Rush Holt: Thank You

On Wednesday, December 10th, I stood for the last time on the House floor and delivered some remarks. The video as well as the transcript of the address are below.

Thank you again for putting your trust in me as your Representative. It has been an honor and a privilege to represent you.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Remarks of Representative Rush Holt

Wednesday, December 10, 2014

A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

I thank my colleague, Mr. Pascrell from New Jersey, for underscoring the importance of what we do here in this House. Those are not just numbers on a page that he was quoting; those are people's lives and livelihoods, and we have work to do.

As I prepare to wind up my service here after 16 years, I seek the indulgence of my friend here and our colleagues to make a few observations for the benefit of my constituents to whom I owe much.

When people call my office, we answer the phone, ``Representative Rush Holt.'' Mr. Speaker, here in the House, for each of us, Representative is our title and our job description. It is an honor and a privilege for each of us to represent about three-quarters of a million people, to represent them here in the people's House, this House, that is the focal point of the U.S. Government laid out in article I, section 1, of the Constitution, right at the beginning.

Despite all the well-publicized frustrations of this place, this House is the greatest instrument for justice and human welfare in the world. We are a central part of the most successful experiment in human advancement in history. We must not forget that.

Speaking of not forgetting, we would all do well to develop a stronger sense of history, a sense among ourselves and our country. It is with a sense of history that we realize what progress we have made as a country.

In this time of frustration and cynicism, we should take note: the success of America economically, culturally, and socially has not been an accident, and it was not destined. Our success derives from our chosen system of governing ourselves. Without a sense of history, one cannot recognize progress, and humans need a sense of progress.

When I was first elected to Congress 16 years ago, some people asked me: ``Why would a scientist leave a good research institution to get into the muck of politics?'' The simple answer was that it was too important not to.

Sure, it was satisfying to win an election in a district where many said it couldn't be done, where no one of my party had been elected in almost anyone's memory, but it was clear to me that this was not a game of politics; it was a fight to defend the soul of America.

I came here an optimist about our country, our people, and their government, and I leave an optimist. I have had the help of many people, volunteers, staff and colleagues, smart, inspiring, tireless. I think of many.

I will mention several by name: my wife, Margaret Lancefield; my chief and deputy chief, Chris Gaston and Sarah Steward; and looking back, I think of those who have died during my time here.

As I speak here in glowing terms about our government, successes of this ingenious system of balancing competing interests, I would be obtuse not to recognize that many are discouraged about their government. Some politicians even foster distrust in government, taking people beyond the traditional healthy American skepticism to real destructive cynicism.

In every era, there have been naysayers: ``The government is broken, special interests rule, and all politicians are corrupt.'' I know that is not true.

I am reminded daily that through diligent and committed service to the people that a Representative can ensure that each person knows that she or he has a part in our democracy, a direct connection to his or her government, and that cooperative action, yes, government, benefits them.

We must continually show our constituents that we are committed to always improving the mechanisms of good democratic government: voting, legislation, and addressing grievances.

After eight terms, I look back with satisfaction at some things accomplished: preserving land and bits of history; improving educational opportunities; supporting education in science and foreign languages; expanding access to excellent health care, especially mental health care for our military veterans; protecting families' economic security in their nonwage-earning years; protecting postal workers when they are exposed to anthrax; enhancing the reliability, accessibility, and auditability of voting; strengthening civil protections of Muslim Americans and other minority groups; strengthening fairness in the workplace for LGBT workers; and increasing support for scientific research.

Through it all, our primary job, I would say, has been to beat back the cynicism about our ability as Americans to govern ourselves. Of course, we understand that passing laws and appropriating money is only part of a Representative's work.

I have taken opportunities to speak out about injustice, to extol people and programs that work well, to voice support for people who need a kind word and more, a little help. I present a vision for a government--not a government that vanishes, but a government that works for its citizens.

Of course, not all problems can be fixed by government, but it can be reassuring and uplifting to people to know that other people have their backs and can help; yes, that is government.

I continue to speak against intrusive surveillance by government that treats people as suspects first and citizens second. I have joined with others here to preserve our national legacies, our land and resources, a clean environment and to preserve memories of where we come from, and with my science background, I always try to present arguments based on evidence and open review.

On many issues and in many votes, I have found myself outvoted and in a minority, but it helps to recall the words of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg who has spoken about the satisfaction in crafting a strong dissenting opinion with the hope or expectation that it will become the prevailing majority opinion.

I am reminded of many shortcomings and work unfinished. Others may succeed in reviving the Office of Technology Assessment to provide Congress with badly needed assistance. Others remaining in Congress may move our country appreciably toward more sustainable practices. My colleagues here may yet reform the intelligence community. And acting with the recognition that peace is the best security, others may work to move our Nation away from militaristic responses to so many problems.

Again, this work over 16 years has been an honor and a great satisfaction. I thank my family and my staff. Especially, I thank the people of central New Jersey for this opportunity to serve.

Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Sustainability is a Misused Term

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter
11/10/14

Sustainability is an often misused term. Many companies and organizations advertise their commitment to sustainability even as they make only a token nod toward environmentalism. As a society we need to take a hard look at each of our practices – in energy, building construction, transportation, manufacturing, and household activities—and ask ourselves if those practices can be sustained for decades, for generations, for centuries. If the practices cannot be sustained, then we should not pretend they are sustainable.

