’s no doubt that it helps to represent a district in Arizona, a state with some of the highest solar potential in the world. In my hometown of Tucson we are blessed with over 300 days of sunshine every year and solar power is very popular with my constituents.
But the fact is that our entire country has great solar potential, not just the desert Southwest. Anyone who has ever seen a map showing the solar energy levels received by different areas of the U.S. knows that our entire nation can make effective use of solar power.
So there’s lots of solar potential out there. Does that mean tapping it is necessarily a good thing to do? I firmly believe the answer is ‘yes’, and I’ll tell you why.
Since I became a member of Congress, I wake up every morning, and I go to bed each night, thinking about the major issues confronting our nation. Among the largest challenges we face are:
• How do we create good jobs and get our economy moving again?
• How do we ensure our national security in a dangerous world? and
• How do we protect our natural environment – especially from the threat of catastrophic climate change?
Ultimately, the reason I get so excited about solar power is that it offers a viable solution – at least in part – to all of these major challenges. Economic competitiveness, energy independence, and climate protection: solar is truly a win-win-win.
As I was preparing for today and looking through the brochure for the conference, a few lines of text caught my eye. I’d like to read them to you:
“The U.S. solar industry could become the largest solar market in the world and solar can play a significant role in the U.S. energy mix, providing a viable option that addresses environmental and security issues.”
That’s a true statement, of course, and it’s not really surprising to find it on a brochure for a solar conference. But it is exciting: “solar can play a significant role in the U.S. energy mix…” In my experience, most people simply don’t know this!
Over the past several years I’ve had the privilege of speaking with scores of people working on solar power: researchers, manufacturers, investors, project developers, people from private industry, the Department of Energy, the military, and the non-profit sector. Their message to me has been clear: Solar technology works, it is rapidly getting even better, and it can contribute significantly to meeting our energy needs.
Given what I was saying earlier, about solar’s potential to help address some of our most serious challenges, that is fantastic news. There’s just one problem: many of my colleagues in Congress don’t believe it!
Well, that’s not quite true. It’s not so much that they don’t believe it as they just don’t know it. They don’t know what solar is capable of.
Most of my colleagues haven’t spent as much time as I have keeping up with this industry. They are not aware of the amazing strides solar technology has made in recent years. As a result, their view of solar power and its potential is several years behind the curve.
Many policymakers still see solar as a niche technology, suitable for limited applications. They view it as expensive and unreliable. As for making a “significant contribution to our energy mix,” most don’t view solar as up to the task. They talk about solar being great sometime in the distant future. But right now? No way. They just don’t think today’s solar has the muscle to power our industrial economy. They don’t see solar power as serious energy.
This view is mistaken. Solar is very serious. Between solar hot water, concentrating solar power, and photovoltaics, solar technologies have the potential to make a dramatic contribution to our energy challenges right now. What’s more, many countries in Europe and Asia see solar technology as a great emerging industry in its own right.
But as they say in politics, perception is reality. That, in my view, is the number one challenge facing the solar industry in the United States.
The inaccurate perception of solar power’s capabilities can have serious repercussions for U.S. energy policy. Let me give you just one recent example. You all know the House passed a large energy bill at the end of June: the American Clean Energy & Security Act. Among the primary goals of this bill was to establish a program to mitigate climate change. Given that one of the major benefits of solar power is emissions-free electricity, one might think it should figure prominently in the bill.
To be fair, there is significant support for renewables and energy efficiency in general, including a Renewable Electricity Standard and funding for states to implement efficiency and renewable projects. If we use EPA estimates for the value of emissions allowances, the bill would generate about 90 billion dollars between 2012 and 2050 for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs. Unfortunately, none of that is specifically dedicated to solar – or any other renewable for that matter. But given that solar is not the least-cost renewable, there are some concerns about how much of that support solar will ultimately get.
By contrast, the bill provides up to 60 billion dollars specifically for the development of “clean coal”– a technology that even its supporters concede will not be ready for at least a decade, if ever. Now I’m not opposed to providing some R&D support for coal, but what I find stunning is the difference in levels of assured support.
On the one hand we have solar, a proven suite of technologies built by an emerging industry; on the other hand we have “clean coal,” an unproven technology supported by a mature industry. To deploy either one will require building new infrastructure, so coal offers no particular benefit in that respect. As for prices, the trend for solar is consistently down, while the trend for coal is persistently up. Despite these circumstances coal received tens of billions in assured support. Solar, meanwhile, is eligible for funding, but received no explicit assurances of any deployment support at all.
We are in a race – actually two races – against time. One is to firmly establish the United States as a solar industry leader before other countries open up an unbeatable lead. The other race is to transform our energy system and reduce emissions soon enough to prevent the worst effects of climate change. In these two races, where time is of the essence and financial resources are finite, our lopsided energy policy threatens to have significant consequences.
