Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority 75th Far Western Region conference materials

Diamond par Western Kegional Conference 200+ rortland, Oregon
Harris Photography
4205 N Michigan Avenue
Portland, OR 97217
(503) 287-6126
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. 75th FAR WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE
PORTLAND, OREGON APRIL 30, 2004
“THE SPIRIT: LETS SHARE IT AND CONNECT”
VOTER EMPOWERMENT:
A CALL TO ACTION
Presenters:
Soror Billie Rayford
Far Western Region Connection Representative
Theta Theta Omega
Soror Muzetta Thrower Northern California Representative Tan Upsilon Omega
Soror Linda M. White Soror Diana G. Shipley
Supreme Basileus Far Western Regional Director
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Voter: Empowerment: A Call to Action
Presenters Soror Billie Rayford Far Western Regional Representative BillicRavfff'aol.com
Soror Muzetta Thrower Northern California Representative throwcrmfg'msn.com
Soror Linda M. White Supreme Basilcus
Soror Diana G. Shipley
Far Western Regional Director
Soror Ferial Bishop National Connection Chairman
Voter Empowerment
Goals
• Present Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority’s
The
Call to Action through its Voter
Spirit:
Let’s
Mobilization Campaign
Share It
• Present approaches to enhance efforts
zknd
Ain
to register and educate voters and to “Get Out the Vote”
• Present ways voters can hold elected
National
Connection
officials accountable
Committee
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The
Spirit:
Let's
Share It
And
Connect
National Connection Committee
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Voter Mobilization Campaign
Partnerships
Council of Presidents, Eight African-American Greek Organizations
National Coalition on Black Civic Participation
Campaign
“Unity 04 Empowerment Campaign”
Joint Efforts
Educate Voters
Conduct Voter Registration Drives
Get Voters to the Polls
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1
ta? \
Spirit:
Let's
Share It
And
Connect
National Connection Committee
Voter Mobilization Campaign
Pan Hellenic
Voter Registration Days
February 16 - 22, 2004
April 19 -25,2004
September 20 -26, 2004
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The
Spirit:
Let A: •
Voter Mobilization Campaign
Pan Hellenic
Voter Registration Days On each Sunday of campaign
Share A
week, coordinate voter education
And
and/or registration with churches:
Connect
February 22, 2004
National
April 25, 2004
Connection
September 26, 2004
5
The <
Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.
Voter Mobilization Campaign
Spirit:
Implemented Nationally through
I Cl’S
National AKA Connection Committee
Share It
•Connection Focus: Voter Empowerment
: And
•Kicked off voter registration in January 2004,
Connect
MLK Weekend
Resources
National
•Public Policy Program Guide, Revised July 2003
Connection , Committee
•Regional Representative to the National Connection Committee
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2
Far Western Region
i.-.
Voter Registration Goals:
■
Spirit:
A Minimum of 3,000 Newly
Lei’s
Registered Voters
Share It
And
Alaska: 150
Connect
Arizona: 350
National ,
California: 1,500
■ Connection
Committee
7
Far Western Region Voter
Registration Goa
is - Continued
The
Spirit:
Hawaii:
100
1 el ' Share It
Nevada:
350
Connect
Oregon:
100
Utah:
100
National
Connection
Washingto
i: 350
Committee
s
SPIRIT
Voter Registration Steps
Being Personable is Key
Approach each person individually
Make eye contact
Smile and Be Enthusiastic Try not to sit, standing appears more approachable.
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Voter Registration Steps
Objective
•After eye contact and greeting explain why you’re registering new voters.
•Talk about issues that are current and are relevant to their community, family, and organizations.
Voter Registration Steps Executing the Plan
•After establishing your objective, proceed by asking the person for his/her name.
•Begin to fill out registration form
•Do not ask if they want to register, just assume they do.
•Hand them a pen and form and ask them to complete the form.
•Move to the next person while the finish the form.
•If they seem to hesitate or need help, ask.
"J
The i
Spirit:
I Let’s
5 i
And
Connect
National
Voter Registration Steps
Check for mistakes
Small mistakes could prevent them from voting.
Write down their contact information so that you can notify them if any mistakes arise.
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Voter Education
The
Spirit:
Let’s
Share It
And
Connect
National', | Connection Committee
Candidate Forums
Invite all candidates for local, state and federal office to attend a special candidate forum. These forums can take the form of a debate, or they can be somewhat informal question/ answer sessions.
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Voter Education
Voting Equipment Demonstrations
The Spirit: Let’s
Florida’s 2000 election:
Intent of the voter was never realized
Share It And
< jrnntCt
Major Problem: Misuse of voting equipment •machine didn’t work •was difficult to use
•voter did not know how to use the
National
Connection
equipment.
Committee
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' ■ -
1 J
Voter Education
Things To Do
The
Spirit:
Churches may obtain voting
Let’s
machines for the purpose of
Shnr;?
showing citizens how to operate
And
them.
Connect
National Connection
In addition to learning how to use the machine, it also reminds voters to check their ballot before
depositing it on Election Day.
■ - ' - - • ,■
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Voter Education
Distributing a List of Voting Locations
This not only informs voters, but also reminds them about upcoming elections.
There are many good places to distribute this list including churches, supermarkets, shopping centers, local college campuses, beauty parlors and barbershops.
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Voter Education
Public Service Announcements
1 he
Many churches have radio and
Spirit:
: Let's
television ministries.
Share It
Public Service Announcements (PSA’s)
And
should promote and encourage voter
i Connect
registration and participation.
National
PSA’s should also be created to
Connection
Committee
broadcast on other radio and television stations.
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Voter Education
Coalitions/Community Coordination
Planning voter education programs takes a tremendous amount of planning.
Working with other community leaders and churches is sometimes the best way to create a strong civic participation campaign.
Building coalitions and sharing resources with other community organizations will help maximize outreach, and community participation, in voter education and other civic participation activities. is
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National, Connection; Committee-
Voter Education
VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965
We are NOT Going to Lose Our Right to Vote
Many sorors have received the e-mail supposedly written by Camille Cosby stating that African Americans will lose our right to vote in 2007.
This is NOT true.
The fifteenth amendment guarantees our right to vote and further states that one cannot be denied access based on color or race.
Voter Education
VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965
Voter Education
VOTING RIGHTS ACT of 1965
The
Spirit:
Let's
Share It
•There is a section of the voting rights that pertains to certain states (most of them in the south) that has to do with providing certain protections for its citizens.
And Connect
National
•This portion of the Act requires local boards of elections to forward plans to the Department of Justice for pre-clearance when they intend to make changes to how people vote.
Committee
•This is the case particularly as it relates to African Americans.
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The
Spirit:
Let’s
Share It
And
Connect
National Connection
Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
•Staff GOTV Election Day phone banks.
•Monitor polling locations to insure that voters’ rights are not being violated.
•Watch polls to find out who has not voted.
•“Flush” neighborhoods by knocking on doors and taking registered voters to the polls.
Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Activity
Before Election Day
On
Election Day
The Spirit: Let’s Share It
And Connect
National Connection Committee
Phone Banking
Asa reminder-
“Do you know when Election Day is?
Do you know where your polling place is?
Do you need special assistance voting (i.e., a ride to the poll, baby-sitting services?)’’
Asa turn out technique-
“Have you voted today?
Can 1 send someone out to pick you up?
What time do you plan to vote- there are only (X) hours left to vote.”
-
Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
The Spirit: Let’s Share It
And Connect
National Connection Committee
Activity
Before Election Day
On
Election Day
Mailings
As an educational piece and a remindervoters’
Bill of Rights
Voter Guide
Polling location and other election information
Services your campaign is providing
As a turn out technique-
A simple postcard scheduled to arrive on Election Day: •“Have you voted today?
•Did you know that last year only (X)% of our community voted, etc...”
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9
Get Out I’hc Vote (GOTV)
Activity
Before Election Day
On
Eloctlon Day
The Spirit: Let’s
Share It
Anti Connect
Nntiomtl CxixiiicCtlon Caxiuxilttee
Canvassing
As an educational pioco and a romlndor-
Canvass door-to- door, distributing tho same fHors or Information you mall out to votors.
Door-to-Door canvassing should bo used to '•flush" neighborhoods -
Go Into one neighborhood, knock on every door, and offer to take tho pooplo who havo not yet votod dlroctly to tho polls.
•ii
Get Out I’hc Vote (GOTV)
Activity
Boforo Eloctlon Day
On Eloctlon Day
The
Spirit:
Let's
Share II
And
Connect
National Connection Committee
Poll Watching
Review tho laws that govern poll watchlng-
•Can anyone do It?
•Do you havo to register to bo a poll watcher or obsorvor?
• What typo of Information aro you permitted to gathor as a poll watcher?
If tho law allows, mako suro you havo poll watchors Inside ouch polling place, monitoring who has votod, and who still needs to vote.
It Is a good Idoa to havo someone stationed at tho poll with a comploto list of registered votors, so you cun toll pooplo who aro not at tho right polling location where they need to go.
Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Th?
Spirit: Lei's
Shnre II
And
Connect
: National Connwiiou Coinniliiw
Activity
Transportation Services
Boforo
Election Day To transport volunteers to and from canvassing locations, to distribute filers, etc...
On
Eloctlon Day To transport volunteers to polling locations, and to give voters a ride to the polls.
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The
Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Spirit:
Let’s
Share It
And
Connect
National Connection Committee
Activity
Before Election Day
On
Election Day
Events
To serve as a reminder and to get people excited about voting in the upcoming election.
Try a “Honk and Wave” station volunteers at the corners of major intersections in the morning, at lunch and in the evening with signs that say “Honk if You Voted”
Get Out The Vote (GOTV)
Activity
Before Election Day
On Election Day
The
Spirit: Let's
Share It
And
Connect
National Connection Committee
Media Outreach
Announcements, Ads, Radio Shows, Press Conferences-
the more the media reports, the more potential voters will be reminded of the election
Make sure that the airWaves
are saturated with GOTV message
It should be the only thing the people in your community hear about on Election Day
Team up with local radio shows to help you get your message across.
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SLAV ‘ i
ACCOUNTABILITY
The Spirit:
Track Pending Legislation
Let's
Connections Committees can
Share It
track local, state, and
And
federal legislation to
Connect
inform chapter members
National Connection Committee
and form positions.
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1 1
• The
Spirit:
LA A -
Share it
And
Connect,
National Connection Committee
ACCOUNTABILITY
Organize Chapter and Community Around Pressing Issues
Have members call elected officials about issues and the position of the organization
Make sure they ask or urge the official to vote a certain way
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The
Spirit;
Let’s
Share It
And
Connect
National
Connection Committee
ACCOUNTABILITY
Produce a Report Card
Decide which issues are key to the organization and provide a grade for each official based on how they fared on all of the issues.
Some like-minded organizations may already have them, distribute those to your constituencies.
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..
The
Spirit:
Let’s
Share It
And
Connect "
National Connection Committee
ACCOUNTABILITY
Hold Informational/Town Hall Meetings with the Elected Official
Invite the elected official(s) to a community meeting to allow them to discuss current and/or pending legislation and provide them with your position on the issues.
Also have them listen to concerns of the attendees.
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a ' SSS-1
Create a Voter Action Plan
Information needed for Plan
Ihe
Sai ■ •
•
Schedule of Elections
•
Deadlines for Voter Registration
•
Deadlines for Absentee Voting
Share It
And
• State Election Manual (Provided by: State or Local Board of Elections)
Connect
• Voter Registration Statistics
Xalimiii!
•
Population Data (Census Bureau)
•
List of AKA Connection Chairs, and other
Committee
Non-partisan Political Action Chairs or Organization’s Committee Chairs.
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The
Spirit:
Let’s
Share It
And
Connect
Connection
Important Websites
www.naacp.org
www.census.gov
www.jointcenter.org
www.fairvote.org
www.civilrights.org
www.cbtu.org
www.aprihq.org
www.bigvote.org
www.usdoj.gov/crt/voting/sec 5/notices.htm
www.geocities.com/WallStreet/3088/labor.htm
Committee
1'he
National Connection Committee
Ferial S. Bishop, Chairman
S”S‘S;
< -
North Atlantic Region
Meredith L. Henderson
Great Lakes Region
Marie Ellen Redd
SScre S
Mid Atlantic Region Ruby Batts Archie
Central Region
Jacquelyn H Parker
And
Connect
South Atlantic Region Marjorie Harris Young
Mid-Western Region Jacqueline D. Achong
National
Connection
Committee
South Eastern Region
Gloria R. Howard
Far Western Region Billie Rayford
South Central Region Georgia Noone
International Region Gizette L. Canegata
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FAR WESTERN REGION
STATE COORDINATORS
ALASKA
Soror Taiiya Taylor Xi Psi Omega
Anchorage, AK
ARIZONA
Soror Jennifer Harper
Delta Beta Omega
Mesa, AZ
HAWAII
Soror Loma Peck
Lambda Chi Omega
Mililani, Hawaii
NEVADA
Soror Verlia Davis-Hoggard Theta Theta Omega
Las Vegas, NV
CALIFORNIA Soror Lois Carson
Eta Nu Omega San Bemadino, CA
OREGON Soror Johnnie M. Bell Zeta Sigma Omega Portland, OR
Soror Carrie Crum
UTAH
Mu Beta Omega Carson, CA
Soror Karen Dace Upsilon Beta Omega Salt Lake City, UT
Soror Deborah Neal Sigma Lambda Omega Canoga Park, CA
Soror Denise Parker Alpha Nu Omega
Oakland, CA
Soror Muzetta Thrower Tau Upsilon Omega Vacaville, CA
WASHINGTON
Soror Phyllis Dixon-Lowe Delta Upsilon Omega Seattle, WA
Thank you for your leadership in Connection activities.
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. 75th FAR WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE CONNECTION WORKSHOP PORTLAND, OREGON
APRIL 30, 2004
VOTER EMPOWERMENT: A CALL TO ACTION
ISSUES IQ - PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDA TES George W. Bush vs. John Kerry ECONOMIC SECURITY HOMELAND SECURITY HEALTH CARE EDUCATION ENVIRONMENT RETIREMENT SECURITY ENERGY WOMEN’S ISSUES
Presenter:
Soror Billie Rayford
Far Western Region Connection Representative Theta Theta Omega Chapter
www.georgewbush.com
Page 1 of 4
The President's Economic Security Agenda
On May 28, 2003, President Bush signed into law a bold jobs and growth plan to strengthen America's economy and ensure its continued growth.
The House and Senate acted in a bipartisan fashion to make the President's tax relief plan a reality for American families, seniors, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. In passing a jobs and growth plan, the administration has taken aggressive action to strengthen the foundation of our economy so that every American who wants to work will be able to find a job.
The President's Jobs and Growth Act of 2003 will create jobs and grow the economy by:
•
Speeding up the 2001 tax cuts to increase the pace of economic recovery and job creation
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Encouraging job-creating investment in America's businesses by providing dividend and capital gains tax relief and giving small businesses incentives to grow
•
Providing $20 billion in aid to States for necessary services
The President's tax relief will allow the American people to keep more of their own money to spend, save and invest; encourage individuals and businesses to make new investments that will lead to economic growth and job creation; and deliver critical help to unemployed citizens.
Relief for all Americans
Who benefits under the President's plan?
•
The Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 will deliver substantial tax relief to 91 million American taxpayers. Middle-income families will receive additional relief from accelerated reduction of the marriage penalty, a faster increase in the child tax credit, and immediate implementation of the new, lower 10 percent tax bracket.
•
Everyone who invests in the stock market and receives dividend income—especially seniors— will benefit from dividend tax relief. Half of all dividend income goes to America's seniors, who often rely on those checks for a steady source of retirement income.
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Every small business owner who purchases equipment to grow and expand will get assistance through an increase in the expensing limits from $25,000 to $100,000.
•
Unemployed workers received an additional 13 week extension of their federal unemployment benefits, allowing them the support they need while looking to rejoin the workforce.
The Jobs and Growth Act builds on the success of the President's 2001 tax cut. The President recognized that the time to deliver this relief is now - when it can do the most good for families, businesses, and the economy - not years from now.
Under the jobs and growth act, 91 million taxpayers will receive, on average, a tax cut of $1,126 in 2003.
•
68 million women will see their taxes decline, on average, by $1,338.
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34 million families with children will benefit from an average tax cut of $1,549.
•
23 million small business owners will receive tax cuts averaging $2,209.
•
12 million elderly taxpayers will receive an average tax cut of $1,401.
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6 million single women with children will receive an average tax cut of $558.
•
3 million individuals and families will have their income tax liability completely eliminated by the Act.
Helping American Families
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The President's plan helps working Americans by focusing tax relief directly at moderate-income families and those with children. The plan:
•
Accelerates marriage penalty relief by increasing the standard deduction and expanding the 15-percent tax bracket for couples in 2003. An estimated 45 million married couples will benefit from this provision;
•
Raises the child tax credit from $600 to $1,000 per child this year, instead of in the year 2010. An estimated 34 million families with children will benefit from this provision; and
•
Moves several million working Americans into the lower 10-percent tax bracket immediately, allowing them to keep more of their income.
For example, a married couple with two children and income of $40,000 will see their taxes decline under the President's jobs and growth law by $1,133 (from $1,178 to $45) in 2003, a decline of 96 percent.
The President's Plan to Strengthen Retirement Security
President Bush believes that we need to explore new ways to ensure that Social Security remains strong and financially secure for America's children and grandchildren. The President formed a bipartisan Presidential Commission to review Social Security and recommend reforms to put the system on sound financial ground. He has repeatedly stressed the need for modernization of the Social Security System. President Bush has also proposed solutions to strengthen pension plans and enhance retirement security for all Americans.
The President's plan to strengthen retirement security includes:
•
Creating a Society of Stakeholders: President Bush supports the creation of Individual Development Accounts, providing savings matches for low-income Americans to accounts that would grow tax-free. The President's Social Security framework would also give all wage earners the opportunity to invest in financial assets, an opportunity that only half of Americans can now afford.
•
Expanding Ownership of Retirement Assets: The tax relief legislation signed into law by the President in 2001 provided almost $50 billion dollars of tax relief over the next ten years to strengthen retirement security.
•
Ensuring Freedom of Choice: The President's proposal would ensure that workers who have participated in 401(k) plans for three years are given the freedom to choose where to invest their retirement savings. The President has also proposed that choice be a feature of Social Security itself, allowing individuals to voluntarily invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal retirement accounts.
•
Minimizing Risk through Diversification: The President's proposals would ensure that workers can sell company stock and diversify into other investment options, minimizing their risk.
