Congressman Mike Rogers: Making a Difference for Michigan
Serving the citizens of the 8th Congressional District is rewarding and challenging, no matter whether working to make a difference through assisting individuals with federal agencies and organizations, or finding solutions for the problems and challenges facing our communities, state and nation in a changing world.
Nearly 15,000 hits on my website Jobs Page prove that jobs and the economy are a major concern in Michigan’s 8th Congressional District. To help Michigan meet its economic challenges, I have focused a tremendous amount of time and effort on trade enforcement, development of a national energy policy, making health care affordable and accessible to all Americans, reducing our tax burden, and keeping our borders secure – all crucial to keeping Michigan workers and job providers competitive in a global marketplace.
Crucial for Michigan’s economy is the work I’ve done to ensure that any changes in fuel economy standards are based on good science and not on arbitrary political numbers that damage the competitiveness of our autoworkers and the workers in related businesses.
I have introduced legislation and supported measures introduced by others, that strengthen enforcement of trade agreements, including protecting American workers and manufacturers against intellectual property theft, stopping counterfeiting of US-made products and services, and demanding that trading partners support fair trade by ending currency manipulation.
Also crucial for our future is the millions in research dollars I’ve been able to secure for development of agriculture, defense, and alternative energy resources at Michigan State University. Alternative energy sources are another essential element in keeping America strong economically. That is why I have been so aggressive in working on a measure to help build the distribution infrastructure for E-85 ethanol fuel, one of several options for weaning our nation off its financially draining dependence on foreign oil.
In addition to pursuing development and distribution of ethanol, I also support increasing our domestic supply of oil, beefing up our refinery capability, investing in hydrogen and fuel cell research and development, and encouraging tax credits for alternative fuel vehicles.
Health care is an area where technology has driven change at a much faster pace than government has been able to respond. We changed that with the new Medicare prescription drug plan under which 38 million seniors are saving more than 50 percent on life-saving medications. This year the 40-year-old Medicare program, designed on a 1960s model of health care delivery, received a much needed up-date with the beginning of a prescription drug program that “fits the bill” in a 21st Century health care delivery and wellness structure.
As a member of the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health, I have been fully engaged in efforts to introduce market-driven improvements that would make health care more accessible and affordable for all Americans. My legislation creating Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) in the Medicaid program for low-income families introduces consumerism into this growing health care assistance program and helps put low-income families in charge of their own health care decisions. The measure was signed into law earlier this year as part of the Deficit Reduction Act, setting up a 10-state pilot program. I also am working on a measure I recently introduced to make HSAs portable, so individuals can take their coverage from job to job.
Upgrading Health Information Technology (HIT) is one way to reduce cost and significantly improve delivery of health care. I have legislation that will help move this effort forward and possibly generate as much as $80 billion in savings while improving health care access immeasurably. Another $50 billion could be saved annually in the House passed bill on medical liability reform.
Another health care issue, chronic pain management, is an area where I have raised the issue and introduced legislation to improve education, access and research for the millions of Americans struggling with untreated or under-treated pain. Not only does chronic pain hurt the quality of life for the patient and his or her family, it also impacts patients and their families and their employers. Some estimates put the loss in the U.S. economy in the billions of dollars due to untreated pain.
Another measure I am working on will significantly stiffen the penalties for manufacturing or distributing counterfeit prescription drugs. Currently the penalties for counterfeiting money are much higher than for counterfeiting drugs, which can have life or death consequences. Someone who causes the death of another with a counterfeit medication should face the fullest penalty for the crime. As the sophistication of worldwide criminal networks grows, protecting the integrity of our prescription medications is crucial.
As a member of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and chairman of the Intelligence Policy Subcommittee, I am fully engaged in America’s effort to win the War on Terrorism and our national effort to secure our borders and defend our democracy.
