Congresswoman Johnson Votes To Avoid Government Shutdown

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson voted to pass a 10-week continuing resolution that will keep the federal government funded until December 11, 2015. This stop-gap measure included funding for Planned Parenthood and was supported by all the Democrats in the House of Representatives. Upon the passage of this resolution, Congresswoman Johnson made the following statement:

“While I am pleased that we avoided a complete shutdown of the federal government that would have cost our economy billions of dollars as it did in 2013, these recurring short-term funding measures are not cause for celebration. My Republican colleagues are bracing to put this country through another unnecessary crisis in December. This is unacceptable. We must have a long-term budget solution that allows for all the government agencies, employees, and contractors to continue to work and be compensated for their dedicated service to the citizens of America. The Republican leadership in Congress must stop jumping from man-made crisis to man-made crisis. We are putting our economy and the wellbeing of this country at unnecessary risk. Enough is enough.”

SOURCE: Focus Daily News

Congresswoman Johnson Signs Discharge Petition To Reopen Government

Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson signed a petition to reopen the government. This special Congressional procedure, known as a discharge petition, allows a majority of members to bypass Speaker Boehner and force an up or down vote on a bill to reopen the government. The federal government has been closed since October 1, 2013, and Republican leaders have repeatedly refused requests from Democrats and some Republicans to pass a funding resolution without controversial items and reopen the federal government. 

“We must get the United States government re-opened so we can continue to provide the critical services this country needs. I joined my Democratic colleagues to sign the discharge petition that will allow a vote on a bill to reopen the government,” said Congresswoman Johnson.  “This shutdown is hurting people throughout Texas and threatens the country’s economy.  I am urging my Republican colleagues to come together in the spirit of bipartisanship to end this crisis by signing onto the discharge petition.”

The government shutdown has hurt the middle class and our economy, and will get worse as it continues.  Costing taxpayers up to $300 million a day, it has stopped critical loans to small businesses and slowed the processing of veterans disability claims. The shutdown has prevented NIH from taking new patients and halted life-saving medical research and stalled much-needed housing loans for American families.

The discharge petition for H. Res. 372 would allow an up or down vote on a clean continuing resolution, providing funding through November 15 at a compromise level requested by Speaker Boehner. This discharge petition only needs a majority of House members to sign on and does not require any action by the Republican leadership.

Discharge petitions have been proven successful in the past in bringing up legislation for consideration.  

·         According to a Congressional Research Service study, seven discharge petitions have received 218 signatures over the last 30 years. And in all seven cases, the majority party agreed to bring the measure to the House floor.

·         12 measures were allowed to be brought to the House floor even before the discharge petition reached the full 218 signatures. 

Congresswoman Johnson On Health Care And The Government Shutdown

As the government is shut down for yet another day, Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson, who spoke to a group of about 50 small business owners last week at a forum to discuss the Affordable Health Care Act released a statement saying "Today, hundreds of thousands of federal employees though out the country, including more than 50,000 Texans did not go to work today and face uncertainty on when how they will pay their bills during this crisis. On what should be a great day for America, with the opening of the new health insurance market places, members of the extreme wing of the Republican party are playing the blame game on who is at fault for the federal government shutdown.”

Johnson says since she was elected by the constituents of the 30th district to govern responsibly and with the best interests of the American people, she will do so "I was not elected to hold the American people or our economy hostage when our political parties disagree.”

She also said that along with her staff in Washington D.C. and Dallas, she will continue to work hard to serve the people of Texas throughout the shutdown and support the healthcare law as well.

"Starting today, the healthcare law will allow my constituents looking for coverage to purchase affordable, quality health insurance through the new online marketplace. This new online marketplace provides a very simple way to get health insurance that will meet your needs, your lifestyle, and your budget at any income level. Though the government has shut down, the Affordable Care Act will continue,” she says.

At the affordable healthcare forum that Congresswoman Johnson spoke at late last week, the third in her small business series, she had noted at the time that health care is indeed an extremely important topic for the forum series for a number of reasons.

"With the public being inundated with increased attention and overwhelming information, Congresswoman Johnson wanted the facts of this law addressed by the experts, as well as provide a forum to the public where their specific concerns could be answered,” her staff reported.

In the coming weeks the public will also learn more about the benefits of this program and Congresswoman Johnson says that there must be a collective effort of outreach throughout Dallas and North Texas. Personally, her office has reached out to area chambers, churches, small businesses, community organizations and other elected officials to promote this effort.

In last week’s presentation Johnson also emphasized that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) will help small businesses by lowering premium cost growth and increasing access to quality, affordable health insurance. The ACA contains a number of provisions that help to slow the growth of health care costs and insurance companies must also publicly disclose and justify premium rate hikes of 10 percent or more.

As well, Johnson says the majority of small businesses will not be affected by the new employer shared responsibility rules, which take effect in 2015. Johnson pointed out that, in fact, businesses with fewer than 50 full-time or equivalent employees are not even subject to the same rules "that’s 96 percent of our businesses,” she said.

And, for those businesses with 50 or more employees, the majority already provide coverage that meets the health care law requirements anyway.

As she welcomed attendees, Congresswoman Johnson also mentioned the Super Sunday campaign sponsored by U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This initiative is a partnership with the faith-based community that will designate the second Sunday of each month from October to December 2013 as an enrollment Sunday for congregants to sign up for health insurance through the new Health Insurance Marketplace.

The purpose of this initiative is to promote assistance and resources from regional agencies to include the U.S. Small Business Administration, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Community Council of Greater Dallas.

