NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

REPS. ENGEL, PALLONE, AND THOMPSON URGE FCC TO CRACK-DOWN ON FAKE CELL TOWERS KNOWN AS ‘STINGRAYS’

  Following reports this week of possible foreign entities spying on Americans’ cellular calls, Congressman Eliot L. Engel (D-NY), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Congressman Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-NJ), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, and Congressman Bennie G. Thompson (D-MS), Ranking Member of the House Committee on Homeland Security, today called on the FCC to crack-down on fake cell towers known as stingrays.

Stingrays are cell-site simulators that function essentially as fake cellphone towers.  They allow their operators to trick nearby consumers’ cell phones into giving up confidential information that would normally be protected by consumers’ cell phone providers.

“Press reports surfaced earlier this week that the Department of Homeland Security had identified suspected, unauthorized cell-site simulators operating throughout Washington.  More troubling, it appears that these cell-site simulators could be gathering intelligence on unwitting Americans on behalf of foreign governments. If these reports are true, it marks an incredible security vulnerability in the seat of the Federal government,” the three Ranking Members wrote.

The Members continued:  “[N]o action has been taken to date to actually address this problem.  With foreign actors now potentially taking advantage of the Commission’s inaction, the FCC should act, consistent with applicable law and regulations, to investigate these allegations and address any unlawful use of cell-site simulators in the Capital and anywhere else they are used in U.S. soil.”

Engel Signs Discharge Petition to Bring Legislation Protecting Special Counsel Robert Mueller to the Floor

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, has signed a discharge petition to bring legislation protecting Special Counsel Mueller to the floor. H.R. 3654, the Special Counsel Independence Protection Act,would ensure that any step to remove a special counsel from office must first be approved by a panel of federal judges. Engel is a cosponsor of the bill.

“President Trump’s consistent attacks on Special Counsel Mueller undermine our nation’s law enforcement institutions and are a direct threat to our democracy,” Engel said. “The investigation must be able to continue, unimpeded, until the American people get the full story of what happened in the 2016 election. It’s time for my Republican colleagues in the House to uphold the rule of law and work to protect the Special Counsel’s investigation.”

Engel Reintroduces the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel (NY-16) and Congressman Steve Stivers (OH-15) today reintroduced the Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act, a bipartisan bill that will allow us to better track Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program’s (CHIP) performances in caring for American mothers and infants.

Rates of maternal mortality have fallen worldwide in recent years but, shockingly, have risen in the United States. Given this trend, it is similarly alarming that the U.S. is not measuring and evaluating the performances of Medicaid and CHIP in caring for newborns and their moms – especially since Medicaid finances roughly half of all births in the U.S.

The Quality Care for Moms and Babies Act aims to remedy this problem.

The bill would bring together diverse stakeholders to identify care quality benchmarks for women and children in Medicaid and CHIP, as well as fund new and existing maternity and infant care quality collaboratives. These collaboratives bring together local stakeholders, like doctors and nurse-midwives, to share best practices and improve care for patients.

The bill has been endorsed by March of Dimes, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), the National Partnership for Women & Families, American College of Nurse-Midwives, Association of Maternal & Child Health Programs, Lamaze International, March for Moms and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.

The bill was introduced with more than a dozen bipartisan original cosponsors: Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI), Ben Ray Luján (D-NM), John Garamendi (D-CA), Barbara Lee (D-CA), Adam B. Schiff (D-CA), Don Young (R-AK), Doris Matsui (D-CA), Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Tony Cárdenas (D-CA), John Yarmuth (D-KY), Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-NM), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL). Companion legislation has been introduced in the Senate by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI).

“Medicaid and CHIP have been essential in caring for America’s moms and babies – especially in New York’s 16^th District, where more than a quarter of children are covered by these programs,” Engel said. “As such, it just makes sense that we should carefully measure the quality of the care moms and infants are getting through these programs. I am pleased to once again co-lead the effort to take better care of America’s mothers and babies.”

News From Congressman Eliot Engel

Engel Marks Equal Pay Day by Calling for Passage of the Paycheck Fairness Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel today marked Equal Pay Day by calling for the passage of H.R. 1869, the Paycheck Fairness Act.