•
Strengthening Women's Retirement Security: The President signed into law legislation that would allow for "catch up" contributions to retirement plans, helping millions of American women who took time out from the work force to care for dependent family members. The President's Social Security Commission also made a number of recommendations to vastly improve the treatment of women through Social Security, including the creation of property rights in a personal account for every woman who experiences a divorce, expanded benefits for widows, and new "anti-poverty" benefit guarantees that would benefit women.
•
Helping Future Generations Achieve the American Dream: The President has proposed extending Social Security to include inheritable assets. This provision would assist communities where life expectancies are unfortunately shorter than national averages, including African American households.
•
Spurring National Saving and Economic Growth: Tax relief legislation signed into law by the President will accelerate economic growth by expanding national saving. The President's
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Commission to Strengthen Social Security has found that the President's Social Security initiative would "lead to increased national saving" in a way that is necessary to foster longterm economic growth.
Encourage Job-Creating Investment in America's Economy
The new jobs and growth law encourages individuals and businesses to invest in America's economy.
Reduction in Individual Tax Rates on Dividends and Capital Gains
•
Roughly 35 million American households receive dividend income that is taxable and will directly benefit under the President's plan. More than half of these dividends go to America's seniors, many of whom rely on these checks for a steady source of income in their retirement.
•
Almost half of all savings from the dividend tax cut under the President's plan would go to taxpayers 65 and older.
•
The new law will reduce dividend and capital gains taxes for millions of stockholders - pumping billions into the economy this year alone. Twenty-six million taxpayers with income from dividends and capital gains will receive an average tax cut of $798.
Increase Incentives for Small Businesses to Grow
•
Small businesses create the majority of new jobs and account for half the output of the economy. Their vitality is critical to America's economic health and the President's plan provides important incentives for their economic growth.
•
Current tax laws permit small business owners to write off as expenses up to $25,000 worth of equipment purchases. The President's plan will increase that limit to $100,000 and index it to inflation - encouraging them to buy the technology, machinery, and other equipment they need to expand.
•
If small business owners invest more than $100,000, they qualify for a 50 percent bonus depreciation that further reduces the cost of investment - encouraging investment that grows businesses and creates jobs.
Turning Recovery into Prosperity
•
The President's jobs and growth law will provide $109 billion in tax relief this year alone. It will spur real overall economic growth, yet it is disciplined and tailored to address specific challenges.
•
The American economy is strong, but it must be stronger. The President's plan is a focused effort designed to remove the obstacles standing in the way of faster growth and greater progress.
•
President Bush will not be satisfied until every American who wants a job can find one; until every business has a chance to grow; and until we turn our economic recovery into lasting prosperity that reaches every corner of America.
Continuing Our Growth From Recession to Recovery
Since the beginning of his Administration, President Bush has acted decisively to promote economic growth and job creation.
In 2001, he fulfilled his promise to reduce the tax burden on the American people. This tax relief gave the economy a boost at just the right time—ensuring that the recession was one of the shortest and shallowest in modern American history. These tax cuts worked, and the President will continue to press Congress to make the cuts—including the end of the death tax—permanent.
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In 2002, the President proposed and signed into law an economic stimulus bill, tough new corporate accountability standards, terrorism insurance legislation to put construction projects back on track, and an historic trade act.
In 2003, he signed jobs and growth legislation and made clear that he will not stop working for economic security until everyone who wants a job has one.
All of these measures are helping our economy as it recovers from the shocks of recession, the attacks of September 11th, and serious abuses of trust by some corporate officials. President Bush will not be satisfied until every American who wants a job can find one; until every business has a chance to grow; and until we turn our economic recovery into lasting prosperity that reaches every corner of America.
Find this item at: http://www.georgewbush.com/Economy/Brief.aspx I Paid for by BUSH-CHENEY '04, Inc. I
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Protecting the American People
The President's most important job is to protect and defend the American homeland. Since September 11, 2001, the nation has made tremendous progress achieving this goal.
Last year, President Bush proposed and Congress approved a single, unified Department of Homeland Security to improve protection against today's threats and be flexible enough to help meet the unknown threats of the future. By unifying over 22 agencies and offices, the President has improved the government's ability to protect our infrastructure, guard our borders and patrol our skies.
The President has seen a great number of his goals met, including:
•
Creation of the Terrorist Threat Integration Center (TTIC): TTIC will merge and analyze all threat information collected domestically and abroad in a single location.
•
Launch of the Container Security Initiative: The Container Security Initiative establishes tough new procedures and created new partnerships with the world's largest ports to target high-risk cargo before it leaves for our shores. 19 major ports, consisting of two-thirds of cargo containers shipped to the U.S., have agreed to participate in CSI.
•
Signing of the Smart Border Declaration: The United States and Canada signed the Smart Border Declaration, outlining 30 action items for increasing security, enhancing joint law enforcement, improving physical and technological infrastructure, and facilitating the trade and movement of people between the two countries. The U.S.-Mexican Border Partnership contains a similar 22-point action plan.
•
Launched the Homeland Security Command Center: a national 24-7 watch operation
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Improvement of Airport Security: More than 50,000 newly trained federal screeners are deployed at our nation's airports, where new baggage inspection equipment helped TSA institute 100 percent checked baggage screening. The Federal Air Marshal program was expanded so that thousands of protective air marshals are now flying on commercial aircraft. TSA certified installation of hardened cockpit doors on all 6,000 large passenger aircraft.
•
Reorganizing the FBI: The FBI transformed into an agency focused on preventing domestic terrorism. The FBI established the National Joint Terrorism Task Force at FBI Headquarters and expanded to 66 Joint Terrorism Task Forces among FBI field offices throughout the country.
Other accomplishments to strengthen security and improve preparedness services and response include:
Protecting our Skies
•
At airports, train stations and on major highways, more Police and National Guard personnel have been deployed to ensure Americans will continue to travel safely. Security and airline personnel strictly review all identification to make sure that only authorized personnel have access to sensitive areas in our nation's airports.
•
To better protect airline passengers, the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has begun training pilots to carry firearms in the cockpit.
•
In addition to increasing security, TSA worked to improve customer service and eliminate unnecessary hassle by coordinating screening across different forms of transportation. For example, passengers disembarking from cruise ships in Miami can have their bags screened for their flight home right at the dock.
Protecting our Borders
Off our coasts and in our harbors, Coast Guard forces are at the leading edge of maritime
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security. During Operation Liberty Shield, the Coast Guard completed thousands of air and surface patrols. To further enhance maritime security, the Coast Guard recently purchased 700 high-speed vessels with communications systems able to coordinate with other homeland security agencies.
•
Officers at our borders and ports of entry have been equipped with technology to better detect the presence of radioactive material.
•
The Department of Homeland Security launched Operation Joint Venture to identify and remove persons with unknown or questionable identities with access to restricted areas of military installations. As a result, 37 people were arrested and 28 removed from the country.
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DHS has put in place the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System (NSEERS), requiring individuals who satisfy certain risk factors to register and be fingerprinted and photographed.
•
DHS is also operating the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), which tracks foreign students who come to the United States, ensuring they are actually enrolled and attending classes.
Protecting our Ports
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The Department of Homeland Security requires electronic advance cargo manifests from sea carriers 96 hours prior to arrival to give officials more time to check for potentially dangerous crew, passengers, and cargo.
•
Since 9/11, the Coast Guard made the largest commitment to port security operations since World War II, including over 35,000 port security patrols and 3,500 air patrols. The Coast Guard boarded over 2,500 high interest vessels, interdicted over 6,200 illegal migrants, and created and maintained over 115 Maritime Security Zones.
Protecting Your Health
•
The President proposed Project BioShield, a significant step in improving our ability to protect against the threat of bioterrorism. BioShield is an initiative designed to accelerate the acquirement of next-generation vaccines and other products to counter bioterror threats.
•
The Department of Homeland Security's science and technology division recently established the Biowatch program in several major cities, deploying equipment to quickly detect the spread of terrorist agents like anthrax in time to distribute life-saving medicines to citizens affected.
•
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) increased the number of food safety inspectors by 700, doubling its capacity to conduct safety inspections of our food systems.
Protecting our Critical Infrastructure
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The Department of Homeland Security has provided for increased security at critical facilities for water supplies, power plants, bridges, and subway systems, reducing the chances of an attack that could disrupt our daily life or the economy.
•
The Department established a new office dedicated to cybersecurity. The Department is working with private industry to help eliminate key vulnerabilities in computer networks and reduce the risk of cyberterrorism.
Supporting our First Responders
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The U.S. Government provided $7.8 billion in grants between 2002 and 2003 to help state and local responders and emergency managers prepare for terrorist attacks.
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HHS, now a critical biodefense entity, distributed $1.1 billion in assistance to state and local governments for improved planning and increased preparedness, including rapid secure communications and laboratory capacity as well as hospital preparedness and infrastructure improvements.
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The National Response Plan is being used to coordinate and integrate all federal incident prevention, preparedness, response, and recovery capabilities.
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The President directed the development of a National Incident Management System (NIMS) to make local, state, and federal agencies interoperable during incidents.
Protecting America
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The President's National Strategy for Homeland Security, the first ever of its kind, outlined his vision for working with state and local communities on the national effort. The President routinely works with Governors, Mayors and local officials to help provide resources for our nation's first responders.
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Introduced the Ready campaign, a national multimedia public information program designed to build citizen preparedness by giving Americans the basic tools they need to better prepare themselves and encouraging them to "Be Ready." Since its launch, has become one of the most visited sites in America.
Ready.gov
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The President's Compassion Agenda
In his Inaugural Address, the President called on Americans to become citizens, not spectators - to work together to improve our communities and reach out to our neighbors. For the past two-and-a- half years, compassionate conservatism has been the President's governing philosophy as the Administration has tackled some of society's toughest assignments, such as educating our children, helping those in need, and fighting poverty at home and abroad.
In a compassionate society, people respect one another and take responsibility for the decisions they make in life. The President believes that as Americans, we have responsibilities. There are millions of men and women across the nation who want to end their dependence on government and improve their lives. The Administration is committed to applying the best and most innovative ideas to the task of helping our fellow citizens in need.
In a responsibility society, each one of us is responsible for respecting our neighbors and taking ownership of our actions and words. Under the President's leadership, we have seen the culture of service and responsibility grow around us.
A Record of Commitment and Achievement
The President believes the truest kind of compassion comes from helping citizens build lives of their own. The aim of this philosophy is not to spend less money, or to spend more money, but to spend on what works. The measure of compassion is more than good intentions - it is good results.
The President's vision of compassionate conservatism is effectively taking on some of society's toughest problems - educating our children, fighting poverty at home and abroad and aiding poor countries around the world.
Educating our Children: Public schools are America's great hope, and making them work for every child is America's great duty. The President's historic education reform is compassionate because it requires schools to meet new, high standards of performance in reading and math. The new reforms also give local schools and teachers the freedom, resources and training to meet their needs. It is conservative to let local communities chart their own path to excellence. It is compassionate to make sure that no child is left behind.
The federal government is investing more money in elementary and secondary education than at any other time in American history. The President's budget for next year boosts education funding to $53.1 billion - an increase of nearly $11 billion since he took office. Funding for Title 1, a program that helps the nation's most disadvantaged students, has increased 33 percent, to $11.6 billion. And since President Bush took office, the amount we're spending on effective reading programs has tripled, to more than $1 billion.
Fighting Poverty at Home: Compassionate conservatism offers a new vision for fighting poverty in America. For many Americans, welfare once was a static and destructive way of life. In 1996, welfare was reformed to include work and time limits and since that time America's welfare rolls have been cut by more than half. More importantly, many lives have been drastically improved. A job is more than a source of income - it is also a source of dignity. The President is committed to building on the success of welfare reform to bring work and dignity to the lives of more Americans.
One of the President's first official actions in office was to establish the White House Office of Faith- Based and Community Initiatives. The purpose of the initiative is to recognize our greatest strength — the hearts and souls of the American people — and apply that strength to help solve problems which afflict many of our citizens. The Office is on the front lines in the fight against poverty and focuses its efforts on helping the following groups - the homeless, prisoners, at-risk youth, addicts, elders in need, and families moving from welfare to work.
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Encouraging Community Initiatives: The President believes that the indispensable and transforming work of charities, community groups and faith-based institutions must be encouraged. Government should view Americans who work in faith-based charities as partners, not as rivals. When it comes to providing resources, the government should not discriminate against these groups.
The White House Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives is working together with the Departments of Health & Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Education, Labor, and Justice, to remove these barriers. The new Office has worked to change needless rules and regulations that discourage these organizations from working with the Federal government to serve those most in need. The Administration has taken a fresh start and bold new approach to government's role in helping those in need.
In his second year in office, the President created the USA Freedom Corps to help all Americans to answer his call to service. As a Coordinating Council housed at the White House and chaired by the President, the USA Freedom Corps is working to strengthen our culture of service and help find opportunities for every American to start volunteering. To accomplish this, they are bringing together the resources of the federal government with the non-profit, business, educational, faithbased and other sectors to begin that process and to measure our results.
Helping Poor Countries Around the World: Nearly half of the world's population live on less than two dollars a day. When we help them we show our compassion, our values, and our belief in universal human dignity. America is feeding the hungry around the world - the United States gives more to those in crisis than any other country in the world. In Afghanistan and Iraq, we helped liberate an oppressed people. The President is determined to continue helping them secure their country, rebuild their society, and educate their children. His vision for peace and prosperity extends to the Middle East, where he is working for peace between a secure Israel and a democratic Palestine.
President Bush's proposed budget more than doubled education assistance from $115 million in 2001, to a record $265 million in 2004.
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U.S. programs in Africa have helped 12.5 million children go to school who would otherwise have been deprived of a basic education.
U.S. global leadership in education promotes real growth, reduces poverty, and brings hope to millions around the world.
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In Afghanistan, the U.S. recently printed and distributed 15 million textbooks - now in the hands of nearly three million students - and 3,600 teachers have been trained in the latest teaching methods.
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In 2002, more than 580,000 foreign students were enrolled at U.S. universities and community colleges to obtain skills needed to build a better world—a 6.4 percent increase over the previous year.
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Last year alone, U.S. training programs provided needed job skills to more than 430,000 citizens in the developing world.
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The U.S. is a major bilateral donor for the global Education for All Initiative (EFA), now active in 39 countries.
Fighting the Global HIV/AIDS Pandemic: In his State of the Union Address, President Bush announced creation of the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, a five-year, $15 billion initiative to turn the tide in the global effort to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. This initiative virtually triples U.S. support for combating international HIV/AIDS. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is a sharply focused model of prevention, treatment and care targeted to the regions of the world where the need for treatment is greatest
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The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief is intended to:
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Prevent 7 million new HIV infections: The initiative will involve large-scale HIV prevention efforts, like voluntary testing and counseling and behavior change that follows the "ABC" model (Abstinence, Be faithful, or use Condoms, in that priority). These and other prevention efforts are aimed at preventing 60 percent of the projected 12 million new infections in the 14 target countries. The availability of treatment will enhance prevention efforts by providing an incentive for individuals to be tested.
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Treat 2 million HIV-infected people: Capitalizing on recent advances in antiretroviral (ARV) therapies, this historic initiative will be the first global effort to provide advanced ARV treatment on a large scale in the poorest, most afflicted countries in Africa and the Caribbean.
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Care for 10 million HIV-infected individuals and AIDS orphans: The initiative will provide a range of care services, including support for AIDS orphans.
Helping the Addicted: Addiction to drugs is another cause of hopelessness. Addiction crowds out friendship, ambition, moral conviction, and reduces a life to a single destructive desire. In his State of the Union Address, President Bush announced a three-year, $600 million federal treatment initiative to help addicted Americans find needed treatment from the most effective programs, including faith-based and community-based organizations. This new investment will make treatment available to help 300,000 more Americans combat their addiction over the next three years, by providing vouchers to individuals identified as needing assistance.
Last year, approximately 100,000 men and women seeking treatment for drug addiction did not receive the help they needed. The President's plan is designed to complement existing programs and ensure that Americans struggling with addiction have access to a comprehensive continuum of effective treatment and support service options, including faith-based and community-based programs, and ensure that these options are more readily available.
Encouraging a New Compact for Global Development: Greater humanitarian aid contributions from America must be linked to greater responsibility from developing nations. President Bush has urged other nations to follow America's lead by increasing donations or contributing for the first time, as well as by establishing their own emergency response funds to respond quickly and effectively to severe food crises. The United States is working with the G-8 on this multilateral effort.
In his May 21, 2003 commencement address at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, President George W. Bush announced "Volunteers for Prosperity," a new volunteer-based initiative to support major U.S. development initiatives. Volunteers for Prosperity, a program of the USA Freedom Corps, encourages highly skilled American professionals in a variety of fields to volunteer for a flexible term in developing countries and emerging economies. Working with federal government agencies, the USA Freedom Corps will match doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers, economists, computer specialists, and others with organizations working on specific U.S. development initiatives including: the Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief; the Millennium Challenge Initiative; the Trade for Africa Development and Enterprise Initiative; the Water for the Poor Initiative; the Digital Freedom Initiative; and the Middle East Partnership Initiative.
As the President explained to the graduates that day, "These goals — advancing against disease, hunger and poverty — will bring greater security to our country. They are also the moral purpose of American influence. They set an agenda for our government, and they give idealistic citizens a great cause to serve."
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Offering Health Care and Prescription Drug Choices
President Bush's comprehensive health care agenda improves health security for all Americans by building on the best features of American health care. Our health care system can provide the best care in the world, but rising costs and loss of control to government and health plan bureaucrats threaten to keep patients from getting state-of-the-art care.
The President believes that everyone should be able to choose a health care plan that meets their needs at a price they can afford. When people have good choices, health plans have to compete for their business - which means higher quality and better care.
Before the American Medical Association, President Bush announced his bold new proposal for modernizing and strengthening America's health care system by giving Medicare recipients more health care choices. The President's plan gives seniors more health care choices and helps them with the high costs of health care and prescription drugs.
To create a health care system that puts the needs of patients first, the President proposed steps to:
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Help all Americans get affordable health care coverage and ensure access to doctors
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Help patients get high-quality care every time
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Modernize Medicare with prescription drug coverage that enables seniors to get the medicines they need, without the government dictating their drug choices.
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Allow patients the choice of doctors, hospitals, or treatment centers.
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Provide full coverage for disease prevention such as screenings for cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis.
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Develop new treatments to keep patients healthy and prevent complications from diseases and strengthen the health care safety net
The President's health care agenda is designed to improve the accessibility, affordability and accountability of health care for every American - and to make sure that American health care keeps getting better. The President's budget backs up his agenda with investments in prevention initiatives, expanded coverage programs, improved care for seniors and important medical research.
