November '07 Nevada Government—Shelley Berkley Column

Rejects Bush Veto, OK’s $50 Million Lake Mead Pipeline

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley today (Nov. 8, 2007) applauded Senate passage of legislation authorizing federal funding for water projects that will benefit Las Vegas and communities across the nation. Berkley voted with the majority of her colleagues on Tuesday of this week to override President Bush’s veto of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), a move echoed today by the Senate.

“President Bush was wrong to block this important legislative package which includes water projects for Las Vegas and other communities and I am proud that the House and Senate joined together this week in overriding his veto,” said Berkley. “The $50 million I helped to secure in this bill will go to build a new pipeline at Lake Mead that will allow us to better protect this precious resource through the restoration of important wetlands in the area.”

The WRDA bill contains $50 million in funding sought by Berkley for a wastewater pipeline that will help protect water resources at Lake Mead and aid in the restoration of wetlands along the Las Vegas Wash.

“Lake Mead supplies the majority of southern Nevada’s water needs and we must protect this vital resource today and for future generations to come. Once in place, this new pipeline will promote wetlands restoration in the Las Vegas Wash, address drinking water concerns, and benefit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. Controlling wastewater flows into the Las Vegas Wash will play an important role in the recovery of local wetlands which serve as natural filters and provide wildlife habitat. This project was the result of work by the Clean Water Coalition, which has spent the past six years developing a system for treating and discharging wastewater in Clark County,” said Berkley.

The new system will control treated wastewater effluent flows in the Las Vegas Wash to allow the recovery of local wetlands. Current discharges into Lake Mead have raised concerns about water quality, recreation, and natural resources within the National Recreation Area and the addition of this system will alleviate concerns and increase protection of this vital resource.

The Clean Water Coalition (CWC) was created to study and construct a new system to address the treatment and discharge of wastewater in Clark County, Nevada. The CWC is comprised of four member agencies: (1) Clark County Water Reclamation District; (2) City of Las Vegas; (3) City of Henderson; and (4) City of North Las Vegas. For the past six years, the CWC has been planning a regional system for the conveyance of wastewater from the four member agencies to a new outfall location in Lake Mead which will promote wetlands restoration in the Las Vegas Wash, address drinking water concerns, and benefit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

Berkley Votes To Override Bush Veto Of Water

Projects Bill That Benefits Southern Nevada

Legislative Package Includes $50 Million for Lake Mead Wastewater Pipeline

(November 6, 2007 -- Washington, D.C.) Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today voted to override President Bush’s veto of legislation authorizing water projects that will benefit Las Vegas and other communities across the nation. The House voted overwhelmingly to override the veto of H.R. 1495, The 2007 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA), by a margin of 361 to 54.

“President Bush was wrong to block this important legislative package which includes water projects for Las Vegas and other communities and I am proud that we joined together in overriding his veto,” said Berkley. “There is no question about the need for the $50 million contained in this bill for a new pipeline that will help to protect Lake Mead. I am hopeful that the Senate will now join with the House in voting against the President’s effort to block this bill with his veto pen. The faster we can overcome White House opposition, the faster we can get to work on this important project to safeguard one of the Valley’s most precious water resources.”

The WRDA bill contains $50 million in funding for a wastewater pipeline that will help protect water resources at Lake Mead and aid in the restoration of wetlands along the Las Vegas Wash. The project was requested by Berkley and was included in legislation passed by the House this past April.

The Clean Water Coalition (CWC) was created to study and construct a new system to address the treatment and discharge of wastewater in Clark County, Nevada. The CWC is comprised of four member agencies: (1) Clark County Water Reclamation District; (2) City of Las Vegas; (3) City of Henderson; and (4) City of North Las Vegas. For the past six years, the CWC has been planning a regional system for the conveyance of effluent from the four member agencies to a new outfall location in Lake Mead which will promote wetlands restoration in the Las Vegas Wash, address drinking water concerns, and benefit the Lake Mead National Recreation Area.

House Passes the Heart Act – Berkley Supports Bill Providing Tax Relief for Military Families, Home Ownership Assistance for Veterans

(November 6, 2007 -- Washington, D.C.) Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today voted in support of The HEART Act, bipartisan legislation that makes permanent essential tax relief for military families and increases access to low-interest home loans for veterans.

“The HEART Act is a thank you to America’s military families, our armed forces and our veterans. I am proud to have helped craft this legislation which provides valuable tax relief to those who are serving our nation in the armed forces and their families, as well as important home ownership assistance for America’s veterans,” said Berkley. “The HEART Act responds to the financial needs of our men and women in military uniform by extending $2 billion in tax relief for them and their families.”

As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Berkley helped to craft the package, which passed on a vote of 410-0. The HEART Act’s $2 billion in tax relief will help ease the financial impact of extended military deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan which have created significant economic hardships for many military families. The bill is supported by the American Legion, National Military Family Association and the Blinded Veterans Association.