One simple way to evaluate a practice is to ask - is there a waste stream? If there is, the buildup of that waste makes the practice unsustainable. Not much of what we do is sustainable by this measure. We used to think the land and the oceans were vast enough to take our waste; now as we disrupt major ecosystems, begin to poison the oceans, and change our very climate in potentially disastrous ways, we must begin to rethink the limits of our practices. Avoiding a waste stream requires clever design, or alternatively, it requires finding complementary practices that can use what would be a waste stream as an input stream. The changes can be gradual as long as we do not thoughtlessly drift up against the limits. If we remember that unsustainable practices cannot be sustained and boldly invest in the research to understand the limits, the planning to avoid them, and the activism to bring everyone along in the necessary changes, we will thrive. This is not pessimistic thinking, far from it. Taking such an uncompromising “lifecycle” view of each of activity is not at all a prescription for hardship, for a cold, austere, deprived existence, although those who fear change will say so. The almost magical feature of trading goods and services is that economic activity is not a limited resource.

Stigmatized

On Thursday, I met with a group of Liberian-Americans who live in Central New Jersey, and whom I invited in to discuss the discrimination the community has faced as a result of the Ebola outbreak in West Africa. Among other things, my constituents mentioned that some in the Liberian-American community have become wary of identifying their ethnicity in order to avoid the stigma that has become attached to anyone from that region of the world. They are worried about some Liberians who are in the U.S. on temporary visas and may overstay their visas because of the difficulty of returning to the country where the disease is not yet under control. Mostly, they want better information about the efforts to control the disease in Liberia, about the appropriate handling of Liberians coming to America, and among the American public about the very low risk of contracting Ebola in the U.S.

Fear is overcoming common sense, and regrettably, residents in our country are feeling the backlash. Although Ebola is indeed deadly, communication of the disease requires particular, rare circumstances. We must not allow ill-informed fears to stigmatize an entire section of our nation’s population.

Looking Ahead

As you may know, my time in Congress is coming to a close on January 3. I am very pleased that last Tuesday, the voters of New Jersey's 12th Congressional District chose their next Representative: member of the NJ Assembly Bonnie Watson Coleman. The residents of the 12th District are engaged with their government more than in some districts. You know that Members of Congress should hear from their constituents more than every two years. Each year over the past sixteen years, they (you) have contacted me through many tens of thousands of letters, phone calls, and emails, some in response to these weekly electronic newsletters, ranging through almost every subject under the sun. In reading and responding to each, I have learned much about the issues that affect central New Jerseyans, and how those issues relate to your lives. I hope that the people of the 12th District will work with Representative-Elect Watson Coleman as well as you have worked with me.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Restoring the Foundation

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter
10/20/14 & 10/24/14


In the days before the Space Race, the skies seemed to be the limit for our achievements. When we broke through that limit, we inspired new ideas and unleashed a whole new set of possibilities. In 2007, a report was released which illustrated our nation’s risk of falling behind our competitors as science leaders, and for a brief moment, it captured the attention of scientists, economists, and lawmakers. I helped write the America COMPETES Act passed in its wake, which authorized a doubling of the budgets at many of our key science agencies.

Seven years later the framework of the COMPETES Act remains mostly bare, with funding of the key science agencies nowhere near their target. Last month, I joined the American Academies of Arts and Sciences in releasing a follow-up report, Restoring the Foundation: The Vital Role of Research in Preserving the American Dream. It details America’s stagnation, with the U.S. now fallen to 10th place globally in research and development investment as a percent of GDP, its lowest point since before the Space Race. It gives concrete recommendations to get back on track by increasing funding for basic research, focusing on university and industry partnerships, and removing barriers that hinder the most effective impact of federal investments in research.

In order to sustain our progress as a nation we must be unafraid, even in fiscally constrained times, to make the necessary investments in our scientific enterprise. Congress should heed the call of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences to restore our foundation.

Equality Marches Forward

Earlier this month, the U.S. Supreme Court let stand three U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rulings, which allowed states’ same-sex marriages to proceed. Same-sex marriage is now legal in 30 states – including New Jersey - and in the District of Columbia.

It has been over a decade since the first state, Massachusetts, legalized same-sex marriage. At the time, those opposed to equality were convinced that same-sex marriage would weaken so-called “traditional” marriages and create other social ills. None of these predictions have come true. At various times in our nation’s past, we have acted to expand equal treatment to different groups of people, examining unpleasant truths about our own prejudices. Each time, our nation has been made stronger. As history has shown repeatedly, institutions are strengthened when they treat all people equally, and marriage is no exception.

One Crisis to the Next

This week much of our nation’s media is focused on Ebola. Of course, we must make the greatest effort to treat the affected patients and to prevent the spread of the viral infection to others.

It is a shame that our country lurches from one crisis to the next, whether in public health, public works, crime, or weather, rather than making the on-going efforts in preparation and training. We can show more foresight in building infrastructure, conducting academic research, and setting up organizational prevention and response to problems. With respect to this latest crisis, we have known of the Ebola virus for decades. We could have invested more effort and money in developing vaccines. We could have provided training and rehearsals in every healthcare facility in America in dealing with emerging diseases, contaminations, and poisonings, whether accidental or deliberate. We could have paid to construct multi-use isolation rooms in every part of the country and established protocols for transporting patients there. We still could. Wouldn’t it be better not to be caught surprised and unprepared when a disease appears, a bridge collapses, a storm surge hits a town, or a horrendous crime strikes a large number of people? The problem is not that we cannot afford to do these things.


108 Miles of 36-Inch Pipe

Despite being the most densely populated state in the nation, New Jersey has undertaken significant efforts to preserve environmentally-sensitive land and open space. Unfortunately, because of these land preservation efforts, pipeline companies have looked at these preserved spaces as an appealing corridor, perfect for new natural gas pipeline construction projects.

