Larry Kissell

This Week in Washington

2009-10-27T19:04:58Z

This week has been a good one for the Eighth District. We’ve seen important legislation signed into law that will have a positive impact on the lives of folks here at home.
First, President Obama signed the Agriculture Appropriations bill Wednesday afternoon. Included in the bill was a $1 million appropriation to create a Human Nutrition Center at North Carolina Research Campus in Kannapolis.
I requested this appropriation, even though many told me it would be an impossible fight. Others had tried to get funding for the Center through the USDA, but had failed. It is a good thing I’ve never put much stock in naysayers.
Earlier this year, the House passed the bill with $500,000 for the Center. My colleagues, Senator Richard Burr and Kay Hagan, helped protect the funding and were able to help it pass the Senate with $1 million for the Human Nutrition Center.
In addition to ground-breaking research into nutrition and the ways in which our bodies use it, the Center will begin much-needed jobs to our district. I couldn’t be happier to see this funding secured. Not only is this funding good for Kannapolis and our District, but all taxpayers as the USDA will now have access to the more than half a billion dollars in state-of-the-art equipment and resources available at the NC Research Campus to help improve its research.
I’m also pleased to report that the House unanimously passed H.Res 660. This was a bill I introduced to honor the distinguished history of the Laurinburg Normal Industrial Institute.
The Laurinburg Institute was founded on Sept. 15, 1904, by Emmanuel McDuffie and his wife Tinny Etheridge McDuffie at the request of Booker T. Washington of the Tuskegee Institute and William Edwards of the Snow Hill Institute. It is the oldest of only four historically African-American boarding schools still remaining in the United States. It was founded to help to provide suitable education and training in common pursuits of life for African-Americans in the area of Laurinburg years before the Civil Rights Movement.
It was a wonderful moment to see my colleagues offering up their support to honor this important part of the Eighth District’s history.
On Thursday, President Obama also signed another bill which will have a great impact in our District. The Veterans Health Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 will ensure sufficient, timely and predictable funding for the Department of Veterans Affairs health care program.
We owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who’ve served our country with such honor and distinction. The bill authorizes Congress to approve the Department of Veterans Affairs medical care appropriations one year in advance. This will help the VA make better decisions in regards to hiring, procuring equipment and better manage the health of our veterans because it will not have to go through the yearly appropriations process which faces delays in Congress.
I hope to soon be able to report that Congress has passed legislation to help seniors by correcting the lack of cost of living adjustments to Social Security. There is significant support for giving a $250 one-time allowance for seniors to help weather this recession. The checks would benefit 57 million seniors.
This check would be equivalent to a two percent increase for most Social Security retiree recipients. It will help bridge the gap for most seniors as they struggle with no COLA adjustment this year. It is important that we do what we can to help this most vulnerable community.
It was a busy week in Washington. There is still much work to be done to get our economy back on track, but this week was a good step in the right direction.

