Think-Tank Urges Congress To Pursue Industrial Farming Legislation

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

The Pew Charitable Trusts urged Congress Thursday to pass legislation that would prevent the spread of antibiotic resistant infections on the industrial farms that are responsible for the nation’s food supply.

“Sixty-four percent of 1400 human pathogens originate in animals,” Pew Environment Group Senior Advisor Robert Martin said during a discussion on Capitol Hill. “When you add low levels of daily antibiotics in the mix, you have a perfect system for creating antibiotic resistant bacteria.”

The Pew Commission on Industrial Farm Animal Production said that industrial farms are routinely feeding poultry, swine and cattle with unprescribed antibiotics to grow larger animals more quickly, and to compensate for crowded unsanitary conditions.

“The conditions in the farms make a perfect storm... you have crowding... and when one animal becomes infected or colonized with bacteria they spread it throughout the farm,” infectious disease researcher Tara Smith said. “This all this leads to a huge potential reservoir of antibiotic resisting bacteria.”

Earlier this year Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) introduced the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act that would work to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and stop the use of seven classes of antibiotics that are commonly used in human bacterial treatment from use on factory farms unless animals or herds are sick with disease. The bill has yet to have been taken up for debate.

House Democrats Unveil Immigration Reform Bill

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) and more than 20 like-minded House Democrats unveiled new legislation Tuesday to reform immigration. Under the new bill millions of illegal immigrant could legalize their status.

"We have waited patiently for a workable solution to our immigration crisis to be taken up by this Congress and this President," said Gutierrez. "The time for waiting is over. This bill will be presented before Congress recesses for the holidays so that there is no excuse for inaction in the New Year."

The bill, with full support of the Black, Hispanic, Asian and other progressive Congressional caucuses, proposes that illegal immigrants should have the right to register with the government, and after paying a $500 fine per adult, learning English and passing background checks, become eligible for a six-year visa and eventually a green card.

“Border security, that is a concern of all of ours,” Rep. Joseph Crowley (D-N.Y.). “We need to know everyone that is in the United States today...Not have people living in shadows.”

Many critics see a rough road ahead for immigration reform legislation, particularly with the U.S. unemployment rate at 10 percent and mid-term elections approaching.

“We want to make sure American workers get the first crack at all American jobs,” Gutierrez said. “But we want to invite immigrants to come here, bring their money, bring their knowledge, bring their entrepreneurship. We’ll let them in as long as they come here and create jobs for Americans.”

President Barack Obama said in August that he is confident that Congress would pass legislation that would overhaul immigration. Sens. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are expected to introduce an immigration bill in the Senate by February of 2010.

Troubled Communities Need More Assistance, Says Congressional Black Caucus

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

The Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) called on President Barack Obama and Congressional leaders Friday to prioritize communities that have been hardest hit in any job creation package.

The caucus released a letter Friday addressed to Obama and House leadership that suggests allocating 10 percent of job creation spending to predominantly black and latino communities, or communities that have been most deeply effected by unemployment.

“The African American community has been targeted with the lack of opportunities based on geography,” said CBC Jobs Task Force Chair Rep. Emmanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.). “It seems all together reasonable to target that same community.”

CBC Chair Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) said that specific language needs to be added to any jobs package to ensure that communities that need the most assistance will receive it.

“It is important to clarify this issue and make sure it is know that our concern is not based on the foundation or race,” Rep. David Scott (D-Ga.) “It is based on the foundation of need.”

The caucus did not comment as to whether it would vote against a jobs package that did not include the provisions they are pushing for.

House Democrats Move To Increase Debt Limit

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer  (D-Md.) said Friday that the House of Representatives will vote next week to increase the the national debt limit by up to $1.9 trillion to avoid a default in U.S. debt.

The Majority Leader said that an increase debt limit is necessary to keep the government running into December of 2010.

“The amount I want to increase the debt is zero,” Hoyer said. “But ... we need to do it so we can meet the bills that we’ve incurred.”

House Democrats are battling to push through legislation that would increase the $12 trillion spending limit by December 31, the date given by the Treasury Department as the deadline for when funds would run out. Passage of the bill would increase the federal debt limit to a total of $14 trillion.

“We are not flexible, we are using December 31 as a deadline,” Hoyer said. “We do not want to wait until the deadline.”

Resistance has been found in fiscally conscious "Blue Dog” Democrats who say they are not willing to vote to increase the deficit unless the legislation includes strict “pay-as-you-go” language, aimed at ensuring that future expenditures will not further increase the deficit.

“The Speaker and I are vowing to make sure we do everything possible to pass statutory Pay-go this year,” Hoyer said. “It would be very difficult to raise the debt limit without support in either chamber of those that are very concerned with fiscal discipline.”

The “Pay-as-you-go measure,” which would require lawmakers to offset new spending by making cuts elsewhere, is expected to be included to a $626 billion Pentagon funding bill that will be voted on next week.

Pelosi: House To Vote On Jobs Bill Next Week

By Leah Valencia, University of New Mexico- Talk Radio News Service

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Thursday that the House of Representatives will pass a job package next week in an effort to battle the rising unemployment rate.

Pelosi said that the bill will focus on extending unemployment benefits, give aid to local and state governments, help small businesses and boost infrastructure spending.

"Whether we can get all of that, I don't know, but that's what I would like to see next week," Pelosi said during her weekly press conference.

She indicated a definite urgency in passing an extension that would safety-net unemployment insurance and the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA), both programs that are due to expire at the end of this year.

Unemployment in November charted at 10%.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said Tuesday that the cost of the jobs package could range from $75 billion to $150 billion.