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JULY 21 UPDATE: The House Government Reform Committee passed H.R. 5766 and H.R. 3282, 2 bills that propose the creation of Sunset Commissions, the subject of the Action Alert below. Reportedly, both measures will be up for a full House of Representatives vote on Thursday, July 27. It is more critical than ever that you CALL or FAX your U.S. Representative today. Complete details, including a template letter and Congressional Contact information, follows. To see VOR's letter to Congress, click here.
================================================ VOR URGENT ACTION ALERT SUNSET COMMISSION PROPOSAL ON THE MOVE JULY 20, 2006 ================================================ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contents:
1. Action Needed – Contact your U.S. Representative 2. House Contact information 3. Template Letter -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
================================================ 1. Urgent Action Needed – Contact your U.S. Representative ================================================
Earlier this week, the House Government Reform Committee held a hearing regarding H.R. 5766, titled, “Cutting Out the Waste: An Overview of H.R. 5766, the Government Efficiency Act.” H.R. 5766 proposes the creation of a sunset commission to critique government agencies and programs and make recommendations calling for their changing or elimination.
As you know from past VOR communications, VOR is opposed to the creation of a Sunset Commission to review federal programs such as Medicaid.
We need your help to bring our shared concerns to members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Timing is right as this issue is now on their radar screens.
Many thanks for your participation. Contact information and a template letter follow.
====================== 2. House Contact information ======================
To identify your one Representative, visit http://www.congress.org. At http://www.congress.org, you can also get direct phone and fax numbers.
The Capitol Switchboard can also identify for your Representative, and connect you to their offices: 1-202-224-3121.
Although we need to reach every member of the House of Representatives, key contacts are those members of the House Government Reform Committee. To see who serves on the House Government Reform Committee, visit: http://reform.house.gov, then click on "Roster."
For your convenience, here is a roster with fax numbers, developed by another organization: http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/cgi-bin/newcommittee.cgi?site=afsa&lang=&commcode=hgovrefrm
============== 3. Template Letter ==============
July 2006 The Honorable ___________________ U.S. House of Representatives Washington DC 20515
OPPOSE H.R. 5766 -- Sunset Commissions Threaten Medicaid and Medicare
Dear Representative __________________:
I am writing to communicate my concerns about H.R. 5766, the Government Efficiency Act of 2006, a bill that would create a series of unelected sunset commissions appointed to review federal agencies and programs.
I believe that H.R. 5766 threatens to eliminate the services needed by millions of people, including my family member with mental retardation, who rely on Medicaid, Medicare and the State Children’s Health Insurance Program (SCHIP).
As written, the bill would allow the President or Congress to establish a series of commissions to review clusters of agencies and programs, to include all federal programs. The unelected commissioners would have one year to develop recommendations on which federal programs to kill, change or keep the same. The Commission recommendations would be fast-tracked through Congress without any requirement for public hearings or citizen input. Savings generated from commission recommendations would go towards deficit reduction and could not be redirected to other government programs or services.
SUNSET COMMISSIONS SHUT THE PUBLIC OUT OF THE PROCESS. H.R. 5766 allows a sunset commission to take testimony and evidence, or disseminate its findings to the public, but there is no requirement of any hearings or public participation.
SUNSET COMMISSIONS SUBVERT THE POLITICAL PROCESS. Programs like Medicare, Medicaid and SCHIP enjoy broad support throughout the country but could be overhauled or even eliminated by a narrow, partisan majority. Significant changes and cutbacks to Medicaid, Medicare and SCHIP could be quickly moved through Congress with very little debate.
SUNSET COMMISSIONS USURP THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF AN ELECTED CONGRESS. Congress already has a method for reviewing federal programs and making necessary legislative changes. The existing committee structure in Congress is designed to provide Congressional oversight of federal programs. Authorizing and appropriations committee members and their staff develop substantial policy knowledge about programs under their jurisdiction that would far surpass the understanding of a short-lived commission charged with multiple programs to review.
SUNSET COMMISSIONS THREATEN IMPORTANT SERVICES THAT HELP THOSE ON MEDICAID AND MEDICARE. The legislation would also threaten other important social services that Medicaid and Medicare beneficiaries rely on, such as food assistance, housing, employment and training and others.
My family member with mental retardation receives critical Medicaid-funded supports SHE/HE is among the most vulnerable citizens who are in danger of seeing their life-line services eliminated.
Americans who can’t help themselves because of no fault of their own are dependent upon the good will of the Congress.
Thank you for opposing H.R. 5766, the Government Efficiency Act of 2006, which proposes to create a Sunset Commission.
Sincerely,
NAME, FULL CONTACT INFORMATION
================================================ THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION!!! ================================================
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