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Friday, May 8, 2009

NELSON URGES MIDDLE GROUND ON HEALTH CARE REFORM
May 7, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson delivered a speech on the Senate floor regarding his outline for health care reform.

The speech can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s14kz1vT9MY

Below is the text of the speech:

Madam President,

“Nineteen years ago, after narrowly winning my first statewide race for governor in Nebraska, I was concerned about the significant budget challenges and economic downturn we faced. Today, the United States is confronted by financial troubles on a much larger scale.

“Among them, we are suffering from the compounding economic impact of years of steadily rising health care costs and millions of uninsured Americans. This crisis is strangling businesses and throwing sand in the gears of our economic engine, but the most troubling impact is on families.

“From 2001 to 2007, premiums for family insurance coverage surged 78 percent while income increased just 19 percent. Wages are lagging behind not only premiums but also out-of-pocket costs which families must pay for health care services.

“In my view, meaningful health care reforms are within reach and should be achieved in a bipartisan fashion without stifling minority views or using reconciliation.

“Although there are signs of progress in the reform debate, some seem ready to stir partisan emotions and tensions. We should play down the divisions which ideologies present and focus instead on areas of consensus.

“What could this middle ground look like?

“I believe that two of the highest priorities should be reducing the cost of health care and improving efficiency in our delivery system.

“Despite state- of-the-art treatment, some studies still show that Americans receive appropriate care just 55 percent of the time.

“The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Congress approved this year made a down payment addressing health information technology and comparative effectiveness research. As a result, doctors and patients will receive access to improved health records and better evidence about which medical treatments may best serve a patient’s needs.

“Senator Baucus and the Finance Committee have laid out a series of additional delivery system reforms which I applaud them for.  These cost-containment measures are the first order of business and a mission-critical component of reform which will immediately pay dividends on affordability and access.

“In an additional sign of progress in covering the uninsured, America's health insurers have agreed to guarantee health care coverage to all Americans and transition away from charging higher premiums to those who are most ill--if Congress agrees to support a requirement to obtain coverage.

“While I have an aversion to mandates, I recognize that we all have a responsibility to obtain health care coverage because we all pay higher premiums when providers are forced to write off expensive, uncompensated care.

“We often focus on the 45 million or more Americans who are uninsured, a crucial problem to be sure. However, we also must make sure we are not destabilizing care for the 200 million Americans who have private health insurance.

“Some have called for establishing a public plan, but I think it would undermine health care services for millions of Americans and squander this unique opportunity for substantial reform.

“Here are some of my concerns about a public plan run by the government:

• Washington runs our Medicare system which is already on its way to insolvency.
  
  
• Our delivery system could collapse if it had to rely more heavily on Medicare-like reimbursement rates.
  
  
• Today, one third of physicians limit the number of new Medicare patients they see largely because they are under-reimbursed for the costs of that care.
  
  
• A government-run plan would further limit payments to doctors, nurses, health care workers and hospitals, and they would over time refuse patients covered by this system because they would continue to lose money.
  
  
• That would worsen the current cost shift to private payers, which can run in the neighborhood of 30 to 40%.
  
  
• The result? Patients would lose access to health care, services would decline for millions and competition would disappear.
  
  
• Just in my state of Nebraska alone, uncompensated care and the cost-shift from low government reimbursements account for 15% of the average health insurance premium. That means that people paying for private health insurance pay 15 percent higher than they would otherwise have to pay for their premiums.
  
  
• In sum, a one-size-fits all Washington-run health care plan expands government but won’t fix the main problems people face every day: affordability, access and high quality care.

“Several years ago, we debated whether private competition could deliver affordable choices to cover seniors’ prescription drugs. I was not convinced there would be enough competition in the private market.

“Well, the jury is in. The verdict? A recent independent poll showed that 87 percent of Medicare beneficiaries are satisfied with their prescription drug coverage.  And, vigorous competition among drug plans will save taxpayers $243 billion over 10 years. That is working.

“I believe private competition can work here too. I would suggest we empower consumers and demand that private insurers compete on service to restore a true marketplace for insurance.  We need to make it easier for Americans to compare health plans and the co-pays, networks, provider quality measures and access to medical records the plans offer.

“In fact, President Obama has said Americans deserve the same health insurance that their members of Congress receive. Well, federal employees and members of Congress choose between a wide array of coverage options offered by private health insurers, selecting the plan that best fits their needs.

“Ultimately, I want consumers, not Washington, to be in charge of their health care, to be in charge of their choice of physicians and to give them the ability to demand more from insurers through the marketplace.

“In the coming weeks, America will see a debate that tests our ability to confront this enormous challenge yet still preserve bipartisanship and reason. We can meet in the center on a reform plan making major improvements in our health care system that puts us firmly on the path toward cost containment, universal coverage and, ultimately, fairness for all Americans.

I yield the floor.”

NELSON LAYS OUT HEALTH REFORM PRINCIPLES
May 4, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson released an outline of principles for health care reform, entitled, “Governing from the Middle: A Wise Path for Health Care Reform.”