“The HEART Act will allow more families to qualify for the earned income tax credit or to make penalty free withdrawals from retirement plans in time of economic need. Sadly, there have been 59 casualties of the war to date with ties to Nevada, including 46 in Iraq. That is why I strongly support the provisions of this bill that allow the spouses of those who sacrifice their lives to better plan for their futures and those of their children,” said Berkley. “Qualifying Veterans will also be eligible for more low-interest home loans as a result of the HEART Act.”

The Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax Act (H.R. 3997)

Make tax relief for families of soldiers in combat under the Earned Income Tax Credit permanent. The bill makes permanent current law to include combat pay as earned income for purposes of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). At the end of the year, military families will be denied needed tax relief if combat pay is not counted for purposes of receiving the Earned Income Tax Credit.

Make it easier for veterans to become homeowners. The bill would make thousands of veterans eligible for low-interest loans by making permanent and modifying qualified mortgage bonds used to finance residences for veterans.

Make permanent other tax provisions to relieve economic hardships for military families. For example, the bill makes permanent IRS provisions to:

Permit active duty reservists to make penalty-free withdrawals from retirement plans; permit an employer to make contributions to a qualified retirement plan on behalf of an employee killed or disabled in combat; count extra pay for active duty military personnel from their previous civilian employer for retirement purposes; and permit recipients of military death benefit gratuities to roll over the amounts received, tax-free, to a Roth IRA or an Education Savings Account.

Include tax benefits for other public servants who face risk, such as volunteer firefighters and Peace Corps volunteers. For example, the bill clarifies that rebates of state and local taxes for volunteer firefighters and that reimbursements for expenses incurred in the line of duty by volunteer firefighters are not taxable.

Berkley Statement on U.S. Senate Yucca Mountain Hearing

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today (October 31, 2007) released the following statement in response to a hearing before the U.S. Senate Environment and Public Works Committee. The hearing included testimony in opposition to President Bush's Yucca Mountain plan from Nevada's two U.S. Senators and State Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto.

"Nevada's long running opposition to becoming the nation's nuclear waste dump was made clear today by Senators Reid and Ensign and Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto. I join with them and the majority of Nevadans in saying no to President Bush's reckless campaign to force open Yucca Mountain.

"Yucca Mountain represents a danger not only to Nevadans, but to 50 million Americans living along nuclear waste transportation routes. The price tag for this colossal failure is approaching $80 billion and Yucca Mountain is decades behind schedule. Active earthquake faults run under the Yucca Mountain site and the risk of volcanic activity is well known.

"Despite these dangers and the need for billions more in wasteful spending, President Bush and his allies in Congress are actually pushing to double the size of Yucca Mountain. Doubling the amount of waste to be buried at Yucca Mountain will only double the danger from shipments of this radioactive garbage. Not to mention the additional threat more nuclear waste poses to the health of millions of families and our environment.

"But President Bush is not content to stop with his plan to 'supersize' Yucca Mountain, he is also out to make a water grab over the objections of the State of Nevada and its residents. White House backed legislation in Congress would shred Nevada's authority to safeguard its own water supplies as part of an effort to overcome a ruling by Nevada denying the proposed dump any access to one of our most precious natural resources.

"Proponents of Yucca Mountain only view this debate in terms of what is good for nuclear power plant operators, while ignoring the frightening risks that Americans face from decades of toxic radioactive waste shipments. Terrorists seeking to build a dirty bomb are likely to target waste shipments and communities are not prepared to deal with an accident that could release deadly radiation on unsuspecting residents nearby.

"Yucca Mountain is a failure and the sooner that Congress recognizes the proposed dump will never pass the test of science and that the dangers surrounding this proposal are far too great to move forward, the faster we can start looking for a real solution that does not involve dumping nuclear waste in Nevada. We should leave waste on-site where it now sits, end the politically driven effort to open Yucca Mountain and look to technology that will offer a new direction for this nation's nuclear waste policy based on the need for safety, not the need to protect industry profits."

Alternative Minimum Tax Relief Passed by Berkley Ways and Means Committee – Will Protect 125,000 Nevadans From AMT

Extension of State Sales Tax Deduction Included in Package

Calling the legislation important tax relief to aid Nevada families, Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) voted for legislation today that seeks to protect 23 million Americans nationwide from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) for one year. Crafted with Berkley's input by the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, the legislative package passed by the panel will remove AMT liability for more than 125,000 taxpayers in Nevada alone. The bill, which also extends an array of other tax deductions, is expected to receive a vote on the House floor next week.