On more than a dozen fact-finding and oversight trips to the Middle East, I’ve been fortunate to meet with our military men and women and their leaders, speak with citizens and leaders of the individual nations, and travel into some of the toughest neighborhoods with U.S. Special Forces and CIA officers. Coupled with hundreds of classified briefings by the intelligence community, these trips have shown me the commitment and dedication of the men and women fighting this war and their willingness to make the ultimate sacrifice to protect America by taking the fight to the terrorists rather than let them bring the fight to us.
In the War on Terrorism, America has faced tremendous challenges, including fighting al Qaida and radical Islamic terrorists around the world, confronting Saddam Hussein’s dangerous regime in Iraq, and preventing terrorist attacks here in the United States. Winning this global War on Terrorism means winning in Iraq. Osama bin Laden has made statements acknowledging that the war is being fought in Iraq, and that if he loses in Iraq, he has lost the war.
Four years ago, Iraq, Afghanistan, Pakistan and Libya were harboring terrorists and advocating the downfall of democracy. Today the governments of Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan are actively fighting terrorists and working toward their own democracies, while Libya has turned over its nuclear weapons program to the United States. The American men and women fighting the War on Terrorism see the progress being made in Iraq, and they know that they are making a difference, they see it every day.
On the homefront, I am a proponent of strengthening our border security by closing the gaps in our policies dealing with illegal immigration. I also have introduced legislation to protect America against the impact of potential bioterrorism attacks and pandemic disease outbreaks.
As many folks know, it was my legislation, now law, that keeps protestors away from the national cemetery funerals of men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice in defense of their nation. On Memorial Day, the President signed into law the Respect for America’s Fallen Heroes Act, making it possible for grieving families to mourn the loss and celebrate the life of a loved one without the disrespect or vile harassment of protestors.
For the people of Michigan and the 8th District, I have been fighting for a law to give our state the power to decide whether millions of tons of Canadian trash ought to be dumped in our landfills every year, trucked across the border without inspection, and driven on our local roads at the expense of state taxpayers. The bill is currently awaiting consideration on the House floor. That battle continues and won’t end until the people of Michigan have a say in whether Canada can dump its trash inside our borders without our permission.
Another on-going effort is aimed at ensuring adequate funding for the Great Lakes and protecting these crown jewels of Michigan and neighboring states against water diversion, invasive species, and other misuse.
One of the most important things a Congressional office can do is help people who have problems or concerns with federal agencies, such as the Veterans Administration, Social Security, Immigration, IRS, or others. In the past five and half years, the 8th Congressional District office has interceded on behalf of and resolved well over 5,000 constituent cases in a variety of areas. I also have responded to more than 360,000 emails, phone calls, letters, and visits from 8th District constituents.
Each year my office reviews and recommends candidates for appointment to the military academies, nearly a 1,000 constituents are given tours of the U.S. Capitol each year, and numerous other services are provided to assist citizens with a variety of needs. I and my staff are involved in Capital Area Youth Alliance, Youth Development Corp., Arts Council of Greater Lansing, Cristo Rey Community Center, Sparrow Health System Home Care Board, Impression Five Museum, Michigan Children's Trust Fund Auction Committee, Operation Backpack, U.S. Citizenship Swearing-in ceremonies, Congressional Merit Awards, LCC Foundation Lip Sync fundraiser, Livingston Economic Club, Rotary Clubs and Rotary Lip Sync Fundraiser for Senior Citizens, Charitable Federal Campaign, Capitol Area Migrant Council, St. Vincent Catholic Charities Arty Pizza Party committee, Ele's Place Community Outreach Committee, Hispanic Heritage Month Committee, several area chambers of commerce.
My mom and dad taught me that public service is an honorable way to give back to the community and the people of your community, state and nation. In the U.S. Army, as an FBI agent, as a state legislator, and now as a Congressman, I continue to learn that my parents are, as always, very wise. Nothing is more satisfying than being able to make a difference in the lives of the people you serve as a public servant. I look forward to continuing that service.