Gates, Clinton Say No Secret Negotiations Taking Place On START

By Sarah Mamula
Talk Radio News Service

Though U.S. President Barack Obama and Russian President Dimitry Medvedev signed the new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START) in Prague this past April, Congress has to yet to ratify.

Appearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton defended START, saying it will limit strategic offensive arms in both the U.S. and Russia in order to ensure stability and predictability between the two nations that together, possess 90% of the world’s nuclear weapons.

Despite bipartisan enthusiasm for ratification, Ranking Member John McCain (R-Ariz.) said he has concerns over the potential constraints in missile defense due to the inclusion of Article 5, as well as a unilateral statement made by Russia at the time of the signing that stated Russia would only validate START if the U.S. halted its defense missile build-up.

“That is a strong statement at the time of the signing,” said McCain.

Clinton, however, downplayed its significance, telling the committee, “We are not bound by it. In fact, we’ve issued our own statement making clear that the United States intends to continue improving and deploying effective missile defense systems.”

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates, who also testified, agreed with Clinton’s view that neither Article 5 nor Russia's statement would affect U.S. missile defense capabilities.

According to Gates, the new START retains U.S. power to maintain, modernize and deploy “the most effective missile defenses possible.”

When questioned about a recent press report claiming that secret negotiations regarding restrictions on defense missiles were occurring, Clinton defended the transparency of the U.S.-Russia negotiations on the treaty.

“There is no secret deal,” she stressed. “There is no plan to limit U.S. missile defenses in this treaty.”

Landmark Legislation Paves Way For Nonprofits

Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

Rep. Betty McCollum (D-Minn.) announced Wednesday that she will introduce new legislation that will help mold a stronger partnership between the federal government and nonprofit organizations, especially those who have direct influences in the healthcare and education sectors.

According to the Democrat, one in ten individuals are employed by nonprofit organizations, however, the nonprofit sector lacks adequate representation and wants their relationship with the government to undergo major improvement.

Among Rep. McCollum’s supporters is the National Council of Nonprofits, whose mission is to force legislators to recognize the involvement of nonprofits in America and its communities. Council president Tim Delaney said that nonprofit organizations nationwide are not receiving the governmental recognition that they deserve.

“We have a government that can tell us with precision how many iceberg lettuce heads were pulled out of the ground last year,” Delaney said. “Yet it cannot tell us how many heads of individuals were employed by nonprofits. Why are iceberg lettuce heads more valuable than the people who take care of America’s communities?”

Rep. McCollum said that she plans to raise awareness of the vital civic, social and economic contributions nonprofit organizations make to the United States. The Nonprofit Sector and Community Solutions Act will improve the relationship between the government and nonprofit organizations by improving the governmental coordination and support of nonprofit organizations. The legislation will also work to increase the influence the organizations have in addressing the domestic challenges their communities face.

“Every community in America is strengthened by the work of nonprofit organizations,” said Rep. McCollum. “Their needs are not being addressed by Congress or the administration, and that must change.”

Bipartisan Legislation Aimed At Ending Medicare Fraud

By Sarah Mamula - Talk Radio News Service

At Tuesday's House Ways and Means Committee hearing, new legislation aimed at resolving the estimated $60 billion of annual Medicare fraud was introduced by Rep. Ron Klein (D-Fla.) and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). The Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act would double criminal penalties to a maximum ten year prison sentence and up to $50,000 in fines.

“Criminals have decided that building a Medicare fraud scam is far safer than dealing in crack or dealing in stolen cars, and it’s far more lucrative,” said Lewis Morris, Chief Counsel to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). “Right now, it’s a good bet that you can take millions from us, and chances are, you’re not going to get caught.”

Klein criticized the “pay-and-chase” philosophy currently in place that gives room for criminals to succeed in obtaining money before law enforcement officials can make an arrest.

“One of the biggest flaws in our system is the unnecessary periods of time in which a potentially fraudulent claim is submitted, and when the proper law enforcement agency is alerted,” the Florida Democrat said.

If passed, Klein said new technology will be created and used to implement more strict pre-screening policies and a program using biometric measures will be piloted to “ensure that Medicare beneficiaries are physically present to receive services.”

“Our Medicare Fraud Enforcement and Prevention Act will provide badly needed reform to the Medicare system,” said Ros-Lehtinen. "We will soon restore our seniors' peace of mind and trust."

New Bill Aims To Prevent Cyber Attacks

By Sarah Mamula
Talk Radio News Service

“The Internet may have started out as a communications oddity some 40 years ago, but it is now a necessity of modern life and, sadly, one that is under constant attack," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman (I-Conn.) during a news conference with reporters on Thursday.

Lieberman, who chairs the powerful Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, along with the committee's ranking member Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Democratic Senator Tom Carper (Del.) introduced the “Protecting Cyberspace as a National Asset Act of 2010" earlier in the day.

The bill aims to coordinate efforts by the federal government and private sector to improve the nation's cyber defenses by creating a National Center for Cybersecurity and Communications (NCCC) within the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). The NCCC would be run by a Senate-confirmed director with the authority to lead all federal cyber-security efforts, develop a national strategy to protect cyberspace, give policy advice to the President and resolve inter-agency disputes.

The legislation would also allow the President to declare a national "cyber emergency," and would grant him the ability to order immediate measures to be taken to guard sensitive material.

Collins emphasized the need for immediate action.

“We cannot wait for a cyber-9/11,” said Collins. “Computer systems of Congress and executive branch agencies are now under attack 1.8 billion times a month, costing the national economy billions of dollars.”

If passed, the bill would also update Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) to require continuous monitoring of federal networks and secure the $80 billion of information technology products that the government purchases each year.

While emergency powers for the President would be “carefully circumscribed” within the act, Collins stressed that the bill does not authorize increased surveillance or permit the government to take over private networks.

Lieberman announced that a committee hearing on the bill will be held next Tuesday and a mark-up the following week in hopes to report the bill onto the Senate floor before the July 4th break.

Capital Pride Celebrates 35 Years

By Sarah Mamula
Talk Radio News Service

The Capital Pride Alliance celebrated it’s 35th anniversary on Wednesday night at a cocktail party held at the trendy Zentan Restaurant located in The Donovan House in downtown Washington, D.C..

What started as a block party in 1975 in front of the LGBT bookstore, Lambda Rising, formerly north of Dupont Circle, has grown into one of the nation’s largest gay pride celebrations.

“History really demonstrates our growth and our diversity and the strength and visibility of the GLBT community here...and how much a part we are of a vibrant Washington DC,” said Dyana Mason, Executive Director of Capital Pride.

While celebrating Capital Pride’s 35th, money was raised to support its programs with a silent auction. Items such as vacation packages, pieces by local artists, and even a guitar signed by Cyndi Lauper, Rosie O’Donnell, Margaret Cho, Rufus Wainwright and Debbie Harry valued at $5,000, were among the items up for auction.

2010 marks Mason’s second and last year as executive director of Capital Pride, as she will be leaving to pursue a Ph.D. in policy management at the University of Southern Caliornia.

“Capital Pride is a strong organization that has a clear mission,” she said. “I feel really honored and blessed to have had a chance to work for the gay and lesbian community here in Washington, DC.”