"Today we took a giant step toward enacting this important tax relief package that will provide savings to families in Nevada and across our nation. I encourage President Bush to work with Democrats and his party's leaders to make sure that we get the job done and protect taxpayers in Nevada and across the nation from the AMT," said Berkley. "However, if the White House and its allies in Congress choose to block this must-pass bill, 23 million American families will be facing unfair, higher taxes under the AMT."

Originally designed to prevent extremely wealthy individuals from avoiding the payment of any taxes, the AMT over time has grown to include millions of middle class families. Berkley worked with her Ways and Means Committee colleagues to help craft the tax relief package passed today. The bill would eliminate the AMT for 23 million middle income American taxpayers. Berkley noted that the legislation must become law in order to prevent large numbers of Nevada taxpayers from being hit with the AMT for the first time.

"Unless we can get this important bill signed into law, more than 125,000 taxpayers in Nevada will face the AMT this year, the vast majority for the very first time," Berkley said.

The Berkley-backed tax relief package also extends important tax credits that benefit families and small businesses. For Nevadans, one of the most important is an additional extension of the state sales deduction.

"Nevadans will be pleased to learn that we are extending the state sales tax deduction for another year. This extension will enable residents of the Silver State to continue saving money as a result of their ability to deduct a portion of the sales tax they pay each year. I fought hard to make sure Nevadans, who pay no state or local income tax, could have this option as a way to save additional money and I am pleased that it is part of the package passed today by the Ways and Means Committee," said Berkley.

Along with adding another year to the state sales deduction, the Ways and Means package also extends the Research and Development tax credit, private mortgage insurance deduction, and other tax saving provisions benefiting students, teachers, retirees, restaurant owners and operators and motorsports complexes like the Las Vegas Speedway.

Berkley Committee Moves On Alternative Minimum Tax Fix

30,000 Nevadans in First Congressional District Will See Tax Relief -- Mark-Up Thursday

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today (October 30, 2007) announced that legislation to provide Nevada families with relief from the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) will be marked up in committee this Thursday. As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, Berkley is helping to craft the package which will prevent the AMT from impacting large numbers of Nevada taxpayers, including many who will be hit for the first time this year unless Congress acts.

“As a member of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, I am working with my colleagues to pass legislation that will protect Nevada families from the AMT. This is a top priority and we are moving swiftly to get this tax relief package to the floor for a vote,” said Berkley.

Without this package, Berkley stressed, 30,000 taxpayers in the First Congressional District will face the AMT, a ten fold increase from 2006.

“If we do not act on this legislation, 30,000 residents of my Congressional District alone will be hit with the AMT – ten times the number who owed this tax last year. The only way to prevent the AMT from ensnaring these taxpayers for the very first time is to get something passed and to the President’s desk, so time is of the essence” said Berkley.

“I am also a strong supporter of eliminating the AMT once and for all so we can give millions of Americans, including the families of the Las Vegas Valley, permanent relief from this tax burden,” said Berkley.

In addition to eliminating AMT liability for this year, the Berkley-backed tax relief package also extends important tax credits that benefit families and small businesses such as the state sales tax deduction, R&D tax credit and private mortgage insurance deduction.

Berkley Hails New Report Calling For End

to Bush Global Nuke Waste Dump Plan

National Academy of Sciences Panel:

Cut Program Aimed at Bringing Overseas Waste to Yucca Mountain

Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-NV) today (October 29, 2007) called a new report urging a halt to President Bush’s Global Nuclear Energy Partnership welcome news in the fight to block White House efforts to turn Nevada into a nuclear waste dump. In its findings, a panel of the the highly respected National Academy of Sciences (NAS) wrote that the program, known by the initials GNEP, should not go forward because of huge financial risks and unproven technology that will take decades to develop. Berkley has opposed the GNEP program from the outset, citing concerns that the Bush plan would open the door to nuclear waste from overseas being shipped to Nevada for burial at Yucca Mountain.

“GNEP is President Bush’s plan to turn Nevada into a global nuclear waste dump and I welcome the findings of the NAS report which call for an end to this program. This is bad news for the nuclear industry and for those like President Bush who wanted to see Yucca Mountain expanded to make room for nuclear waste from around the globe. The danger to Nevadans from toxic nuclear waste is exactly the same whether it is created in the U.S. or imported from a foreign source and there is absolutely no safe way to move this radioactive garbage past the homes and businesses of 50 million Americans,” said Berkley.

“President Bush and his allies in Congress should listen to our foremost experts on this issue and follow the Academy’s recommendations to stop wasting taxpayer dollars on a program that is destined to fail. This report should also come as yet one more wake-up call about the lack of a solution for radioactive waste from any new nuclear plants. Under current law, Yucca Mountain is already full and that means there is no place for any new nuclear waste to be stored in Nevada. That is something that both the Bush White House and nuclear industry are scared to discuss, because without GNEP, they have no answer to this dilemma,” Berkley said.