Equal Pay Day falls on April 10^th, the 100^th day of 2018, symbolizing the 100 extra days that the average American woman had to work just to earn what men did in 2017. American women working full-time typically earn 80 cents for every dollar that men earn doing the same work.

This divide grows even wider for women of color. Black women’s Equal Pay Day will not come until August 7^th, and Latinas’ Equal Pay Day falls on November 1^st – meaning they must work nearly a full extra year to match men’s earnings.

To finally eliminate this pervasive pay gap, Congressman Engel is an original cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act. This bill, introduced by Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, would create stronger penalties for pay discrimination, allow women to join together in class-action lawsuits in response to sex-based pay discrimination, prohibit employers from punishing employees who share salary information, and take needed steps to ensure discriminatory salaries do not hold women back throughout their careers.

“There is absolutely no reason why any Member of Congress should oppose equal pay for equal work – and yet, only one House Republican has cosponsored the Paycheck Fairness Act,” Congressman Engel said. “This should not be a partisan issue in Washington. Women are not second class citizens and it’s long past time our laws reflected that.

“It is time to pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, and close the pay gap once and for all.”

Engel was an original cosponsor of the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act, which became law in 2009.

Engel: Make Sure You Take Advantage of ConEd’s Storm Reimbursement Program

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel is urging all those affected by last month’s storm outages to take advantage of Con Edison’s reimbursement program.

In a letter to ConEd, Engel demanded the utility company reimburse their customers for the series of outages that affected the area last month. ConEd has since announced that it will reimburse customers for food and prescription medicine spoilage if they lost power for at least three consecutive days. Those reimbursements for eligible residential customers amount to $225 without receipts, or up to $515 with receipts. Business owners are eligible for food spoilage reimbursements up to $10,200 with receipts. Those seeking to file for reimbursements for spoilage can check the company’s website here: http://bit.ly/2FD2mm8.

In addition, If you lost power for 3 days or more during the March 2 and March 7 nor’easters, ConEd will provide you with an adjustment to your bill that will reflect a one-time reduction to your monthly customer delivery charge. Customers will receive this credit on their bill by May 21.

“ConEd dropped the ball for thousands of New Yorkers during last month’s swing of nor’easters and its important they make these adjustments for their customers,” Engel said. “I demanded ConEd provide their customers with reimbursement for these outages, and while I am pleased they are working towards this goal, much more needs to be done to ensure another incident like this won’t take place in the future.”

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Congressman Engel Reintroduces the Gestational Diabetes Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a member of the House Congressional Diabetes Caucus, has reintroduced H.R. 5423, the Gestational Diabetes (GEDI) Act, a bill that aims to reduce incidences of gestational diabetes and the development of type 2 diabetes in women and children. This bill is supported by the American Diabetes Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

Gestational diabetes occurs in pregnant women who have never had diabetes, but have high blood glucose (sugar) levels during their pregnancies and cannot make and use the insulin they need. Gestational diabetes can lead to health problems for affected babies, and increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes for both mother and child.

“Congress can and should do more to address gestational diabetes, which affects as many as 9.2% of all pregnancies in the U.S.,”said Congressman Engel. “This bill will help us better understand gestational diabetes and, in turn, allow us to better treat this condition and improve health outcomes for both moms and babies.”

Congressman Engel’s bill seeks to enhance awareness of gestational diabetes and improve outcomes for both mothers and their babies by:

• Developing a multi-site gestational diabetes research project with the CDC to enhance surveillance and public health research on gestational diabetes;
• Providing grants to reduce the incidence of gestational diabetes; and
• Expanding research focused on investigating gestational diabetes and available treatments and therapies.    

“On behalf of the 114 million Americans with diabetes or prediabetes, I am grateful to Congressman Engel’s leadership in introducing the Gestational Diabetes Act (H.R. 5423). Gestational diabetes impacts more than nine percent of pregnancies in the Unites States, and yet we are not doing enough to address this issue. By harnessing CDC's expertise in research and translational science, we can better work towards reducing the number of women with gestational diabetes and the number of women and children who develop type 2 diabetes later in life, creating a healthier future,” said LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH, Senior Vice President, Government Affairs & Advocacy, American Diabetes Association.

“Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), one of the most common clinical issues facing our pregnant patients, and can have serious consequences for both mother and baby. ACOG is thrilled to support the GEDI Act, which would provide crucial funding for both public health research and community education to ensure women affected by this condition are getting the care and follow up that they need. Thank you, Representative Engel, for shedding light on this important public health issue,” said Haywood L. Brown, M.D., President of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists.

The GEDI Act was reintroduced with four original cosponsors: Congressman Raúl M. Grijalva (D-AZ), Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN), Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA) and Congressman Mark Pocan (D-WI).

Engel Statement on the 50^th Anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Assassination

  “Fifty years ago today we lost one of the most remarkable figures in our nation’s history.

“On April 4th, 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee. Dr. King was in Memphis to lead a march protesting the working conditions and low wages of the city’s sanitation workers, and in his final speech, he spoke of how racial and economic injustice are inextricably linked. His words were prescient then and remain vitally important today.

“It’s important for us to reflect on Dr. King’s legacy and rededicate ourselves to the fight against inequality. While the Civil Rights Movement made great strides, our country has not overcome many of the injustices that Dr. King witnessed. In Congress, I remain committed to ending these injustices. I am fighting for true equality for all; for equal pay and fair treatment at work, expanded voting rights, educational equity, criminal justice reform, freedom from gun violence in our schools and on our streets, and health care for all Americans.

“Dr. King argued that only by sticking together in a determined way, can we make America what it ought to be. I am inspired by the young people of today who are following in Dr. King’s footsteps by launching their own movements for equality and justice. Together we can move our country forward and live up to the ideals of equality that Dr. King inspired.”

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Engel Marks 8^th Anniversary of the Affordable Care Act

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement:

“It was my privilege to help craft the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and vote for its passage. In the eight years since it was signed into law, we’ve seen millions gain insurance coverage, new consumer protections codified, and essential services guaranteed for the first time, ensuring Americans get premium value for their dollars.

“But on top of that, we’ve seen the idea that health care is a right, not a privilege, face test after test and prevail every time. We have defeated Republicans’ incessant attempts to repeal the ACA, and have met head on the challenges posed by the Trump Administration. More than 4.3 million New Yorkers signed up for health care coverage during the most recent enrollment period – 700,000 more than in 2017, despite the Administration’s repeated attempts to sabotage the process.

“Now, it’s time to finish the work we started with the ACA. We must fight the Trump Administration’s insidious ploy to take away quality coverage by letting junk plans proliferate. We must reject policies like Medicaid work requirements that do nothing to bring care to those who need it. And we must once and for all commit ourselves fully to truly universal health care by passing H.R. 676, the Expanded & Improved Medicare For All Act.”

Engel Fights Opioid Crisis With New Legislation

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, participated in a two-day subcommittee hearing this week examining solutions to the opioid crisis. The subcommittee considered more than two dozen bills, including two co-authored by Congressman Engel: H.R. 5272, the Reinforcing Evidence-Based Standards Under Law in Treating Substance Abuse (RESULTS) Act, and H.R. 5329, the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act.

The RESULTS Act, co-led by Congressman Engel and Congressman Steve Stivers (R-OH), would ensure that federal grants intended to treat mental health and substance use disorders fund activities that are backed by sound evidence. The legislation also ensures stakeholders have the necessary tools to emulate successful programs in their communities.

The committee also considered the Poison Center Network Enhancement Act, legislation co-led by Congressman Engel and Congresswoman Susan Brooks (R-IN). This bill will reauthorize the nation’s poison center program for an additional five years. Since 2011, U.S. poison centers have handled nearly 200 cases per day involving opioid misuse. Poison center experts have also helped detect trends in the epidemic and educated Americans about the crisis. This bill would ensure these activities continue. Congressman Engel co-authored the last poison center reauthorization, the Poison Center Network Act (P.L. 113-77), which was signed into law in 2014.

“More action is needed to turn the tide on the opioid crisis, which is why I have co-authored these two bipartisan bills,” Engel said. “Too many of our friends and neighbors have been touched by this heartbreaking crisis. In Westchester County, 124 people died due to opioids in 2016. In the Bronx, more New Yorkers died of overdoses than in any other borough. This has to stop.

