Fighting for Jobs, Health Care Reform, Student Veterans and Tax Assistance -- March 25, 2011
Dear Friend,
Thank you for reading another edition of my e-newsletter, the Carson Courier. For additional information on these and other topics, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov.
In this week's Carson Courier:
- Fighting to Save Jobs in Indianapolis
- One Year Later: Health Care Reform is Helping Hoosiers
- Meeting with IUPUI Student Veterans
- Tax Assistance is Available
Fighting to Save Jobs in Indianapolis
I was very disappointed this week by the Pentagon's decision to issue a 90 day stop-work order for the Joint Strike Fighter Engine, which is produced by the Rolls Royce plant in Indianapolis. In collaboration with General Electric, this project has created hundreds of good paying jobs for Hoosiers, and I am deeply concerned that many jobs will be lost as a result of the Pentagon's decision.
With such short notice and absent any consultation with Congress, it is simply unacceptable to cancel a program that supports so many jobs and has received over a decade of Congressional support. Repeatedly, White House officials and the Department of Defense have made reassurances that this program would not be cancelled as long as it is still being debated in Congress. Although House Republican leadership has cut funding for this project, it has not even been considered in the Senate. Clearly, without the approval of both houses, the debate is ongoing. I strongly believe that innovation and competition are vital when it comes to our nation's defense, and that's why I will continue my efforts to see that funding for this critical program is reinstated.
For more information, please click here.
One Year Later: Health Care Reform is Helping Hoosiers
This week marks the one-year anniversary of the historic enactment of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Signed into law on March 23, 2010, the law has already benefited Americans across the country by giving them freedom and control over their health care choices.
Below are just some of the benefits of health care reform:
- Families no longer live in fear of losing coverage if they get sick.
- Parents now have peace of mind as children with preexisting medical conditions can no longer be denied coverage.
- Young adults now have access to health insurance through their parent's insurance plans until the age of 26.
- Tax credits have helped small businesses provide health insurance to their employees.
- In Indiana alone, more than 88,800 seniors, who hit the Medicare prescription drug coverage gap known as the "donut hole," have already received their $250 tax-free rebate and will receive a 50 percent discount on brand-name prescription drugs when they hit the donut hole this year.
- Indiana has received $35.7 million to date from the Affordable Care Act.
- All 916,000 Medicare enrollees in Indiana will receive preventive services, like colorectal cancer screenings, mammograms and annual wellness visits without copayments, coinsurance or deductibles.
For more information about how health care reform has benefitted Hoosiers, please clickhere.
Meeting with IUPUI Student Veterans
On Thursday, I had the privilege of meeting with student veterans on IUPUI's campus in downtown Indianapolis to discuss the challenges they face when readjusting to civilian life. These young men and women have made numerous sacrifices and put their lives on the line in service to our country. Out of respect and gratitude for their unwavering service, we should strive to provide them with the necessary services to ensure their successful transition to civilian life—including access to a quality education. I will continue to support the veterans of our armed forces and fight for the services they deserve.
Tax Assistance is Available
Just a reminder: April 18, 2011, is the due date for filing your federal income taxes. For those with questions or those who need tax preparation assistance, please clickhere.
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns. For more information, please visit my website at https://www.carson.house.gov, my Congressional Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/CongressmanAndreCarson and follow me on Twitter@RepAndreCarson. I value your views and your input which help me to better represent the people of Indiana's 7th District in Congress.