This Week in Washington

2009-10-19T19:03:23Z

Over the years, the business practices of the credit card industry have attracted a lot of attention and outraged consumers from across our district and our nation. Consumers have lost trust in these companies and are demanding more regulations. Earlier this year, Congress passed sweeping legislation that would hold credit card companies more accountable for their business practices.
The Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act was signed into law earlier this year. It tightened restrictions on how credit card companies can raise interest rates and the methods they use to apply the rates. The bill was designed to protect consumers from the fine-print and unfair practices some credit card companies have used for decades.
This bill, built on strong consumer protections, is scheduled for implementation in February of 2010. Many credit card companies have begun raising interest rates in advance of the law’s implementation. We’ve heard from constituents who’ve had their credit card interest rates increase dramatically in the past few months.
These companies are unreasonably raising already ludicrous rates before this law goes into effect so they can circumvent the rules that are there to protect consumers. More than one-fifth of consumers have an interest rate of more than 20%. Consumers are only asking for a fighting chance when it comes to paying off their debt. All too often, they find themselves at a decisive disadvantage.
In an effort to tip the scales back to the consumer, I have signed on as a co-sponsor to H.R. 3639, authored by Congressman Carolyn Maloney. The bill would move up the implementation of the Credit CARD Act so the provisions would become effective Dec. 1, 2009.
I have also signed onto a letter from Congresswoman Betsy Markey asking Wells Fargo to reverse its decision to raise its interest rates by three percentage points in advance of the law. Wells Fargo posted RECORD earnings of more than $3 billion in the first and second quarters of 2009.
An earlier letter implored other major credit card companies to refrain from raising their interest rates. In response, Discover and Bank of America have both agreed to NOT increase their interest rates on consumers. I applaud these two companies and their commitment to protecting their customers.
As our nation and our district in particular, continue to struggle in the recession, our hard-working families deserve a chance to get back on their feet. They aren’t looking for a hand-out, just an honest chance to pay their bills and put food on their table.
I am also very proud to report that Congress recently voted to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit for military members serving overseas. The bill, HR 3590, passed the House 416-16. It extends the first-time homebuyer tax credit which was part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for members of the military as well as Foreign Service members and intelligence workers who’ve served outside the country for at least 90 days in 2009.
Our brave men and women in uniform shouldn’t be deprived of this opportunity because they were serving their country. This will provide them with an extra year extension on the $8,000 credit.
In addition to extending the tax credit for military personnel, I have signed on to a bipartisan letter urging House Leadership to extend the first-time homebuyer tax credit for all consumers. The credit, which is currently set to expire on Nov. 30, has helped stabilize our housing market.
This tax credit has contributed to 357,000 home sales between February and September. The program has lead to an 11 percent increase in home sales over the summer, and has helped many families purchase their first home.
It is imperative that we continue to work to stabilize our economy. We still have a lot of work to do.

This Week in Washington

2009-10-16T21:04:54Z

As many of you know, protecting our seniors is one of my top priorities. I have expressed my concerns about strengthening Medicare and taking care of our seniors many times in this column.

Recently, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Medicare Premium Fairness Act which would prohibit Medicare premiums from rising sharply for millions of our seniors. I was very proud to vote to block these increases to the Medicare Part B premiums.

Many of our seniors would have been forced to shoulder an unfair share of the burden as federal law complexities were going to raise the costs of the Medicare Part B premiums even though there was going to be no Social Security cost of living increase this year.

Our seniors, many of whom live on fixed incomes from their Social Security checks, should not be forced to absorb undue hardships for the Medicare Part B premiums.

Under the current laws, most Medicare Part B premiums, which cover outpatient and physician care, are deducted out of Social Security checks, and cannot increase more than the cost of living adjustment for Social Security. However, this only applies to three-fourths of Medicare enrollees. Known as a “hold harmless” provision, this part of the federal law protects only 73 percent of seniors from premium increases if there is no increase in Social Security benefits.

The other millions of enrollees would have seen their premiums increase every month. More than 18 percent of these enrollees are low-income seniors who also qualify for Medicaid forcing already cash-strapped states to bear some of the premium increases.

The hikes would have directly affected 4 million new enrollees, recent retirees and those whose premiums are not deducted from their Social Security checks.

These increases would have adversely affected their ability to support themselves, pay for their medications and simply buy the groceries they need to survive. In these troubling economic times, we need to do everything we can to protect our seniors and our disabled citizens from unnecessary economic hardships.

The Medicare Premium Fairness Act freezes the premiums at their current level, and protects seniors through 2010. It is also deficit neutral, being paid for through the Medicare Improvement Fund established a few years ago to make improvements to Medicare Part A and B benefits.

By paying for this freeze on premium increases with funds already established, Congress was able to protect our seniors while meeting the fiscal responsibility of the Pay-As-You-Go bill we passed earlier this summer.

I was proud to vote for the Medicare Premium Fairness Act to protect our seniors from those premium increases and will continue to fight any legislation which cuts Medicare benefits.