Earlier this month, the PennEast Pipeline Company officially began the process of obtaining approval from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to construct a 108-mile, 36-inch diameter pipeline. I have many concerns about how the proposed PennEast pipeline will affect protected areas, open space, and the environment – concerns that are shared by local government officials, including members of the Hopewell Township Committee and Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman. Last week, I wrote to FERC to express my concerns, to request a robust public engagement process, and to ensure the preparation of a full Environmental Impact Statement that would consider whether or not the pipeline should be built. If the proposed pipeline is found to impact negatively the environment or the communities along the route, the project should not be allowed to proceed, or an alternative project plan should be proposed.

“A Cantankerous Press”

When Ben Bradlee became managing editor of the Washington Post in 1965, he believed, journalism was “more than a profession - it was a public good vital to our democracy.” When Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers that revealed unattractive aspects of the U.S. involvement in Vietnam, and the New York Times was enjoined from publishing them, Bradlee and a few other editors picked up the cudgel and printed the information. In declining to enjoin those articles, District Judge Murray Gurfein wrote, “A cantankerous press, an obstinate press, a ubiquitous press must be suffered by those in authority in order to preserve…the right of the people to know.” The sense of press independence created by the Supreme Court’s subsequent decision in favor of the newspapers would pave the way for the Post’s coverage of Watergate a year later.

It is this same freedom of press which I aim to protect as a cosponsor of the Free Flow of Information Act, which provides protection to reporters and their sources from the federal government in federal courts. This would allow journalists to do their jobs the way Bradlee envisioned it.

“I Am Not a Scientist”

Recently, politicians from Speaker Boehner to Majority Leader Mitch McConnell have said they are not qualified to debate the science of climate change, but that they are confident that all plans to deal with climate change would hurt jobs and our economy.

I am a scientist, but that doesn't uniquely qualify me to debate climate change. As Members of Congress, we rely on the expertise of others to inform our decision-making about many subjects in which we are not expert. With respect to climate change, I agree with the overwhelming consensus among scientists: the climate is changing largely as a result of human activities, and we can and must act now.

Maybe politicians who are using the “not a scientist” dodge do not realize how insulting it is to scientists. It reflects a dismissive attitude toward evidence, and it uses scientists as a convenient excuse for avoiding political heat. I was on MSNBC with Steve Kornacki last weekend to discuss science, politics, and the intersection of the two.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

A Labor Hero

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

When Mary T. Norton was elected to Congress in 1925 from New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District, she was only the fifth woman elected to the House, and the first female Democrat.  She was the first of only two women to represent the 12th District. (Florence Dwyer was the second.) Altogether only five women have represented New Jersey in Congress. In her congressional career, “Battling Mary” served as chair of four committees, most notably the House Committee on Labor from 1937 to 1946, where she helped enact the groundbreaking Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 – which established the 40-hour work week, outlawed child labor, and established the first federal minimum wage – and fought for equal pay for women. That struggle for fair wages and equal pay for equal work continues.

White House Report on Antibiotics

Recently the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) released its report on Combating Antimicrobial Resistance, a problem of growing concern to the medical and scientific community. Since the onset of widespread use of antibiotics in the 1940’s many infections that were often fatal are simply cured. In recent years, though, doctors and researchers have seen a trend: bacteria develop resistances to these lifesaving antibiotics, and people die as a result. 

Recently, the number of bacteria that are resistant to some - or in a few cases all - of the commercially available antibiotics has risen. There is a troubling trend of overuse by both the medical and agricultural community, which has further exacerbated the issue. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that up to 50 percent of prescribed antibiotics in the U.S. are at best not optimally prescribed, or at worst not needed at all. In addition, the overuse of antibiotics in the agricultural community has led to an additional spike in antibiotic resistant bacteria, which harm human health.

Bacteria continually evolve so we must invest in research for new antibiotics. However, to exacerbate the risk to humans by selecting for resistant strains through overuse of antibiotics is irresponsible. The PCAST report brings attention to the deadly seriousness of the problem, and the report contains numerous recommendations about such things as detection of resistant bacteria and more research, although I think the report could have been stronger in condemning the overuse.

My Mailbag

I like to share with you occasionally some of the letters, emails, and phone calls I receive about various issues. It may be instructive to know the huge range of concerns of your neighbors in the 12th District. Here are several communications:

Roslyn from Monroe wrote about the recent Supreme Court ruling on Hobby Lobby, and expressed her concern that the ruling opened the door for private companies to use religion to discriminate against female workers and dependents. I let Roslyn know that I am a cosponsor of legislation that would override the Supreme Court’s decision and reinstate the right to contraceptive coverage provided by the Affordable Care Act – for all women, regardless of where they work.

Gertrude from Hopewell e-mailed to support the EPA’s proposal to protect clean water by closing polluter loopholes that have left drinking water for more than 1 in 3 Americans at risk. I wrote back to let Gertrude know of my support for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Clean Water Rule, which will identify and protect interconnected wetlands and streams vital for downstream communities.

John in Hightstown wrote that the granting of US citizenship to children born in the US to foreign nationals is more generous than the practice in some other countries and should be stopped. I pointed to the 14th Amendment to the Constitution and said there seems to be no ambiguity that children born here are citizens. Furthermore, to deny them the valuable opportunity to take part fully in the opportunities and obligations of our country would deprive those who have done nothing wrong themselves, and would even punish ourselves by creating a more restrictive society.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

The Weight of History

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

During my tenure in Congress, the preservation of historically and environmentally significant land has been an important concern for me. My legislation to expand the Battlefield Acquisition Grant Program, which passed in the House, is awaiting action in the Senate. The bill would help organizations acquire funding to preserve Revolutionary War and War of 1812 sites in the United States. Hundreds of battlefields and associated sites need to be preserved, many in New Jersey.

