January 23, 2009
January 23, 2009
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:
Inauguration of President Barack Obama
Providing Health Care to American Children
Poverty in America Awareness Month
INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
On Tuesday, a patriotic crowd of over 1.5 million Americans gathered in our nation's capital to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I was proud to be joined by thousands of my fellow Hoosiers who made the trip to Washington, D.C. to witness this historic event in person. Whether you where present on the National Mall or watching from Indianapolis, you surely know that our nation is truly heading in a new direction.
In the coming months, I look forward to speaking with President Obama about the needs of our city and working with him to bring relief to working Hoosiers who are struggling to make ends meet.
PROVIDING HEALTH CARE TO AMERICAN CHILDREN
Last December, the National Bureau of Economic Research reported that our national economy had been in recession since December of 2007. This economic downturn has become extremely evident as we witnessed the cost of health care skyrocket to new highs. Over the last year, increased costs have forced thousands of employers cut coverage for their employees.
While Medicaid covers many uninsured families, millions more earn too much to qualify. Without health coverage, these families live in fear of the illness or injury that could send them into bankruptcy.
Sadly, children in these working families often face the worst consequences. Studies show that uninsured children are three times more likely to get sick, miss school, spend time in a hospital or suffer from chronic conditions like asthma, obesity and diabetes.
For a number of years, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has provided insurance to children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but are unable to afford private coverage. In 2007 alone, SCHIP successfully covered over 130,000 children across Indiana. Unfortunately, President Bush twice vetoed legislation expanding this program in, despite strong bipartisan support in the 110th Congress.
I strongly believe that children should not be made to suffer because of the financial hardships of their parents. Last week, I proudly joined my House colleagues in passing the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization. When signed by President Obama, this bipartisan legislation will ensure that nearly 200,000 children across Indiana – a total of 11 million nationwide – will now receive the health coverage that they so desperately need.
Unfortunately, by only insuring 51% of Indiana's uninsured children, this legislation is far from a perfect solution. Rest assured that my fight for children's health insurance has not ended. In the coming months, I will continue to work with the incoming Obama Administration and my colleagues in the House to develop new initiatives that will cover these each uninsured child.
POVERTY IN AMERICA AWARENESS MONTH
Each year, Poverty in America Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of the arduous circumstances that so many poor Americans are forced to endure. In these difficult economic times, it is critically important that we all work together to bring millions of American men, women and children out of poverty.
With unemployment on the rise, the housing market in shambles, and the cost of food, health care and transportation at some of their highest recent levels, there are more Americans than ever who are unable to pay their bills and cover their most basic needs. Nationwide poverty levels have risen from 11.3% in 2000 to an estimated 13% today, with millions more facing imminent poverty if the economy does not improve soon. Tragically, at nearly 22%, the United States also maintains the highest level of child poverty of any nation in the developed world.
With the commencement of the Obama presidency, Congress is beginning to consider legislation that will improve the lives of Americans who are struggling with poverty. Until such legislation is enacted, there are a number of resources available across Indianapolis that can help the underprivileged meet their basic needs. The following organizations, compiled by the United Way of Central Indiana, provide food, clothing, shelter and other essentials to Indianapolis residents in need.
American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis
Arc Rehab Services
Catholic Charities Indianapolis
Christamore House Family and Community Center
Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis (The)
Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE)
Concord Neighborhood Center
Connect2Help (formerly Information and Referral Network, Inc.)
Coordinated Aging Services for Morgan County, Inc.
Edna Martin Christian Center, Inc.
Fathers and Families Center
Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek, Inc.
Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc.
Forest Manor Multi-Service Center
Hawthorne Community Center
Horizon House
HVAF of Indiana, Inc.
Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
Indianapolis Urban League, Inc.
JCC Indianapolis (Jewish Community Center)
John H. Boner Community Center
Julian Center, Inc. (The)
La Plaza, Inc.
Legal Aid Society, Inc. - Indianapolis
Martin Luther King Community Center
Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center
Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana
Meals on Wheels of Hancock County
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
PACE/OAR (Public Action in Correction Effort, Inc. / Offender Aid & Restoration, Inc.)
Salvation Army (The)
Second Helpings, Inc.
Sheltering Wings Center for Women
Southeast Community Services, Inc.
Volunteers of America of Indiana, Inc.
WellSpring (Community Service Center of Morgan County)
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns or if I can ever be of assistance to you. I value your views and your input helps me to better represent the people of Indiana's Seventh District in Congress.
