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

Titus: HealthCare.gov to Give Nevadans More Control Over Health Care Choices

July 1, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District highlighted the launch of www.healthcare.gov, a new website designed to give consumers more control over their health care choices. As required by the new health care reform law, www.healthcare.gov provides information for consumers on both public and private health coverage options tailored specifically for their needs in a single, easy-to-use tool.

“This powerful new tool will provide Nevadans with the information they need and empower them to make the best decisions about their health care. Whether you suffer from a pre-existing condition, are on Medicare, or just graduated from college, www.healthcare.gov can help you find a plan that is tailored to your unique needs and provides the health care coverage that is right for you,” Congresswoman Titus said. “This website also provides vital information on the important benefits of health care reform, such as strengthening Medicare by closing the donut hole and ending discrimination based on pre-existing conditions. By increasing transparency and choices for families and small businesses, this website will help improve competition that leads to higher quality care and lower prices.

The core of the new website is the powerful insurance options finder. After consumers input a few pieces of background information – such as state, age range, and current insurance status – the tool will generate a list of both private and public health insurance options. The tool will list details of insurance plans offered in that state and include contact information for each company so consumers can contact the companies that best fit their needs. Beginning in October, the tool will also include pricing information, further simplifying health insurance shopping.

With information on more than 1,000 private insurance plans, www.healthcare.gov is the first central database of health coverage options, combining information about public programs from Medicare to the new Pre-Existing Conditions Insurance Plan (PCIP) which begins today. PCIP offers coverage to uninsured Americans who have been unable to obtain health coverage because of a pre-existing health condition. Nevadans can begin applying for coverage today through the PCIP.

Titus Again Supports Extending Unemployment Benefits for Nevadans

July 1, 2010 – Washington, DC – In another effort to extend unemployment benefits for Nevadans, Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District voted today for the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act. This important bill, which passed by a vote of 270 to 153, was brought up under a rule requiring a simple majority to pass after more than 80 percent of Republicans voted against it on Tuesday.

“Too many Nevadans cannot wait any longer for the passage of this critical extension of unemployment benefits,” Congresswoman Titus said. “Our state faces unprecedented economic challenges, from record unemployment to record foreclosures. With 14 percent of Nevadans unemployed, we all know a friend, a family member, or neighbor who has lost a job as a result of the deepest recession in a generation. It’s time that we stand up and fight for them by extending unemployment benefits that will help them weather this economic storm.”

The bill extends the Emergency Unemployment Compensation and Extended Benefits programs through November 30, 2010. This would retroactively restore benefits to people who started losing their benefits as early as the end of May. Approximately 22,400 Nevadans are estimated to lose unemployment benefits by July 3 if an extension is not signed into law. With every dollar in unemployment benefits creating at least $1.63 in economic activity, according to economist Mark Zandi, extending unemployment benefits is one of the more effective ways to inject demand into the economy.

Titus: Expedia’s Adding of 130 Jobs in Las Vegas a Welcome Sign

June 30, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement today on Expedia adding 130 jobs in Las Vegas.

“Expedia’s adding of 130 jobs in Las Vegas is a positive sign at a time when we could use some welcome news. I have been hard at work promoting legislation that will help Nevada businesses grow and create jobs, and this expansion is a sign that our efforts are having an effect.

“Thanks in part to incentives in the HIRE Act, Expedia is putting people in Las Vegas back to work. Under the HIRE Act, businesses receive a payroll tax holiday for hiring unemployed workers and tax cuts to spur new investments that help businesses expand. Small businesses have always been the engines of growth in our economy, and in order to pull out of this recession, it is critical that we continue to build on our efforts to provide further incentives and tax breaks that allow them to again grow and succeed.”

Titus: Sweeping Wall Street Reform Will End Taxpayer Bailouts, Protect Nevadans from Predatory Lending

June 30, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District voted today in support of sweeping financial reform that reigns in Wall Street banks, puts an end to predatory lending that exacerbated the foreclosure crisis in Nevada, and prevents any future taxpayer bailouts. The conference report for the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act passed the House by a vote of 237 to 192.

“Almost two years after the unbridled greed of Wall Street banks led to the near collapse of the country’s financial system, the House has taken its final step toward sweeping commonsense reforms that will protect Nevada consumers from predatory lending and reign in Wall Street banks and their obscene bonuses. With these critical reforms, we are fighting back against Wall Street and standing up for hard-working Nevadans who have lost their financial security during the recession. Nevadans have paid a steep price for the lack of regulation and oversight of Wall Street banks. With the consumer protections in this bill, Nevadans will be empowered to make the best decisions for their financial future.”

The Wall Street reform legislation puts an end to taxpayer-funded bailouts by establishing a process to dissolve large failing financial institutions in a way that does not wreak havoc on the whole economy. Any costs incurred in unwinding these financial institutions will be borne by Wall Street firms and big banks, not taxpayers. The bill also protects consumers from the type of predatory lending that helped create the foreclosure crisis in Nevada. The reform legislation includes a provision championed by Titus that regulates the reverse mortgage industry that attempts to prey on seniors.