“I hope that the solutions I’ve sponsored can help bring this public health emergency to an end – but the Trump Administration must act, too. Medicaid and the protections guaranteed by the Affordable Care Act have helped Americans grappling with substance use disorders get the treatment they need. If the Trump Administration is serious about ending the opioid epidemic, the attacks on these lifelines must end.”  

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Engel Meets with Army Corps in DC to Discuss Flood Control and Dredging in Westchester & Bronx

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, yesterday welcomed Colonel Thomas Asbery, Commander and District Engineer, of the New York District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to his Washington D.C. office to discuss flood control and dredging projects affecting Westchester and the Bronx.

Among the topics covered in the meeting was a proposal to alleviate persistent flooding issues in Mamaroneck by widening, deepening and lengthening the Sheldrake and Mamaroneck Rivers, constructing retaining walls, and building a culvert under the railroad station parking lot.  Congressman Engel testified in favor of the proposal last year in front of the Army Corps’ Civil Works Review Board.  The proposal received preliminary approval from the Army Corps of Engineers last month, and Congressman Engel and Colonel Asbery discussed ways to continue moving the project forward.

Rep. Engel also spoke with Colonel Asbery about the need to dredge the Milton Harbor channel, which connects the City of Rye Boat Basin to the Long Island Sound, and restoration projects along the Bronx River at locations that include Bronxville Lake and Crestwood Lake.

“Parts of my district, especially in the Sound Shore communities, have dealt with persistent flooding for a long time,” Engel said.“These problems will only be exacerbated with climate change as the years go on, so it’s imperative that we act now to mitigate the problem.

“I have worked closely with Army Corps experts during the crafting of the Mamaroneck and Sheldrake Flood Risk Management Study and I am pleased Colonel Asbery was able to meet with me in person to discuss that and several other flood mitigation projects in both Westchester and the Bronx. We will continue to partner to make sure NY-16 residents are protected from flooding when future storms hit.”

Engel Thanks Cecile Richards for Her Years of Service to Planned Parenthood

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a member of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, yesterday thanked Cecile Richards for her twelve years of service as President of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. Ms. Richards plans to step down later this year.

“Over the past decade, we have fought fight after fight to safeguard women’s constitutionally-protected rights and make comprehensive health care more accessible and affordable to all Americans. Cecile Richards has been on the front line of every one of those fights,” Engel said. “Under her leadership, Planned Parenthood has faced countless attacks from those determined to turn back the clock on women’s health and rights – yet her efforts to support Americans in need of comprehensive care have never faltered.

“It has been my honor to stand with Planned Parenthood to fight back against the constant efforts to defund the care they provide to 2.4 million Americans each year; to roll back access to birth control; to halt the progress we’ve made in lowering rates of teen pregnancy; and to repeal the Affordable Care Act. While Cecile Richards’ leadership will be missed, I have no doubt that she will leave Planned Parenthood ready to tackle whatever challenges may come.” 

Engel Votes NO On Omnibus Spending Bill

  Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee, issued the following statement on the House passing an omnibus spending bill to fund the government for the rest of the fiscal year:

“This omnibus spending bill failed to address what I believe are some of the most pressing issues facing our nation. As such, I could not in good conscience support it and voted NO.

“30,000 Americans are killed by guns every year, yet the Republican-controlled Congress has refused to act. Every day we hear new disturbing stories about our data being accessed, and yet this bill contains provisions that grant the executive branch broad discretion to collect more data without proper checks. And though our DREAMers are still twisting in the wind, this bill once again ignores their plight and instead provides funding for the President’s ridiculous border wall.

“In addition, this bill provides no money for disaster assistance, does nothing to counteract the Trump Administration’s repeated acts of sabotage to the Affordable Care Act and America’s health insurance markets, allocates not one penny to the Hudson Rail Tunnel Project, and offers no additional language to protect Special Counsel Robert Mueller and his investigation.

“This omnibus is a product of a dysfunctional Majority and does not reflect our basic values or principles. Our Democratic negotiators worked hard, but the bill still had too many shortcomings for me.”