In this week's Carson Courier:
Inauguration of President Barack Obama
Providing Health Care to American Children
Poverty in America Awareness Month
INAUGURATION OF PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA
On Tuesday, a patriotic crowd of over 1.5 million Americans gathered in our nation's capital to celebrate the inauguration of President Barack Obama. I was proud to be joined by thousands of my fellow Hoosiers who made the trip to Washington, D.C. to witness this historic event in person. Whether you where present on the National Mall or watching from Indianapolis, you surely know that our nation is truly heading in a new direction.
In the coming months, I look forward to speaking with President Obama about the needs of our city and working with him to bring relief to working Hoosiers who are struggling to make ends meet.
PROVIDING HEALTH CARE TO AMERICAN CHILDREN
Last December, the National Bureau of Economic Research reported that our national economy had been in recession since December of 2007. This economic downturn has become extremely evident as we witnessed the cost of health care skyrocket to new highs. Over the last year, increased costs have forced thousands of employers cut coverage for their employees.
While Medicaid covers many uninsured families, millions more earn too much to qualify. Without health coverage, these families live in fear of the illness or injury that could send them into bankruptcy.
Sadly, children in these working families often face the worst consequences. Studies show that uninsured children are three times more likely to get sick, miss school, spend time in a hospital or suffer from chronic conditions like asthma, obesity and diabetes.
For a number of years, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) has provided insurance to children whose parents earn too much to qualify for Medicaid but are unable to afford private coverage. In 2007 alone, SCHIP successfully covered over 130,000 children across Indiana. Unfortunately, President Bush twice vetoed legislation expanding this program in, despite strong bipartisan support in the 110th Congress.
I strongly believe that children should not be made to suffer because of the financial hardships of their parents. Last week, I proudly joined my House colleagues in passing the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization. When signed by President Obama, this bipartisan legislation will ensure that nearly 200,000 children across Indiana – a total of 11 million nationwide – will now receive the health coverage that they so desperately need.
Unfortunately, by only insuring 51% of Indiana's uninsured children, this legislation is far from a perfect solution. Rest assured that my fight for children's health insurance has not ended. In the coming months, I will continue to work with the incoming Obama Administration and my colleagues in the House to develop new initiatives that will cover these each uninsured child.
POVERTY IN AMERICA AWARENESS MONTH
Each year, Poverty in America Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of the arduous circumstances that so many poor Americans are forced to endure. In these difficult economic times, it is critically important that we all work together to bring millions of American men, women and children out of poverty.
With unemployment on the rise, the housing market in shambles, and the cost of food, health care and transportation at some of their highest recent levels, there are more Americans than ever who are unable to pay their bills and cover their most basic needs. Nationwide poverty levels have risen from 11.3% in 2000 to an estimated 13% today, with millions more facing imminent poverty if the economy does not improve soon. Tragically, at nearly 22%, the United States also maintains the highest level of child poverty of any nation in the developed world.
With the commencement of the Obama presidency, Congress is beginning to consider legislation that will improve the lives of Americans who are struggling with poverty. Until such legislation is enacted, there are a number of resources available across Indianapolis that can help the underprivileged meet their basic needs. The following organizations, compiled by the United Way of Central Indiana, provide food, clothing, shelter and other essentials to Indianapolis residents in need.
American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis
Arc Rehab Services
Catholic Charities Indianapolis
Christamore House Family and Community Center
Church Federation of Greater Indianapolis (The)
Community Alliance of the Far Eastside (CAFE)
Concord Neighborhood Center
Connect2Help (formerly Information and Referral Network, Inc.)
Coordinated Aging Services for Morgan County, Inc.
Edna Martin Christian Center, Inc.
Fathers and Families Center
Fay Biccard Glick Neighborhood Center at Crooked Creek, Inc.
Flanner House of Indianapolis, Inc.
Forest Manor Multi-Service Center
Hawthorne Community Center
Horizon House
HVAF of Indiana, Inc.
Indiana Legal Services, Inc.
Indianapolis Urban League, Inc.
JCC Indianapolis (Jewish Community Center)
John H. Boner Community Center
Julian Center, Inc. (The)
La Plaza, Inc.
Legal Aid Society, Inc. - Indianapolis
Martin Luther King Community Center
Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center
Meals on Wheels of Central Indiana
Meals on Wheels of Hancock County
Neighborhood Christian Legal Clinic
PACE/OAR (Public Action in Correction Effort, Inc. / Offender Aid & Restoration, Inc.)
Salvation Army (The)
Second Helpings, Inc.
Sheltering Wings Center for Women
Southeast Community Services, Inc.
Volunteers of America of Indiana, Inc.
WellSpring (Community Service Center of Morgan County)
Thank you for reading the Carson Courier. Please do not hesitate to contact me with your thoughts and concerns or if I can ever be of assistance to you. I value your views and your input helps me to better represent the people of Indiana's Seventh District in Congress.