“I am pleased that the Wall Street reform legislation includes an important provision I have been fighting for that regulates reverse mortgages so our nation’s seniors are not exposed to unfair and deceptive practices,” Titus added. “This effort will help ensure that seniors in their golden years do not lose their home and equity they have built up through a lifetime of hard work.”

Titus Congratulates Chef Moonen and Thanks Him for His Efforts to Fight Hunger

June 30, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District spoke on the House floor this morning to congratulate Chef Rick Moonen on his performance on Top Chef Masters and his efforts to fight hunger. Below are her remarks as delivered. Click here to watch Titus’ speech.

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to congratulate Chef Rick Moonen on his impressive second place finish on Bravo’s Top Chef Masters series earlier this month.

“Chef Moonen is donating his winnings to Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas, where the $22,500 dollars in prize money will fund the equivalent of 67,500 meals for Southern Nevadans who are struggling with hunger.

“I was pleased to join Chef Moonen this past April when he further demonstrated his commitment to fighting hunger by supporting the Weekends Without Hunger Act, a bill I introduced that will prevent low-income children from going hungry when they are away from school during the weekends and on holidays.

“We are honored to have a chef of Rick Moonen’s stature as such a strong advocate for fighting hunger in Southern Nevada. So again, I extend my congratulations to the chef and thank him for the contributions he has made to our community. I am also proud to have his wonderful restaurant, RM Seafood, in District Three, and I urge all my colleagues to join us to support the Weekends Without Hunger Act.”

Titus: With Nevada Families Hurting, Republicans Again Block Extension of Unemployment Benefits

June 29, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement today after Republicans blocked efforts to extend unemployment benefits for Nevadans who are struggling to find work.

“Just this past weekend, I held another Congress on the Corner to hear directly from my constituents in District Three, and so many of them are hurting. With unemployment at a record high of 14 percent, many Nevadans are in need of help during this tough economic time. That is why I stood up to fight for them and vote to extend unemployment benefits for so many Nevadans who want desperately to find work.

“But instead of siding with the American people who have been dealt a difficult hand by the unbridled greed of Wall Street banks that nearly brought down our financial system and threw the economy into a recession, Republicans turned their backs on them. Extending unemployment benefits while we work to create good jobs in Nevada can mean the difference between a family making a mortgage payment or losing their home to foreclosure.

“While these benefits are necessary to help Nevadans in the short term, I am hard at work fighting to create jobs in Southern Nevada that get people back to work. I supported an energy bill that would invest millions of dollars in Nevada for renewable energy, creating thousands of jobs that cannot be shipped overseas. And by voting for tax cuts for our small business, I am working to once again make them the engines of growth that power our economy.”

Titus Cosponsors Extension of Deadline to Qualify for First-Time Homebuyer Tax Credit

June 29, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District spoke on the House floor today in support of legislation she cosponsored to extend the deadline for the first-time homebuyer tax credit for those who entered into a contract by April 30. Below are her remarks as delivered. Click here to watch Titus’ speech.

“I rise today in support of the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010. The first-time homebuyer tax credit has helped bring stability to the struggling housing market in Southern Nevada. In total, over 25,000 Nevadans have collected about $200 million from the credit which has dramatically reduced the state’s excess housing inventory.

“In Southern Nevada, short sales have become more and more common as lenders and owners are able to avoid the arduous and costly process of foreclosure, and buyers can purchase a home slightly below market value.

“Unlike a traditional sale of a property between an owner and a buyer, however, short sales must be approved by the holder of the mortgage. In many cases, although a purchase price is agreed to by the seller and the buyer, the lender may not approve the sale for months. Certainly this has been the case in Nevada. As a result, many first-time homebuyers have entered into an agreement for a short sale prior to the April 30 deadline, but have not able to close on the purchase prior to the upcoming June 30 deadline.

“According to local experts, the Homebuyers Assistance and Improvement Act of 2010 before us now will extend to October 1 the date by which purchasers must close the sale of a home in order to obtain the homebuyer tax credit. This will allow approximately 3,800 first-time homebuyers in Southern Nevada to receive the credit. It is a fair solution that will help consumers who met all of the eligibility requirements for the credit but have had the timely processing of their loan held up through no fault of their own.

“So I thank the Chairman in his assistance in moving this forward. I urge my colleagues to support the legislation and yield the balance of my time.”

Titus Statement NRC Decision on Yucca Mountain

June 29, 2010 – Washington, DC – Congresswoman Dina Titus of Nevada’s Third District released the following statement on the Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s decision to deny the Department of Energy’s motion to withdraw its Yucca Mountain application.

“While today’s decision by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission is disappointing, it will not deter us from fighting to put an end to Yucca Mountain once and for all. I am committed to ensuring that Nevada never becomes the nation’s nuclear waste dumping ground, and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the Nevada delegation to pull the plug on this disastrous project that has cost taxpayers billions of dollars.”