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

WHISTLEBLOWERS WARN OF IMMINENT “COUP” AT BROADCASTING BOARD OF GOVERNORS

Engel: BBG Must Not Become a Propaganda Outlet

  Whistleblowers have informed Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, that the Trump Administration plans to circumvent the law and replace the top official at America’s international-broadcasting agency with a candidate who will steer American-funded journalism toward a pro-Trump bias. In a letter to the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), which manages the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Radio Free Asia, and other entities, Rep. Engel relayed the whistleblower warnings and underscored that the law requires a new CEO to be confirmed by the Senate. 

In his letter, Rep. Engel reminded the governors that under a 2016 change in the law, the next CEO of the BBG must be confirmed by the Senate and that the law allows current CEO John Lansing to remain in place until a successor is confirmed. Should Mr. Lansing depart before a Senate-confirmed successor is in place, it falls to the Board of Governors to choose an interim replacement.

Rep. Engel wrote, “the President can’t replace the CEO. He can’t appoint an interim replacement to fire the rest of you. And if Mr. Lansing leaves his position before a Senate-confirmed successor is in place, it’s up to the Board of Governors to appoint a new one. Congress wrote these laws. They must be followed. If the President wishes to put a new CEO in place, he should send a nomination to the Senate and await its advice and consent.”

Rep. Engel also relayed allegations about a plot by which two senior BBG officials and a White House personnel official are pushing for Mr. Lansing’s ouster by the end of the month and for the replacement of senior BBG journalists with individuals who will help advance the Trump Administration’s agenda—a clear violation of the statutory “firewall” separating BBG management and journalists.

Rep. Engel continued, “Such a scheme would represent a shocking abuse of authority and would reveal an effort by this Administration to turn the BBG into a propaganda machine.”

The full text of the letter follows and can be found here:

  

The Broadcasting Board of Governors

330 Independence Avenue SW

Washington, DC 20237

Dear Governors:

I must regrettably bring to your attention a serious allegation regarding the Broadcasting Board of Governors. I have learned from whistleblowers that the Trump Administration apparently intends to dismiss John Lansing as CEO of the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG) and appoint BBG Chief Technology Officer and acting Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting André Mendes as acting CEO. According to the whistleblowers, Mr. Mendes would then dismiss the existing Board of Governors. This action would violate current law and represent what these whistleblowers have described as “a coup at the BBG,” presumably with the aim of pushing the BBG’s journalism toward a viewpoint favorable of the Trump Administration. I view these claims as credible and this scenario as outrageous and unacceptable.

Mr. Lansing was appointed CEO by the Board of Governors in 2015, as appropriate under then-applicable law. Under legislation enacted in 2016, future BBG CEOs will be appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. But the law states that until the Senate confirms a replacement CEO, “the current or acting Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Board may continue to serve” (22 U.S. Code § 6203). Congress’s intent when we passed this law was for the CEO to remain in place until the Senate confirmed his successor.

Furthermore, the current Board of Governors cannot be removed by the BBG CEO, and if Mr. Lansing departs before the Senate confirms a replacement, the Board will be responsible for appointing an acting CEO. While the 2016 changes ultimately dissolve the Board of Governors and replace it with an advisory body, until the Senate confirms a new CEO, the current governors remain in place and retain their statutory authority to choose the BBG’s leadership. At an April 2017 meeting of the Board of Governors, Chairman of the Board Kenneth Weinstein stated that the Board’s continuing authority was confirmed by a Justice Department memorandum.  According to the meeting’s minutes, he told the Board that “the Department of Justice affirmed that the current Board is enduring and will continue to serve alongside the current CEO until a CEO is confirmed by the Senate and appointed by the President.”

In short: the President can’t replace the CEO. He can’t appoint an interim replacement to fire the rest of you. And if Mr. Lansing leaves his position before a Senate-confirmed successor is in place, it’s up to the Board of Governors to appoint a new one. Congress wrote these laws. They must be followed. If the President wishes to put a new CEO in place, he should send a nomination to the Senate and await its advice and consent.