This Week in Washington

2009-10-09T21:02:43Z

I have often pondered what our forefathers would think of the advancements in technology and how it translates to democracy. Thomas Jefferson once said, “Information is the currency of democracy.” I have to think he would have enjoyed having information available at his fingertips through the Internet.

As technology has advanced, and people have more access to information than ever before, we have seen more people getting involved in their government. As a former civics teacher, the idea of more people being active in their government and becoming involved in the legislative process is heartening.

As I have traveled around the district, meeting with folks, it has become more apparent that people want to be active participants in government. They care about what is going on and want to understand the legislation Congress is considering.

Whether people support or oppose proposed legislation, it is vitally important that they are able to obtain accurate information and make sure their voices are heard. It is important to be active in your government whether it is local, state or federal.

Recently, I signed on as a sponsor of H. Res. 554 which would prohibit the House of Representatives from considering legislation that has not been made publicly available, via the Internet, to Members of Congress and the general public for at least 72 hours.

This bill amends an already established House rule. Currently, transparency rules require legislation to be posted for 72 hours prior to a Roll Call, but the rule can be waived by a majority. This amendment would make it considerably more difficult to waive this rule, requiring a two-thirds majority for a waiver.

In the past, constituents did not have instant access to this type of information. With most people having some Internet access available in their community, it makes this process much more open and transparent. It gets folks involved in their government which is a foundation of democracy.

Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of an open government. I believe this is an important step to achieving those goals. We must work hard to inform the public of what we are doing as legislators. This bill would help ensure transparency rules cannot be easily circumvented.

Giving Members of Congress and their constituency time to fully read and study legislation is an invaluable part of government. As a Member of Congress, it is my responsibility to represent the people of my district and cast my vote with their best interests in mind. It is the right of every constituent to be involved in the legislative process.

Promoting openness and transparency by allowing the public to read the legislation and provide their Representatives with feedback is vital to what we do in Congress.

As Members of Congress making good decisions that reflect the beliefs of the people we represent must be our top priority.

This Week in Washington

2009-10-06T19:00:26Z

Every year, members of Congress have the distinct honor of nominating exceptional graduating high school seniors to one of the five United States Service Academies.

Service Academy nominations are something I take very seriously. These young men and women who receive acceptance to a U.S. Service Academy will not only serve as officers in our military branches, but will also be the future leaders of our communities and nation.

Notable Alumni of the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, United States Merchant Marine Academy and the United States Coast Guard Academy are endless, but have included distinguished generals, presidents, astronauts, etc. Collectively, the Academies are referred to as “The Five Pointed Star.”

Service Academy students are a special breed of youth. Full of dedication, determination, willingness to sacrifice for their country, sense of duty and excellent academic skills are just some of the characteristics that describe these students.

Students accepted to the Military, Naval, Air Force and Coast Guard Academies are on active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States from the day they enter the Academy. They are eligible for all privileges and benefits guaranteed to members of the Armed Services.

Each Cadet or Midshipman receives free room and board, textbooks, uniforms and supplies while paying no tuition or fees. All students at the Academies, with the exception of the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, receive a monthly paycheck as long as they remain in good standing.

Each candidate for admittance for the Academies, except the U.S. Coast Guard Academy, must receive a congressional nomination from either a U.S. Representative or U.S. Senator. Candidates may also receive nominations from the President or Vice-President of the United States. The U.S. Coast Guard Academy applicants compete in a nationwide merit-based program that has no state or district quotas.

While we have already received some outstanding applications from exceptional candidates throughout the Eighth District, I want to make sure that all students with an interest in attending one of the U.S. Service Academies have an opportunity to apply for a congressional nomination from my office.

In addition to this year’s applicants, it is never too early for younger students to begin planning for their collegiate careers.