Offering Health Care Choice by Modernizing Medicare
The President has proposed a framework to modernize and improve Medicare that builds on principles he outlined in July 2001. He looks forward to working with Congress on legislation to bring more choices and better benefits to Medicare this year. The President has committed up to $400 billion over the next ten years in his FY 2004 budget to pay for modernizing and improving Medicare. The President's framework will give all Medicare beneficiaries access to:
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Prescription drug coverage that enables seniors to get the medicines they need, without the government dictating their drug choices.
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Choice of an individual health care plan that best fits their needs just like Members of Congress and other federal employees enjoy today.
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Choice of the doctor, hospital, or place they want for the treatment and care they need.
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Full coverage for disease prevention such as screenings for cancer, diabetes and osteoporosis.
The President's plan will make sure that low-income seniors receive additional financial assistance so they will not have to pay more to receive better benefits than they currently do under Medicare. For too long, political pressures have kept our nation from bringing the benefits of modern health
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care to Medicare. The President is calling upon members of both political parties to work together with him to pass legislation this year.
Every American Should Have Access to a Good Doctor
President Bush has proposed a framework for addressing the medical liability crisis that is forcing communities to lose doctors.
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National adoption of proven standards to make the medical liability system more fair, predictable, and timely. Experience in many states has demonstrated that these standards can reduce federal government costs by at least $28 billion per year or more, freeing up needed funds for making health care more affordable. These standards can reduce health care costs for all Americans by $60 billion or more, and improve access to quality health care as well. The President proposes that Congress take action to:
o Secure the ability of injured patients to get quick, unlimited compensation for their "economic losses," including the loss of ability to provide unpaid services like care for children or parents.
o Ensure that recoveries for non-economic damages do not exceed a reasonable amount ($250,000).
o Reserve punitive damages for cases where they are justified, and limit punitive damages to reasonable amounts.
o Provide for payments of judgments over time rather than in a single lump sum, to ensure that appropriate payments are there when patients need them.
o Ensure that old cases cannot be brought years after an event.
o Reduce the amount that doctors must pay if a plaintiff has received other payments from an insurer to compensate for their losses.
o Provide that defendants pay judgments in proportion to their fault.
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Improvements in health care quality and patient safety through litigation reform.
Patients deserve high-quality health care without avoidable medical errors and complications, and the Administration is supporting many efforts to achieve this goal, through better information and other steps to improve quality. One proven approach to reducing errors and complications is patient safety and quality improvement programs implemented by doctors and health care organizations working together. By sharing information on quality problems and medical errors, health professionals can determine ways to avoid errors and complications in the first place. But these efforts are blocked by fear of litigation. Good-faith efforts to improve quality and safety are targets for lawsuits based on the new information. The President has called for legislation to make it possible for health professionals to work together more effectively to provide the best possible care for all patients.
Providing Affordable Health Care Choices That Meets America's Needs:
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The President believes that everyone should be able to choose a health care plan that meets their needs at a price they can afford.
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Americans enjoy access to good choices in employer-sponsored health care plans, but many others do not have good coverage options or are in danger of losing them.
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The President's plan proposes to address this problem through over $117 billion in initiatives to make good health care coverage more available and affordable:
o The President's plan lifts the excessive restrictions on Medical Savings Accounts which will allow many more Americans to set up tax-free accounts to protect themselves from high out-of-pocket costs.
o The President supports legislation that would make it easier for small employers to pool together to offer their employees better health coverage options, like many large corporations are able to offer.
o The President's budget proposes $89 billion in new health credits to make private health insurance more affordable for low- and middle-income American families who do
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not have employer-subsidized insurance.
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The Administration will work with states to strengthen Medicaid and the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).
o The President's budget provides $350 million to continue funding Medicaid for families in transition from welfare to work.
o The President's budget strengthens S-CHIP by making available to states an estimated $3.2 billion in unused S-CHIP funds that otherwise will be lost. These additional matching funds will enable all states to expand coverage to the uninsured.
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The President believes that Americans who need long-term care assistance should have more control over how they receive the care they need. The President's budget proposes to make premium payments for long-term care insurance fully deductible, to provide a much-needed, more flexible alternative to "spending down" to Medicaid. The 10-year cost of this proposal is $20 billion.
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The Bush Administration proposes an additional tax exemption for persons who take time to care for parents or children who need long-term assistance.
Improving the Quality of Health Care
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The President strongly supports the passage of a Patients' Bill of Rights that leaves medical decisions in the hands of physicians, instead of insurance companies - and urges Congress to reconcile differences and complete its work this year.
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President Bush will work with Congress to develop fair and reasonable legislation that will make genetic discrimination illegal and provide protections consistent with other existing anti-discrimination laws.
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The Administration continues to take steps to make better information on medical treatments and the quality of health care providers available to the public, including new information on nursing home quality.
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Electronic medical records hold the promise of improving quality of care for patients and for giving them more control over their health information, but only with strong medical privacy protections that give patients the security and confidence they need. The Administration is implementing new medical privacy protections to do just that.
Increasing Biomedical Research and Strengthening the Health Care Safety Net
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The President's plan increases funding for the National Institutes of Health's (NIH) efforts to support research to improve the prevention, detection and treatment of diseases.
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The President's budget includes $5.9 billion for bioterrorism preparedness, an increase of $4.5 billion - more than three times the 2002 base funding level.
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The President's budget includes $1.5 billion for Community Health Centers, a $114 million increase that would continue the Bush Administration's long-term strategy to add 1,200 new and expanded health center sites over five years and serve an additional 6.1 million patients. The increase for fiscal year 2003 will support 170 new and expanded health centers, and provide services to a million more patients.
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Leave No Child Behind
President Bush promised to make educating every child his top domestic priority and reform a system that has failed the most needy students in our nation's classrooms. He proposed a comprehensive, bipartisan plan to improve overall student performance and close the achievement gap between rich and poor students in America's more than 89,599 public schools. The President's No Child Left Behind Act was passed with an overwhelming bipartisan majority and is already showing results for America's children.
On January 8, 2002, the President signed into law his historic education reforms to better enable educational excellence for every child in America. The No Child Left Behind Act helps parents, educators and children by:
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Supporting Early Learning: No Child Left Behind targets resources for early childhood education so that all youngsters get the right start on reading and math.
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Measuring Student Performance: A student's progress in reading and math must be measured in each of grades 3 through 8 and at least once during high school.
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Providing Information for Parents: States and school districts must give parents detailed report cards on schools and districts, explaining which are succeeding and why.
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Giving Options Over Failing Schools: Children will no longer be trapped in failing schools. If a school continues to fail some children will be able to transfer to higher-performing local schools, receive free tutoring or attend after-school programs.
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Ensuring More Resources for Schools: Today, public schools spend an average $7,000 a year per student. Under President Bush's leadership federal funding for education has increased 59.8% from 2000 to 2003.
Progress in Strengthening America's Public Schools
Since President Bush signed the No Child Left Behind Act into law, the Bush Administration has worked closely with state and local education leaders to ensure that these important changes reach the classroom. And the new law is beginning to show results.
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Through the new Reading First program, $412 million has been distributed to 20 states to help schools and districts improve children's reading achievement using scientifically proven methods of instruction.
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States have implemented the public school choice provisions of the Act to allow parents of students in low-performing schools to transfer to a better public school. Additionally, states have identified supplemental service providers to provide after-school instruction and tutoring to students enrolled in schools in need of improvement.
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The Bush Administration has approved every state's locally developed education accountability plan. Every state plan is uniquely designed to give parents and communities the tools they need to achieve the fundamental goal of the President's bipartisan education law - making sure that every school is performing at grade level in reading and math.
Since the No Child Left Behind Act was signed into law by President Bush the U.S. Department of Education has been working to implement this landmark Act to ensure that every child receives a high quality education.
In fact, President Bush has announced that his Administration has approved every state's locally developed education accountability plan. Every plan is uniquely designed to give parents and communities the tools they need to achieve the fundamental goal of the President's bipartisan education law - making sure that every school is performing at grade level in reading and math.
Stronger Accountability for Results
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Improving Student Performance: The Act calls for sweeping reform of the Elementary & Secondary Education Act by turning federal spending on schools into a federal investment in improved student performance.
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Setting High Standards: No Child Left Behind redefines the federal role in K-12 education by requiring all states to set high standards of achievement and create a system of accountability to measure results.
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Ensuring that Students Learn: It insists that states set high standards for achievement in reading and math and test every child in grades 3 through 8 to ensure that students are making progress.
Resources to Support the Reforms
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The Resources to Succeed: Under President Bush's leadership federal education funding has increased 59.8% from 2000 to 2003.
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Support for Title I: Federal funding for Title I has increased an estimated $10.4 billion to help disadvantaged students succeed - a 30 percent increase over 2000 levels.
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Recruit and Retain High Quality Teachers: Nearly $3 billion in federal funds were made available under No Child Left Behind to recruit and retain highly qualified teachers and principals.
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Making Sure Every Child Can Read: Federal funding for reading programs increased nearly $1 billion so every child in America learns to read.
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Choices for Parents: Provides an estimated $200 million for charter schools to expand parental choice and free children trapped in persistently failing schools.
Greater Flexibility and Local Control
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Empowering Local Schools: Offers school districts powerful tools to provide the best possible education to all children by cutting federal red tape, by creating broader more flexible federal education programs that place decision-making at the local level where it belongs.
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Trusting Parents and Local Educators: A fundamental principle of No Child Left Behind is that local parents, educators, and school boards know the needs of their students' best and trusts them to make the best decisions for their children.
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Funding Where it Does the Most Good: No Child Left Behind frees local school districts to spend up to half their federal education dollars where they believe it will do the most good for their students.
Expanded Options and Choice for Parents
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Empowering Children in Low Performing Schools: Parents whose children are trapped in low performing schools receive unprecedented federal support including options for children from disadvantaged backgrounds who are trapped in low-performing schools.
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Students in failing schools may transfer to higher-performing public schools or get help such as tutoring.
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Students in dangerous schools may transfer to safer public schools.
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Inform parents by requiring states to provide annual report cards of school performance and statewide progress.
Emphasis on Teaching Methods that Work
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President Bush supports reading instruction based upon research-based methods that work to ensure that every public school child reads at or above grade level by third grade.
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The No Child Left Behind Act strengthens teacher quality for public schools by investing in training and retention of high-quality teachers.
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A National Security Strategy that Meets the Challenges of Our
Time
Defending our nation against its enemies is the first and fundamental commitment of the federal government. On September the 11th, 2001, America learned that oceans will no longer protect us from the threats of a new era. On that day, the President set in motion a relentless worldwide campaign against terrorists, in order to secure our homeland and to make the world a more peaceful place.
In September 2002, the President defined and sent to Congress the National Security Strategy of the United States of America. In it he offers a bold vision for protecting our Nation that realizes today's new realities and new opportunities. It calls on America to use our position of unparalleled strength and influence to create a balance of power that favors freedom.
The strategy has three pillars:
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We will defend the peace by opposing and preventing violence by terrorists and outlaw regimes.
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We will preserve the peace by fostering an era of good relations among the world's great powers.
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And we will extend the peace by seeking to extend the benefits of freedom and prosperity across the globe.
As the world's most powerful nation, President Bush believes that the United States has a special responsibility to help make the world more secure.
Strenqtheninq America's Defense
President Bush made a clear commitment to provide the nation with the best trained, best equipped and most effective military force in the world - no matter what it takes. The President's budget will enable the Department of Defense to continue waging an aggressive and global war on terrorism while supporting the transformation of our nation's military capabilities. The budget also follows through on the President's continued commitment to improving the quality of life for our military personnel and their families.
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President Bush's budget proposed $379.9 billion for the Department of Defense, increasing defense spending by $15.3 billion.
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The budget fully reflects the Bush Administration's defense strategy, which calls for a focus on countering 21st century threats such as terrorism.
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The United States must strengthen its defenses to protect the nation's interests and to assure a leading role in global affairs.
The President believes that the men and women who choose to serve this country deserve not only our respect, but also our support in terms of pay, housing and other quality-of-life issues.
Increasing Military Pay
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The President is committed to taking good care of our military personnel and their families. His fiscal year 2004 budget builds on pay increases of 4% or more in the last two budgets.
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The budget funds a range of military pay increases from 2 to 6.25%, targeted by rank and years of service. These pay increases enhance our military's ability to retain its most experienced, soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines.
Renovating Military Housing
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The President is committed to a full range of quality of life programs, including the renovation of military housing.
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In 2002 President Bush made sure that there was an additional $400 million made available to improve military housing.
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The 2004 budget keeps the Department of Defense on track in its plan to eliminate inadequate military housing. 163,000 inadequate housing units will be eliminated by 2007.
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The Bush Administration proposes to reduce average out-of-pocket expenses for military families living in local communities to zero by 2005. During 2003, such expenses will drop to 7.5% from 15.0% in 2001.
Improving Military Training
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The FY 04 budget sustains increased funding levels for training from last year, so that U.S. forces are fully prepared for waging the war on terror and meeting other commitments. The budget robustly funds the Services' training goals, as measured in aircraft flying hours, ship steaming days, and ground vehicle miles.
Winning the War on Terror
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In 2003, coalition forces acted with skill and bravery to liberate the Iraqi people and remove a grave and gathering danger to America and the world.
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In 2001, with less than a month's notice, American and British forces joined with local antiTaliban troops in an assault on the al Qaeda network and the Taliban regime that gave it safe harbor in Afghanistan.
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In both cases, decisive victories were achieved by integrating real time intelligence with sophisticated technologies in cooperation with indigenous forces.
Missile Defense
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During the 2000 campaign, President Bush said, "America's development of a missile defense is a search for security, not a search for advantage."
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The President is committed to developing effective missile defenses based on the best available technologies, to be deployed at the earliest possible date. These defenses will be designed to protect our deployed forces abroad, all 50 States, and our friends and allies overseas.
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In December 2001, following months of negotiations and discussions with Russia, the United States provided a formal six-month notice that it was withdrawing from the ABM Treaty.
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The President's FY04 Budget provides over $9 billion to begin the deployment of defenses against long-range ballistic missile threats, including new interceptors to be deployed over the next two years.
Strengthen Intelligence
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The President proposed increases of between $2 billion and $3 billion in intelligence spending, to a total of nearly $35 billion.
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Included in that proposal are enhancements to the capabilities of the FBI and other law enforcement/intelligence agencies.
Stealth Ships/Long-Range Missiles
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The FY 03 budget funds four Trident ballistic missile submarines converted to submarines equipped with long-range cruise missiles.
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The Navy awarded a $2.9 billion contract to begin building so-called "stealth ships" that can
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better evade radar detection.
Strengthening Intelligence to Better Protect America
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In his State of the Union Address, President Bush announced a new initiative to better protect America by continuing to close the "seam" between analysis of foreign and domestic intelligence on terrorism. Elements of the Department of Homeland Security, the FBI's Counterterrorism Division, the DCI's Counterterrorist Center, and the Department of Defense have come together to form a Terrorist Threat Integration Center to fuse and analyze allsource information related to terrorism.
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This new center is working to merge and analyze terrorist-related information collected domestically and abroad in order to form the most comprehensive possible threat picture.
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Since September 11, 2001, our government has been working together and sharing information like never before. The President is committed to ensuring that intelligence information from all sources is shared, integrated, and analyzed seamlessly - and then acted upon quickly.
Transforming the Military/Next Generation Weapons
The President also worked to fund the following next-generation weapons:
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Unmanned aerial vehicles such as those used in the war against terrorism, which provide greater, longer-endurance intelligence and combat capabilities directly to the war-fighter at far less cost and risk to military personnel than manned aircraft;
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Unmanned underwater vehicles that can greatly extend the range and capabilities of submarines and surface ships at less cost and without risk to sailors;
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The Army's Land Warrior technology, which digitizes the communications and intelligence capabilities of the individual infantry soldier to enhance situational awareness and combat capability;
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Small precision bombs, which increase the quantity of targets that each individual aircraft can strike;
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Bunker-defeating munitions to target the growing threats of deeply hidden weapons of mass destruction; and
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Space-based radar and space control systems, which enhance our surveillance capabilities and our capabilities to collect and utilize information from space.
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Preserving the Beauty and Quality of Our Environment
President Bush believes that good stewardship of the environment is not just a personal responsibility, it is a public value. Americans are united in the belief that it is important to preserve our natural heritage and safeguard the land around us.
The President has launched initiatives that express this same commitment. His Administration has acted in a comprehensive way to achieve impressive results. By almost every indicator, environmental quality in the United States is improving with cleaner air, water, and land, and improved public health.
The President believes that the federal government has an important role to play in protecting our environment and he has introduced new and innovative policies to achieve these goals. The President favors common-sense approaches to improving the environment while protecting the quality of American life. Over the past two-and-a-half years, the Administration has introduced initiatives that have already begun to deliver significant environmental results for all Americans.
Hydrogen Fuel - A Clean and Secure Energy Future
In his State of the Union address, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel initiative to reverse the nation's growing dependence on foreign oil by developing the technology for hydrogen-powered fuel cells to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses with no pollution or greenhouse gases. The hydrogen fuel initiative will include $720 million in new funding over the next five years to develop the technologies and infrastructure to produce, store, and distribute hydrogen for use in fuel cell vehicles and electricity generation. Combined with the FreedomCAR (Cooperative Automotive Research) initiative, President Bush is proposing a total of $1.7 billion over the next five years to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and advanced automotive technologies.
Under the President's hydrogen fuel initiative, the first car driven by a child born today could be powered by fuel cells. The hydrogen fuel initiative supplements the President's existing FreedomCAR initiative, which is developing technologies needed for mass production of safe and affordable hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles. Through partnerships with the private sector, the hydrogen fuel initiative and FreedomCAR will make it practical and affordable for Americans to choose to use clean, hydrogen fuel cell vehicles by 2020. This will dramatically improve America's energy security by significantly reducing the need for imported oil, as well as help clean our air and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Clear Skies - Clean Air for the 21st Century
Clear Skies, President Bush's initiative to improve the nation's air quality, is the most aggressive initiative in American history to cut power plant emissions, as well as a bold new strategy for addressing global climate change. Clear Skies would dramatically improve air quality by cutting power plant emissions of three critical pollutants - sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and mercury - by 70 percent, more than any other presidential clean air initiative. These reductions would be mandatory and would achieve 35 million more tons of reductions from Clear Skies in the next decade than what we could get under business as usual with the current Clean Air Act.
The President's historic proposal would bring cleaner air to Americans faster, more reliably, and more cost-effectively than under current law. It would save Americans as much as $1 billion annually in compliance costs that are passed along to American consumers, while improving air quality and protecting the reliability and affordability of electricity for consumers. Clear Skies would cut pollution further, faster, cheaper - and with more certainty - eliminating the need for expensive and uncertain litigation as a means of achieving clean air.
