“Health Care Reform Bill Signed Into Law”
President Obama has signed the health insurance reform bill – approved by the Senate in December and the House Sunday – into law. Vice President Joe Biden declared it a historic day – and credited the President with turning the right of every American to have access to decent health care into a reality for the first time in American history. The President said the bill will set reforms in motion that generations of Americans have fought for, marched for and hungered to see.
According to President Obama – some of the most needed reforms will take effect immediately. Among other things – he said that tax credits will be offered to about four-million small businessmen and women to help them cover the cost of insurance for their employees this year; that this year tens of thousands of uninsured Americans with preexisting conditions and the parents of children who have a preexisting condition will be able to purchase the coverage they need; and that insurance plans will be required – this year – to offer free preventive care.
To fully implement many of the reforms – the President said it would take four years – but once the reform is implemented – he said uninsured people and small businesses will be able to purchase affordable, quality insurance. He said the legislation will lower costs for families and businesses – and lower the federal deficit by over a trillion dollars in the next two decades.
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“Senate Already Working on ‘Fix-It’ Measure”
During the signing of the health insurance reform bill – President Obama noted that the Senate still has a last round of improvements to make on the legislation – but expressed confidence they would do so quickly. That effort started just hours later – as Senators convened to begin consideration of the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act. With Republicans preparing a series of procedural challenges and several amendments – the floor battle will likely take days.
Any changes to the bill prior to Senate passage – whether by amendment or successful point of order – would require another House vote on the measure. And according to Senate Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus – a couple of minor provisions could get deleted on points of order. House leaders are confident they could pass the reconciliation legislation a second time without difficulty.
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“Another UN Report Called Into Question”
An air quality expert is questioning the idea that livestock are responsible for 18-percent of greenhouse gas emissions. That’s a statistic often cited by those who support the movement to reduce meat consumption. But according to Frank Mitloehner – University of California-Davis Professor – says the focus on meat consumption is distracting from finding real climate change solutions. Mitloehner told the American Chemical Society that smarter animal farming – not less farming – will equal less heat. He said producing less meat and milk will only mean more hunger in poorer countries.
Mitloehner says the focus should be on cutting use of oil and coal for electricity, heating and fuel. He said transportation creates an estimated 26-percent of all greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S. Raising cattle – he says – only accounts for about three-percent.
So where did the 18-percent figure come from? A report issued by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization in 2006 called Livestock’s Long Shadow. Mitloehner says it’s based on dodgy numbers. He says livestock emissions were calculated using everything from those resulting from growing feeds to other industrial processes involved in producing and delivering meat and dairy products.
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“Efforts to Support Rural Water Infrastructure Development Reviewed”
Efforts to improve rural water infrastructure took center stage at a House Agriculture Subcommittee hearing Tuesday. Rural Development Subcommittee Chair Mike McIntyre noted the majority of community water systems in the country serve small populations – but must meet the same water treatment requirements as larger systems. He said some lack the resources to finance those improvements and agencies like USDA’s Rural Utilities Service help fill that void.
USDA’s Rural Utilities Service administers programs that provide loans, grants, loan guarantees and technical assistance for drinking water, sanitary sewer, solid waste and storm drainage facilities in rural communities with populations under 10-thousand people. At Tuesday’s hearing – subcommittee members heard how RUS is meeting demands for clean water and how they’re assisting communities.
Subcommittee Ranking Member K. Michael Conaway noted that 16 federal agencies are involved with administering more than 88 programs targeting rural development. Therefore – he said it’s important to watch how the programs are implemented and taxpayer dollars are safeguarded.
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“Availability of Grants to Address Major Societal Challenges Announced”
USDA will make about 262-million dollars available through the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative to address five key societal challenges. Roger Beachy – USDA’s Chief Scientist and Director of USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture says the announcement demonstrates the department’s commitment to supporting research, education and extension to bring about true change in areas like climate change, obesity and bioenergy.
The Agriculture and Food Research Initiative – established under the 2008 Farm Bill – supports work in six priority areas. One Request for Application announced by Beachy Tuesday calls for research projects that address those priority areas. USDA says the work will build a foundation of knowledge critical for solving current and future societal challenges. Six Requests for Applications – according to USDA – address the AFRI priorities in five societal challenge areas where research, education and extension can achieve significant and measurable outcomes. Those challenge areas include childhood obesity prevention, climate change, food safety, global food security and sustainable bioenergy.
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“RMA Partnership Agreement Grants Available”
USDA’s Risk Management Agency is making more than eight-million dollars in partnership agreement grants available. The agreements are designed to provide producers with new ways of managing risks – as well as for education opportunities for limited-resource and underserved farmers and ranchers.
Approximately 2.5-million dollars is available for community outreach – projects that will provide information and training. There’s about five-million available for crop insurance education in 16 targeted states. And just over a million dollars is available for the commodity partnership small sessions program.
The application deadlines for these different areas do vary – but information is available at www dot rma dot usda dot gov (www.rma.usda.gov). Just look for the Risk Management and Cooperative Agreements heading under the “In the News” section.
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“More Funding for Broadband Projects”
Funding provided by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act is going to broadband projects that will give rural Americans in eight states access to the tools they need to attract new businesses, educational opportunities in jobs. U.S. Ag Secretary Tom Vilsack made the announcement Tuesday. He says the projects will create jobs building the networks and the completed systems will provide a platform for rural economic growth for years to come.
To date – USDA says more than a billion dollars has been provided to construct 67 broadband projects in 30 states and one territory. This latest announcement will invest 150-million dollars of recovery act funding in 12 projects. With an additional 68.2-million dollars in private investment provided in matching funds – the total investment is 218.2-million.
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“USDA Events Scheduled to Highlight Efforts to Improve School Meals”
U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says we owe it to our children to ensure nutrition programs address the challenges of childhood hunger and obesity. This year – as Congress considers the reauthorization and improvement of the Child Nutrition Act – Vilsack says there’s an unprecedented opportunity to improve the health and well being of our children.
According to Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Kevin Concannon – that can be done through enhancing the nutritional quality of school meals and improving the overall health of our school environments. Concannon says it’s also important to work towards reducing barriers and ensuring all eligible children can participate in USDA’s school meals programs. All of these are priorities of the Administration.
To highlight the Obama Administration’s efforts – USDA will hold a series of school nutrition events throughout the country to outline a number of steps to reduce hunger and improve the health and nutrition of the nation’s children. Participants will include food service workers, school officials, community and advocacy members, federal, state and local officials, parents and students.
These school nutrition events are scheduled for Arkansas, South Carolina, Nevada, Florida, Michigan, Connecticut, Montana, Indiana and California.