I have established a Service Academy Nomination Selection Committee to review our applications and evaluate each applicant based on the “whole person” evaluation required by each Service Academy. This evaluation includes moral character, scholarship (high school and college records if available, class rank, SAT/ACT scores), leadership (organized athletics, student body and class government, extracurricular activities), physical aptitude, medical fitness, and overall personal goals/motivation.

To apply for a congressional nomination from my office, please call my Concord District Office at 704-786-1612 or visit the website at for instructions on how to complete our Service Academy Nomination packet.

Each applicant must be a U.S. citizen; at least 17 years of age by July 1 of the year of admission; unmarried; and have no legal obligation to support children or other dependents.

The deadline for submitting a completed application to my office is Dec. 1, 2009. Other offices including U.S. Senators, President and Vice-President offices may have other deadlines and procedures.
In addition to a congressional nomination, candidates must also complete all application processes required by the individual Service Academy.

Our selection committee will make a decision, and the nominees will be announced in January after all interviews have been completed and each applicant reviewed.

I encourage all students to consider this outstanding opportunity our Service Academies provide, and urge those interested to pursue these opportunities.

This Week in Washington

2009-09-21T17:48:22Z

There are an estimated 44 million adults in the United States providing care to adult relatives or friends and another 725,000 nonfamily private paid senior caregivers helping seniors stay in their homes.

Caring for another adult as their health declines is one of the noblest acts someone can do. Protecting and expanding home health care for our seniors and disabled citizens is one of my highest priorities.

It was my honor this week to join the majority of my colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives to vote for House Concurrent Resolution 59 which supports the goals and ideals of senior caregiving and affordability.

H. Con. Res. 59 asked Congress to recognize that 8,000 people turn 60 years old every day in the U.S. An estimated 35.9 million people are over the age of 65, approximately 12.4 percent of the population. This population is expected to more than double in the next 50 years.

Approximately 4.5 million people have Alzheimer’s disease, and the number of those affected by the disease is expected to increase to more than 11 million by 2050.

As the country’s population continues to age, we must be prepared to meet the challenges facing our seniors. More than 70 percent of people with Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia live at home, and are able to stay in their homes with the help of caregivers.

Seniors deserve the opportunity to stay in their homes and continue to live their lives with dignity. Home caregivers, family and paid providers, help our seniors to live independently and avoid life in a nursing home.

Home health care is a common-sense and practical solution for many seniors. Nursing home care is one of the most expensive types of care, and the longer elderly patients are able to stay in their homes with the help of caregivers, the less financial burden is placed on state and federal governments. It is a better situation for seniors as well. Most do better when they are able to stay in their home or in familiar surroundings. It is a better solution for our economy and our seniors.

The Department of Labor estimates paid caregivers worked a total of 835 million hours in 2006, and it will continue to increase. My colleagues and I made a commitment to foster a private home care industry by supporting accessibility and affordability caregiving services to seniors while providing standardized training to paid caregivers that offers opportunity for continued growth and development.

In addition to expanding and strengthening home health care services, we must also find ways to help family caregivers as they make sacrifices in their daily lives to care for their adult relatives.

Recognizing the importance of senior caregivers is a vital first step in keeping seniors in their homes and building a strong foundation to care for our elderly population.

This Week in Washington

2009-09-14T17:43:00Z

Much has been made about our skyrocketing national debt in the past few months. I have written about how troubling our national debt and out-of-control deficit have become. As our nation continues to debate health care and the costs associated with it, we must not forget we have to concentrate on controlling our country’s debt to be able to afford the types of programs that can help hard-working Americans.

I have specifically addressed my distaste for the mismanagement of the Troubled Assets Relief Program known as TARP, a program I strongly opposed. I was not in Congress when the original program was voted on, and I voted against releasing any more funds to this program.

Thousands of banks were bailed out with the $700 billion in taxpayer money. Congress had an obligation to ensure that waste and abuse in the program was nonexistent. We have seen the promises used to sell the TARP program to Members of Congress were misleading. Congress was assured that when the TARP program turned a profit down the road, those funds would subsequently be used to pay down the national debt. In addition, it was the intent that any funds being paid back by the bailed out banks would also be applied toward the debt.

