Workers as defense related factories wind down production. It is to allocate an additional 10 million to the office of economic adjustment from the general operations and Maintenance Fund. The office of economic adjustment helps communities across america when a factory shuts down. Over the last decade of war, middleclass factory workers have stepped up to the plate to make sure our troops on the battlefield have the weapons and equipment they needed as we transition away from two long wars and as defense production lines slow down, we cannot leave these workers with only a pink slip in their hands. Thats where the office of economic adjustment comes in. This little known but very Important Office in the pentagon helps communities that would otherwise be devastated when a factory shuts its doors for the last time. The office of economic adjustment provides grants and Technical Assistance to communities so they can develop their own strategies to transition to a postwar economy. Just th
In a country with 1112 million eligible voters there is still long lines of men and women in kabul and other cities that want a voting card. We should not judge the afghan election by the same standards we judge our own election. We have had 200 years of democratic evolution. This democracy is in its infancy. It will be the first peaceful hand off of power in afghanistan history. We want to not rush to judgment ahead of the people. It is there judgment to make whether the outcome is creditable. We dont want to second guess their steps along the way. The drawdown in the number of International Observers will have a sake psychological affect on the afghanistan and how the International Community views it. So the reduction is unfortunate but it will not make a huge difference. There is enough observes there to do their job. The real story is this is an afghanistan election persuint to their observation. With the afghanistan president ial elections this weekend a look at what to expect. An
Television for serious readers. Coming up next hearing on the Health Care Law and federal subsidies for insurance providers. This is an hourandahalf. The chair will recognize an opening statement. Todays hearing is once again about protecting taxpayers and consumers from the consequences of the Affordable Care act, mainly the giveaway of taxpayer dollars to ensures. First, section 1342 of the Affordable Care act created what are known as risc corridors, a mechanism that will protect Insurance Companies from some of the financial losses. It works by decreasing payments to plans whose expenses are below projections, those with healthier than expected and release and redistributing those dollars to plants whose expenses exceed projections, those with sicker than expected enrollees. If done in a budget neutral fashion taxpayers would have little to be worried about when it comes to risk. But while the administration has paid lip service to the program being budget neutral it has also indic
Expense. If they live far from a va hospital, 40 miles is the agreedupon distance, you will secretary the. A. Ability to fire senior managers accused of mismanagement. They can obviously fire those who are ill performing. Timekes a very long because of federal rules about letting employees go and their process to appeal. This was one of the reasons the controversy started in the first place. V. A. More to come on this deal in the house and senate. Did address the immediate crisis of veterans being forced on the long waiting lines for health care. It strengthens the va so that we can put a permanent end to long waiting lists. It addresses the very serious problem of accountability and makes certain that this honest and incompetent senior officials at the va do not remain employed there and in addition and provide some other significant benefit for veterans and their families. Funding for veterans needs must be considered a cost of law, and appropriated as charges that they. Planes and t
A sustainable ceasefire. One that addresses all of the concerns, the longterm concerns as well, begin to talk about the underlying causes of the conflict in gaza, although they will not be resolved in the context of a ceasefire discussion. To try to build, to begin and move in a process and that is what we are trying to achieve. That thehe only way conflict is going to be resolved. If we can make some progress, the people in this region, who deserve peace, can take one step towards that elusive goal by stopping the violence which catches innocents on all sides in the crossfire and begin to try to build a Sustainable Way forward. Any process to asolve the crisis in gaza in lasting and meaningful way must lead to the disarmament of hamas and all terrorist groups. We will work closely with israel and regional partners and the International Community in support of this goal. We continue to have these discussions. In discussions succeeded putting a 12 hour humanitarian ceasefire in place. F