RAHALL REPORT: New Majority in Congress Ready to Continue Work for WV
From the desk of U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV)Representing West Virginia's 3rd District
Washington, DC (HNN) -- On November 7, West Virginians joined the majority of Americans in sending a strong message to Washington. Voters called for a new direction.
West Virginians can be assured that the new Congressional Leadership is united in our desire for a new direction for America that puts the American people first- a direction that will bring our brave men and women home safely from Iraq, protect our homeland by protecting our hometowns, protect Social Security, produce real drug savings costs for our seniors, and keep our promise to our veterans.
The Democratic Leadership has already formulated an aggressive agenda for the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress, which will convene in early January.
Importantly, in the first 100 hours we hope to enact all of the recommendations made by the commission that investigated the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. More than two years ago, I joined a bipartisan delegation in co-sponsoring legislation that would implement in their entirety the recommendations of the bipartisan 9/11 Commission. This bill was also endorsed by the 9/11 Commission and 9/11 Family Steering Committee. Many of the 9/11 Commission's recommendations still have not been fully implemented- so many, in fact, that the Commission has given the former Leadership in Washington Ds and Fs for failing to implement recommended homeland security safeguards.
Now Democrats can act. As we all know, homeland security begins with hometown security. By implementing these recommendations, and by restoring funding to our first lines of defense here at home, we will give West Virginia families the protection and security they deserve.
Also included in the agenda for the first 100 hours of the 110th Congress are several key pieces of legislation that I believe will improve the lives of West Virginians and all Americans, including a bill that would raise minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. As John Kennedy once said, "a rising tide lifts all boats." A fair federal minimum wage makes everybody's life better and it is long overdue.
We also hope to pass legislation that will allow the government to negotiate directly with the pharmaceutical companies for lower drug prices for Medicare patients. The drug industry profits have increased by $8 billion dollars since the new Medicare Drug Program went into effect in January of 2006. That bill refused government the ability to negotiate fair drug prices-one of the reasons I voted against it. We are determined to put end to an end to drug companies emptying the pockets of our seniors.
And we also aim to put an end to emptying the pockets of our younger generation. Another goal of the first 100 hours is to cut the interest rate on student loans in half. According to a new report from the College Board, headed by former WV Gov. Gaston Caperton, tuition and fees for students at four-year public colleges have risen 41 percent above inflation since 2001. The same report also shows that the costs of tuition and fees at four-year colleges have continued to outpace inflation in the last year.
And as the price of college increases, so does the need to get a degree. According to a report from the Alliance for Excellent Education, headed by another former WV governor, Bob Wise, six out of every 10 jobs require some postsecondary education and training. Furthermore, today's college graduates earn more than $1 million more over their lifetimes than those without college degrees.
This new information highlights the urgent need for Congress to enact proposals that would make college more affordable and accessible, yet Congress enacted a Raid on Student Aid, which I opposed, slashing student aid programs by a total of $12 billion. Also, interest rates on new college loans have jumped by almost 2 percentage points. We hope to reverse these cuts within the first 100 hours.
The agenda for the first 100 hours is an ambitious one, but it is only the beginning of our goals for the coming year. In addition to these issues, we are also united in bringing our troops home safely, passing a new GI bill for our veterans and pushing a comprehensive agenda that will improve the lives of all Americans.
Rest assured, the Democratic Majority is ready to go to work, and we will work hard on behalf of every American, of every West Virginian.