Betsy Markey for Congress |
Issues
As I travel throughout Colorado's 4th Congressional District, I take every opportunity to listen to people's concerns and ideas on how to address the important issues facing our country today. America is the greatest country in the world, and we can make our great nation stronger by working together to solve our biggest challenges.
Directory of Issues:
Honoring America's Veterans
We have no greater obligation than to care for our service members, and I am honored to represent so many of America's servicemen and women in Congress. I have pledged to make myself accessible to the men and women who have made sacrifices for our nation's security. To that end, I continue to have an "open door" for any veteran, service member or military family member who wants to discuss the issues and concerns facing our active, guard, reserve, and retired military communities.
It is the duty of every public servant to ensure our military and veteran communities are cared for by providing them with, among other things, comprehensive nursing and medical facilities, proper healthcare and mental healthcare services, broadly-based educational and housing assistance, timely processing of claims, and appropriate disability and retirement benefits.
I will continue to work tirelessly to ensure our nation's heroes receive the care and consideration they deserve.
Economic Growth and Fiscal Discipline
I came to Congress to work to get our economy back on track and our fiscal house back in order. In addressing the worst recession since the Great Depression, we have taken bold steps to create and save jobs, rebuild and re-grow our economy. I strongly supported giving pay-as-you-go budgeting rules the force of law. This requires any new government spending to be matched with budget cuts or savings elsewhere. Every day, hard-working Coloradans make tough choices in order to make ends meet, and the federal government should be no different.
I will continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to reverse the reckless fiscal policies that characterized the last decade in Washington.
Protecting Colorado Consumers
Last year, I led the fight in the House against credit card companies that were unfairly jacking up interest rates and changing the terms on consumer credit card accounts before federal credit card reform legislation could go into effect.
I led an effort of 42 House Members in sending a letter to the CEOs of Bank of America and Citigroup, pushing them to reverse their decision to slap new credit card fees on customers in good standing. I also introduced an amendment to incentivize them to change their policy.
From the time the Credit CARD Act passed until it took effect, my amendment protected thousands of customers from unfair fees and penalties.
I'm honored to be in Congress fighting to protect the people of Colorado and my District and I'm proud to serve them.
Energy
Energy independence and energy security are not Republican issues or Democratic issues, they are American issues. We have a unique opportunity at this time in our history to change the way we power our country and Colorado is poised to become a world leader in this effort. Our state's wind, solar and agricultural energy supplies offer opportunities to create jobs, protect the environment, and break our dangerous dependence on Middle East oil. The future of renewable energy is vital to the future of our national security.
Our corner of Colorado is today what Silicon Valley was in the 1980s. We are on the cusp of a revolution in American energy production that will break our dependence on foreign oil and take control of the way we power America. People will look to Colorado as a leader because we've been doing it longer and better than anybody else. It's time for America to take back control of our energy, our security, and our jobs.
Giving Small Businesses the Tools they Need to Succeed
As a former small business owner, I know firsthand the challenges facing American companies in a tough economy. Small businesses are the backbone of America's economy and so many of them have been hamstrung by today's economic crisis. The small businesses that are critical to rebuilding and re-growing our economy are the ones that are hurting most. In Congress, I have worked with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ease some of these burdens and let small businesses do what they do best: pull themselves up without a handout or bailout.
Reforming our Health Care System
Economists and health care professionals from across the political spectrum agree that we must reform our health care system. Colorado families and businesses being crushed by the outrageous cost of health care know that something must be done. I have worked to bring down costs for businesses, who see an ever increasing portion of revenue going toward insurance premiums for employees. These employers are facing the choices of firing workers or greatly reducing benefits packages. To this end, I have championed the SHOP Act, a bi-partisan bill that allows small employers to band together in negotiations with insurance companies, as well as the Equity for the Nation's Self-Employed Act, which creates fairness in the tax burdens placed on health insurance premiums for our smallest companies.
Earlier this year I introduced and passed the Health Insurance Industry Fair Competition Act, which repeals the special anti-trust exemption that health insurance companies have enjoyed since 1945, and will restore competition to the health insurance market to promote affordability, improved quality, and greater consumer choice in health plans.
Make no mistake: every American in this country has some form of access to health care through our emergency rooms. This is expensive, unsustainable and highly inefficient. I am committed to making smart, fiscally responsible reforms to our health care system that will reduce costs and improve access to health care for Coloradans.