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Healthy Forests - Safeguarding People, Wildlife and Ecosystems
Last year catastrophic wildfires burned more than 6 million acres of land, killed more than 20 firefighters, destroyed more than 2,000 buildings, and caused severe environmental damage. These catastrophic wildfires destroy everything in their path - people, their property, wildlife habitats, watersheds and entire ecosystems. It can take decades for these forests to recover. For over a century, the federal government has done nothing to eliminate dense undergrowth and ladder fuels, and it has suppressed most of the natural fires that serve to clear out brush and undergrowth. As a result, about 190 million acres of our nation's forests are in bonfire conditions.
The President's Healthy Forests Initiative is returning the nation's forests to their natural condition by reducing unnecessary regulatory obstacles that hinder active forest management. Healthy Forests will restore forests and rangelands to their natural, healthy, fire-resistant conditions and prevent these catastrophic wildfires to the benefit of communities, wildlife habitat and the landscape.
Brownfields Cleanup - Revitalizing Abandoned Sites in Our Cities and Towns
American cities have many such eyesores — anywhere from 500,000 to a million brownfields are across our nation. These areas once supported manufacturing and commerce, and now lie empty — adding nothing of value to the community, and sometimes only causing problems. Fulfilling an important campaign pledge, the President signed historic bipartisan brownfields reform legislation in January 2002. President Bush is committed to accelerating the cleanup and redevelopment of contaminated, underutilized industrial sites. The revitalization of brownfields serves to improve the environment, protect public health, create jobs, and revitalize communities. The President's FY04 budget proposal provides $211 million - almost 130 percent more than when President Bush took office - for EPA's brownfields cleanup program.
The President's Farm Bill - Helping America's Farmers Conserve Their Land
The Administration believes that there are no better stewards of the land than people who rely on the productivity of the land. The President continues to implement a farm bill that enhances conservation and environmental stewardship. The legislation will greatly enhance the ability of America's farmers and ranchers to protect wetlands, water quality, and wildlife habitat.
To help them live up to the newer and higher environmental standards, the President's farm bill expands the ECP program, which provides financial assistance to our farmers and ranchers to encourage sound conservation. The farm bill will provide over $40 billion over the next decade in funds for conservation programs that will restore millions of acres of wetlands, conserve water, and improve streams and rivers.
Diesel Regulations - Tackling Emissions for Cleaner Air
The Administration has aggressively tackled diesel emissions with modern regulations - a new mandate on oil producers to reduce the sulfur in diesel fuel, an innovative program requiring cleaner diesel engines on new trucks, an initiative to cut diesel pollution from aging school bus fleets, and new rules to reduce emissions from non-road vehicles.
The President's non-road diesel regulation has been widely praised by environmental groups, with some hailing it as providing potentially the greatest health benefits since lead was removed from gasoline some 20 years ago.
Global Environment - Meeting the Challenge of Global Climate Change
President Bush has committed America to an aggressive strategy to meet the challenge of longwww.
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term global climate change by reducing the greenhouse gas intensity of our economy by 18 percent over the next 10 years. The Administration's climate change policy is science-based, it encourages research breakthroughs that lead to technological innovation; and it takes advantage of the power of markets. It will encourage global participation and will pursue actions that will help ensure continued economic growth and prosperity for our citizens and for citizens throughout the world.
This goal is supported by a broad range of domestic and international climate change initiatives, including $4.4 billion in FY04 for climate change. This includes a significant investment of $1.75 billion in climate change science research to address critical gaps of understanding our global climate system and over $500 million in tax incentives to improve energy efficiency and promote renewable energy in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Our Oceans - Improving Ocean Conservation in the National Park System
The National Park Service has begun restoring marine ecosystems in close cooperation with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and state and local governments. New management tools, including networks of marine reserves and natural area research have been established to restore coral reefs, kelp forests and their diverse communities of marine life.
The President's Budget - Funding Conservation for Today and Tomorrow
At $44.9 billion, the President's FY04 environment and natural resources budget request is the highest ever. The Budget funds the nation's priorities of protecting our drinking water, reducing pollution, cleaning up industrial waste sites, protecting our national parks and refuges, and helping farmers conserve on private lands as well.
The President's budget proposal includes a $10 million increase for EPA from FY03 to strengthen EPA's core operating programs for air, water, land and enforcement activities. The budget also includes $3.9 billion for the U.S. Department of Agriculture for farm conservation funding, over $500 million more than last year, and $4.4 billion for federal climate-related programs, a commitment unmatched by any other nation.
A Commitment to Protect our Environment
President Bush and his Administration are building on 30 years of successful environmental improvements. Our air is cleaner, our drinking water is purer, and our land is better protected.
There is a growing consensus in America in favor of common-sense approaches to improving the environment while protecting the quality of American life. The Bush Administration will continue to pursue the President's comprehensive environmental agenda and provide the public and private resources needed to make new investments in environmental technologies and conservation.
Americans understand their obligation to the environment more so than in the years past. Americans understand that good stewardship is a personal responsibility, and a public value. The President believes that it is important for Americans to understand that each of us have a responsibility, and that it’s a part of our value system in our country to assume that responsibility.
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The President's Plan to Strengthen Retirement Security
President Bush believes that we need to explore new ways to ensure that Social Security remains strong and financially secure for America's children and grandchildren. The President formed a bipartisan Presidential Commission to review Social Security and recommend reforms to put the system on sound financial ground. He has repeatedly stressed the need for modernization of the Social Security System. President Bush has also proposed solutions to strengthen pension plans and enhance retirement security for all Americans.
The President's plan to strengthen retirement security includes:
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Creating a Society of Stakeholders: President Bush supports the creation of Individual Development Accounts, providing savings matches for low-income Americans to accounts that would grow tax-free. The President's Social Security framework would also give all wage earners the opportunity to invest in financial assets, an opportunity that only half of Americans can now afford.
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Expanding Ownership of Retirement Assets: The tax relief legislation signed into law by the President in 2001 provided almost $50 billion dollars of tax relief over the next ten years to strengthen retirement security.
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Ensuring Freedom of Choice: The President's proposal would ensure that workers who have participated in 401(k) plans for three years are given the freedom to choose where to invest their retirement savings. The President has also proposed that choice be a feature of Social Security itself, allowing individuals to voluntarily invest a portion of their Social Security taxes in personal retirement accounts.
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Minimizing Risk through Diversification: The President's proposals would ensure that workers can sell company stock and diversify into other investment options, minimizing their risk.
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Strengthening Women's Retirement Security: The President signed into law legislation that would allow for "catch up" contributions to retirement plans, helping millions of American women who took time out from the work force to care for dependent family members. The President's Social Security Commission also made a number of recommendations to vastly improve the treatment of women through Social Security, including the creation of property rights in a personal account for every woman who experiences a divorce, expanded benefits for widows, and new "anti-poverty" benefit guarantees that would benefit women.
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Helping Future Generations Achieve the American Dream: The President has proposed extending Social Security to include inheritable assets. This provision would assist communities where life expectancies are unfortunately shorter than national averages, including African American households.
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Spurring National Saving and Economic Growth: Tax relief legislation signed into law by the President will accelerate economic growth by expanding national saving. The President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security has found that the President's Social Security initiative would "lead to increased national saving" in a way that is necessary to foster longterm economic growth.
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President Calls on Congress to Act on Energy Plan
Energy has enormous implications for our economy, our environment, and our national security. In May 2001, two and a half years ago, President Bush proposed a comprehensive National Energy Policy to address the underlying causes of the energy challenges that Americans face.
The President has called on Congress to pass comprehensive energy legislation that will provide reliable, affordable and environmentally-sound energy for America's future. An energy bill will bolster our economic security and our national security, and the President looks forward to signing fiscally responsible legislation that will reduce our dependence on foreign sources of energy and modernize our antiquated electricity delivery system.
The President is committed to a national energy plan that, combined with regulatory and administrative actions, will provide a comprehensive and forward-looking strategy to utilize 21st century technology to allow us to promote conservation and diversify our energy supply.
America's energy security is threatened by our dependence on foreign oil. The President is committed to the successful development of commercially viable, emissions-free fuel cell vehicles. In his 2003 State of the Union address, President Bush announced a $1.2 billion hydrogen fuel initiative to develop the technology for commercially viable hydrogen-powered fuel cells to power cars, trucks, homes and businesses with no pollution or greenhouse gases. Combined with the FreedomCAR. (Cooperative Automotive Research) initiative, President Bush is proposing a total of $1.7 billion over the next five years to develop hydrogen-powered fuel cells, hydrogen infrastructure and advanced automotive technologies.
The President believes that ensuring an affordable, reliable energy supply is critical for our sustained economic growth. Businesses depend on affordable and reliable energy supplies. Energy shortages, price spikes, and blackouts disrupt the economy and discourage businesses from planning with confidence and adding new workers. President Bush has proposed a plan to upgrade the nation's electrical grid, promote energy efficiency, increase domestic energy production, and provide enhanced conservation efforts, all while protecting the environment.
The President's energy plan will increase the quality of life of Americans by providing reliable energy and protecting the environment by meeting specific national goals:
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Modernizing and increasing conservation by ensuring that energy is used as efficiently as possible;
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Modernizing and expanding our energy infrastructure;
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Diversifying our energy supply by encouraging renewable and alternative sources of energy;
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Accelerating the protection and improvement of the environment; and
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Strengthening America's energy security by reducing our dependence on foreign sources of oil, and by protecting low-income Americans from soaring energy prices and supply shortages.
As the recent blackout demonstrated, the nation cannot afford to lurch from crisis to crisis. America needs a comprehensive approach to our energy needs to ensure a steady, affordable, and reliable supply of energy for the future.
Background on the President's National Energy Plan
In May 2001, two and a half years ago, President Bush proposed a comprehensive National Energy Policy and has taken steps to implement it.
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The President's national energy plan included 105 recommendations, a number of which were very specific to the transmission grid.
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About 90 of the recommendations have either been implemented by the Administration or are awaiting action by the Congress.
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DOE expanded research and development on transmission reliability and superconductivityincreasing our superconductivity budget by close to 50 percent.
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DOE formed a Transmission Grid Study Team that conducted a detailed assessment of our Nation's transmission system and released a National Grid Study in May 2002. It presented 51 additional recommendations. The Administration has been implementing these important steps to help ensure a reliable transmission grid for the 21st century.
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DOE has consulted with more than 250 electric industry executives, equipment manufacturers, and Federal and local electricity policy officials to develop ways to modernize the grid.
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Restoring Jobs and Rebuilding Our Economy
George W Bush has chosen tax cuts for the wealthy and special favors for the special interests over our economic future. John Kerry's priority will be middle class families who are working hard to cover the mortgage, pay the high cost of health care, child care and tuition, or just trying to get ahead.
The first thing John Kerry will do is fight his heart out to bring back the three million jobs that have been lost under George W. Bush. He will fight to restore the jobs lost under Bush in the first 500 days of his administration. Kerry has proposed creating jobs through a new manufacturing jobs credit, by investing in new energy industries, restoring technology, and stopping layoffs in education.
John Kerry has a plan to secure America's economic future and ensure that workers can achieve the American dream in our changing economy. John Kerry has the courage to roll back Bush's tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans so we can invest in education and healthcare. He isn't afraid to crack down on corporations that are hiding their money in Bermuda to avoid paying their fair share and will end special tax giveaways to companies that ship jobs abroad. And he will defend the rights of workers, consumers and shareholders in holding corporations accountable for their actions.
John Kerry's Plan to Create 10 Million Jobs
The Most Sweeping International Tax Reform in Over Four Decades in Order to Encourage Companies to Create Jobs in America and Stop Shifting Jobs Overseas for Tax Reasons
John Kerry is unveiling a comprehensive economic agenda that will unleash the productive potential of America's economy to help it create 10 million jobs in his first term as President. Over the next several weeks, Kerry will unveil a series of proposals that will restore confidence in the economy and spur job creation.
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John Kerry: Protecting America's Jobs
Outline Places to Address Outsourcing - Part of Comprehensive Plan for American Jobs
"Under this Administration, America's middle class has been abandoned - its dreams denied, its Main Street interests ignored and its mainstream values scorned by a White House that puts privilege first," said John Kerry. "Middle class Americans don't ask for special favors, they just want basic fairness, and a President who fights for that ideal."
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John Kerry Jobs Tour
While President Bush continues to send jobs overseas, today Democratic presidential candidate John Kerry, elected officials and labor leaders will fan out to Super Tuesday states as part of a nationwide jobs tour to meet and talk with workers about the devastating impact of the Bush economy on middle class families and outline John Kerry's plan to put America back on track.
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Priorities
E Reviving American Manufacturing
EState Tax Relief and Education Fund to Create Jobs and Stop Painful Budget Cuts
E Provide Tax Relief to Middle Class Families
BPrepare Americans for 21st Century Jobs by Opening the Doors of College for All
Over the past two years, the cost to attend a public four-year college has increased by 10 percent, and the cost to attend a public two-year college has increased by 8 percent.
Students are leaving college with more debt than ever before and many students are dropping out altogether because they cannot pay the bills. John Kerry believes that all Americans deserve the opportunity to attend college. It is critical to their future and to our nation's economy. Those who have a college degree will make on average twice as much over the course of their lifetime and seventy percent more every year than someone who does not have a college degree.
John Kerry's will create a new "College Opportunity Tax Credit" that will make four years of college affordable for all Americans. He will provide a credit for each and every year of college on the first $4,000 paid in tuition - the typical tuition for public colleges. The credit will provide 100% of the first $1000 and 50% on the rest. It will also make this credit refundable so that it helps the most vulnerable students. John Kerry has also proposed a "Service for College" plan, which will provide the cost of four years at a public college to young people in exchange for serving their communities and country in national service for two years. His plan says to all students, if you work hard and give to your country, your country will make sure you can afford a college education no matter who you are.
> See John Kerry's plan to Make College Affordable
E Making Corporate America Live by America's Values
IB Protect the American Worker
•+ Restore Fiscal Discipline to Washington
EEarned Legalization
SClose the Pay Gap
EExpand Economic Opportunity for Women
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A Strategy to Win the Peace in Iraq
Level with the American People. Kerry recognizes that the security situation is deteriorating and dangerous. He believes we should stop sugar-coating what's going on in Iraq. Our troops know how bad it is there. It doesn't help them for the White House to suggest we are making so much progress when we are not.
Supply Our Military Commanders with the Additional Troops Requested. We have to succeed in Iraq. We simply can't allow it to become a failed state. That would mean a victory for extremism, new dangers in the Middle East and a breeding ground for anti-American terrorism. To succeed, we are going to need more forces on a temporary basis. Our commanders on the ground have requested it. We should provide it.
Launch a Diplomatic Strategy that will Work. Kerry supports the plan outlined by UN Special Representative Lakhdar Brahimi. The US should immediately seek a UN Security Council resolution authorizing a mission with responsibility for the transition and elections. Kerry believes that we need to get the Iraqi Governing Council to accept the Brahimi Plan.
Establish An International Mission to Ensure Stability and Set up Elections. Kerry believes we need a plan for the period after June 30 when the interim government takes control. We should establish an international mission authorized by the UN to work with the interim government on governance issues, including elections and the reconstruction of Iraq and rebuilding the Iraqi economy. A respected non-American who has the confidence of the UN Security Council should then be asked to run the mission in order to decrease the perception of an American occupation.
Transform U.S. Force into a NATO Security Force Commanded by an American, and Bring in Other Countries. Kerry believes it is possible to transform the U.S. force into a NATO force, commanded by an American. We should send a high-level mission to consult with our NATO partners to encourage their participation and get other countries to participate so that American soldiers and the American people are not bearing nearly all the burden and all the risk. The whole world has an interest in a stable Iraq, but the White House hasn't demonstrated the ability to bring in our friends and allies in a substantial way.
A Strategy for Iraq — John Kerry's Washington Post article
Winning the Peace in Iraq
Excerpts from the speech to the Brookings Institution
Excerpts from the speech to the Council on Foreign Relations
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Protecting Our Military Families in Times of War
John Kerry has proposed a Military Family Bill of Rights that will provide our military families with competitive pay, good housing, decent health care, quality education for their children, first rate training, and the best possible weaponry, armor, and state-of-the-art equipment.
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Four-Step Plan to Restore Medicare
John Kerry's four-step plan will help restore Medicare and provide real prescription drug relief for all Americans. In his first 100 days as President, Kerry will propose a bill that keeps Medicare strong, instead of privatizing it, and allows seniors to choose their doctor, instead of forcing them into HMOs.
"If you want to see a prime example of Republican's working for powerful interests, just look at this latest Medicare bill. This bill is less about prescription drug benefits and more a
To Change America
> Read More About the First 100 Days
prescription to benefit big drug companies," said John Kerry. "Say what you want about President Bush, it's clear his powerful campaign contributors get what they pay for. But we're getting left with the tab. The AARP pays actors to play seniors in TV commercials. But real-life seniors are getting left out in the cold."
Four Steps
Bl) Lower Prescription Drug Costs: Don't Raise Drug Company Profits -
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Give Choices to Seniors - Not Giveaways to HMOs:
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Expand Prescription Coverage: Don't Take it Away for Those Who Have It-
54)
Assure Seniors Have Real Medicare Drug Plan: Not Forced into HMOs -
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To Change America
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> Find out More About the First 100 Days
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John Kerry Unveils Three-Point Plan to Keep Every Kid Safe, Healthy and Ready to Learn
Calls for Safety Labels for Food Allergens, Comprehensive Standards for Early Childhood Education, and Health Care Coverage for Every Child
December 10, 2003
For Immediate Release Manchester, NH -
At a childcare center in Manchester, John Kerry outlined a three- point plan today to make kids safer and healthier and assure they enter school ready to learn. His plan includes a new Kids Safety Effort requiring safety labels for food allergens and mandatory testing of prescription drugs used for treating children; setting comprehensive standards for early childhood education; and providing health insurance for every child in America.
"In my first one hundred days as president, I will set the nation on course to achieve unprecedented levels of quality education, child
care, and health care for America's children. America should be committed to expanding opportunities for learning enhancing early childhood development and my Administration will lead the way," said John Kerry. "My comprehensive plan to provide for America's children is an example of the kind of leadership America is craving for from its president. It provides real solutions to the problems are families are facing every day and it is a real plan to leave no child behind."
John Kerry proposed a New "Kids Safety Effort" at the Food and Drug Administration that would require testing for prescriptions used for children and require any food containing a major allergen to be labeled clearly and consistently. This effort also would:
Encourage States to Require Booster Seats for Children. John Kerry will work with states to require the use of booster seats, which prevents the injurious effects caused by children wearing adult belts.