Yet, the language in the current law governing the TARP program is vague and has many loopholes. For example, although Treasury says it will apply profits from TARP toward the national debt, as long as the U.S. is running a deficit, those profits will be used as revenue for the general fund. TARP was simply a $700 billion increase in the debt ceiling, and as long as the debt ceiling is not adjusted for each dollar of TARP money that returns, nothing will change.

As you may know, I introduced the Repaying the American Taxpayer Act of 2009, H.R. 3020. This bill closes this loophole by requiring any returning TARP-related funds, be they profit, interest, or a return of unused money, to be applied toward the national debt while simultaneously lowering the debt ceiling dollar for dollar. This way the Treasury cannot simply turn around and borrow more money.

Recent news reports show the problem continues, and I felt it pertinent to once again emphasize how strongly I feel that this loophole must be closed. The New York Times recently reported that the government has made over $4 billion in profit from the TARP program – money which is just being recycled for other spending and not to lower the debt. Since money started flowing back to Treasury several months ago, the government has profited $1.4 billion from Goldman Sachs, $1.3 billion from Morgan Stanley and $414 million from American Express. It also received profits ranging between $100 million and $334 million from five other banks including Northern Trust, Bank of New York Mellon, State Street, U.S. Bancorp and BB&T.

When dealing with an $11 trillion national debt, $4 billion seems like a drop in the bucket, but we must start somewhere. It is foolish and fiscally irresponsible to ignore this loophole, and not apply everything possible to bring the national debt back under control.

As Congress heads back into session, I will continue to lobby my colleagues to support H.R. 3020 as a common-sense solution to helping reduce our national debt.

This Week in Washington

2009-09-07T17:45:10Z

Public service is a true calling. No one knew of that calling better than former Congressman Bill Hefner. He understood the basic principle that a public servant must put the needs of the people first.

I was honored to have many conversations with Mr. Hefner that I will always treasure. He was gracious enough to share with me his wisdom and stories of his experiences representing our district for 24 years.

His guidance was invaluable to me as I began serving as the Congressman for the Eighth District. He was quick to remind me that the people of North Carolina’s Eighth District must always come first. He counseled me that a vote must not just be examined for what it will mean today, but what effect it will have on our district and our citizens a year, 10 years or even 20 years from today.

The wisdom and knowledge he imparted kept giving me the courage to fight so hard for “Buy American”. I want to protect our manufacturing industries for the future. I want our district to have a sustainable economic future and to once again thrive. He made sure I understood that I had to work hard to do what was right for our people and to fight for our district.

He taught all of us by example to honor and care for our military, our veterans and their families. His unwavering devotion and tireless efforts on behalf of our soldiers and their families is the gold standard we must all strive to achieve. He treated all our heroes the same no matter if it was a soldier on the front line, a wife trying to manage back home or a World War II veteran.

Mr. Hefner came from a show business background, but he was a work horse, not a show horse. He worked hard for the people of North Carolina’s Eighth District.

His legacy is easily visible across our region. I see it when I pass by the Stanly County Airport, the Bill Hefner VA Hospital in Salisbury, the Bill Hefner Elementary School in Fayetteville or any of the hundreds of other projects that he brought to reality during his tenure.

He was an amazing wealth of knowledge for a freshman congressman. I will miss his counsel, and I will miss his humor. Our district has lost one of its dearest friends and staunchest allies.

Personally, I will remember him as smart and funny, and tough. He continued to care about our nation and our district even after his retirement. It means so much to me that he took the time to speak with me and offer guidance on how best to help our district.
It is my distinct honor to serve in Congressman Hefner’s seat in Congress.
On behalf of everyone in the Eighth District, I thank Congressman Bill Hefner for his lifetime of service and offer our deepest sympathies to his wife Nancy and his daughters Stacye and Shelly and the entire Hefner family.