How Asia could put US back in black

America’s shifting economic dominance and relations with Asia were discussed by Christopher Padilla, Undersecretary for International Trade at the US Department of Commerce, who spoke to a packed house at the American Enterprise Institute. He stressed the importance of forming free trade agreements with Asian countries, especially Korea and China.

According to Padilla, 60 percent of economic activity in Asian nations occurs within the continent, and the numbers are growing. He warned that continued stalling on the part of congress could result in huge economic losses for the United States.

The Undersecretary believes free trade agreements with nations like Korea are key to the United States’s continued influence in the region. Padilla stated that a hefty portion of the global GDP comes from Asia - nearly 40 percent - and the United States must solidify trade relations to ensure continued trade opportunities and economic superiority. In addition, he stressed the importance of continued dialogue between the East and West to facilitate both economic and international agendas.

Veterans owed more than blanket, hot meal

At the Senate Appropriations Committee, Joint Subcommittee meeting on “Homeless Veterans,” Senator Patty Murray(D-WA) said when our country fails to live up to obligations to our veterans, there is a result of high rates of drug abuse, alcohol abuse, and chronic unemployment, and all of these are contributing factors to homelessness. Experts estimate that 1 in 4 of all the nation’s homeless are veterans. Our veterans are heroes, she said, and we must ensure that they never reach the point of homelessness. Women veterans are the fastest growing group of homeless veterans, and we must ensure that the Veteran’s Administration evolves along with the needs of the veterans that it is serving, but HUD (Housing and Urban Development) must take steps to promote affordable housing.

Senator Kit Bond (R-MO) said we have to provide veterans with health care, mental health care, and transitional services. He quoted a different set of statistics, saying that approximately 20-33 percent of the homeless in shelters are veterans. The bottom line, he said, is that it’s critical for the success of the programs to have properly trained staff and appropriate facilities. A large percentage of veterans that are homeless served in Vietnam or Korea, and they’ve got trouble dealing with transitioning back into civilian life and dealing with guilt and forgiveness. “Our veterans are owed more than a blanket and a hot meal,” he said.

Mark Johnston, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Office of Special Needs Assistance Programs, HUD, said they have developed programs specifically to deal with homeless veterans. Because homeless people face many challenges, there is a need to have many separate programs to deal with each specific issue. HUD just announced a 11.75% reduction in homelessness since 2005. This is the first time we’ve ever seen a reduction in homelessness, Johnston said. HUD had partnered with the VA and others to target the chronically homeless. HUD provided permanent housing, and this have provided a permanent solutions to thousands.

Peter H. Dougherty, Director, Office of Homeless Veterans Programs, United States Department of Veterans Affairs, said their goal is to help veterans not only with benefits, but to help them find gainful employment and permanent housing. Benefits are very important, and they have expedited homeless veteran’s claims. We believe that it is important, he said, that veterans receive health care benefits which may or may not be contributing to their homelessness. There has been a significant reduction in homelessness, but funding is needed to ensure that the program continues and chronic homelessness be addressed.

Cheryl Beversdorf, President and CEO of the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans, said veterans receive employment assistance, transitional housing, and counseling. Affordable housing is the number one unmet need amongst veterans, particularly those with chronic health problems. She requested Congress to provide supportive services to veterans, and help with funds made available so that there would be an increase in available housing made to low income veterans. When asked why so many veterans are homeless, she said PTSD is a significant issue, along with employment problems, health problems, and that so many things veterans have learned in the military are not transferable to civilian life.

Senate Foreign Relations Committee Discusses Success in Korean Denuclearization Talks

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee today held a hearing used to determine the status of the Six Party Talks being used to try and denuclearize the Korean Peninsula. Chaired by Senator Joseph Biden (D-DE), the Committee interrogated Assistant Secretary of State Christopher Hill, praising him for the work he has done to ensure North Korea follows through on its commitment to “provide complete and correct declaration of all its nuclear programs, including weapons.”

Hill and the Committee were in agreement that progress has been made in the discussions held so far. Considering the fact that the Bush Administration was late to address the issue of eliminating Korean nuclear arms, Senator Kerry (D-MA) noted that Hill’s success has been particularly impressive,.

Talks also focused on other benefits associated with denuclearization. Biden reminded the Committee that the primary objective behind the Six Party Talks was not only to dismantle North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, but also to provide their people with energy assistance, sanctions relief, and the creation of a permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. With success in these talks, America could gain security in a peaceful, effective manner.