As well, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is also ramping up its education and outreach efforts for America’s small businesses on the Affordable Care Act too. In coordination with U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA), the Small Business Majority, Main Street Alliance, Business Forward, and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the campaign will help small employers learn more about how to take advantage of the Small Business Health Option Program (SHOP), part of the Health Insurance Marketplace that opens October 1.

SHOP is designed for small employers with 50 or fewer full-time employees. On their own or with the help of an agent, broker, or other assister, small employers will be able to compare price, coverage, and quality of plans in a way that is easy to understand.

"In recent years, the number one concern for many small businesses has been the increasing cost of health insurance premiums,” said HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. "Many who would like to offer insurance to their employees have faced few choices, high administrative costs, and skyrocketing premiums when an employee gets sick.”

"Since the passage of the health care law, Small Business Majority has been committed to working with policymakers, local chambers of commerce, business organizations and others to educate small business owners about the Affordable Care Act,” said Founder & CEO of Small Business Majority John Arensmeyer.

"With open enrollment and full implementation right around the corner, we've upped our efforts to get entrepreneurs the information they need to best take advantage of the law’s small business provisions. Small business owners have been waiting for decades for something to rein in premium costs. This is our chance to help get them some relief.”

Employers buying health insurance through the SHOP Marketplace may also qualify for a Small Business Health Care Tax Credit to help defray their premium costs. Hundreds of thousands of small businesses with fewer than 25 full-time-equivalent employees have already received a tax credit of up to 35 percent of their contribution to employees’ health insurance premiums. Beginning in 2014, this tax credit will be worth as much as 50 percent of the employer’s contribution to premiums and will be available only to those purchasing coverage through the SHOP.

The SHOP offers small employers quality brand name health insurance plans and lets them make side-by-side comparisons when choosing a coverage option that is right for their business. In addition, starting in 2014, small employers have additional protections in the insurance market, including that no one can be denied coverage because of a pre-existing condition.

It was at the beginning of the year that Congresswoman Johnson launched the small business series with the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program, which combines Housing Choice Voucher (HCV) rental assistance for homeless Veterans with case management and clinical services provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

In June, Congresswoman Johnson hosted her second forum to promote voluntary efforts in strengthening the role of women business owners within the community, and provide education, financial or managerial assistance to enhance women’s business ownership.

With an idea that small businesses are the backbone of American economy as well as a key factor to strengthen the economy and create jobs, the Small Business Series is a program designed to provide current and aspiring small business owners the educational and operational resources necessary for managing successful small businesses. 

Source: Focus Daily News

Congresswoman Johnson And House Democrats Demand Clean Continuing Resolution

Congresswoman Johnson and her Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives stood united today to demand a vote from speaker John Boehner on a "clean" Continuing Resolution that would fund the different branches of government. 

"We want a resolution that deals with funding the government, and nothing else." - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Urges Speaker Boehner And Republican Members Of Congress To End Government Shutdown

“Hundreds of thousands of federal employees throughout the country, including more than 50,000 Texans did not go to work today and face uncertainty on when and how they will pay their bills during this crisis.  On what should be a great day for America, with the opening of the new health insurance market places, members of the extreme wing of the Republican party are playing the blame game on who is at fault for the federal government shutdown.  I was elected by the constituents of the 30^th district to govern responsibly and with the best interests of the American people. I was not elected to hold the American people or our economy hostage when our political parties disagree.

“I, along with my staff in Washington D.C. and Dallas, will continue to work hard to serve the people of Texas throughout this shutdown.  Starting today, the healthcare law will allow my constituents looking for coverage to purchase affordable, quality health insurance through the new online marketplace. This new online marketplace provides a very simple way to get health insurance that will meet your needs, your lifestyle, and your budget at any income level. Though the government has shut down, the Affordable Care Act will continue.

“The only pathway forward is for the Republicans responsible for the shutdown to abandon their reckless strategy of pushing for the repeal, defunding, or delay of the Affordable Care Act at any cost to our country.  I urge Speaker John Boehner and Republican members of Congress to end the shutdown by working with Democrats to pass a clean funding bill that gives us the time we need to craft a long term budget agreement.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

Congresswoman Johnson Warns Against Possible Government Shutdown

“House Republicans continue to stick by an extreme legislative agenda that does not have a chance to pass in the Senate nor be signed into law by the President.  We are witnessing a reckless agenda aimed to deliberately shutdown the government resulting in direct harm to our children, seniors, working families and economy. I want to assure the citizens in my district that my offices will remain open and fully staffed to ensure that lines of communication with the citizens of the thirtieth district  remain open.  This is a critical time for my constituents,  so I know my constituent services are needed more than ever.” - Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson

As of today, the Administration has advised:

·         140,000 Federal employees in Texas alone would be immediately and indefinitely furloughed, and many Federal employees and contractors that continue to work would not be paid during the shutdown.

·         Housing loans to low and middle income families in rural communities would be put on hold, as would start-up business loans for farmers and ranchers.

·         The Department of Defense estimates that during a shutdown nearly half of the civilian workforce would be sent home without pay, while the rest would continue to work for delayed pay, impacting the 51,621civilian workers in Texas.

·         SBA would stop approving applications for small businesses to obtain loans and loan guarantees.  In a typical month, SBA approves over $1 billion in loan assistance to small businesses.

·         All facilities and services in our national parks would be closed, as would the Smithsonian, impacting the hundreds of thousands of people that visit these sites daily.  This would have severely negative impacts on the surrounding local communities that rely on the revenue generated by travel and tourism to these destinations.

·         Important government research into life-threatening diseases, environmental protection, and other areas would be halted.

·         The government would stop issuing permits to conduct drilling operations on Federal lands, and would stop or delay environmental reviews of planned transportation and energy-related projects, keeping companies from working on these projects.