There are reasons, of course, for why the bill contains such different levels of assured support, and the differences come as no surprise to veteran Hill watchers. We all understand the role of lobbying in our political system. The coal industry has deep pockets and significant resources to get its message out. That probably helps explain their success in this bill.
The solar community, by contrast, is not protecting the status quo – it is selling a vision of the future. It is painting a picture of something that could be, but isn’t yet. As such, its resources and its base of support are much smaller.
But I believe the biggest problem solar has is one of perception. It is too easy to marginalize solar because not enough people take it seriously yet. Many people believe what they’ve been told: coal is up to the task of powering our country and renewables are not. In my opinion, solar will never receive the support it needs to achieve its full potential until the conventional wisdom changes about what it can do.
If lawmakers understood that solar offers a serious energy solution, its political support would increase substantially. Solar would cease to be a side project and would become a strategic investment. Policymakers would be more likely to discuss the full suite of policies necessary to ensure solar can meet its potential.
Today’s solar industry is populated mostly by small companies, each one engaged in a daily struggle to survive. New technologies are still emerging, and while there are some dominant players it is not clear whether they will stay on top. Everyone is busy jockeying for position and growing their own companies.
That’s fine. That’s capitalism. But we also need to create space for cooperation on a common message. Every solar company, big and small, is affected by the current policy bias toward traditional energy. Consequently, every solar company has a vested interest in updating the conventional wisdom regarding what solar can do.
This challenge is more fundamental than changing policy – it is about changing minds. Once the conventional wisdom changes, the policy will follow.
In short, the solar community must get better about telling its story. It must get into the offices on Capitol Hill and share the exciting news about the tremendous strides made in recent years, and what this industry has to offer America.
This will not be easy – there’s a lot of competition for Members’ attention on energy these days. But don’t get discouraged! Yes, solar is a young industry that can’t possibly match coal and oil dollar for dollar. But that just means other means of communication become more important. Individual companies need to establish close relationships with their Representatives in Congress. A visit from a constituent is almost always more effective than a lobbyist visit anyway. Visit often and keep Members and their staffs updated. Make sure they understand the benefits that solar has to offer their communities and their constituents.
Considering the limited financial resources, solar policy has made remarkable progress over the last year. The fact is, solar is popular.
But people need to know that solar is also practical, that it can meet multiple needs of individuals and society at a reasonable cost. I know the industry is working hard, but more effort is needed to spread this message.
Most solar companies tend to view their primary competition as other solar companies. They pour their efforts into developing the best technology. But when it comes to public policy, the entire industry is in the same boat; every solar company currently takes a back seat to fossil fuels. By joining together to get the word out, every solar company will ultimately benefit.
To finish up I’ll just share a little bit of what we are working on in my office to spread the word. As I mentioned before, solar is one of our top priorities, and our advocacy efforts extend well beyond introducing legislation.
On the education front, my district office delivers free “Solar 101” seminars across Southern Arizona. These events are designed to help people understand how to go solar themselves, and they often draw standing room crowds. We have also helped organize day-long solar conferences in southern Arizona and in Phoenix.
Many of my recent efforts have involved working with the military on energy. The military is not only one of the largest landowners in the country, it is also one of the biggest energy consumers. So there is tremendous potential for the military to lead in the deployment of solar and other renewables. They are already doing great things and I like to encourage them to move even more aggressively. This will help create demand, drive down costs, and improve our national security in the process.
To improve communication in Arizona, I have recently begun a weekly call with solar leaders across our state. We call this our Solar Hot Team, and the regular communication has been invaluable. It is a great help to know what everyone is working on. Currently, the Hot Team is developing outreach initiatives to educate business and community leaders across the state in the possibilities of solar.
Finally, we are planning the launch of a monthly solar newsletter soon. If you’d like to receive it, I encourage you all to check my website – giffords.house.gov. We will have a sign-up form there soon, and in the meantime you can see all of what we are working on. Just click on the link to “solar news.”
If the solar industry is to achieve its full potential in the U.S., good technology will not be enough; we must get the policy right as well. To do that, we must have broad support; and to get that support, people must understand what solar can do.
Solar technology, and the industry as a whole, has made tremendous strides in recent years. Prices continue to fall, performance continues to rise, and real progress is being made on storage. Challenges remain, but the fact is that solar is ready to start making a serious contribution to our nation’s energy needs right now. Policy makers need to know that solar is serious energy.
My mission as an elected official is to help move solar policy forward so this country can secure all the benefits solar energy has to offer. We can create good, domestic jobs and get our economy moving again; we can bolster our security and reduce our dependence on foreign energy; and we can protect our natural environment for our children and grandchildren. We can do these things, and we must. Solar makes it possible!