According to individuals familiar with the proceedings, Mr. Mendes addressed a meeting of the Board of Governors on March 14, 2018 in advance of his planned March 30th departure from the BBG for another job at the Commerce Department. Mr. Mendes expressed his dissatisfaction that he was not made CEO during the last vacancy in 2015. He underscored his disagreements with BBG management under Mr. Lansing as well as with the heads of the various BBG entities.

I have learned from multiple sources that in fact, Mr. Mendes has been plotting with BBG Senior Advisor and former Breitbart contributor Jeffrey Shapiro and Associate Director of Presidential Personnel Jennifer Locetta to assume leadership of the agency prior to his announced departure. They have allegedly prepared a memorandum for the White House outlining this scheme and are pushing for Presidential action—contrary to law—to replace Mr. Lansing with Mr. Mendes before the end of the month.

According to several accounts, Messrs. Mendes and Shapiro have made it clear in recent months their intention to remake the BBG into an agency aimed at promoting the Trump Administration’s agenda, which would constitute an egregious violation of the law requiring a “firewall” between BBG’s management and its independent journalists. Such a scheme would represent a shocking abuse of authority and would reveal an effort by this Administration to turn the BBG into a propaganda machine.

Given the urgency of this situation and the potential harm it poses to American international broadcasting and national security interests, I ask that you furnish my staff by the end of the week with the memorandum outlining this plan, as well as minutes, notes, and any other documented recollections or relevant documents dealing with these matters.

I’m grateful for your service and for the good, unbiased journalism that the BBG’s various outlets produce. I intend to see that they continue. I ask you now to help me protect the integrity of American international broadcasting and resist any efforts to politicize these important institutions.

Sincerely,

ELIOT L. ENGEL

Ranking Member

House Committee on Foreign Affairs

CC: The Hon. Steve A. Linick, Inspector General for the U.S. Department of State and the Broadcasting Board of Governors

Engel, House Dems Write to FCC Chairman Pai Urging Him to Protect Lifeline Program

Program provides access to phone and broadband services to over 13 million low-income Americans

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, today joined Congresswoman Anna G. Eshoo, Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke and over 60 other House members in writing Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Ajit Pai, urging him to protect the Lifeline program which provides access to phone and broadband services to over 13 million low-income Americans, the majority of whom earn less than $10,000 a year.

“From Day one of Ajit Pai’s term as FCC Chairman, the commission has done nothing but work to revoke key consumer protections,” Engel said. “Net neutrality, consumer privacy, and now the Lifeline program have all come under attack from this FCC and it’s the American people who are left to deal with the consequences. Lifeline helps millions of Americans each year. It must be preserved now and for future generations.”

The FCC recently voted 3 to 2 on party lines to proceed with a new proposal that will make it more difficult for eligible households to attain Lifeline’s services and will remove nearly 8 million current participants from the program. The FCC’s plan includes establishing caps on the Lifeline program, mandating co-pays from participants, and invalidating 4 out of 5 of the current providers of Lifeline services. The letter urges the Chairman to abandon this proposal and instead, move forward with reforms like the National Verifier, which ensures oversight of Lifeline.

“The Lifeline Program is essential for millions of Americans who use their devices to find jobs, schedule doctor’s appointments, complete their school assignments, call 9-1-1 during an emergency or to communicate with their loved ones,” the Members wrote.“Policymakers at all levels of government are united in their desire to close the digital divide, but the FCC should be strengthening Lifeline which has brought connectivity to millions of Americans.”

Since the program was created in 1985 under President Ronald Reagan, Lifeline has provided a discount on phone services for low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone services bring, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services.

The full text of the letter is below: 

March 21, 2018

The Honorable Ajit V. Pai

Chairman

Federal Communications Commission

445 12th Street SW

Washington, DC 20554

Dear Chairman Pai:

We urge you to abandon your plan to drastically cut back the congressionally-mandated Lifeline program that has successfully provided phone and internet services when people cannot afford them.  We ask that you reconsider your plan to take this critical program away from 8.3 million struggling Americans.

The Lifeline Program is essential for millions of Americans who use their devices to find jobs, to schedule doctor’s appointments, to complete their school assignments, to interface with the government, or to stay in touch with their loved ones.  The program helps Americans—including disproportionate numbers of veterans and people of color—help themselves.