Rep. Rush Holt receives the Preservation Leadership Award from Jim Lighthizer, President of the Civil War Trust, and Civil War Trust Board Member Bill Vodra

I was recognized this week by the Civil War Trust for my work on preservation. The Trust presented me with a plaque and two artifacts from the Civil War: a brass breastplate engraved with the Union Eagle, and a New Jersey officer’s uniform button engraved with the Great Seal of New Jersey. The breastplate was unearthed at the Chancellorsville Battlefield in Virginia, where 24 New Jersey regiments fought from May 1-5, 1863, and suffered 1,700 casualties.

To hold these two relics from a key moment in our American story is to feel the weight of history and understand the need to protect our historical sites.




Common Sense Reform

Last week, U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder announced that he would be stepping down after almost six years as our nation’s top law enforcement officer. He has some important actions and positions to point to. During his tenure the Department of Justice has fought to uphold the civil liberties of LGBT citizens, has defended the right of all Americans to vote, and has protected immigrants from harassment. While I felt he could have done more on issues like the NYPD’s warrantless surveillance of Muslim Americans, he has “done much to make real the promise of our democracy” as he said when announcing his resignation.

Just this month, the Attorney General announced that for the first time in 34 years, the federal prison population has actually decreased by 4,800 inmates. While the United States encompasses five percent of the world’s population, we imprison almost 25 percent of the total global prison population. An important factor in this change has been the Attorney General’s efforts to reduce mandatory minimum sentences, which I have long opposed because they discount mitigating factors in crimes and are discriminatory towards people of color.

We must also take other sensible steps to reform our broken criminal justice system. Senator Cory Booker has introduced the REDEEM (Record Expungement Designed to Enhance Employment) Act to give individuals convicted of non-violent crimes a second chance.

The Most Powerful Instrument Devised By Man

In 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson said that "the vote is the most powerful instrument ever devised by man for breaking down injustice." September 23rd commemorated National Voter Registration Day. Here in New Jersey the deadline to register to vote in the general election in November is October 14th. If you have not yet registered to vote, I encourage you to click here.

We must all remember that our duty does not stop with registration. Voter turnout is about 14 percent lower in non-Presidential election years (like this one) than when the office of the President is on the ballot. I understand that citizens are often busy and distracted, and sometimes unsure or confused about the candidates, or just plain cynical, but we must try to get all to exercise the most basic part of citizenship. Also, we in government must work to ensure that all eligible voters have good access, and that all votes are counted reliably and verifiably.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

The Cost of Inaction

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter
9/26/14


Last Sunday, over 300,000 people gathered in New York City for “The People’s Climate March,” to demand action ahead of the UN’s Climate Summit, after the most recent report issued by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) provided an ever growing body of scientific evidence demonstrating humanity’s detrimental effect on our planet.

(Rush Holt)

As the climate changes, we must change with it. Last year, President Obama’s Climate Action Plan established a framework to address climate change by placing regulations on new and existing power plants, promoting renewable energy on public lands, and piloting climate resilient strategies in New Jersey and other Hurricane Sandy affected regions. I have long been a proponent of the need to address the causes and threats of climate change. Ultimately, the only way to ensure that we have safe, affordable energy in the long term is to make sure there are sustained investments in the domestic clean energy sector, increased funding for research and development to foster new sources of clean energy and improve energy efficiency, innovation in the private sector, and incentives for companies to develop sustainable energy technologies.

The science is strong, and we have a moral obligation to act. I hope that the collective voices of those who marched in New York last weekend will reach the ears of those in Congress who would deny the evidence that our climate is changing, and that human action is the cause. Climate change has already imposed huge costs in dollars and lives. The costs of inaction will be far greater.

The Affordable Care Act is Working

According to a recent survey conducted by the Urban Institute, about 520,000 previously uninsured New Jerseyans were able to obtain health coverage because of the Affordable Care Act (ACA). The survey indicates that the number of New Jerseyans without health insurance fell by nearly half, from 21.2 percent a year ago to 11.5 percent this year. The ACA’s goal to prolong the life of Medicare by decreasing health costs is also being met: the law created incentives for healthcare providers and facilities to come together and create accountable care organizations (ACO’s), as doctors and hospitals who work together on behalf of patients will provide better care at less cost. In 2013, ACO’s saved Medicare $372 million. As more successful ACO’s are created, Medicare will see even more savings, which will continue strengthening and the solvency of Medicare for current and future seniors.

If you are looking to get health coverage, open enrollment begins November 15 and lasts until February 15, 2015. Additionally, you may be qualified for premium tax credits to help pay for insurance if your income falls below a certain level. For more information, and to sign up for a health plan at any point during that period, visit the HealthCare.gov website...


Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

The Fourth Amendment: the Age of Snowden

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

I am not a lawyer or a constitutional scholar; I only play one on C-SPAN. But this week, as we observe Constitution Day, I was pleased to give a talk sharing my thoughts about the Fourth Amendment in the Age of Snowden. The Fourth Amendment was added in 1791 and established the right of the people to be secure in their persons and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures by the government.

Too often discussions of the Fourth Amendment refer to protection of privacy. Such a discussion misses the

larger significance of protection against unreasonable search and seizure. No person in America should be placed under suspicion, even provisionally, without probable cause. To do so destroys the founding presumption of equality. It is more subtle than profiling people of swarthy complexions at airports, but it is no less pernicious. The technological capability to break down, figuratively, a million computer memory doors does not, or at least should not, make that any more permissible than breaking into a hundred homes without warrants looking for scandalous attacks on the King.