Thank you for being here today and thank you for all that you are doing to move solar forward. Our challenge now – for all of us – is to take our efforts to the next level. We must communicate what this industry is all about and what solar can do. I look forward to working with you!
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today called health insurance reform the nation’s most important domestic challenge.
Speaking a day after President Obama’s address on health insurance reform to a rare joint session of Congress, the Arizona lawmaker outlined her views on the issue during a telephone town hall organized by AARP.
“Reforming our nation’s broken health insurance system is probably the most important domestic challenge – definitely in my lifetime and in a generation,” Giffords said. “We are spending too much, receiving too little and are left worrying that the insurance we have is just not enough.”
Giffords was invited to participate in the telephone town hall by David Mitchell, the AARP’s state director for Arizona. She answered questions from Arizona AARP members for about an hour. An estimated 60,000 people in the congresswoman’s Southeastern Arizona district were invited to join the call.
The AARP board of directors recently called on members of Congress to support health insurance reform legislation that will improve access to health care for seniors, lowers costs and closes the Medicare Part D coverage gap. Giffords agrees with these objectives and told call participants that “we cannot live with the status quo.”
“Arizonans need reform that puts the power back in the hands of patients,” the congresswoman said.
Giffords attended Wednesday’s joint session of Congress with Marty and Taylor Huffman, a Sierra Vista man and his daughter whose family was forced to the brink of bankruptcy because of a health crisis. The congresswoman invited the Huffmans to attend after learning about the catastrophic illness of Judy Huffman, Marty’s 48-year old wife.
Marty Huffman shared his family’s plight with the 1,300 people who attended Gifford’s Health Insurance Town Hall in Sierra Vista on Aug. 31.
“I was so touched by Marty’s story that I invited him and his daughter Taylor to join me to attend the historic joint session of Congress,” Giffords said. “He and his family represent the human face of the health insurance crisis in our nation. They know the status quo is unacceptable. They know that our health insurance system is not working.”
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The summary of the Augustine panel report is a sobering reminder that our position as the world’s leading space-faring nation is not assured. Living up to our great legacy of leadership in space exploration means providing NASA with the resources it needs to pursue its mission.
Continued underfunding of NASA risks the good work being done by the Constellation Program, which includes vehicles capable of launching astronauts to low-Earth orbit and to the Moon. This is unfortunate, particularly because the Augustine panel found no significant technical problems with the Constellation Program.
Adequate funding is critical. This investment – like past investments in human and robotic space exploration – will pay major dividends in the future. All segments of our society benefit when we set challenging goals and then mobilize the people and resources necessary to achieve them. The pursuit of such goals benefits technological innovation and our economy, it inspires our people, and it extends our influence in the world. We need to be bold and think big.
I look forward to reviewing the full report when it is released later this month.
]]>WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is welcoming $1.46 million in federal stimulus funds for biomedical research at the University of Arizona.
“The University of Arizona is a nationally recognized leader in biomedical research,” said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “These funds will help make sure it remains at the cutting edge.”
Six biomedical researchers at the university will receive funding, which is being distributed through the National Institutes of Health. The awards range in size from $102,170 to $496,544.
Among the awards is $220,345 to study and improve the ways toxic pollutants are removed from Superfund sites. According to A. Jay Gandolfi, the director of the university’s Superfund Basic Research Program, the sites include contaminated areas in Tucson and Phoenix.
Another recipient is Georg Wondrak, a cancer researcher at the university’s Arizona Cancer Center. Wondrak will receive $175,489 for research he is conducting into fighting melanoma, the deadliest type of skin cancer.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Obama on Feb. 17, 2009. It provided immediate relief for American families and jump-started billions of dollars in projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and strengthen local economies.
]]>TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords on Wednesday will host a community meeting in Green Valley about a new report on the effectiveness and impacts of U.S. Border Patrol checkpoints.
The meeting will include a presentation from the report’s authors at the U.S. Government Accountability Office and Chief Robert Gilbert, the head of the U.S. Border Patrol’s Tucson Sector.
Giffords led the bipartisan effort to request the report in December 2007. The report was made public for the first time Monday. A link to it is available on the congresswoman’s website.
The Tucson Sector is the only Border Patrol sector along 2,000-mile U.S.-Mexico border without a permanent checkpoint. It also is the country’s most porous sector, with more illegal immigrants and drugs apprehended here than anyplace else.
The Border Patrol currently operates an interim checkpoint on Interstate 19, north of Tubac and south of the retirement community of Green Valley. The Border Patrol has plans for a permanent checkpoint but nearby residents and property owners are concerned about its public safety and economic impact.
