Release: Sanders to Chair Primary Health and Aging Panel

[ProSense]

Release: Sanders to Chair Primary Health and Aging Panel

Subcommittee Overseas LIHEAP, Health Centers and Seniors Programs

WASHINGTON, March 11 – Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is slated to be named chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Primary Health and Aging.

Part of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions, the panel that Sanders will head is responsible for several areas that are among his top priorities, including community health centers, home heating assistance, seniors programs, pensions and dental care.

Sanders has been a champion in Congress for community health centers, securing $11 billion in last year’s health care reform law to increase the number of patients served in the next five years by 20 million. That infusion of support came on the heels of another $2 billion that he added in the 2009 stimulus bill.

The centers provide affordable primary and dental care as well as low-cost prescription drugs and mental health counseling. In Vermont, Community health Centers now serve over 100,000 Vermonters.

The subcommittee’s oversight of the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program will allow Sanders to continue to fight for the much-needed program. “During these very difficult times, seniors on fixed incomes and families with children shouldn’t have to make the choice between heating their homes and putting food on the table,” Sanders said.

Sanders led the effort in Congress to double funding for LIHEAP to $5.1 billion annually since 2008. Unfortunately, President Obama proposed cutting the program in half for next year and House-passed legislation would slash $400 million from the program this year. Vermont’s congressional delegation has pledged to fight such cuts.

Sanders’s panel also has jurisdiction over the Older Americans Act, which is up for reauthorization this year. Its programs include “meals on wheels,” congregate meals, and senior center programs.

Sanders’ panel is one of three subcommittees of the H.E.L.P. committee. The full committee is chaired by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa).

Senator Sanders: Unconscionable Cuts

The Republican-controlled House of Representatives passed legislation which would cut or eliminate programs relied upon by millions of American families. Without considering the revenue side of the budget equation, the House leadership took aim at federal grants for college students, support for families struggling to pay their heating bills, children in Head Start, job training programs, and affordable access to primary health care. "The Republicans wanted to move toward a balanced budget solely on the backs of the middle class and some of the most vulnerable people in this country, but didn't ask the wealthiest people, who are becoming much wealthier, to contribute one penny in shared sacrifice," said Sen. Bernie Sanders, a member of the Senate Budget Committee. The senator voted against the proposal when it was raised in the Senate. He has introduced legislation to create a surtax on millionaires and an end to oil company tax breaks. Sanders' office is tweeting a #DailyCut list of some of the worst proposed cuts and their impact in Vermont.

<...>

More Proposed Cuts from the House Republican Proposal

• $1.7 billion cut for Social Security delaying benefits for 500,000 Americans
  
  
• $5.7 billion cut to Pell Grants, ending or reducing grants for 9.4 million low-income college students.
  
  
• 13,000 low-income Vermont college students would lose some or all of their Pell Grants
  
  
• Over 35,000 low-income Vermonters -seniors, children, and the working poor -would have decreased access to Vermont's food shelves
  
  
• Cut $405 million from Cmty Services Block Grants affecting 20 million seniors, families w/ children & the disabled
  
  
• End $2 billion in funding from federal job training programs ending job training and other employment services for 8 million Americans.
  
  
• Pregnancy prevention program cuts: $317.5mill. for Title X family planning; $110mill. for evidence-based teen pregnancy prevention initiative; $327mill. for family planning, $210mill for maternal and child health grants.
  
  
• 30 percent cut to the EPA inc. $1.4 bill. from clean water and drinking water.
  
  
• Eliminates $1 billion in funding for high speed rail.
  
  
• Energy efficiency and renewable energy cut by $786 million - nearly 35 percent
  
  
• Cuts WIC program funding by 10% ($750mill.)
  
  
• Title I edu. cut by $70mill impacting 2,400 schools serving 1mill disadvantaged students
  
  
• $100mill cut to food safety inspection meaning plant closures during furloughs and $11bill. in loses by businesses
  
  
• Cut $300mill. in scientific research.
  
  
• Cut $1bill from the National Institutes of Health
  
  
• Slashes $224 million from Amtrak.
  
  
• Slashes $520 million in affordable housing by cutting the HUD Community Fund
  
  
• Slashes $593 million from the IRS making it easier for tax cheats to avoid paying taxes.
  
  
• The House bill would eliminate AmeriCorp.
  
  
• Slashes federal support for the SEC and CFTC oversight of Wall Street
  
  
• $1.4bill from state and local FEMA programs.
  
  
• $243mill cut from border security technology initiative.

[gateley]

1. Wow - good news! nt

[Cleita]

2. Cheers for Bernie. Let's hope he can

accomplish something.