Address the Childhood Obesity Epidemic. John Kerry will launch a program to train health professionals and school administrators and parents to educate them about preventing and treating obesity and encouraging physical activity.
Keeping the Environment Clean and Safe for Our Children. Kerry will get rid of the rollbacks of the Clean Air Act. He also believes polluters, not taxpayers, should have to pay to clean up our nation's most toxic sites, reducing the exposure in nearby communities.
John Kerry's plan provide the states and communities with funding to implement the high quality standards found in the military's child care system and that will improve workforce quality, including: uniform standards to improve quality, workforce education and training and
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compensation to reward high quality providers and improving quality and safety by requiring criminal background checks.
"Parents shouldn't be forced to send their children to unlicensed child care providers because the waiting lists are too long everywhere else. That's why I'll create an 'Excellence in Early Care and Education' fund that will make sure your children will receive quality care from highly- trained professionals. With your help, I'll be a President who will make childcare a priority, and early childhood education a national way of life," said Kerry.
John Kerry believes that we have a moral obligation to cover America's children. His plan would assure that nearly 99 percent of all children have health care coverage. Kerry's plan would include:
A New Deal to Provide Health Coverage to Every Child. Kerry's plan would assure that the Federal government picks up the cost of the nearly 20 million kids enrolled in Medicaid in exchange for states covering kids in the Children's Health Insurance Program.
Making Sure All Children Are Eligible. Kerry's swap plan would require states to cover children in families making up to $60,000; eliminate the current 5-year waiting period for eligibility for legal immigrant pregnant women and children; and enable children with disabilities to keep their health care coverage when their parents return to work.
Assuring Automatic Enrollment. The Kerry plan would assure every child gets health care coverage by automatic enrolling kids when they come to school with a simple form. Since the Federal government would be picking up the costs for these kids, this would not undermine states' fiscal situation.
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> Read the Entire Plan
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Plan to Respond to the Domestic AIDS Crisis
Will Invest In Combating the AIDS Epidemic at Home
:■ International Plan
Plan to Respond to the Domestic AIDS Crisis
SIncrease Funding for Programs Assisting People Living with HIV/AIDS
ffl Expanding AIDS Research
ffiA Leader in the Fight Against AIDS
ESupport Comprehensive Prevention and Fight Discrimination
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John Kerry supports a comprehensive, science-based approach to prevention and reject discrimination against people with HIV/AIDS. He supports integrated care and prevention programs and will work to end the HIV travel and immigration ban. John Kerry will also end the federal ban on syringe exchange and harm reduction programs to prevent the spread of HIV.
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Combat the Disproportionate Impact of HIV on Minority Populations: In 2001, minority populations accounted for 70 percent of all new AIDS cases in the United States. There is a critical need to understand the underlying causes of the increasing concentration of HIV cases in minority populations. We must address whether current prevention efforts and public health programs are effectively targeting the epidemic in different communities. John Kerry supports the highest level of funding for the Minority HIV/AIDS Initiative (MHAI) which assists in community efforts to improve the public health infrastructure to better respond to the epidemic. John Kerry also supports the Leadership Campaign on AIDS to engage minority community leaders in the effort to combat the AIDS epidemic in their communities.
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Affordable Health Care for Every American
John Kerry believes that your family's health is just as important as any politician s in Washington. That's why he will give every American access to the health care plan that the President and Members of Congress already have. John Kerry has the courage to take on special interests to get health care costs under control. He will stand up to big insurance and drug companies that impede progress. And John Kerry's health care plan takes care of our most vulnerable citizens by covering every child and preserving and strengthening Medicare.
George Bush has chosen to lavish tax cuts upon the wealthiest among us while working Americans struggle to afford health care for their families. John Kerry will take a different path. The American health care system has the world's best doctors and nurses, the finest hospitals and the most effective drugs. But far too many Americans can't afford or access the system. John Kerry's health care plan will start by expanding health care coverage to 96 percent of Americans - including nearly all children. Kerry is also committed to assuring high quality health care by including a strong enforceable patients'bill of rights and reducing medical errors.
Affordable Health Care for All Americans
Remarks by John Kerry at Mercy Medical December 14, 2003
"Seven months ago, I unveiled my health care plan at Mercy Medical in Des Moines. On that day, I vowed to fight for the day when affordable health care
is a right, not a privilege, for every American. I vowed to fight for the 40 million uninsured Americans who have no coverage - including the nearly quarter of a million who live right here
in Iowa. I vowed to fight for senior citizens forced to choose between their meals and their
medicine."
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Kerry's Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors
President George Bush has promised to give seniors more choices for affordable prescription drugs, but he broke that promise by signing legislation that rewarded industry profits rather than Americans seniors. At an event with Illinois Governor Blagojevich, John Kerry highlights his plan to lower prescription drug prices for America's seniors.
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Four-Point Plan to Strengthen Medicare
John Kerry today outlined a four-step plan to restore Medicare and provide real prescription
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drug relief for all Americans. In his first 100 days as President, Kerry will propose a bill that keeps Medicare strong, instead of privatizing it, and allows seniors to choose their doctor, instead of forcing them into HMOs.
> Read the Plan to Restore Medicare :■ Read More About the First 100 Days
Three-Point Plan to Keep Every Kid Safe, Healthy and Ready to Learn
John Kerry outlined a three-point plan today to make kids safer and healthier and assure they enter school ready to learn. His plan includes a new Kids Safety Effort requiring safety labels for food allergens and mandatory testing of prescription drugs used for treating children; setting comprehensive standards for early childhood education; and providing health insurance for every child in America.
> More
Plan to Respond to the International and Domestic AIDS Crisis
As the author of the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS bill ever to pass the Senate and a proven fighter to expand funding for US bilateral and global AIDS programs, John Kerry understands that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has implications for the life and death of millions of men, women and children across the globe as well as for global security.
:■ International Plan > Domestic Plan
Priorities
ffiGive Every American Access to the Same Plan As Members of Congress
EBGuaranteed Health Care for Every Child
ffiSupport Medical Research and Assure All Americans from Benefit from the More Effective Treatment
ffi) Make Health Care More Affordable
ISProtecting Medicare
ISA New Approach to Control Spiraling Health Care Costs
ESAffordable Prescription Drugs for All
GBAssuring Fairness for People with Mental Health Needs
ffi Making Malpractice Insurance More Affordable
SA Strong Enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights
E Protect the Right to Choose
ffi Protecting Women's Health
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Plan to Make America Stronger and Safer
BA NATIONAL 'DEFEND AMERICA' INITIATIVE.
Americans showed on September 11th that they want to contribute to their communities and their country. People waited hours to donate blood or help grieving families. Yet the Bush Administration has asked little of Americans, focusing instead on giving more tax cuts for the wealthy. John Kerry believes winning the war against terrorism will require tapping the best our country has to offer and asking more of Americans. He would start by:
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Enlisting the National Guard in Homeland Security. Homeland security should be a central mission of the National Guard. Guard members should be trained to serve as personnel in the event of an attack, helping evacuate or quarantine people, assisting in medical units; and helping communities set up and execute plans.
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Expanding Americorps to Make Homeland Security a Core Mission. Since 9/11, applications to Americorps have increased by 50 percent and applications to Teach for America have tripled. Unfortunately, the Bush Administration promised to double Americorps and then stood by as Congressional Republicans cut it in half. John Kerry believes that Americorps should be doubled and its mission expanded to include homeland security. Americorps members could be trained to help in emergency medical response, community planning, and other homeland security activities.
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Creating a New Community Defense Service. This service would be comprised of hundreds of thousands of Americans in neighborhoods all over the country. Volunteer Service Captains would receive training and education to assist their communities in the event of an attack Like the Civil Defense Program that existed during World War II, service captains would act as a 21st century Neighborhood Watch. They would be trained to help identify local health professionals and experts in the area, provide information on local evacuation or quarantine plans, and stand ready to be of assistance to first defenders in the hours after an attack — providing needed manpower to deal with the aftermath.
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Calling on the Private Sector to Help Bring Technological Innovations to the War on Terrorism. During World War II, the U.S. government brought together our greatest thinkers, scientists, academics and policymakers through the Manhattan Project to design new tools for warfare. John Kerry believes we need a similar effort to bring the advances of the 21st century to the War on Terrorism. This should include: gathering the nation's greatest scientists to develop needed vaccines and antidotes to the biological and chemical scourges (similar to the work that is already being done to protect troops on the battlefield from biological and chemical agents); partnering with the technology community to improve detection technologies and developing and implementing new security systems to prevent tampering with goods in transit.
SA NEW 'FIRST DEFENDERS' INITIATIVE TO ASSURE LOCAL RESPONDERS ARE EQUIPPED AND READY.
Too often law enforcement officers, firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) are operating in a vacuum, and in many communities, are understaffed. America would not ask our military to go with inadequate staffing or equipment, and the same should hold true for domestic responders. However, again and again, the Bush Administration has turned the other way when it comes to real money for first responders. John Kerry believes first defenders should be a priority now. The First Defenders Program would do just that by:
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Assuring First Defenders Have the Gear To Do Their Jobs Safely and Effectively. Nearly four out of five mayors have reported a funding shortfall for
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necessary threat detection or emergency preparedness equipment. First defenders often don't have the protective gear or other emergency response equipment to help react in the critical first hours after an attack. The government should immediately fund the backlog of requests for protective gear, assuring that these resources go directly to responders, rather than trickling through the bureaucracy.
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Ending the Cop Crunch. Even before 9/11, many cities were having trouble recruiting police officers as fast as they were losing them. President Bush made this problem even worse by cutting the Federal COPs program. As a result, police officers receive fewer resources to double up on duty, doing their normal responsibilities as well as focusing on homeland security. Americans shouldn't have to face rising crime in their communities to fight the war on terrorism. John Kerry believes we should restore funding to COPS to realize its initial mission of 100,000 new police officers.
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Hiring and Equipping the Nation's Firefighters. Today, nearly two-thirds of firehouses are understaffed, making it difficult to deal with traditional fires and medical emergencies as well as terrorism. John Kerry believes we need to create a separate fund - after a hero of September 11th, Father Mychal Judge, the chaplain of the New York City Fire Department who died delivering last rites. The Father Judge Fund would be similar to the COPS program, that goes directly to hire up to 100,000 new firefighters and to provide the equipment necessary to assure firefighters are prepared.
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Determining Basic National Standards So Every Metropolitan Area is Prepared. There are currently no common standards for what basic capabilities every major metropolitan area should have to respond to chemical, biological, and other catastrophic terrorist attacks. Kerry believes the Department of Homeland Security should work with representatives of federal, state, county and local governments; representative of health providers and first responders, and rank and file members to develop appropriate standards for preparedness in our cities and provide resources so communities can meet these goals.
0BRINGING 21ST CENTURY INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY TO THE WAR ON TERROR.
Most firefighters and local police don't have the equipment they need to communicate with each other during an attack. For example, firefighters in the World Trade Center did not have radios that worked indoors. Moreover, many local and state law enforcement agencies don't have access to critical information that would help stop terrorists. In fact, some of the terrorists on 9/11 previously had been pulled over by local law enforcement. John Kerry believes local enforcement agencies must have the information they need to fight terrorism. That includes:
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Assuring First-Responders Can Communicate in an Attack. Existing technologies must be made available to firefighters, police officers, and other first responders to communicate in an attack. The nation should also invest in technologies that make this critical communication even easier. We also need to work with the FCC to assure first defenders have access to the best wavelengths so they can communicate in an emergency.
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Sharing Information With Appropriate State and Local Officials. Appropriate state and local authorities should immediately get access to the 58 national terrorist lists and intelligence officials should work to simplify these lists. Then, as recommended by the Hart-Rudman Commission, a 24-hour operations center should be established in each state to provide a real time intergovernmental link between local and federal law enforcement. Field-level police would contact this center to determine whether to hold or release suspects based on a check of federal databases.
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• Cutting Down on False Identification. Four of the five terrorists who crashed an airliner into the Pentagon had false IDs. Attorney General Ashcroft's solution to address identification challenges has been a wholesale assault on civil liberties. With better technology, we can replace these "big-net" tactics with smarter, more targeted efforts to identify real terrorism suspects. This includes encouraging states to modernize their driver's license and ID systems; strengthening anti-counterfeit safeguards; enabling different state motor vehicle departments to communicate about applicants using false information; and investigating phony identification traffickers.
B REFORMING DOMESTIC INTELLIGENCE
Many of the examinations of 9/11 have raised serious questions about whether the FBI is the right agency to conduct domestic intelligence collection and analysis given their fundamental mission is to catch and prosecute criminals. The Bush Administration's proposed terrorist threat integration center, (TTIC) would not be able to do the job, given its dependence on other agencies' analysts, the bureaucratic divide created between people identifying vulnerabilities and individuals charged with eliminating those vulnerabilities, and the numerous people in charge that could complicate efforts to work with the states and local governments on information sharing. John Kerry believes that simplifying the bureaucratic charts makes more sense. America needs an independent intelligence capability that focuses explicitly on domestic intelligence.
BA NATIONAL HOMELAND HEALTH INITIATIVE
America's public health system has risen to important challenges before, conquering typhoid fever, malaria, small pox, polio and other once common diseases. However, it lacks the advances necessary to detect or contain a major outbreak. There are too few medical personnel trained to spot biological attacks, a shortage of sophisticated laboratories to identify the agents and inadequate supplies of drugs and vaccines to counteract the threat. John Kerry believes we must upgrade the public health system by:
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Connecting the Nation's Public Health Systems with a Real Time Detection System. This initiative would apply the benefits of 21st century modern technology to provide real time reporting of disease outbreaks and track and monitor health trends. Most bioterror illnesses initially look like the flu, and health professionals may not realize a trend. A new real time detection system would pool confidential patient data and pharmacy usage across the country to alert public health officials when disease is on the rise.
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Assuring Health Care Providers Are Prepared to Detect and Respond to an Attack. Today, most doctors and nurses are not adequately trained to detect many biological weapons and hospitals are not prepared to respond to a mass crisis. This initiative would provide training to health providers and assist hospitals and other providers in developing plans for a surge in patients.
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Increasing Research for Diagnostic Tests, Vaccines, and Treatments. When penicilln was discovered, it was found to treat a wide range of illnesses. Later, Cipro treated a wide range of bacterial diseases, including anthrax Terrorist organizations and hostile dictators are trying to create new biological weapons that will kill us fast with designer variations on existing diseases. We need to bring together the best of the public and private sectors to develop broad-spectrum designer antidotes so that our first responders - and our population -- can be protected and treated from the widest possible range of attacks.
BDEFENDING OUR SKIES, SEA, AND LAND
Currently, 95% of all non-North American U.S. trade moves by sea, concentrated mostly in a
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handful of ports. Everyday we import millions of cargo containers, any one of which could contain deadly threats to our people such as a deadly disease secreted in a shipment of foreign fruit - radioactive material hidden in frozen seafood. If an explosive device were loaded in a container and set off in a port, its results could be catastrophic, not just in terms of the immediate loss of human life, but on the impact on global commerce. John Kerry believes improvements must be made, while recognizing that global prosperity and America's economic power depends on an efficient system. He believes we should:
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Improve Port Security. The Maritime Transportation Act of 2002, which primarily focused on the physical security of ports, is essentially an unfunded mandate, receiving only $200-$300 million extra since 9/11. John Kerry believes we need to develop standards for security at loading facilities for containers and assure facilities can meet basic standards. He also believes America should be researching and developing containers that will be technologically transparent - capable of being inspected instantly by detection and identification equipment. Technology could also improve accuracy and timing for transmitting and sharing data about contents, location, and chain of control involving a container shipment.
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Secure Bridges and Tunnels. Only five major bridges and one tunnel link Ontario to Michigan and New York, and account for 70% of all the trade between the U.S. and Canada. To improve security on this important commerce, John Kerry believes we should accelerate the timetable for the action plans agreed to in the U.S.-Canada and U.S.-Mexico "smart border" accords. America should also work with Canada to implement adequate security measures for cross-border bridges and the Detroit- Windsor tunnel.
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Protect Private Infrastructure. At least 3/4 of the country's major infrastructure is in private hands. However, if even one large facility is hit, with a biological agent or an explosive that releases toxic fumes, thousands - even millions — could die. The economy could also take a huge hit, as emergency measures were taken to figure out how to prevent a repeat and shut down whole industries for weeks or even months. The Bush Administration says we should leave it to big business to make these security improvements themselves, even though they are unlikely to make real changes. Others might want to mandate protective measures with an expensive one- size-fits-all Federal solution. John Kerry believes should work to develop modest, minimal safety standards for certain kinds of industry and infrastructure, look at requiring private terrorism insurance, and helping owners find economical ways to improved security.
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Detailed Plan to Strengthen Public Schools
National Education Trust Fund Part of Plan for First 100 Days
John Kerry is outlining a real plan to improve K-12 education and make sure that all children get the skills they need to meet the needs of the 21st Century economy. John Kerry has consistently criticized George W. Bush for signing the No Child Left Behind Act
To Change America
and then leaving schools in a lurch by not funding the bill. However, he also believes that a President or a Presidential candidate should not just be a Critic-in-Chief,
but should provide a real plan and a real vision for America's schools.
SA Three Part Plan to Improve America's Schools
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First, Kerry will form a New National Education Trust Fund that will guarantee that the Federal government meets its obligation to fully fund education priorities. Our children are too important to be subject to the whims of budget cutters in Washington DC.
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Second, Kerry would fight to change the No Child Left Behind law to assure that our schools focus on teaching high standards to all children, and do not become drill and kill test prep institutions. John Kerry has already proposed the most comprehensive higher education plan of any candidate. Today, he is outlining a plan to assure every child has the skills to be ready for college.
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Third, Kerry is stating his main priorities in education - from higher teacher pay for higher standards to assuring discipline.
HGeorge W. Bush: A Photo-Op President that Shortchanges America's Schools
When it comes to education, George W. Bush has been the photo-op President. He stands with children and teachers for a picture, but he doesn't stand with them when it comes to improving our public schools. In fact, by signing the No Child Left Behind Act and then breaking his promise by not providing the resources to help meet new standards, George Bush has undermined public education for the nation's 53.7 million students. President Bush walked away from his commitment to fund public education, shortchanging public schools by $6 billion this year and he is on track to fall $8 billion short for next year. That means less money for after-school, teacher training, and our highest poverty schools.
HA New National Education Trust Fund
John Kerry believes it is time to stop sending mandates from Washington to school districts without providing the resources needed to carry them out. Kerry will make a new deal on education - if Washington is going to mandate accountability for our schools, then the funding should be mandatory. Kerry is proposing a "National Education Trust Fund to make sure that, for the first time ever, the federal government meets its obligation to fully fund our education priorities.