“I believe meaningful health care reform is within reach and Congress must find a middle ground to improve care by lowering cost and expanding access,” said Senator Nelson. “Congress needs the input and support of all Americans to solve such an important challenge and I urge my colleagues to embrace bipartisanship and reason. This is a time for us to come together as a nation and collectively confront a shared challenge.”

Senator Nelson’s principles for health reform are attached.

NELSON PRAISES USDA PURCHASE OF GREAT NORTHERN BEANS
May 4, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson praised the announcement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on its purchase of up to $25 million of dry beans, 85 percent of which come from Nebraska.

“The Great Northern bean industry is vital to Nebraska and its farmers,” said Senator Nelson. “The purchase of these beans will allow bean farmers to plant this year’s crop and continue to provide their quality product to the world. I applaud this decision by the USDA.”

Many Western Nebraska Great Northern bean farmers have been unable to sell their 2008 Great Northern bean crop and face significant difficulties in obtaining operating capital for the 2009 season for a number of reasons. These include: domestic competition for land last year due to high prices for corn and other crops due to speculation and high oil prices, subsequently pricing bean farmers out of the market, while internationally there have been problems within some of the traditional markets for these beans, like Iraq and Cuba.

Nebraska produces 85 percent of the nation's Great Northern bean crop and the requested assistance under the USDA's Section 32 program will help preserve this important industry. The beans will also provide healthy lunches for thousands of students nationwide through school lunch and other assistance programs

Nebraska’s Dry Edible Bean growers not only feed the world, but also contribute greatly to the U.S. economy while doing so. Half of the product is exported to foreign markets such as Mexico, the United Kingdom, Haiti, Dominican Republic, France, Greece, Northern Africa, Canada, Cuba and Iraq.

“Nebraska is the number one producer of Great Northern Beans in the United States,” said Nelson. “The USDA says Nebraska accounts for the majority of the U.S. Great Northern crop which means if you’re eating baked beans in Boston, Senate Bean Soup in Washington, a cassoulet in Paris, a vegetarian stew in San Francisco, or White Bean Chili in Dallas, and they’re made with Great Northern Beans, chances are they were grown in Nebraska.”

It is estimated that the Nebraska produced 2008 Great Northern bean crop totals 62,000 metric tons.  There are an estimated 1,500 farmers in western Nebraska who produce the beans for various purposes.

In March, Nelson sent a letter to USDA with Senator Mike Johanns and Congressman Smith and has been urging the agency to expedite the purchase of the beans from Nebraska famers.

NELSON SENDS LETTER PUSHING FOR BENCHMARKS IN AFGHANISTAN
May 6, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson sent a letter to Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel Inouye of Hawaii and Ranking Member Thad Cochran of Mississippi urging them to include a requirement for “measures for progress,” or benchmarks, in the supplemental spending bill the Senate is expected to vote on soon.

“I believe the mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan calls for a system which will allow us to objectively gauge our success both militarily and politically,” wrote Senator Nelson. “We must learn from the lessons in Iraq and ensure that we lay out clear objectives for our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan.”

Senator Nelson, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Personnel, co-authored legislation in 2007 that Congress adopted and President Bush signed into law setting 18 benchmarks to measure military and diplomatic efforts by the U.S. and the Iraqi government in Iraq.

Nelson sent a letter on March 4, 2009, to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates calling for benchmarks to assess the new strategy for Afghanistan and Pakistan. He has raised the issue during several Armed Services Committee hearings as well this year.

“I have been actively engaged with the Administration in promoting metrics for measuring the progress of our operations in those countries and am encouraged that the Administration has supported these efforts,” Senator Nelson said today, after sending the new letter to Inouye and Cochran. “I look forward to working further with the Administration to establish these benchmarks and for support in delivering update reports to Congress.

“These steps will help keep members of Congress and the American public informed about the military and political efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan as we move forward with the new strategy aimed at bringing more stability to the region.”


A copy of the letter is below:

Dear Chairman Inouye and Ranking Member Cochran:

The American people deserve an assessment of our country's mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan, together with a clear method for measuring progress and success. Therefore, as the Senate Appropriations Committee considers the Fiscal Year 2009 (FY09) supplemental spending legislation, I strongly urge you to include in the Committee's markup a requirement for progress measures, or benchmarks, to assess the new strategy in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I also recommend that in addition to metrics for assessing progress, this legislation include a reporting requirement to Congress with regard to these measures.

For too long, our standards to measure success in Iraq were vaguely defined. For that reason, I pushed for the establishment of progress measures for our mission in Iraq to measure Iraqi political, economic, and military progress. Such benchmarks were included in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, P.L. 11028.

Likewise, I believe the mission in Afghanistan and Pakistan calls for a system which will allow us to objectively gauge our success both militarily and politically. We must learn from the lessons in Iraq and ensure that we lay out clear objectives for our efforts in Afghanistan and Pakistan. I have, therefore, been actively engaged with the Administration in promoting metrics for measuring the progress of our operations in those countries and am encouraged that the Administration has supported these efforts. As it is critical that progress measures contemplating defense, diplomacy, and development be included in the FY09 supplemental legislation, it is my hope the Administration will work with us to evaluate our way forward and establish the specific metrics they are considering within the framework of this bill.