The bulk collection of personal data about Americans surely degrades their privacy, but worse, it says to them, “Your government wants to make sure that you are not in that class of people suspected of doing harm. We’ll get back to you after we are sure.” In today’s society of sharing details of one’s life on social media, arguments of privacy lose saliency. Let us hope the principle of equality does not lose its saliency.

As we commemorate the signing of the document that underpins our representative democracy, I am happy to send you a free, pocket-sized copy of the Constitution. I always carry one. To receive a copy, please request one by clicking here.

ISIS in Iraq and Syria

This week, Congress approved an amendment that authorizes aid to “moderate” Syrian rebels. The idea of arming the Syrian opposition has been discussed and debated over the last several years. Until now, Congress has rejected military involvement with Syrian opposition groups because Americans and our leaders did not really understand the size, composition, abilities, and intentions of the various opposition groups, and we were concerned that the unforeseen consequences of our involvement could easily ruin any advantages there might be. The surprising success of the vicious Islamic State (ISIS) forces only demonstrates that we really did not understand the situation in Syria.

The President's proposed strategy seems very similar to what we have pursued in previous conflicts: arm and train local forces in the region and plan to turn over responsibility for the fight to those governments. That strategy failed spectacularly in Iraq, and in Soviet-occupied Afghanistan, and in Vietnam. During his trip to the region earlier this month, Secretary of State Kerry came up short when he sought concrete military commitments from other countries--even countries directly threatened by ISIS ideology. I voted against training the yet-to-be determined Syrian opposition fighters and against putting more American lives at risk on the ground in Iraq and Syria.

The NIH Challenge

By now, the ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also called Lou Gehrig’s disease) Ice Bucket Challenge has garnered the attention of celebrities and citizens everywhere, increasing awareness of this debilitating disease, and raising over $100 million to fund research for a cure.

However, I believe that there is an issue going relatively unnoticed in the uptick of donations: federal funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the federal agency devoted to funding biomedical research, has been slipping. Over the past five years, the NIH has directed over $225 million to ALS research. Yet this figure would be significantly higher had Congress not voted to implement budget cuts across the board. Today, the NIH budget is at the same level as in 2003, and its Director, Francis Collins, has stated that NIH has lost 25 percent of its purchasing power over the last decade. While the Ice Bucket Challenge is raising awareness and money to cure a terrible disease, we should also be demanding that Congress reverse course, supporting increased funding for NIH and investing in basic research at the National Science Foundation. The best way for us to tackle difficult-to-treat diseases such as ALS is to fund biomedical research fully.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

Legacy Of Service

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

When reports surfaced in March that dozens of veterans had died while awaiting medical attention in other states, I wanted to know what kind of experience veterans in New Jersey were having. I sent surveys to more than 2,500 veterans in my District, asking them very straightforward questions about the scheduling process, wait times, and the quality of care they have been receiving at NJ VA medical facilities. Of the 140 responses I received, 95 said that they were happy with the care they had received, and 45 reported dissatisfaction with delays and with the state of facilities. While the positive response reaffirms that the VA system in New Jersey often provides excellent, compassionate, and skilled care, the negative responses demonstrate that there is still work to be done.

I am happy to report that with my support, Congress passed – and the President signed into law – a bipartisan bill to grant veterans greater access to medical care outside of the VA under certain circumstances, and provide monetary support to improve VA facilities and alleviate the physician shortage.

My Mailbag

Recently, I joined Robert Ahr on his postal route in Manville. The U.S. Postal Service is a unique feature in our society that helps build our communities.

As your voice in the U.S. House of Representatives, I always strive to represent you and the nearly 744,000 other residents in New Jersey’s 12th Congressional District. Each day, I receive hundreds of letters on dozens of topics. I thought I would share with you some of the letters I recently received, as well as my replies.


A resident of Lawrence Township wrote encouraging me to right the wrongs of unequal access to sexual and reproductive healthcare by investing $1 billion annually in international family planning. I wrote to let her know that I am a cosponsor of the Global Democracy Promotion Act, which would codify President Obama’s Executive Order lifting the global “gag rule” on U.S. funding for international family planning services.

Georgia from Princeton wrote to thank me for cosponsoring the Big Cats and Public Safety Protection Act. I let Georgia know I was a cosponsor of the bill because protecting our environment and the animals we share it with is one of my top legislative priorities, and that humane treatment of animals is a mark of a civilized society. In fact, I have earned a lifetime 100 percent rating from the Humane Society Legislative Fund.

Marion from South River emailed me to urge passage of the Stop Corporate Inversions Act, which would prevent U.S. companies from declaring themselves as foreign entities to avoid millions in taxes. I wrote to let her know that I am a cosponsor of the bill because U.S. companies engaging in these activities and deriving benefits from operating in the U.S. should not cheat the system by avoiding the costs of maintaining our society.
Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

These Children Are Refugees

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

As the nature of migration has changed in recent years, Congress has failed to update our immigration laws accordingly, leaving us unequipped to deal with the current humanitarian crisis on the Southern border. Make no mistake – this is indeed a humanitarian crisis. These unaccompanied minors – these children – are crossing our border by themselves, across thousands of miles, to escape conditions that we in this country can only imagine. We should be compassionate and treat these children as refugees, because these children are refugees.

Last week, the House again failed to introduce comprehensive immigration reform, instead debating two immigration-related bills that failed to address seriously the request President Obama made for additional funding to deal with these children. These bills sought to punitively attack a group of innocent children, and would repeal laws and protections that currently exist to prevent the trafficking and sexual exploitation of children.