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A Mandatory Trust Fund: Today, education spending is at the discretion of Congress. That means it is vulnerable to Presidents like George W. Bush who send new mandates to the states, but don't provide the necessary funding. Under Kerry's National Education Trust Fund, any new education program Congress authorizes will be automatically funded by law. That would mean Congress and the Administration would be prohibited from mandating a program and not funding it.
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Full Funding for Elementary and Secondary Education. Kerry's "National Education Trust Fund" will require an increase in our annual investment in education from its current level of $23.8 billion to about $35 billion by 2008 to meet the full commitment of No Child Left Behind. If NCLB were fully funded this year, Iowa would receive an additional $42 million.
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Meeting Our Full Commitment for Special Education. Special education costs are stretching school budgets to the limit, but the federal government only provides less than half of the money that it promised to states and localities to educate children with special needs. The Trust Fund will assure the Federal government meets its full commitment so that children with disabilities get the education they deserve and that funding for special education doesn't come at the expense of other critical education programs. In Iowa, fully funding special education will bring an additional $1.2 billion to the state over the next ten years.
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State Tax Relief and Education Fund. Largely because of the Bush economy, states are being forced to cut back on education. At least 18 states were planning or considering cuts to education this year due to state fiscal crisis. Consequences include teacher layoffs, school closures, and shortened school years. John Kerry has put forward a Fund to stop these cuts. It would invest $25 billion to stop cuts and layoffs in education.
□ Lessons Learned: Improving the No Child Left Behind Act
John Kerry believes that the goals of the No Child Left Behind Act — ensuring that all students learn to high standards and closing the achievement gap - are the right ones for America's children. However, to date we have fallen short of these goals due to insufficient funding and problems with the law. Kerry will make important changes to the No Child Left Behind Act to help students reach high standards.
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Judge Schools On More Than Just Test Scores. Kerry believes that we need to consider indicators of school performance other than simply test scores. Kerry will revise the accountability standards in No Child Left Behind to include ways of assessing student performance in addition to testing. Under Kerry's proposal, states will construct a set of leading indicators, subject to review and approval by the U.S. Department of Education, which will comprise part of the school’s assessment in the NCLB accountability framework. Possible indicators include graduation rates, teacher attendance, parental satisfaction, and student attendance.
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Reward States That Implement High Standards. Kerry is also concerned that No Child Left Behind unintentionally rewards states and districts with low standards and penalizes those with high standards. Since schools, districts, and states are punished if they fail to make adequate progress, the incentive is to set expectations lower rather than higher. Kerry will work to include incentives in the law to reward states, districts, and schools that implement higher standards.
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Ensure the Law Works for States, Schools, and Teachers. John Kerry will also support reforms that give states and school districts greater freedom to target assistance to schools with the most extensive academic difficulties; ensure that the federal government provides funding for professional development requirements in the law; require that every single group or program that receives funding from No Child
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Left Behind fully complies with federal civil rights laws; and close loopholes in the law's definition of "highly qualified" teachers.
□ Improving K-12 Education: Support - Not Soundbites - for America's Teachers.
The evidence is clear that the quality of a student's teacher is the single biggest factor in the quality of a child's education. While most politicians just talk about the importance of teachers, John Kerry believes we must actually do more to support and reward teaching. In order to reach our goal of all students learning to high standards, we need highly-qualified teachers and principals in every school and classroom. This challenge is even greater given that two million teachers must be hired over the next decade to accommodate rapidly growing student enrollment and an aging teaching force.
• "Higher Teacher Pay for Higher Standards" John Kerry believes that we cannot successfully improve public education without paying our teachers like the professionals that they are. Kerry's proposal will provide higher pay for teachers in exchange for implementing higher standards. In order to qualify for funding, school districts will have to submit a plan that includes strong professional development plan for the district's teachers; an aggressive plan to ensure that every teacher is qualified in his/her subject area; and a plan for increasing the number of master teachers and teacher mentors in schools.
EImproving K-12 Education: Recruit and Train School Principals
School Leaders Are Critical to a School's Success. Many of today's principals are reaching the age of retirement, and there is clear evidence that reveals a decline in the number of candidates for each opening. The attrition rate for elementary school principals now stands at 42 percent for the decade from 1988 to 1998, and it is expected to remain at least as high through this decade. A strong principal can create the climate that fosters excellence in teaching and learning while an ineffective one can quickly thwart the progress of the most dedicated teachers and reformers.
John Kerry's Plan to Help Recruit and Train School Leaders. Kerry will invest in high- quality school leaders by providing $120 million annually for the School Leadership Program to recruit and train principals in every low-performing or high-needs school across the country.
HImproving K-12 Education: Ensuring School Discipline and Creating 'Second-Chance Programs'
Classrooms Without Discipline Are Ineffective: If a classroom or a school is not safe and orderly most other education proposals and ideas are ineffective. Kerry will ensure that teachers and school districts can remove chronically disruptive and violent students from the classroom. Violent or disruptive students are often in desperate need of services, supports, and greater levels of attention than are provided in the traditional classroom. We have a choice: Either we can help these young people while they are in school, while we know where to find them or we can deal with them later when they drop out of school or end up in the juvenile justice system.
Kerry's Plan to Assure Discipline and Give Kids a Second Chance. Kerry would rather invest in these young people today. Kerry will ensure that all chronically disruptive or violence students removed from classrooms will be placed in alternative learning environments, "second-chance schools" where they can receive the intensive help and service they need to excel. Kerry will insist that alternative education programs are of high quality so that students can make the progress and improvements necessary to reach high
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standards.
[^Improving K-12 Education: Investing in School Construction and Modernizing
Schools Are in Need of Repair: We can't ask America's kids to meet high standards in schools that are falling down. There are $127 billion worth of school construction and emergency repair needs nationally; 14 million children are learning in substandard schools in need of major renovation; and half of all schools have at least one unsatisfactory environmental condition, such as polluted drinking water or soot-filled ventilation.
Kerry's Plan for School Construction: John Kerry supports allowing the federal government to issue $24.8 billion in school modernization bonds in order to help states and school districts repair and build modern schools. In order to expand choice within the public school system, Kerry's school construction fund will include dedicated funding for charter schools. The greatest barrier to the expansion of charter schools is the lack of funding for facilities.
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A Cleaner and Greener America
Throughout his career, John Kerry has been a top leader on the environment, fighting to clean up toxic waste sites, to keep our air and water clean, and to protect the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and other pristine wilderness areas. In addition to supporting important environmental initiatives, John Kerry has turned a spotlight on the Bush Administration's rollbacks of our hard-won environmental gains and their outdated, old-economy notions that our environment must be sacrificed in the name of short-term profit. John Kerry has the courage to take on the polluters that are trying to gut our clean air and water laws. John Kerry has the vision to create a new Manhattan Project to make America independent of Middle East oil in 10 years by creating alternative fuels like ethanol and making cars more efficient. We'll create half a million new jobs here at home at the same time - and we'll never have to send our sons and daughters to war for Mideast oil.
America is only as healthy as the communities in which we live, and our economic strength as a nation - and Americans' deeply rooted love and respect for our magnificent resources - depends on our commitment to clean air, clean water, and our quality of life. Unlike the Bush- Cheney Administration, where special interests rule and the environment suffers, a Kerry Administration will build its policies around citizens' needs and aspirations. We owe it to our families, our communities, and to our planet to elect a president who will unapologetically pursue our environmental values.
Priorities
ffiReduce our Dependence on Foreign Oil
BA Commitment to Cleaner and Greener Communities
John Kerry believes that addressing the environmental needs of our communities will improve the economic vitality and quality of life of the places where we live and work. Kerry will fight for "Green and Clean Communities" by removing the threat of toxics from our communities, reinvigorating the Superfund cleanup program, improving our parks, and taking on traffic congestion and sprawl. As part of this commitment, Kerry will create a Toxics Task Force at the EPA that will identify the top toxics threats to our citizens and develop an action plan to address them, and he will work to ensure that every American child has access to a clean and safe neighborhood ball field or park.
B Fighting for Environmental Justice
For too long, low income and minority communities have borne a disproportionate burden of air pollution, water pollution and other environmental hazards. John Kerry will make environmental justice a national priority. He will create Environmental Empowerment Zones to ensure that environmental justice is considered in decisions that affect these communities and, more importantly, to empower communities from the ground up for positive change. He will also create a national health tracking system for chronic diseases and environmental
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health hazards. And, John Kerry will reinvigorate action on environmental justice at the federal level.
:• See John Kerry's plan for Environmental Justice
BEnter into a 'Conservation Covenant' with the American People
John Kerry will enter into a "Conservation Covenant" with the American people to tread lightly on the public lands and protect and restore our nation's parks and other treasures for the benefit of future generations. As part of the covenant, John Kerry will implement the Endangered Species Act in a cooperative manner that extends the benefits of wildlife and habitat protection to public and private lands. He will put new teeth into requirements that private companies who lease public lands return the land to its original state. The Covenant will reinvest royalties obtained from extracting resources from public lands back into protecting our lands, and require that before remote public lands are opened up to new resource development, the federal government evaluate the long term economic and environmental costs associated with such actions.
SProtect our Health by Reducing Dangerous Emissions
John Kerry understands the connection between air pollution and public health. As President, he will immediately reverse the Bush-Cheney rollbacks of our nation's Clean Air laws, plug loopholes in the laws, and vigorously enforce them. He will take bold steps to protect the health of all Americans - particularly our most vulnerable seniors and children - by adopting an aggressive program to meet ozone and air quality standards, stop acid rain, and reduce mercury emissions. His plan also includes addressing global warming emissions through a combination of innovative programs that will drive technology change and create jobs.
B Restoring America's Waters
Our nation has fallen far short of the Clean Water Act's goal of making our waters "drinkable, swimable, and fishable." John Kerry will lead a "Restoring America's Waters" Campaign to clean up our nation's waters, protect communities' fresh water supplies, and help communities reclaim their riverfronts and lake-fronts as new centers of economic growth.
BReassert US Leadership in Global Environmental Progress
John Kerry understands that some of our most serious environmental challenges - and opportunities - are taking place on an international stage and that they require American leadership in the international community. Unlike the Bush Administration, John Kerry will not abdicate this responsibility and opportunity. When John Kerry is president, the U.S. will reengage in the development of an international climate change strategy to address global warming, and identify workable responses that provide opportunities for American technology and know-how. And a Kerry Administration will meet new challenges associated with the global exploitation of marine resources and the global crisis of access to fresh water supplies.
SPromoting Smart Growth and Livable Communities
John Kerry recognizes that local communities are struggling with how to address issues of traffic congestion and sprawl. A Kerry Administration will work with states and communities to ensure they have the tools and resources they need to tackle these difficult problems. Kerry will ensure that we have "Clean and Green Communities" throughout America by coordinating federal transportation policies, federal housing incentives, federal employment opportunities and the use of federal dollars to acquire parks and open space.
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Fighting for America's Veterans
"When I was in Vietnam I learned a lot about the promises that soldiers make to each other. The Marines have a promise to never leave behind their dead. In this country, as citizen soldiers, we need to make the commitment to each other that we will never leave our veterans behind.
I'm proud to be doing the work in the United States Senate today to ensure we have a military second to none, that our troops are taken care of when we send them into harm's way, and that when we bring them home we give them the respect they're due. That's a statement about American values, it's what my Dad taught me by example when he volunteered for the Army Air Corps during World War II, and it's a statement about how we can and must measure our nation."
- John Kerry
John Kerry volunteered for service in the Navy during the Vietnam War, where he served as skipper of a swift boat that patrolled the Mekong Delta. Lt. Kerry was awarded the Silver Star, Bronze Star with V, three awards of the Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Navy Presidential Unit Citation, Navy Unit Commendation Ribbon, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal. He is a cofounder of the Vietnam Veterans of America and a life member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. In the United States Senate, he has led the fight to investigate the fate of POW/MIAs in Vietnam, treat and compensate victims of Agent Orange and study the cause of war-related illnesses in Gulf War veterans.
Plan to Restore American Security in Honor of Pearl Harbor Day
Plans to Enhance Intelligence, Improve Port Security
On September 11, 2001, America was again struck by a surprise attack from a hidden enemy, and again we paid a terrible price. This time, however, the President's response was very different. Where President Roosevelt sought answers, President Bush has sought to avoid blame, repeatedly stonewalling the 9/11 Commission and Congressional efforts to understand the intelligence mistakes that led up to September 11th. In fact, the Bush Administration has not even completed the National Intelligence Review mandated at the beginning of the Administration. Nor has the Bush Administration taken the necessary steps to improve homeland security by making our ports safer.
:• Read the Full Plan
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Priorities
SA New Compact with America's Veterans
This nation made a sacred covenant with those it drafted and those who enlisted, but the truth is that every day in America the treatment of too many veterans is breaking that covenant. So for John Kerry, the fight continues. He will deliver the health care and prescription drugs that veterans need. He will grant full concurrent receipt to disabled veterans and fairly compensate soldiers and their families for their valiant service. For John Kerry, this is about keeping America's promise. It is about national obligation. And it is about love of country and the help and honor we owe to those who defend it.
B Provide Mandatory Funding of Veterans Health Care
The Bush Administration chronically under-funds VA health care. There are nearly 90,000 veterans waiting for healthcare appointments. Instead of adding sufficient resources to a system desperately in need of them, President Bush has frozen whole classes out of the VA system. By the Bush Administration's own estimate, their policies will exclude approximately 500,000 veterans from the VA healthcare system by 2005. President Bush also proposed increasing fees and co-payments in an effort to shift the burden for care onto the backs of veterans and drive an additional million veterans from the system. John Kerry will end the game of playing politics with funding for veterans health care. He will insist on mandatory funding for veterans health care. In a Kerry Administration, veterans will get the appointments they need with VA doctors and the federal government will invest the resources necessary to make sure that no veteran has an unmet health care need.
El Do Not Overstretch the Military
BMake the Veterans Administration Responsive
Under George Bush, 280,000 veterans await their disability rating. In addition, some 108,000 other veterans are waiting to hear back on appeals of rating decisions. John Kerry will streamline the VA so that veterans hear back about their status and receive benefits they are eligible for in a timely manner, supporting legislation, appropriations, and other steps as needed so that such decisions are made promptly and fairly.
B Properly Compensate Soldiers and Their Families for Their Service
John Kerry believes that we need to treat our troops and their families with respect, dignity, and fairness in what they are paid, where they live, and where their children go to school. We need to make sure our troops are paid enough so that we address problems of retention and enlistment - and we should improve active duty housing for soldiers and their families. And as someone who has helped lead the fight on Gulf War Illness, John Kerry knows we have to be much more aggressive on health screenings for troops. They are required by law and they need to be given. John Kerry will also bolster the Family Assistance Centers and Programs on every military base so that they can provide information and services to families of deployed, wounded, and killed service members.
SFull Accounting for Missing POW/MIAs
ECombating Homelessness
^Supporting Members of the National Guard and Reservists
John Kerry will provide mortgage insurance to members of the National Guard and reserve called to active duty so that if service members have to take a cut in pay they don't have to worry about losing their homes while in service to the nation.
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More than one-third of military reservists and National Guard members suffer a pay cut when they're called to defend our nation. Many of these reservists are professionals with families who depend upon that paycheck. Unlike many big businesses that can afford to provide supplemental income, most small businesses cannot afford to provide this benefit. John Kerry will provide help to small businesses through a tax credit to make difference in salary for a reservist called up to active duty.
John Kerry Will Ensure Military Reservists Have Health Care. He supports legislation to provide access to TRICARE for military reservists. This will improve the readiness of reservists called to active duty and provide for the care of their loved ones without the current disruptions that often occur when a reservist is called to active duty. For families that do not live near a TRICARE provider, have children or special medical needs, it may be impractical to use TRICARE provider. In these cases, Kerry supports allowing reservist families to keep their civilian insurance through paid for COBRA payments.
ffiProtecting Family Members Who Lose a Loved One
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Affordable Health Care for Every American
John Kerry believes that your family's health is just as important as any politician's in Washington. That's why he will give every American access to the health care plan that the President and Members of Congress already have. John Kerry has the courage to take on special interests to get health care costs under control. He will stand up to big insurance and drug companies that impede progress. And John Kerry's health care plan takes care of our most vulnerable citizens by covering every child and preserving and strengthening Medicare.
George Bush has chosen to lavish tax cuts upon the wealthiest among us while working Americans struggle to afford health care for their families. John Kerry will take a different path. The American health care system has the world's best doctors and nurses, the finest hospitals and the most effective drugs. But far too many Americans can't afford or access the system. John Kerry's health care plan will start by expanding health care coverage to 96 percent of Americans - including nearly all children. Kerry is also committed to assuring high quality health care by including a strong enforceable patients'bill of rights and reducing medical errors.
Affordable Health Care for All Americans
Remarks by John Kerry at Mercy Medical
December 14, 2003
"Seven months ago, I unveiled my health care plan at Mercy Medical in Des Moines. On that day, I vowed to fight for the day when affordable health care
is a right, not a privilege, for every American. I vowed to fight for the 40 million uninsured Americans who have no coverage — including the nearly quarter of a million who live right here in Iowa. I vowed to fight for senior citizens forced to choose between their meals and their medicine."
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Kerry's Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors
President George Bush has promised to give seniors more choices for affordable prescription drugs, but he broke that promise by signing legislation that rewarded industry profits rather than Americans seniors. At an event with Illinois Governor Blagojevich, John Kerry highlights his plan to lower prescription drug prices for America's seniors.
Four-Point Plan to Strengthen Medicare
John Kerry today outlined a four-step plan to restore Medicare and provide real prescription
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drug relief for all Americans. In his first 100 days as President, Kerry will propose a bill that keeps Medicare strong, instead of privatizing it, and allows seniors to choose their doctor, instead of forcing them into HMOs.
> Read the Plan to Restore Medicare > Read More About the First 100 Days
Three-Point Plan to Keep Every Kid Safe, Healthy and Ready to Learn
John Kerry outlined a three-point plan today to make kids safer and healthier and assure they enter school ready to learn. His plan includes a new Kids Safety Effort requiring safety labels for food allergens and mandatory testing of prescription drugs used for treating children; setting comprehensive standards for early childhood education; and providing health insurance for every child in America.
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Plan to Respond to the International and Domestic AIDS Crisis
As the author of the most comprehensive HIV/AIDS bill ever to pass the Senate and a proven fighter to expand funding for US bilateral and global AIDS programs, John Kerry understands that the HIV/AIDS epidemic has implications for the life and death of millions of men, women and children across the globe as well as for global security.