The FCC recently proposed to exclude the majority of carriers from participating in the program and to arbitrarily cap the fund.  While you have stated that you are aiming to curb waste, fraud, and abuse, experts have repeatedly testified that the sorts of measures you are proposing do not have a successful track record.  Instead, these approaches merely force millions of otherwise qualified people to lose service.  These measures could be especially brutal during periods of economic downturn when people need the most help.

If you are truly concerned about waste, fraud, and abuse, the Commission should work to accelerate the rollout of the National Verifier that would ensure centralized oversight of the program.  Unlike your approach, the National Verifier has received widespread and bipartisan support.  In fact, the Government Accountability Office has testified that the National Verifier will resolve most issues that may remain with the program without the same brutal side effects on low-income communities. Remarkably, among the comments filed by key stakeholders on the docket, we are not aware of any that fully embrace the Chairman’s proposal, and most urge substantial revision if not outright abandonment of the proceeding.

We therefore ask that you abandon this proceeding cutting the Lifeline program, and instead move forward with a full implementation of the 2016 reforms, including the expedition of the National Verifier. Policymakers at all levels of government are united in their desire to close the digital divide, but the last thing we should be doing is rolling back the policies that have brought connectivity to millions of Americans. This proposal is untimely, counterproductive, and actively undermines our shared goal of connecting everyone.

Sincerely,

ELIOT L. ENGEL

Ranking Member

House Committee on Foreign Affairs

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

ENGEL DENOUNCES RUSSIAN ELECTION AND PUTIN’S ATTACK ON DEMOCRACY

  Representative Eliot L. Engel, Ranking Member of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs today made the following statement regarding the Russian presidential election:

“Yet again, Russia has shown its disregard and contempt for democratic values and processes. With this sham election, Vladimir Putin has further stripped Russian citizens of their rights to freely choose their political leadership and government.

“This should not be considered a real election—it was an orchestrated farce to ensure Putin’s continued grip on power. All real alternative candidates were barred from the election, and many Russian voters were forced under threat to vote for Putin. Sadly, this comes as no surprise, as Putin—a dictator in everything but name—continues to tighten his authoritarian hold over Russia. Putin and his cronies have disdain and disrespect for democracy, coupled with a reckless pursuit of power: their malign plotting has disrupted the elections of the United States, our foreign allies, and Russia herself.

“I hope the administration will join me in denouncing this attack on the political rights of Russian citizens and Putin’s continued assault on democratic governance throughout the world.” 

Engel Welcomes Juvenile Diabetes Advocates to Washington

   Congressman Eliot L. Engel, a member of the House Diabetes Caucus and a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Health Subcommittee, last week welcomed NY-16 advocates representing JDRF, an organization that supports type 1 diabetes research.

During the meeting, advocates discussed the importance of robust funding for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and support for the Special Diabetes Program (SDP), which provides $150 million annually for type 1 diabetes research at NIH.

“I’m proud to represent such dedicated advocates, and to support critical programs like the SDP,” Engel said. “I was pleased to partner with 355 of my House colleagues from both sides of the aisle to call on Congressional leadership to maintain support for the Program, and I have long supported needed boosts to NIH funding. I will keep working to ensure that this critical research continues to bring needed cures to my constituents.”

“We are happy that Congressman Engel continues to support the SDP, which provides $150 million a year to the NIH for type 1 diabetes research,” said Rochelle Waldman, JDRF Board Member and Advocacy Team Chair for the Westchester/Fairfield/Hudson Valley Chapter. “For me personally, the research that the SDP allowed on the artificial pancreas is significant because my daughter is now using this device, which is making a difference in her life and the lives of so many others living with type 1 diabetes.”

NEWS FROM CONGRESSMAN ELIOT ENGEL

Engel Cosponsors Bill to Increase Affordability & Undo the Administration’s Sabotage of the ACA

  Congressman Eliot Engel, a top member on the House Energy and Commerce Committee that oversees health policy, has cosponsored a comprehensive bill that would improve the Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplaces by making health care more affordable and reversing the harmful Trump Administration actions that have sabotaged the ACA. 