These concerns prompted Giffords in April 2007 to convene a 27-member Community Workgroup that was asked to examine the checkpoint issue. As a result of the Workgroup’s report to the congresswoman, she insisted the Border Patrol reduce the size of the proposed checkpoint it wants to build and locate it away from the most densely populated areas. Giffords welcomed the Border Patrol’s concessions but also requested an independent examination of checkpoint effectiveness before agreeing to their revised plans.
The most recent previous GAO study of checkpoints was completed in 2005 and was conducted prior to the I-19 checkpoint becoming stationary in November 2006. Since then, new border security technologies have also become available.
Giffords enlisted the support of eight other members of Congress in requesting a new GAO study that would provide thorough, up-to-date information about the operational effectiveness of existing checkpoints and the impacts they have on nearby communities. Among the other members of Congress requesting the GAO study were Sens. John McCain and Jon Kyl of Arizona and Reps. Silvestre Reyes of Texas and David Price of North Carolina. Price serves as chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security and Reyes is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
At the time the request was made, Giffords said the lawmakers share the goals of securing our border while also protecting residents and making the best use of taxpayer dollars.
Details on Wednesday’s community meeting are below.
WHAT: U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords hosts a community meeting on the new GAO report on Border Patrol checkpoints
WHEN: 9:30-11:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 2
WHERE: West Social Center, 1111 Via Arcoiris, Green Valley
TUCSON – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is welcoming $4.7 million in federal stimulus funds that will be used to develop the Arizona Bioscience Park.
“The Arizona Bioscience Park is a critical part of our state’s ongoing effort to lay the foundation for a strong, 21st century economy,” said Giffords, a member of the House Science and Technology Committee. “These funds will help make Arizona a leader in biosciences and biotechnology.”
Today’s funding announcement for the Arizona Bioscience Park was made by U.S. Commerce Secretary Locke. The funds will be used to build infrastructure and support phase-one development at the facility.
“The Obama Administration is committed to creating jobs, encouraging innovation and improving our nation’s economic competitiveness,” Locke said. “The Arizona Bioscience Park will provide the Tucson region with a comprehensive training and research facility that will work to boost workforce training, research and development opportunities, higher-skilled, higher-wage jobs, and private sector investment in the bioscience sector.”
The Arizona Bioscience Park is located on 54 acres at the corner of 36th Street and Kino Parkway. Stimulus funding for the Arizona Bioscience Park will be distributed through the Economic Development Administration, an agency within the Commerce Department that promotes innovation and competitiveness.
The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act was passed by Congress earlier this year and signed into law by President Obama on February 17, 2009. It provided immediate relief for American families and jump-started billions of dollars in projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and strengthen local economies.
]]>FORT BLISS – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords today is getting a first-hand glimpse of the state-of-the-art renewable energy facilities at Fort Bliss, the second largest Army installation in the country.
The 1,700-square mile fort in New Mexico and Texas is a leader in the use of solar, wind and geothermal energy within the Department of Defense. Energy saving efforts now underway – including the construction of a large solar photovoltaic system – will reduce energy use on the fort by as much as 30 percent over the next six years.
Giffords, a member of the House Committees on Armed Services and Science & Technology, is touring the fort at the invitation of its commanding officer, Major General Howard Bromberg. The Arizona lawmaker has long championed greater use of clean, renewable energy.
The U.S. Army, like other branches of the armed forces, is rapidly expanding the use of renewable energy. The Army recently announced the construction of the largest solar project in the Defense Department, a 500 megawatt solar project at Fort Irwin in California. The department’s largest solar project to date, a 14 megawatt photovoltaic array at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, was completed in 2007. The Army’s current largest array, generating 2 megawatts, is at Fort Carson in Colorado.
One of the primary advantages in using military installations for solar arrays is the availability of large tracts of land; the Defense Department controls 25 million acres in the United States. The department also has a large incentive to reduce energy consumption at its installations; it owns approximately 350,000 buildings, about a third of which are more than 50 years old.
The Pentagon has set an internal goal of obtaining 25 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2015. The Defense Department is the largest single consumer of energy in the United States. It spent $13.6 billion to buy 110 million barrels of petroleum in 2006.
At Fort Bliss, an energy savings performance plan is expected to save more than $500,000 annually. The work includes retrofitting lighting fixtures in 56 buildings for energy efficiency, installing light occupancy monitors in 25 buildings and installing a solar water heating system at the aquatic center.
Fort Bliss is home to the Army’s 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th Brigade Combat Teams of the 1st Armored Division and Joint Task Force North. JTF North supports our nation’s federal law enforcement agencies in the identification and interdiction of suspected transnational threats within and along the approaches to the continental United States.
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