Our immigration laws ought to reflect both our interests and our values as Americans. Our nation has an obligation and moral responsibility to take in and protect those who have faced persecution and violence in their home countries, as we have since our founding. We should not continue to hold the fates of these children hostage to partisan bickering and election-year gimmicks. The right way to address this crisis, and the many other crises that exist because of our broken immigration laws, is to fix the laws in a comprehensive way.

New Jersey’s Commitment to Sustainable Energy

Today, in the 21st century, the United States faces new energy challenges. It should be clear to us all that 20th century forms of energy – especially coal and oil – are not compatible with the world we want in the 21st century.

At the state level, lawmakers have taken promising steps. New Jersey committed to an aggressive plan that requires 20 percent of our electricity come from renewables, such as wind and solar, by 2020. Already New Jersey is second to only California in installed solar photovoltaic capacity. Yet recently, New Jersey’s commitment to sustainable energy has faltered. The Christie Administration has delayed efforts to harvest offshore wind energy, and withdrawn from a regional approach to combating climate change.

I was pleased to tour this week NRG Energy’s Princeton headquarters. NRG, a power company which has a large business generating electricity using traditional fuels, is also making large waves into wind and solar, in recognition of the need to address climate change.

So-called alternative energy can become standard, according to many industry analysts and energy policy analysts. For example, a 2013 study in the journal Energy Policy presents an alternative scenario for the complete conversion by 2030 of New York State’s energy to wind, water, geothermal, and solar. I do not know of a similar study for New Jersey, although a similar scenario could apply. I am pleased, therefore, that such an innovative and forward-thinking company has found a home in New Jersey’s 12thDistrict.

Livable Communities

As we enjoy the last month of summer, I encourage you to take advantage of some of central New Jersey’s beautiful biking and walking trails. I have done so. A few weeks ago, I attended the official opening of the Pennington Connection to the Lawrence Hopewell Trail, a project for which I was able to secure $267,000 in federal funds. Trails like this can improve the overall quality of life for both residents and employees of a region by providing transportation alternatives.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

A Sense of History

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter

July 20th marked the 45th anniversary of the Apollo 11 lunar landing. The idea of going to the moon was daring and maybe even quixotic, but true to our traditional American character: thoroughly optimistic.

A sense of our history helps us understand whether we are making progress in things like science, research, protecting the environment, and the humanities, but it also helps us understand whether we are making progress as a country. In some ways, yes. We are conducting some of the most ingenious research that is helping people understand our universe. We are making in America some of the most innovative things that are sought after, even essential in the modern world. But with a sense of history we must also ask: are we true today to our traditional American character? Specifically, I find myself asking, is Congress staying true to that American tradition of optimism?

Think about the Morrill Act of 1862, which established out nation’s land grant college system, including Rutgers University, to advance research, agriculture, and commerce. In 1863, President Lincoln also signed the law creating the National Academy of Sciences, chartered not just as an honorific, but as a working agency to help the country grow in a smart way. Both were passed at a very difficult time – during the Civil War – when it was not obvious that the country could afford to do so.

These creations were optimistic – as were the GI Bill and the Civil Rights Act, about which I have written to you recently, and so many other public programs. The history of the U.S. is a history of enormous economic, social, technological, and cultural optimism. Our indisputable success as a nation over two centuries shows that our optimism has been well justified, and a good case can be made that American optimism has a lot to do with American success. I still find among most Americans that traditional optimism, despite some economic hard times, but our government at present does not match that optimism. I regret that so much of the talk in Washington is about what we cannot do, what our deficit - or our obsessions with it - will not allow us to do. Just imagine if at this time of near-zero interest rates, we invested boldly in education, infrastructure, and research! (From my remarks at a reception earlier this month.)

Supporting Our First Responders

Last week, I successfully assisted Fire District No. 1 in Franklin Township, Somerset County, in securing a $450,242 federal grant to replace outdated firefighting equipment.

I often visit with local first responders and see firsthand how important it is that they have the right training and equipment to keep us safe. Saying "thanks" to firefighters is only part of the support they need. Equipment and training take money.

Upcoming Academy Nomination Deadline

America’s military service academies provide a four-year college education, with full scholarship, to young men and women who pledge to serve as the next generation of leaders in the U.S. military services. I am currently accepting application for upcoming academy nominations, and welcome applicants from all areas of the 12th District. The information packet and application form are available on my website, and October 1, 2014 is the deadline to submit all materials. For questions and additional information, please email Zainab Chaudary on my staff at Zainab.Chaudary@mail.house.gov.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

To Form a More Perfect Union

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

The Civil Rights Act of 1964 was the strongest, most comprehensive legislation enacted to bring racial, ethnic, and sexual equality to schools, voting booths, and businesses. The most notable provision of the law was the requirement that businesses serving the public, called public accommodations, must be desegregated. Almost everyone in our country recognizes the importance of that law, and few would seek to reverse its effect on American society. 

Fifty years ago, as a teenager, I was fortunate to work as a messenger page in the Senate when the Civil Right Act was passed, and I listened intently and closely as the bill was debated in the chamber. It gave me a chance to reflect on one of the central questions of our country. I recall opponents, mostly southern segregationists, some of them quite eloquent, arguing that the public accommodations provision was un-American, unconstitutional, and an infringement of individual rights. Since 1875, the Supreme Court had maintained, and most people had not questioned, that owners of businesses serving the public could run those businesses as they pleased. The inn was the province of the innkeeper. The bus was the property of the bus company. The proprietors went into business to offer the services they wanted to offer to the people they chose to serve. With the landmark Civil Rights law, the argument that won decisively in Congress was that it was the segregationist attitude that was un-American and probably unconstitutional. The prerogatives of the individual proprietors of public accommodations, even if they were very local and not interstate businesses, were secondary to the public good. This was hugely important. In our on-going effort to form a more perfect union of diverse states and diverse peoples, the public good must be observed, and public accommodations cannot discriminate against any ordinary citizens in good standing, even against the personal preferences of the owners. Although many remnants of our country's racist past remain to be overcome, it is remarkable that the Civil Rights Law is thoroughly integrated into our jurisprudence and our lives. It was, I think, a powerful reaffirmation of how and why we pulled together as a country. We are stronger, fairer, and more ethical as a result. However, that was not clear to everyone at the time of the 1964 debate.