The legislation would lower health care premiums for consumers by eliminating the cap on eligibility for premium tax credits, and would increase the size of the tax credit for all income brackets. The bill would also provide additional support for out-of-pocket costs, and would make cost-sharing subsidies more generous for those below 250 percent of the Federal Poverty Line.  In October, President Trump decided to default on cost-sharing subsidies that help more than seven million hardworking Americans afford their out-of-pocket health care costs.

“For the last year, Republicans have worked incessantly to destroy or, at the very least, undermine the Affordable Care Act,” Engel said. “I’m proud to support comprehensive legislation that strengthens our nation's health care system by reducing costs, improving access to care and undoing some of the most harmful Trump Administration policies that sabotage the ACA.”

The legislation, entitled the Undo Sabotage and Expand Affordability of Health Insurance Act of 2018, also reverses harmful actions by the Trump Administration that undermine consumer protections in the health care system.  Specifically, the bill would:

• Prevent the expansion of Association Health Plans from going into effect. These bare-bones plans are not required to include protections for people with pre-existing conditions or the Essential Health Benefits (EHBs) package.
• Prevent the Trump Administration from moving forward on a proposed rule that would allow insurance companies to discriminate against people with pre-existing conditions by offering junk plans that provide limited benefits and little financial protection from health care costs.  The legislation would require these short-term limited duration health plans to play by the same rules as ACA-compliant plans.
• Prevent the Trump Administration from weakening protections for EHBs, which would leave consumers with less comprehensive plans that may not cover needed services, such as prescription drugs, maternity care, and substance use disorder treatment.

The legislation would also restore marketing and outreach funds that were cut by 90 percent during the 2018 ACA open enrollment period.  Specifically, the bill requires the Department of Health and Human Services to conduct marketing and outreach, and provides $100 million per year from 2019 through 2021.  It also provides $100 million in Consumer Assistance Program grants for states, which delivers funding for states to conduct educational activities regarding health insurance, and creates a state innovation fund to empower states to implement new approaches to increasing enrollment.  Lastly, this legislation creates a national reinsurance program to help stabilize the market and alleviate potential premium increases resulting from sabotage of the ACA.

Engel Joins Student from NY-16 to Protest Gun Violence During National Walkout Day

   Congressman Eliot Engel, a member of the House Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, was proud to join constituent Caroline Kirby at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday to participate in National Walkout Day, a day when students across the country walked out of school to protest gun violence. Kirby, who attends Bronxville High School in New York’s 16^th Congressional District, was one of thousands of students across the country who participated in today’s event, which is intended to spur action at the federal level regarding commonsense gun reforms.

“I am so proud of Caroline and all the students from the Bronx and Westchester who today took part in National Walkout Day,”Engel said. “Their spirit and activism is inspiring and makes me very optimistic about the future of our country. We have a long way to go when it comes to sensible gun reforms, and with a Republican Majority in Congress it’s never easy to pass even the most basic measures, like universal background checks or raising the age to buy a firearm from 18 to 21. But as these young students are proving every day, the day of reckoning for groups like the NRA may finally be at hand.

“As a member of the Gun Violence Prevention Task Force, I will do all I can to continue to earn the lifetime F rating the NRA has given me for my voting record, by promoting commonsense gun reform in the House.”

Video of Congressman Engel and Ms. Kirby outside the U.S. Capitol can be found here.

Engel Statement On The Passing of Louise Slaughter

  "I am deeply saddened by the sudden passing of my dear friend, Louise Slaughter. Louise was a wonderful individual, an effective lawmaker, and true leader for us here in New York. A lifetime public servant, she gave herself fully to her constituents and worked relentlessly on their behalf. As a Member of Congress, Louise did remarkable work on a whole host of issues, and was the first woman to ever chair the Rules Committee. As a chair of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, she tirelessly led fights to protect women’s health and rights.

“But above all, Louise was just a fantastic person, warm and inviting to everyone she met. My condolences go out to her family—daughters Megan, Amy, Emily, her grandchildren and great grandchildren. Louise was beloved, and I'm going to miss hearing that great accent every day."