In closing, it is my recommendation that the FY09 supplemental legislation provide a requirement for metrics to measure progress in Afghanistan and Pakistan, together with reporting efforts to keep Congress and the American people informed of our success in the region. As the federal government asks for further sacrifice from our citizens, and as we are forced to continue putting our men and women in uniform in harm's way, Congress must provide them with all available tools to succeed. I thank you both for your consideration in this matter.

Sincerely,

Senator Ben Nelson

NELSON VOTES TO REQUIRE DOD TO CONTROL COSTS
May 7, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson voted in favor of the Weapons Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 in an effort to reel in the waste and abuse of weapons purchases at the Department of Defense (DOD). The bill passed the Senate 93-0.

“Costs overruns and waste have become all too common within our government agencies, but some of the most staggering figures come from DOD,” said Senator Nelson. ““This bill will reign in wasted spending caused by cost overruns and ensure DOD has the processes and skilled employees in place to get the warfighters the resources they require on-time and on-cost so they can accomplish their missions. Reducing government waste and better equipping our service members is just common sense and overdue.”

In its examination of DOD’s 96 major defense acquisition programs, the Government Accountability Office found $296 billion in cost overruns in Fiscal Year 2009 dollars and an average delay of 22 months. President Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates have expressed support for legislation that would control these expenditures.

The Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 will address the underlying problems with DOD’s defense acquisition programs that have led to excessive cost growth in weapons systems and excessive delays in fielding those systems by:

• Requiring DOD to rebuild its system engineering capabilities;
  
  
• Reestablishing the position of Director of Developmental Testing;
  
  
• Establishing an independent cost estimating office headed by a Senate-confirmed director who reports directly to the Secretary;
  
  
• Requiring increased use of competitive prototyping; and
  
  
• Strengthening the Nunn-McCurdy statute to require the termination of any program that exceeds its original baseline by more than 50 percent unless it can be justified from the ground up.

Senator Nelson is a cosponsor of the Weapons Acquisition Reform Act of 2009 and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.

NELSON: STIMULUS FUNDS AIRPORT SECURITY EQUIPMENT FOR NEBRASKA
May 8, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson announced that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), through the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), will provide almost $2 million to Nebraska to purchase enhanced airport security equipment as a part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA).

“There is no greater priority for the United States government than the security of its citizens,” said Senator Nelson. “This investment will help ensure that Eppley Airfield has the most advanced and effective technologies to protect Americans from harm.”

DHS will provide $1,930,338.80 to Nebraska’s Eppley Airfield to purchase reduced-size explosive detection systems and advanced technology X-ray units. The reduced-size explosive detection systems, manufactured by Reveal Imaging Technologies, quickly scan bags and analyze the contents for explosives. It is currently used by more than 200 airports across the country. The advanced technology X-ray units, produced by Rapiscan Systems, provide a significant increase in detail and sophistication for passengers and carry-on bag screening over single-view X-ray units. These units are also capable of being reprogrammed, which allows the machines to adapt to new threats as they develop.

Senator Nelson played a key role in the passage of the $787 billion stimulus bill. He worked with a bipartisan group of nearly 20 Senators to better focus The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act on tax cuts for the middle class and job creation for millions of Americans. Senator Nelson led the group through the initial bill line by line, dollar by dollar, to reduce spending and cut out $108 billion of inefficient or less-stimulative spending. The bipartisan group helped the improved bill win congressional approval. President Obama signed it into law February 17, 2009.
 
Senator Nelson is posting information about the release of stimulus finds on his website as it becomes available.  Visit http://bennelson.senate.gov/issues/stimulus/index.cfm for more information.

NELSON ANNOUNCES $16.6 MILLION NIH GRANT TO UNMC
May 6, 2009 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson announced that the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) is one of seven institutions that will receive a grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The UNMC grant totals $16.6 million.

“This is wonderful news for Nebraska and for our state’s world-class research institution, UNMC,” said Senator Nelson. “UNMC is at the forefront of medical research and this grant will ensure that it can continue to compete on an international scale.”

This funding is provided through the Institutional Development Award (IDeA) program which is designed to improve the competitiveness of investigators in states that historically have not received significant levels of NIH research funding.  These grants fund multiple areas of biomedical research and reach out to diverse populations.  Last year, Senator Nelson received the EPSCOR/IDeA National Leadership Award for his support of medical research and the IDeA program.

Other institutions receiving funding from the IDeA program include: New Mexico State University (Las Cruces), University of Alaska Fairbanks, University of Delaware (Newark), University of Idaho (Moscow), University of Kansas Medical Center (Kansas City) and University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center (Oklahoma City).

Nelson Network Nebraska is interested in reaching more Nebraskans. If you know of a fellow Nebraskan who would be interested in receiving this bulletin, please forward their name, telephone number and email address to us at press@bennelson.senate.gov

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