A World Class Education System
Public education in America is one of our greatest success stories. Our country has made it a priority to invest in our young people and help them become productive members of society, lifelong learners and assets to their communities. My three children received a wonderful education in Colorado's public schools and the opportunities presented to them have helped each grow and reach their goals. We must ensure that all students in this country have access to a high quality education with qualified teachers and the technology needed for success. Today, many schools are struggling to get the support and resources to help them teach the children they serve.
Our colleges and universities have been the envy of the world. However, as tuition rates climb access to a college education is slipping out of reach for more students every year. The cost of a college education has risen 40% in the last five years and continues to go up. Students and families have taken on more and more debt as a result of climbing tuition costs. In 2009, the House passed legislation to make college more accessible, reform the way our country's student loan programs operate, boost quality early education opportunities, support community colleges and professional training programs, and strengthen America's fiscal health by paying down the federal deficit. I strongly support this legislation. When we make education affordable, we are ensuring a more prosperous nation and encouraging the next generation of American leaders in the global economy.
Keeping Colorado Agriculture Strong
Agriculture is the foundation of our country's history, wealth and prosperity. Today, American producers feed the world with the safest, highest quality of food and provide our nation with food security and independence. It is vital to the future of the U.S. that we support domestic agriculture and rural communities.
Rural communities are the heart of our country and we must not leave them behind economically or technologically. In order to stabilize rural economies, we need to encourage measures to support small businesses, improve local infrastructure and modernize rural telecommunications systems. I also support young and beginning farmer programs which provide assistance to new farmers in the start up of their operation. These programs ensure that American farms will continue to produce food for the generations to come. In the agricultural economy, I hope to see the expansion of the local market. The purchase of local products reduces transportation costs and also directly connects consumers with producers, giving them the security of knowing exactly where their food comes from.
As a member of the House Agriculture Committee, I continue to work tirelessly with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to support U.S. farmers and ranchers. They work every day to provide our nation with an invaluable resource - the food we eat. Without them, we risk dependency on foreign countries for our food supply which is unacceptable. An investment in agriculture is an investment in America's future.
Standing up for Seniors
Americans living on fixed incomes and with disabilities have been hit especially hard by this economic crisis, which was why I was proud to support a measure in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act which provided a onetime $250 payment to seniors, veterans and railroad retirees. In Colorado's Fourth Congressional District, this meant over $24 million going to citizens in great need of assistance. I was also proud to support the Medicare Premium Fairness Act (HR 3631) which will prevent the increase of Medicare premiums for approximately ten million Americans. I am also proud to support the Medicare Veterans Administration Reimbursement Act (HR 3365) which will enable dual-eligible individuals to use VA hospitals for all of their medical treatments but allow the VA to bill Medicare.
Immigration
Our immigration system is in crisis. I do not support amnesty, but I do support civility in the immigration discussion. Too often the debate is clouded by inflammatory rhetoric which hinders true immigration reform.
Our immigration system is in urgent need of reform. Current estimates suggest that there are as many as 12 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States today. These immigrants have become integrated into all aspects of our society, from our education system to the workforce.
We need to find a solution for immigration reform which provides enhanced security on our borders, protects small businesses and the U.S. economy, and allows those who contribute to the economy to continue to do so. I believe workplace employee verification programs are essential, as we need to ensure that employers have the means to verify the status of their employees. In order for true reform to happen, we need to have a plan that includes both solutions for undocumented immigrants who are already residing in the U.S. as well as preventative measures that start at the border.
We need to have a visa system in place that recognizes the positive impact immigrants have had, in addition to ensuring that important agricultural industries in Colorado can get the workers they need legally so that our crops are not dying in the fields. Finally, it is absolutely vital that we ensure our borders are protected and secure. To that end, I support increased funding for border security so that our agents have the resources they need to do their jobs.
Piñon Canyon
Southeastern Colorado is an integral part of Colorado's agricultural and ranching industries. The United States was built on these industries and our national security depends, in part, on our ability secure our own food supply.
While I support adequate military training, the expansion of the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site will put many farmers and ranchers out of business. This will devastate southeastern Colorado agricultural communities and also cut their much needed tax revenue.
Additionally, the Army has failed to explain why they cannot utilize other Defense Department training sites for additional training. We simply cannot destroy the economy of southeastern Colorado when alternatives to the Pinon Canyon Site have not been pursued.
Finally, I cannot accept that the Federal government can dismiss the rights of property owners who are unwilling to sell their land. In Congress, I stand firmly with the farmers, ranchers and landowners in Southeast Colorado against any efforts to expand the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site.