:• International Plan
> Domestic Plan
Priorities
BGive Every American Access to the Same Plan As Members of Congress
Nine million Federal employees get health care through the Federal Employees Health Care Benefits program (FEHBP), which offers a wide range of plans with good benefits. The Kerry plan will allow every American access to this system. With tax-based incentives to employers and tax credits to individuals and the self-employed, the Kerry plan will ensure that this coverage is affordable. The most vulnerable groups, including the unemployed and retirees below age 65, will be covered. To hold down premiums, the federal government will reimburse companies for 75 percent of catastrophic claims totaling more than $50,000, provided they pass the savings on to their policyholders.
BGuaranteed Health Care for Every Child
Studies show that kids without health insurance are less likely to get checkups or treatment for ear infections or asthma. Kids without health care also have a harder time learning in school. In a new compact with the states, the Federal government will pick up the cost of Medicaid coverage for children in exchange for automatic enrollment of all school children eligible for the Children's Health Insurance Program. Eligibility for coverage will be extended to 300 percent of poverty-level incomes for children, and coverage will be extended to the six million single and childless adults who are uninsured and live below the poverty line.
Independent experts estimate that the Kerry plan will cover 99 percent of America's children.
6Support Medical Research and Assure All Americans from Benefit from the More Effective Treatment
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New science and medical research has the power to improve and even save many lives. However, it is not a guarantee that Americans will benefit from groundbreaking improvements. George Bush has tried to undermine this research for political reasons. Moreover, we have an erratic health care system that prevents many Americans from getting the best care available. John Kerry has a three-pronged strategy to make sure advances in science and medical research are benefiting American families: (1) Assure we are not undermining the power of science and technology to find new treatments and prevention for our most devastating diseases; (2) Improve our health care system to assure our providers and patients use and get the most effective care; (3) Make sure protections are in place so there are no barriers that prevent patients from receiving care.
EMake Health Care More Affordable
For Small Businesses
Health care costs are rising about 15 percent this year for small businesses and often as high as 25 percent. Small businesses are much less likely to offer health care coverage because it tends to be more expensive for them. Small businesses have administrative costs and they often see premiums rise when one employee has high health care costs. By joining the new Congressional Health Plan under Kerry's plan small businesses will be able to provide more affordable coverage. Kerry is also proposing refundable tax credits up to 50 percent of coverage to small businesses and their employees to help subsidize the cost of health insurance.
For Workers In Between Jobs
There are approximately 8 million unemployed people in the United States today. John Kerry believes that when you lose your job you shouldn't lose your health care. That is why he is proposing a 75 percent tax credit to assure workers can keep their health insurance between jobs.
For Retirees and Americans Age 55 to 64
Retirees and Americans age 55 to 64 have the hardest time buying coverage. Gaps in our patchwork system of health care are most noticeable for those Americans that risk losing their health care before they turn 65 and are eligible for Medicare. This less healthy population is often priced out of affordable coverage. Kerry's plan will allow these Americans to buy into the Congressional health plan at an affordable price and give a tax credit to make it even more affordable.
EProtecting Medicare
John Kerry will never balance the budget on the backs of America's seniors. Other candidates have supported major cuts that cause premium increases and cutbacks in benefits. John Kerry won't. Kerry will fight for quality care in all parts of the country - rural and urban. Kerry will make sure that seniors get quality care no matter where you live. John Kerry will implement a real prescription drug benefit in Medicare and he will never force seniors into HMOs.
HA New Approach to Control Spiraling Health Care Costs
Workers cannot afford health insurance premiums that are rising ten times as fast as wages. John Kerry has a comprehensive plan to stop spiraling health care costs, including providing relief for the highest cost cases. In 2001, only 4/10 of one percent of private insurance claims were for individuals with health expenses in excess of $50,000. However, these
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claims accounted for nearly 20 percent of medical expenses for private insurers. Under Kerry's proposal companies and insurers that guarantee a pass-through of the savings to their workers through reduced premiums, would be reimbursed for 75 percent of catastrophic costs above $50,000. To be eligible for this relief, employers would have to: provide affordable health coverage to all their workers; demonstrate they will pass through savings of up to $1000 to workers; and encourage disease management to improve and hold down the cost of care.
Lowering Costs with New Technology
The annual cost of health care in America is $1.4 trillion. About 25 percent, or $350 billion, is spent on non-medical items, principally paperwork such as billing and record-keeping. No other industry is so inefficient. This expensive drain on the system can be cut in half with modern technology. Kerry's program will offer a "technology bonus" as an incentive to health care providers and insurers to update their procedures and switch to electronic records.
SAffordable Prescription Drugs for All
John Kerry supports adding a strong affordable prescription drug benefit to Medicare. However, he believes that the prescription drug benefit should not rely on HMOs or undermine retiree coverage that exists today. In addition, the Kerry plan will reduce drug costs for everyone by: using the federal government's purchasing power to induce giant drug wholesalers to pass along to consumers the rebates they get from the drug manufacturers; getting more affordable generic drugs to the market, giving states the flexibility to negotiate better deals, and allowing people to buy quality drugs through Canada.
^Assuring Fairness for People with Mental Health Needs
Despite recent breakthroughs in science and new effective drugs and better community health services, mental illness continues to be treated differently from physical illness. John Kerry will take on insurers and end discrimination by requiring full mental health parity for once and for all. Kerry also wants to strengthen the Medicaid program that helps many people with mental illnesses. He will: fight against the Bush plan to block grant Medicaid; support $25 billion in state relief that would help Medicaid; and fight to change skewed incentives that keep people from working and getting Medicaid at the same time, which makes it harder to get community-based care.
Too many people don't seek treatment for mental illnesses either because they are afraid to or they don't care. We must continue to reduce stigma and raise awareness about mental illnesses. Kerry also believes mental health care should be a critical part of our response to terrorism. Finally we need judges and lawmakers who are committed to strengthening key protections, like the Americans with Disabilities Act, privacy protections, and other key civil rights laws - and not turn the clock backwards, like this President wants to do.
B Making Malpractice Insurance More Affordable
Medical malpractice insurance has become so expensive in some states that physicians are moving or giving up their practices, cutting access to care for their patients. The Kerry plan will hold down malpractice premiums by requiring an impartial review of a claim before an individual could file suit and by eliminating punitive damages except in egregious cases. Kerry's plan will not put a cap on legitimate damage awards.
HA Strong Enforceable Patients' Bill of Rights
Some candidates don't believe that the patients' bill of rights matters and that we should just focus on expanding coverage to the uninsured. John Kerry disagrees. He believes that health
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insurance must be worth something when you need it and he believes that doctors, nurses and patients should make health care decisions, not HMO bureaucrats. That's why he will fight for a strong enforceable patients' bill of rights to assure patients get access to the specialists they need, can choose their own doctor, have access to a real appeals process, and can hold HMDs accountable when they make mistakes that hurt the patients.
BProtect the Right to Choose
John Kerry believes that women have the right to control their own bodies, their own lives, and their own destinies. He believes that the Constitution protects their right to choose and to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, their conscience, and their God. He will defend this right as President. He recently announced he will support only prochoice judges to the Supreme Court. Kerry also believes that we should promote family planning and health plans should assure women contraceptive coverage.
E Protecting Women's Health
John Kerry has worked to ensure women receive access to health care, and he has focused particular attention on breast cancer research and funding. Kerry was an original cosponsor of the Women's Health Equity Act, which ensures women of all ages receive information and access to the highest quality and most advanced health care. He has worked to require health plans to cover hospital stays for breast cancer treatment and to preserve and increase funding for breast and cervical cancer research.
Kerry supports requiring insurance plans to cover contraception and he will continue to fight for a meaningful Patient's Bill of Rights, which would ensure women direct access to their OB/GYNs.
Paid for by John Kerry for President, Inc.
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Fairness And Security In Immigration Policy
John Kerry believes that America needs immigration policies that are fair and safe. The United States is a diverse nation built by people from all parts of the world who are here because they believe in freedom, democracy, and justice. Immigration is central to our nation's history, as almost all of us are immigrants or the descendants of immigrants. At the same time, John Kerry believes the federal government must secure our borders so that terrorists do not use our immigration system as a means to enter the country and do us harm.
Priorities
E Efficient Citizenship and Enforcement Services
John Kerry supports efforts to cut the backlog of applications pending with the Bureau for Citizenship and Immigration Services, speed up the naturalization process and reduce the wait for family visas and other important matters. John Kerry has also called for reforming and adequately funding border enforcement to ensure that only legal immigrants can enter the country.
ERestoring and Protecting Benefits for Legal Immigrants
John Kerry supports efforts to restore benefits to legal immigrants. The 1996 welfare reform law made most legal immigrants, including those already in the United States, ineligible for welfare, health care and other essential programs. In the years since, some of these benefits have been restored and John Kerry remains committed to fighting for the full restoration of benefits for legal immigrants.
ESupporting the DREAM Act
John Kerry supports legislation that would provide immigration relief to undocumented young people who have spent their formative years in the United States, who have graduated from high school here, and who can demonstrate good moral character. The DREAM Act repeals a law that prevents these promising young people from attending college in the United States.
SFamily Reunification
John Kerry believes that we should unite and not divide families by making family reunification the cornerstone of our immigration system. John Kerry supports allowing immigrants who are eligible for permanent resident visas to be processed in the United States rather than processed in their home country. He also supports restoring the discretion of immigration judges to evaluate cases on an individual basis and grant relief to deserving immigrants and their families.
BExpedited Citizenship for Members of the Armed Forces
John Kerry believes the naturalization process for legal permanent residents serving in the Armed Forces should be expedited, the naturalization filing fee should be waived, and armed service members should be allowed to naturalize overseas. More than 37,000 legal permanent residents serve in the military nationally.
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HEarned Legalization
John Kerry supports a proposal that will allow undocumented immigrants to legalize their status if they have been in the United States for a certain amount of time, have been working, and can pass a background check. This makes sense for the economy, provides fairness to people in our communities who have worked hard and paid taxes, and will also allow us to strengthen our homeland security by bringing undocumented workers out of the shadows and into the light of greater accountability.
Paid for by John Kerry for President, Inc.
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Compact with the Greatest Generation
John Kerry unveiled his "Compact with the Greatest Generation," a guarantee that will give seniors the protection they have earned for Social Security and Medicare, helps seniors afford their medicine, and ensure long-term care.
"My dad was a member of the Greatest Generation that achieved victory in World War II. This was the generation that saved the world from fascism, came home and built the great American middle class, led the way in the civil rights movement, protected our environment, and created great programs like Medicare," said Kerry.
"And now that the Greatest Generation is getting older, I think it is the responsibility of all Americans to make sure we do our part for America's seniors. You have earned the best of America - and we need to make sure you get the protection and health care you deserve," said Kerry. "That's why today I'm unveiling a new Compact with America's seniors that will be a building block for the initiatives seniors can count on if I am elected President. My Compact with America's seniors says that greatest generation seniors should be able to count on Medicare and Social Security, on affordable prescription drugs, on quality options for long term care. You've earned it."
Kerry's Plan to Lower Prescription Drug Prices for Seniors
President George Bush has promised to give seniors more choices for affordable prescription drugs, but he broke that promise by signing legislation that rewarded industry profits rather than Americans seniors. At an event with Illinois Governor Blagojevich, John Kerry highlights his plan to lower prescription drug prices for America's seniors.
> More
Priorities
E3Protect Medicare and Social Security
•
John Kerry will never balance the budget on the backs of America's seniors Many politicians have supported major cuts that cause premium increases and cutbacks in benefits. John Kerry won't.
•
Quality Care in All Parts of the Country - Rural and Urban
Medicare has different policies that are sometimes unfair to parts of the area. Kerry will make sure that seniors get quality care no matter where you live.
•
Won't Force Seniors Into an HMO
Many politicians have plans to push seniors into HMOs to get prescription drugs or affordable premiums. John Kerry will assure that seniors can pick the health care that's right for them.
BAffordable Prescription Drugs
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•
Cutting Cost of Prescription Drugs
Prescription drugs are rising at almost 20 percent which is gouging seniors and making health care more expensive, at the same time pharmaceutical companies are paying executives millions. Kerry has a plan to cut the greed out of prescriptions drugs to make them more affordable.
•
A Real Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit
Many politicians have a prescription drug plan to benefit pharmaceutical companies not seniors. John Kerry supports a real meaningful affordable drug benefit that:
o Doesn't force seniors into HMOs
o Is run by Medicare - not private insurance companies who can charge seniors whatever they want.
o Doesn't undermine drug coverage that seniors have today.
o A real benefit available to every senior that helps those with average costs and those with the highest drug costs.
BQuality Options for Seniors with Long-Term Care Needs
•
Assure Quality Nursing Homes Care
Assure that seniors who live in nursing homes receive quality care, with adequate inspections, reimbursements, and more training for health care workers.
•
Protect Medicaid Support
Protect Medicare support from politicians who want to block grant this program that helps one out of two seniors in nursing homes.
•
Give Seniors More Options
Allow Medicaid to pay for more alternative care outside of nursing homes to allow more Americans to age in their own homes.
•
Support Caregivers
Support caregivers (both paid and unpaid, formal and informal) who provide the bulk of the support for those with long-term care needs.
BAsk America's Greatest Generation to Help the Next
The Greatest Generation has another battle yet to fight - to help strengthen American for generations to come.
•
100,000 Older Americans in Service
For 10 hours of service a week, members will earn up to $2,000 a year tax free that they can apply to an education grant for a grandchild or other family member, another young person.
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Older Americans in Our Schools
When seniors spend time tutoring they free up over-strained teachers to teach, and children get extra help learning.
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Seniors Helping Each Other
Members will be able to offer seniors support to live independently by helping them pick up their prescriptions or checking in on them to make sure they are doing alright.
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International Trade
John Kerry believes that American workers can compete and win with workers anywhere in the world if they have the skills and training they need and the level playing field they deserve. He will put in a place a series of incentives to keep manufacturing jobs in the United States and he will ensure that our trading partners play by the rules. He will invest in 21st century manufacturing - in creating the industries and jobs of the future. And if we're going to build the jobs of the future, we need to make sure our workers are trained and ready to do them. John Kerry will make sure America has a cutting edge workforce by helping manufacturing workers with grants to upgrade their skills and by making higher education affordable for every American.
Priorities
S Strong Enforceable Trade That Works for America
The Bush Administration has not cracked down on countries that are avoiding trade laws or manipulating currency. President Bush has supported cutting funds for trade enforcement, despite the fact that we need more enforcement of trade laws to stop the manufacturing job drain. Some Democrats pretend that we can close our doors to the global economy. John Kerry believes we need strong leadership to assure that the global economy works for America.
•
Assure Trading Partners Play by the Rules. Some nations have consistently violated agreements by the World Trade Organization. They have taken unfair actions to block U.S auto companies from selling in their markets. Many products from China are counterfeit or don't meet industry standards. While this Administration has not used the remedies available under the World Trade Organization to crack down on these violations and help U.S industries, John Kerry would.
•
Stop Countries from Manipulating Currency. China, Japan and other nations have purposely kept their currency undervalued relative to the U.S. dollar to promote exports in the United States and undermine U.S. products abroad. John Kerry believes we must use the full force of the World Trade Organization to take on countries that are manipulating their currency to undermine U.S. exports.
•
Enforce and Strengthen Intellectual Property Protections. In the 21st economy, the U.S. relies more heavily on international partnerships and joint ventures. Intellectual property protections are essential in this environment so that companies can share their technology without losing control of it.
•
Break Down Barriers in Key Export Markets. This Administration has done little to open key export markets in places like Japan and Korea. Some countries use non-tariff barriers, such as making it difficult to access finance or have obscure investment requirements, to undermine U.S. exports. For example, auto exports to Japan are still essentially blocked by complicated rules. John Kerry would use all the available tools, including Section 301 of the 1974 Trade Act, WTO remedies, and diplomatic measures to open these markets.
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•
Review Existing Trade Agreements. John Kerry will also order an immediate 120 day review of all existing trade agreements to ensure that our trade partners are living up to their labor and environment obligations and that trade agreements are enforceable and are balanced for America's workers. He will consider necessary steps if they are not. And John Kerry will not sign any new trade agreements until the review
is complete and its recommendations put in place. He believes all new trade agreements must have strong labor and environmental standards.
BEncourage Manufacturers to Stay in the U.S. and to Create New Jobs
The Bush Administration has done nothing to end incentives that encourage manufacturers to move their jobs overseas. John Kerry believes that we should not only get rid of these incentives, but that we should give new tax breaks to companies that stay in the U.S. and create new jobs. He would:
•
Stop Incentives to Move American Jobs Abroad. John Kerry will save jobs by ending the unpatriotic practice of U.S. corporations moving jobs offshore (known as inversions) to avoid paying their fair share of taxes. He also believes that these inverters should not get government contracts or any other perks or incentives from the government.
•
Give Tax Breaks to Manufacturers in America. John Kerry supports efforts to promote manufacturing and provide incentives to keep manufacturing in the U.S. That's why he supports the Crane-Rangel-Hollings legislation, which provides a corporate rate reduction to manufacturers who produce goods in the U.S.
•
A New Manufacturing Jobs Credit. John Kerry has proposed a new jobs tax credit to encourage manufacturing companies to stay and expand in America. When a manufacturing company creates jobs above their 12 month employment average, the payroll taxes of the new employees will be refunded for two years.
•
Double the Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP). We know that the MEP helps make American manufacturers competitive. Yet this Administration has proposed to cut it nearly 90 percent. John Kerry believes we should invest in things that work, and has proposed to double funding for the MEP. John Kerry would also create Manufacturing Development Centers to help improve manufacturing.
S Making Sure Our Workers are Prepared to Compete for the Jobs of the 21st Century
•
Assure Better Training and Retraining Programs for Manufacturing Workers.
To keep the manufacturing sector healthy and strong, America needs a workforce with cutting edge skills, training, and knowledge. Kerry would: (1) in order to assure that are sufficient numbers of highly skilled workers, Kerry supports providing assistance for workers in declining industries to upgrade or develop necessary skills, and providing community-based grants to help train or retrain workers; (2) assure adequate Trade Adjustment Assistance to help workers transition; (3) encourage students studying engineering, computers, and other high-tech fields to work in the manufacturing sector by repaying a portion of student loans if they do; and (4) encourage better math and science instruction in our schools to assure more students have the skills to help the manufacturing sector grow.
•
Making Four Years of College Affordable. To be successful in the 21st Century economy, America's workforce must be more innovative and productive than our competitors. That means better science and math in our schools and job training opportunities. But it also means giving every American the opportunity of four years of college.
□ Create a New "College Opportunity Tax Credit
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Kerry's "College Opportunity Tax Credit" will make four years of college affordable for all Americans. He will provide a credit for each and every year of college on the first $4,000 paid in tuition - the typical tuition and fees for public college tuition. The credit will provide 100% of the first $1000 and 50% on the rest. It will also make this credit refundable for those who receive other credits.