In light of last week's decisions from the Supreme Court, I wonder if soon it will be recognized that, for example, the public good is served when any and all women have complete healthcare coverage and are not denied by the personal preferences of a business owner, and when workers are given equal standing to bargain collectively with business owners. It certainly could be argued, and has been argued, that business proprietors can run their businesses as they chose. The Public Accommodations Act is one strong example that the public good, at least sometimes, trumps. 

Visiting the Capitol

Last week, I attended a ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda commemorating Coretta Scott and Martin Luther King Jr. There the sculptured bust of Rev. King faced directly across from the statue of Abraham Lincoln. Nearby is a statue of Rosa Parks, sitting as she famously sat on the Montgomery bus. The collection of art and sculpture at the Capitol represents notable events and individuals from American history, and includes statues of two distinguished New Jerseyans: Richard Stockton and Philip Kearny. Stockton was notable as a Declaration of Independence signer, and a fresco in the Capitol Rotunda depicts that moment on June 28, 1776, when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Constitutional Congress. Philip Kearny had a rich military career, serving as a brigadier general with the Army of the Potomac during the Civil War, and lost his life at the Battle of Chantilly, Virginia, in 1862. A portion of the Frieze of American History, also in the Rotunda, pays tribute in "Peace at the End of the Civil War."

The Capitol reminds us of the rich history of this great nation, and it is this history that should continue to guide us as we continue our endless journey to form a more perfect union.

You can learn more about the art and architecture of the Capitol here. You can also learn more about the history at the United States Capitol Historical Society’s website. However, the Capitol is best experienced in person with a guided tour. My office can assist with booking tours of the White House, Capitol Building, and other D.C. sites, and you can schedule a tour by visiting my website. I recommend the Capitol tour most of all....

The High Cost of Higher Education

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

We can all agree that college costs have made it difficult for too many to afford to attend college. Yet at today’s interest rates, the typical student borrower can expect to pay at least $6,000 in additional interest to the federal government over the life of a loan, and some students pay far more. Because of that, the federal government actually makes a profit from student borrowers – about $66 billion on loans issued from 2007 through 2012.

Congress shouldn’t balance the federal budget on the backs of students. Senator Elizabeth Warren and Representative John Tierney have introduced a bill to allow borrowers with outstanding student loan debt to refinance at new, lower interest rates. I am a co-sponsor.

It seems unfair that people of lower income, who must borrow money to get an education, have to pay more for that education. It works against the upward mobility we prize.

I encourage you to make sure you’re taking advantage of all programs available to keep your student loan debt manageable, such as income-based repayment plans and public service loan forgiveness. Learn more about them here.

Cultivating the Next Generation of Innovators

I recently recognized the winners of my first Congressional STEM App Competition. The contest, conducted in Congressional districts around the country, asks high school students to develop a prototype of a mobile application to connect Americans with their government. The competition is a reminder of the need to ensure that our students learn the scientific and technological skills essential to their success in the 21st century.

Winners Nishil Shah, Ram Vellanki, and Rohith Varansai from South Brunswick High School created an app called "MyGov" to improve communication between constituents and their respective government officials. My distinguished selection committee and I were impressed with their coding skills and their understanding of the importance of a functional representative government. You may view a virtual demonstration of the app here.

Obtaining a Long Overdue Recognition

On February 15, 1969, while on a sweep mission in Vietnam, C Troop in the 25th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army came under fire. Then-Specialist James Perkins braved heavy enemy fire to keep his advancing troop in line, standing atop his vehicle and using hand signals to direct his comrades forward. Despite sustaining injuries in action, Specialist Perkins remained undeterred.

Mr. Perkins did not receive a Purple Heart, and recently contacted me to ask if he should have received the award. Indeed, he should have. I was honored to recently present the Purple Heart which Mr. Perkins had earned. The long-overdue medal is a lasting, public recognition of Mr. Perkins’ service to the United States.

If you know a veteran who also is due a medal or award that she or he never received, pleasee-mail me or call me at 1-87-RUSH-HOLT so that our nation may properly honor our heroes.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

When an earthquake strikes

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

When an earthquake struck the mid-Atlantic coast at 1:51 p.m. on August 23, 2011, tens of thousands of people reported their experiences in the speediest, most effective way they knew: via Twitter. This led to a strange phenomenon. Earthquakes travel through the earth very quickly: about three to five kilometers every second. But tweets travel through electronic networks nearly 100,000 times faster. As such, the first tweets about the earthquake, sent from towns near the quake’s epicenter in Virginia, reached New Jersey sooner than the earthquake itself.


If you happened to be monitoring Twitter at the time, you might well have had a half-minute’s warning of the impending earthquake.

How might governments take advantage of this kind of early warning? As experts testified at a hearing of my Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources this week, a network of seismometers along the west coast could detect major quakes and send advance warning to nearby cities, offering perhaps five minutes’ warning to major urban areas. Five minutes isn’t much time, but it would enable officials to stop trains, alert critical infrastructure, and warn people to take cover.

