May '10 Nevada Government—U.S. Congresswoman Dina Titus Column

Titus Remarks on Raising Awareness for Childhood Obesity

May 19, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus spoke on the House floor today in support a resolution recognizing September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. Below are her remarks as delivered. Click here to watch Titus’ speech.

“I rise today in support of H.Res. 996, a resolution to recognize September as National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month. I applaud Congresswoman Fudge for introducing this resolution to bring awareness to such an important issue.

“Obesity has been linked to a wide range of negative health outcomes, and the alarming rise in childhood obesity – if left unchecked – could lead to a national health crisis. Obese children are at greater risk for a number of diseases and are more likely to have health problems that put them at risk throughout their lifetime for diabetes, cardiovascular illness, and cancer. According to the Centers for Disease Control, childhood obesity has more than tripled in the past 30 years, so it is vital that we take action, recognize the problem, and begin to address it. I too, would like to commend First Lady Michelle Obama, and in Nevada, State Senator Valerie Wiener for their tireless efforts to combat this problem.

“I am also proud to serve on the Education and Labor Committee, which will soon be taking up reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Act. I look forward to the opportunity to address childhood obesity and the crisis that it creates through that important legislation. In the meantime, I am pleased to support the resolution before us today, H.Res. 996, brought by my colleague Congresswoman Fudge, because it will help raise awareness of childhood obesity, acknowledge its adverse lifetime consequences, and offer ways to combat the growing problem.”

Titus Letter Urges Housing Agencies to Effectively Use NSP Funds to Strengthen Case for Additional Aid

May 18, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District wrote today to Governor Gibbons and other state officials overseeing funds from the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) following this morning’s announcement by the Department of Housing and Urban Development that uncommitted NSP funds would be reallocated to the hardest hit areas.

Below is the text of the letter.

May 18, 2010

The Honorable Jim Gibbons
Governor – State of Nevada
State Capitol
101 N. Carson Street
Carson City, NV 89701

Dear Governor Gibbons,

Earlier today, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan announced that HUD will be working to provide additional funding through the Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP) for the communities that require further assistance to combat the ongoing housing crisis through a third round of Neighborhood Stabilization Program funding. I am pleased that HUD will be providing additional funding for communities that need it most. According to Secretary Donovan, Southern Nevada is “ground zero” of the foreclosure crisis and it is imperative that we work to secure some of this additional funding for our community.

As you know, in order to provide this funding, HUD will be reallocating NSP 1 funds from recipients who fail to dedicate their funds prior to the statutory 18-month deadline of September or October of this year. Unfortunately, according to performance records provided to my office by HUD, your housing agency has not allocated a significant amount of funding, despite the fact that the funding was provided more than a year ago. This troubles me greatly. If these funds remain unallocated, your agency will lose the funding and our communities will suffer. I hope that you will work with your housing agency to dedicate these funds as expeditiously as possible. We cannot afford to leave a penny of federal money on the table because your agency failed to administer the program effectively.

Furthermore, the Secretary noted that “NSP 3” funding would be awarded to agencies based on NSP 1 performance. In order to qualify for the largest amount possible, your agency must demonstrate to HUD the ability to put these funds to work. If your agency is able to show the capability to effectively administer these funds, it will greatly improve your ability to receive additional funding to benefit Southern Nevada.

If not, you will not only forfeit existing dollars allocated previously, but will also fail to qualify for additional, much-needed funding for Southern Nevada. As we learned in the NSP 2 application process, need alone will not qualify our state for funding. It is imperative that your housing agency demonstrate the ability to effectively spend these funds.

I look forward to continuing our work together on this important issue and hope that you will consider me an advocate in the process. My office remains ready to assist in any way that will benefit communities throughout Southern Nevada. We need these dollars to help families stay in their homes.

Sincerely,

Dina Titus
Member of Congress

Titus-Supported Credit Card Reforms to Save Consumers $5 Billion in Fees This Year

May 18, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus highlighted an analysis by USA Today that found that credit card reforms supported by Titus and passed by Congress will save consumers $5 billion in fees this year. The Credit CARD Act, which began to take effect earlier this year, provides tough new protections for consumers previously facing sky-high interest rates hikes and steep overdraft fees.

“For too long, consumers have been subjected to the whims of credit card companies and their unfair rate hikes and excessive fees that left Nevadans paying more,” Congresswoman Titus said. “With credit card debt at a record high, this legislation levels the playing field between credit card companies and consumers by applying commonsense regulations and giving cardholders the information and rights they need to make smart financial decisions. The key provisions of this law will ensure that Nevadans keep more of their hard-earned money in their own pockets where it belongs rather than padding the bottom line of credit card companies.”

Some of the key reforms that have already taken effect include:

* Credit card companies must provide notice of any rate hike or change 45 days in advance.
* Interest rate increases are prohibited in most cases during the first year of the account.
* Account statements must be sent 21 days in advance of the due date.
* Credit card companies are restricted from allowing over-the-limit transactions without the card holders’ knowledge.
* Due-date gimmicks, such as setting morning times for payments before mail is delivered or charging fees for paying a bill by phone or Internet, are prohibited.
* Recipients of gift cards are protected by requiring all gift cards to have at least a five-year life span and eliminating the practice of declining values and hidden fees for those cards.

In addition, on August 22 of this year, penalty fees will be required to be reasonable and proportional to the violation. Creditors will be required to periodically review all interest rate increases since January 2009 and reduce rates when a review indicates that a reduction is warranted. Additionally, the Electronic Fund Transfer Act will be amended to limit dormancy, inactivity, and service fees associated with gift cards. The CARD Act is supported by a number of consumer organizations, public interest groups, and small business associations including the National Federation of Independent Businesses, Center for Responsible Lending, and U.S. PIRG.

Titus: Health Care Reform to Provide Tax Credits to Small Businesses

Titus Adds Small Business Tax Credit Calculator to Website

May 17, 2010 – Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Dina Titus highlighted new guidance from the IRS today on health care tax credits as good news for small businesses in Nevada’s Third District. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is providing tax credits, effective beginning in tax year 2010, for millions of American small businesses to help them offer health insurance to their employees if they choose to do so.

In order to help small businesses figure out how much of the tax credit they are eligible for, Titus added a small business health care tax credit calculator to her website. Click here to find out how much a small business could save through health care tax credits.

“With many of Southern Nevada’s small businesses feeling the weight of these tough economic times, health care tax credits will help them save money and increase their competitiveness,” Congresswoman Titus said. “It is important for small businesses that are offering health care to their employees to know about the tax credits they are eligible for so they can take advantage and save as much as 35% on their health care costs. The health care tax credit calculator will help make sure that no small business leaves money on the table.”

Businesses that employ fewer than 25 full-time workers and pay average annual wages below $50,000 while covering at least 50 percent of health care costs are eligible for a tax credit.

The IRS announced that small businesses can receive the credit not only for traditional health insurance coverage but also for add-on dental, vision, and other limited-scope coverage. Under health care reform, small businesses in Nevada can get tax credits to cover 35% of their premium costs this year, and 50% beginning in 2014. Businesses with fewer than 50 employees are not required to provide health insurance, but those that do will be eligible for the tax credits.