BPay College Tuition for Students That Give Two Years of Service to America
Kerry's 'Service for College' plan will provide the cost of four years at a public college to young people in exchange for serving their communities and country in national service.
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Standing up for Fairness, Dignity, Rights of Women and Opening Doors for their Success
"In case after case, President Bush's actions have made American women less safe and less secure - on the job and on the streets. As president, I will put American government and our legal system back on the side of women. I will stand up for their security, ensure their safety, support their rights, and guarantee their dignity. This nation can do no less.”
- John Kerry, March 8, 2003
John Kerry has an unparalleled record working on behalf of women in this country. As a prosecutor in Boston, he established one of the country's first offices to assist rape victims. One of his first statements in the Senate defended a woman's right to choose. He cosponsored and helped pass the Violence Against Women Act. He worked to expand the rights of women in the workplace and pass the Family and Medical Leave Act to help working parents balance work and family. As President, John Kerry will stand with women to guarantee that they have the ability to go as far as their talents can take them.
Priorities
8Expand Economic Opportunity for Women
As the top Democrat on the Senate Small Business Committee, John Kerry has been hailed as the Senate's leader on initiatives that assist women-owned businesses - beginning with the Boston Center for Women and Enterprise, a national model Kerry championed. He has been at the forefront of defending affirmative action, helping women-owned businesses in government contracting and making start-up and venture capital available to woman entrepreneurs. As a candidate, John Kerry has appointed women to the top tiers of his campaign, just as a Kerry Administration will have women of all colors and from all backgrounds in positions of authority across the federal government. And as President he will work to expand the number of women-owned businesses and eliminate the glass ceiling that has kept talented women out of the top positions in government and corporate America.
Q Make It Easier To Balance Work And Family
John Kerry cosponsored the original Family and Medical Leave Act, which has given millions of American workers the chance to take time off for the birth of a child or to care for a sick child or family member. John Kerry believes that we should not only protect Family and Medical Leave but should expand it to help more Americans balance the needs between work and family.
B Protect the Right to Choose
John Kerry believes that women have the right to control their own bodies, their own lives, and their own destinies. He believes that the Constitution protects their right to choose and to make their own decisions in consultation with their doctor, their conscience, and their
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God. He will defend this right as President. He recently announced he will support only prochoice judges to the Supreme Court. Kerry also believes that we should promote family planning and health plans should assure women contraceptive coverage.
BClose the Pay Gap
Women still earn, on average, only 73 cents for every dollar earned by men. John Kerry believes that we must expand opportunities for women and work to make equal pay for equal work a reality not a slogan. He would start by improving enforcement and disclosure about payment practices.
BFight Violent Crime Against Women
John Kerry was an original cosponsor of the Violence Against Women Act, which has provided over $1 billion for battered women's shelters, hotlines, and other crucial resources. The Violence Against Women Act also significantly strengthened federal law by including several new federal crimes and enhanced penalties for acts of domestic violence. John Kerry will take this commitment to the White House and support those working to help crime victims and put attackers behind bars.
BOpen College Opportunities for Women
For over 30 years, Title IX has helped open the doors of opportunity in education for millions of girls and young women. Title IX has enabled greater numbers of women and girls to participate in sports, receive scholarships, and obtain other important benefits that result from participating in sports. Despite this progress, the Bush Administration is considering many proposals to change Title IX that could undercut participation opportunities and scholarship dollars for women and girls, as well as other Title IX protections. John Kerry will defend Title IX and work to expand college opportunities for women.
B Protecting Women's Health
John Kerry has worked to ensure women receive access to health care, and he has focused particular attention on breast cancer research and funding. Kerry was an original cosponsor of the Women's Health Equity Act, which ensures women of all ages receive information and access to the highest quality and most advanced health care. He has worked to require health plans to cover hospital stays for breast cancer treatment and to preserve and increase funding for breast and cervical cancer research.
Kerry supports requiring insurance plans to cover contraception and he will continue to fight for a meaningful Patient's Bill of Rights, which would ensure women direct access to their OB/GYNs.
Paid for by John Kerry for President, Inc.
ALPHA KAPPA ALPHA SORORITY, INC. 75™ FAR WESTERN REGIONAL CONFERENCE CONNECTION WORKSHOP PORTLAND, OREGON
APRIL 30, 2004
VOTER EMPOWERMENT: A CALL TO ACTION
FAR WESTERN REGION VOTER REGISTRATION GOALS
Soror Linda M. White Supreme Basileus
Alaska:
150
Arizona:
350
California:
1,500
Hawaii:
100
Nevada:
350
Oregon:
100
Utah:
100
Washington:
350
Soror Diana G. Shipley Far Western Regional Director
Soror Billie Rayford Far Western Region Connection Representative
1 FAR WEST
STATE CO(
ER
)R]
N REGION DINATORS
ALASKA
Soror Tanya Taylor Xi Psi Omega
Anchorage, AK
ARIZONA
Soror Jennifer Harper Delta Beta Omega
Mesa, AZ
CALIFORNIA
Soror Lois Carson
Eta Nu Omega
San Bemadino, CA
Soror Carrie Crum
Mu Beta Omega
Carson, CA
Soror Deborah Neal
Sigma Lambda Omega Canoga Park, CA
Soror Denise Parker
Alpha Nu Omega Oakland, CA
Soror Muzetta Thrower Tau Upsilon Omega
Vacaville, CA
HAWAII Soror Loma Peck Lambda Chi Omega Mililani, Hawaii
NEVADA
Soror Verlia Davis-Hoggard Theta Theta Omega
Las Vegas, NV
OREGON Soror Johnnie M. Bell Zeta Sigma Omega Portland, OR
UTAH Soror Karen Dace Upsilon Beta Omega Salt Lake City, UT
WASHINGTON
Soror Phyllis Dixon-Lowe Delta Upsilon Omega
Seattle, WA
Thank you for your leade
rshi
7 in Connection activities.

1b vole-
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Voting is the tool citizens use to select leaders and to hold them accountable. When that tool is not used, when only a few citizens elect leaders and a large number of Americans do not participate in elections, the future of our democracy is threatened. The more we express our values and concerns through voting, the better our elected leaders will be able to represent us.
Over the last 82 years, the League of Women Voters has made tremendous strides in encouraging the active and informed participation of citizens in government - but there is still much work to be done. Far too many citizens are not exercising their right to vote. Whether this will be your first time voting or you are a long-time voter, I want you to help us reach out to your friends, family members, neighbors and co-workers with the message that voting is important to our families and communities, and it's something that everyone can do.
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In 1 998, 36.4 percent of voters went to the polls to cast their ballots. That's the lowest voter turnout since 1 942! Two out of three Americans, 115 million eligible voters, simply stayed home and didn't vote at all. Many people explain their failure to vote by saying: Tm just one person. My little old vote doesn’t make a difference.’
There’s a lot of historical evidence to the contrary.
★
In 1 999, Leslie Byrne was elected to the Virginia Senate by 37 votes, less than one vote per precinct.
★
Donald Sherwood was elected to the House of Representatives from Pennsylvania by a margin of 515 votes, less than one vote per precinct, making this election the closest House of Representatives race in 1998.
★
Loretta Sanchez was elected to Congress from California by less than 4 votes per precinct in 1996.
★
John F. Kennedy’s margin of victory over Richard Nixon in 1960 was less than one vote per precinct.
★
One vote per precinct passed woman suffrage in California in 1911.
Registration and Voting
For more information, visit the Voter Information section of the League of Women Voters website at www.lwv.org and visit www.dnet.org for additional information.
How do I register to vote?
Contact your local election office. Check your phonebook for your county board of elections, county clerk's office or municipal board of elections. You can also contact your state board of elections (please see attached list). If you're not sure whom to contact, start by calling your local or state League of Women Voters. You can register online at www.lwv.org or www.dnet.org. Registration deadlines are usually 30 days before the election.
What are the requirements to be eligible to vote?
You must be:
a)
A citizen of the United States, and
b)
18 years old by the general election.
Many states also have eligibility requirements that disqualify citizens for felony conviction or mental incompetence. These are listed on state voter registration application forms.
I have trouble writing. What should I do?
Under the National Voter Registration Act, state agencies required to provide voter registration opportunities, i.e., department of motor vehicles, public assistance agencies and agencies that serve people with disabilities, must provide assistance in filling out the voter registration form if asked.
Do I fill in the whole form?
For the federal mail-in application form, be sure to read the directions for your state. Eligibility requirements and required information may vary.
Is the information on my form confidential?
Voter registration information is a matter of public record. Under the federal motor voter law, however, states may not use information on declinations or the site of individual registration for any purpose other than voter registration. Also, states that require Social Security numbers are required to protect the confidentiality of that information.
How do I know if I'm registered?
States subject to the federal motor voter law are required to send registration applicants a disposition notice. This will note if there is a problem with your application. If not, you will receive a registration card or similar document.
How will I find out where to go to vote?
Your registration card should include the address of your polling place. Many jurisdictions also send additional informative materials to registered voters. If you do not receive the information in the mail, call your local election office.
I'm a college student living away from home. Where should I register?
You can register either at your home or school address. It is important to update your registration each time you move. If you are registered at your home address while you're at school, remember to request an absentee ballot at least 30 days before the election. Check with your state election board for the exact deadline.
I am registered, but I've recently moved. Does this affect my registration?
Yes. If you are registered and have moved within your current election jurisdiction, contact your local election office to determine where you should vote. If you moved outside of your old election jurisdiction, you will have to reregister in your new jurisdiction before the registration deadline in your state.
What do I do if I have changed my name?
You may use your state's form or the universal registration form to submit a change of name.
I am a U.S. citizen living abroad. How do I vote?
You must request an absentee ballot. Contact a U.S. embassy, consulate, designated military personnel or your state election authority.
My friend is a U.S. citizen who doesn't speak English. Where can I get assistance for him/her?
Check with your local election authority to see whether your state provides election materials in a language other than English. The Voting Rights Act requires local election officials to provide bilingual voter registration applications, ballots and language assistance when a certain percentage of the population of the jurisdiction is comprised of a language minority group.
Are there other ways to vote besides going to the polls?
All states are required to have an absentee ballot (vote by mail) programs to allow citizens with disabilities and overseas military personnel to vote. Many states do not restrict absentee voting to these groups. Contact your local election officials for information on absentee voting in your area. If you are registered at your home address and want to vote while you're attending college, remember to request an absentee ballot at least 30 days before the election. Check with your state election board for the exact deadline.
FORM OR IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT VOTING, OR AGENCIES:
TO REQUEST A MAIL-IN REGISTRATION CALL THE FOLLOWING STATE OFFICES
ALABAMA
Elections Division (334) 242-4337
ALASKA
Division of Elections (907) 465-4611
ARIZONA
Asst. Secretary of State (602) 542-8683
ARKANSAS
Election Services]
(501)
682-3419
CALIFORNIA Chief of Elections (916) 657-2166
COLORADO Elections Officer (303) 894-2680 #1
CONNECTICUT Elections Office (860) 509-6100
DELAWARE
Election Commissioner (302) 739-4277
FLORIDA
Division of Elections (850)245-6200
GEORGIA
Elections Division (404) 656-2871
HAWAII
Elections Division (808)453-8683
IDAHO
Secretary of State (208) 334-2300
ILLINOIS
Board of Elections
(217) 782-4141
INDIANA
Election Division
(317) 232-3939
IOWA
Secretary of State
(515) 281-5865
KANSAS
Elections Office
(785) 296-4565
KENTUCKY
State Board of Elections
(502)
573-7100
LOUISIANA
Elections Division
(225) 342-4970
MAINE
Division of Elections
(207) 624-7650
MARYLAND
State Board of Elections
(410) 269-2840
MASSACHUSETTS
Elections Division
(617) 727-2828
MICHIGAN
Bureau of Elections
(517) 373-2540
MINNESOTA
Secretary of State (651)251-1440
MISSISSIPPI Elections Division (601) 576-2550
MISSOURI
Secretary of State (573) 751-2301
MONTANA Elections Bureau (406) 444-4732
NEBRASKA
Secretary of State (402) 471-3229
NEVADA
Elections Division (775) 684-5705
NEW HAMPSHIRE
Asst. Secretary of State (603)271-3242
NEW JERSEY Division of Elections (609) 292-3760
NEW MEXICO Bureau of Elections (505) 827-3600
NEW YORK
Board of Elections (518)474-6220
NORTH CAROLINA Board of Elections (919) 733-7173
NORTH DAKOTA Elections Office (701)328-4146
OHIO
Secretary of State (614) 466-2585
OKLAHOMA
State Elections Board (405) 521-2391
OREGON Elections Division
(503)
986-1518 PENNSYLVANIA Commissioner of Elections (717)787-5280 RHODE ISLAND Elections Division (401)222-2340
SOUTH CAROLINA Election Commision (803) 734-9060
SOUTH DAKOTA Elections (605) 773-3537
TENNESSEE Division of Elections (615)741-7956
TEXAS Elections Division (512)463-5650
UTAH
Director of Elections
(801)
538-1041
VERMONT
Elections Division
(802)
828-2464
VIRGINIA
State Board of Elections (804) 786-6551
WASHINGTON
Secretary of State (360) 902-4180
DISTRICT OF
COLUMBIA Board of Elections (202) 727-2525
WEST VIRGINIA
Secretary of State (304) 558-6000
WISCONSIN
State Elections Board (608) 266-8005
WYOMING
Election Administration (307) 777-7640
Visit www.dnet.org for additional statespecific information and links to state election agency websites.
LOOKING FOR MORE INFORMATION? CONTACT YOUR STATE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS.
LWV AL (205) 967-2829 www.lwval.org
LWV AK (907) 262-3941
LWV AZ (602) 997-5218
www.azvoterseivice.org
LWV AR (501) 376-7760 www.lwvar.org
LWV CA (916) 442-7215
http://ca.lwv.org
LWV CO (303) 863-0437
www.lwvcolorado.com
LWV CT (203) 288-7996
www.lwvct.org
LWV DE (302) 571-8948
http://de.lwv.org
LWV FL (850) 224-2545
www.naples.net/presents/lwvf
LWV GA (678) 547-0755
www.lwvga.org/index.htm
LWV HI (808) 531-7448
http://hi.lwv.org/index.html
LWV ID (280) 232-4033
LWV IL (312) 939-5935
www.lwvil.org
LWV IN (317) 241-8683
www.lwvin.org
LWV IA (641) 777-9739 www.lwvia.org
LWV KS (785)234-5152
www.lwvk.org
LWV KY (502) 875-6481 www.lwvky.org
LWV LA (225) 344-3326
www.lwvla.org
LWV ME (207)622-0256
www.curtislibrary.com/lwv/
LWV MD (410)269-0232
www.bcpl.net/~lwv
LWV MA (617) 523-2999 www.lwvma.org
LWV Ml (517)484-5383
www.lwvmi.org
LWV MN (651) 224-5445 www.lwvmn.org
LWV MS (601) 352-4616
www.lwv-ms.org
LWV MO (314)961-6869
www.umsl.edu/~lwv
LWV MT (406) 549-4120
www.montana.com/lwvmt
LWV NE (402)475-1411
www.incolor.inetnebr.com/lwvne
LWV NV (702) 363-4382
LWV NH (603)225-5344
www.bertbingel.com/lwvnh
LWV NJ (609) 394-3303
www.lwvnj.org
LWV NM (505) 982-9766
www.lwvnm.org
LWV NY (518) 465-4162
www.lwvny.org
LWV NC (919) 783-5995
www.rtpnet.org/~lwvnc
LWV ND (701)271-9404
LWV OH (614)469-1505
www.lwvohio.org
LWV OK (405) 232-8683
www.lwvok.org
LWV OR (503) 581-5722
www.open.org/~lwvor
LWV PA (717) 234-1576
www.pa.lwv.org
LWV Rl (401) 434-6440
LWV SC (803) 929-0890
www.lwvsc.org
LWV SD (605) 336-7670
LWV TN (615)297-7134
http://ourworld.compuserve.com/home- pages/lwvtn
LWV TX (512) 472-1100
www.lwvtexas.org
LWV UT (801) 272-8683
www.xmission.com/~lwvut
LWV VT (802) 657-0242
www.lwvofvt.org
LWV VA (804) 649-0333
http://monticello.avenue.org/leagueva/
LWV WA (206) 622-8961
www.lwvwa.org
LWV DC (202) 347-3020
www.dcwatch.com/lwvdc
LWV WV (304) 898-6308
www.lwvwv.org
LWV Wl (608) 256-0827
www.lwvwi.org
LWV WY (307) 721-8169
http://lariat.org/LWV
"We are going
together to vote on
PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE
November 5th!"
PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
1730 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 • www.lwv.org • www.dnet.org
i THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
x I 1730 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 • www.lwv.org • www.dnet.org
"We are going
together to vote on
PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE
November Sth!"
"We are going together to vote on November 5th!"
PLEASE PLACE STAMP HERE
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
1730 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 • www.lwv.org • www.dnet.org
THE LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS
1730 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20036 • www.lwv.org • www.dnet.org
TTO Regional Conference Invitation Committee Report
The Invitation Committee met established a working outline for the 2005 Regional Conference Invitation to be held in Las Vegas, NV
The Invitation will be presented at the Portland, OR
Regional Conference, April 29-May 2, 2004
Concept:
1.
Viva Las Vegas: AKA Style
a.
Photo at the Marquis “Welcome to Las Vegas”
2.
We would like to spot light key tourist areas around Las Vegas
a.
Elvis - Viva Las Vegas
b.
See the world in Las Vegas
c.
Emphasize the unique culture in Las Vegas
3.
We would like to spot light the entertainment and attractions in Las Vegas
a.
Sammy Davis Jr.
b.
Mt. Charleston, Hoover Dam, Valley of Fire, Old NV, Red Rock, Neonopolis, communities, churches, museums
4.
We would like to spot light AKA’s impact in the Las Vegas community
a.
Gladys Knight clip
b.
TTO Activities - video scrapbook
5.
Finale - Chorus Line “Midnight Train to Las Vegas”
Responsibilities and subcommittees
Souveniers: Rhoda Anderson , Tisha Johnson
Video Clips: Kaweeda Adams, Jackie Hall
Voiceovers: Sharon Savage
Music adaptations: Clair Hart
Materials and Props: Amanda Me Williams
Dates to remember: >
1^
*Monday, September 22^' 6:30 pm: Invitation Committee mtg. to finalize sorority presentation for the October 4th general mtg.
Location - Soror Kaweeda’s home/Yes, we will have a real dinner:>)
Submitted by, Soror Kaweeda G. Adams 2005 Regional Conference Chair