A major earthquake in a modern urban area could cost $250 billion and countless lives. Even so, lawmakers have failed to invest the $16 million per year that the U.S. Geological Survey estimates would be necessary to operate such an early-warning system.

Instead, the current Congress, over my objections, continues to slash much-needed investments in research and infrastructure.

A Lost Opportunity

In January I wrote to you about an opportunity for New Jersey to invest in our citizens’ health: the federal government had offered $7.6 million to help New Jerseyans gain access to affordable health care. At the time Gov. Christie was, for ideological reasons, refusing to accept the money.

In May this story reached an unfortunate and troubling end when, after years of inaction by the Christie Administration, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services formally rescinded the grant offer.

If Gov. Christie had accepted the money, about 95,000 more New Jerseyans would have health coverage today.


Rush Holt
Member of Congress

"No Warrants Shall Issue, but Upon Probable Cause..."

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

Earlier this week the House passed the so-called USA Freedom Act under the guise of reforming the NSA to prevent surveillance of innocent Americans. As I said on the House floor in opposition to the bill, it does no such thing.

The bill still allows the government to collect everything they want against Americans – to treat Americans as suspects first and citizens second. It still allows decisions about whom to target, and how aggressively to go after acquaintances of acquaintances of targets, to be made by mid-level employees, not federal judges.



Most important, the fundamental decisions under this will be made by a weak, inferior standard that does not reach the constitutionally required standard of probable cause, so that the government can spy on people based on weak suspicions.

In voting for the bill, some of my colleagues said, “Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.” The perfect? How could any member of Congress vote for legislation that doesn’t uphold the constitutional standard of probable cause?

School Lunches After School Lets Out

About 480,000 New Jersey students from low and moderate-income families are eligible for free or reduced-price breakfasts and lunch at their schools. But as schools let out for the summer, many families will lose access to this key source of nutritional and financial support.

Fortunately, federally funded summer meal programs can help provide healthy meals to students throughout the year. In 2010 I helped write the law that increased funding for Summer Food Support grants, which help establish or grow summer meal programs. For a list of sites near you, visit nokidhungry.org/summersites or text “FOOD” to 877-877.

Left Behind

“Take the current expansion, which began in the second half of 2009. Gross domestic product is up 11 percent since then, corporate profits are up about 50 percent, and equity markets are up 80 percent. But both median and low incomes are down about 5 percent.” – Jared Bernstein, former chief economist to Vice President Joseph R. Biden, Jr.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress

NJ-12 Candidate Linda Greenstein Has An Enemies List

State Senator Linda Greenstein is running for Congress in the 12th Congressional District to replace Congressman Rush Holt. I don't think things are going very well for her. I can't see how see expects to gain any support after the outburst she had back in March at a local Democratic Party leader’s meeting which had been called to discuss the then upcoming Mercer County Democratic Convention.

 Evidently the meeting didn't go very well for Greenstein and she let the Party leaders from Ewing Township, East Windsor, Hightstown, Hopewell Township, Hopewell Borough, Lawrence Township, Pennington, Princeton, Trenton and West Windsor Township know it by announcing - rather Chris Christie-ish - that they were all on her "enemies list".

It doesn't seem like Greenstein is cut out for Congress if you ask me. If Middletown were still in the 12th Congressional District, I'd be supporting one of the other candidate such as State Senator Bonnie Waston Coleman or Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula.


Linda Greenstein's Enemies List: from Progress First on Vimeo.

Hat tip goes to the Down with Tyranny blog where you can  read more about this.

Who Made a Difference to You?

The following is from Congressman Rush Holt's newsletter:

This is Teacher Appreciation Week. I suspect you know a teacher who would welcome your appreciation.

Recently, I took the time to track down my ninth-grade math teacher. He was a very creative teacher who showed us students some of the many facets that make up that rich subject.

It turns out that my one-time teacher has retired to California. He remembered me as a student, but had no idea what I’ve been up to since my teenage years. He told me my call meant a lot to him. I know it meant a lot to me to express to him my memories of his course and the difference he made.

One of New Jersey’s Most Valuable Natural Resources

Over the last few years, wind has become a major source of energy – not just a curiosity, but a fast-growing part of our energy supply. Nationally, wind delivers more than 4 percent of our power, and over the last five years it has provided nearly a third of new generating capacity.

New Jersey has more wind potential than nearly any other Atlantic U.S. Coastal state. Planned federal lease sales off of New Jersey’s coast could result in up to 3,000 MW of offshore wind power, enough to power 1 million homes.

Earlier this week the Department of Energy (DOE) awarded a $6.7 million grant to help us harvest that potential. The money will support the next phase of review and development of the Fishermen’s Energy Atlantic City Wind Farm, a five-turbine, 25 MW demonstration project slated for construction just off the New Jersey coast. Following a review of progress on the project, DOE expects to provide an additional $40 million.

To make this project a reality, we will need support from Governor Christie and the Board of Public Utilities, who have so far stalled progress at every step. I hope that this week’s funding leads the Christie Administration to reconsider its obstruction. The federal government is very literally offering us free money to begin to harvest our winds to create energy and create jobs. We can’t afford to say no.

What’s Your Story About the Minimum Wage?

Last year New Jerseyans voted by a large margin to raise our state’s minimum wage to $8.25 an hour. But we can do more.

Together with nearly 200 other members of Congress, I have cosponsored the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which would increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour and would increase minimum wages for tipped workers, such as restaurant servers.

My Democratic colleagues on the U.S. House Committee on Education and the Workforce are seeking stories from individuals, organizations, and businesses about how increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour would affect working families and local communities.

To share your story, please e-mail me through my website.

Sincerely,

Rush Holt
Member of Congress