A Weekly e-Newsletter from
Senator Johnny Isakson (R-GA)

September 28, 2007

Dear Friends,

This week, the Senate approved a massive $35 billion expansion of the State Children’s Health Insurance Program, also known as SCHIP, that would shift a program intended for low-income children toward a government-run healthcare system for children and adults funded by a regressive tax increase.  I voted against the proposal because as the years have gone by, some states have chosen to enroll adults without children in their SCHIP programs, the result of which has compromised this program and taken money that was intended to go to children and sent it to adults.  This is the absolute wrong way to improve this program.  SCHIP has proven to be a success in Georgia and across all 50 states, and I would like to see that the program remains true to its original intent – healthcare access for underprivileged children.  President Bush has vowed to veto the legislation.

Instead, I support an alternative proposal by U.S. Senator Trent Lott (R-Miss.) that would expand SCHIP by $9.5 billion over the next five years, phase out non-pregnant adults from the program, prevent the addition of any new non-pregnant adults to the program, provide additional funds to target low-income children and encourage the use of premium assistance.  I am also a co-sponsor of another alternative proposal to reauthorize and fully fund the existing SCHIP program for an additional 18 months. The SCHIP Extension Act of 2007 would increase the level of federal funding available in order to ensure that every state’s SCHIP program would be fully funded during this reauthorization period.  The bill would provide $6.5 billion for fiscal year 2008 and $3.6 billion for the first six months of fiscal year 2009.  I believe the extension would allow Congress time to steer the SCHIP program back to its original intent of access to healthcare for low-income children while giving the states a significant funding commitment in order to make sound decisions regarding the future of their programs. 

$127 Million in Water Projects for Georgia
On Monday, the Senate passed water resources legislation that includes over $127 million for critical water infrastructure projects in Georgia.   The Water Resources Development Act authorizes Army Corps of Engineers projects dealing with flood control, storm protection, environmental restoration and inland navigation. The actual funding for the projects would come later during the appropriations process.

As Ranking Member of the Senate Subcommittee on Transportation and Infrastructure, which had jurisdiction over the bill, and after being selected by Senate leadership to participate in the committee that crafted a compromise on the bill, I am pleased with the funding of so many critical Georgia projects.  The passage of this bi-partisan, fiscally responsible bill is a tremendous step for Georgia.  It is an investment in safe drinking water.  It is an investment in stormwater management.  It is an investment in flood control and water resources across the United States of America. 

The conference committee report on the bill passed the Senate by a vote of 81 to 12 and now goes to President Bush for his signature.  The Water Resources Development Act is supposed to be authorized every two years. However, Congress has not re-authorized the legislation since 2000.  For more information on the specific Georgia projects in the bill, click here.

Student Advancements in Georgia due to No Child Left Behind
This week, the announcement was made that elementary and middle school students in Georgia and across the United States have made improvements in reading and math.  Two reports published by the National Center for Education Statistics of the U.S. Department of Education were issued this week by The Nation’s Report Card that offer new data on the achievement of America’s fourth- and eighth-graders on the National Assessment of Educational Progress in reading and math.

In Georgia, the reports found that fourth- and eighth-grade students made gains in both reading and math from 2005 to 2007, and that some of the biggest gains were among African-American and Hispanic students. Overall in Georgia, 66 percent of fourth-grade students scored at or above basic level in reading and 79 percent of fourth-grade students in Georgia scored at or above basic level in mathematics in 2007. The reports also found 70 percent of eighth-grade students in Georgia scored at or above basic level in reading and 64 percent of eighth-grade students in Georgia scored at or above basic level in mathematics in 2007.

As one of the authors of President Bush’s No Child Left Behind law, I have a vested interest in this legislation and its impact on our nation’s education system.  These results indicate that No Child Left Behind has demonstrated improvements in the children it set out to help the most. Our lowest-performing students are making the greatest gains, and their ability to do well in all subject areas increases as their skills in reading and math improve.  Overall, our school systems are improving and our students are receiving more of the educational tools they need to compete in the 21st Century. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure that we re-authorize and improve this valuable legislation.

DOT Awards Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines with New U.S. Route to China
On Tuesday, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced that Delta Air Lines had been awarded a new direct route from Atlanta to Shanghai, making it the first airline to fly that route.  Delta Air Lines continues to be an integral part of helping Atlanta become a global destination.  I am very pleased that Delta will become the first U.S. carrier to fly directly from Atlanta to Shanghai. 

In July, the U.S. and Chinese governments signed an agreement to open up airways between the two countries and double the number of daily flights allowed between the U.S. and China over the next five years. The agreement also allows for new cargo flights operating to and from the United States and China.

Childhood Cancer Awareness Resolution Passes Senate
The Senate unanimously approved a resolution this week that I introduced to support efforts to increase awareness, treatment and research of childhood cancer.  The resolution promotes awareness about the occurrence, the signs and the symptoms of cancer in children as well as options for long-term treatment.  It also urges Congress to support investment, policies, education programs and grassroots efforts to promote awareness about childhood cancer.

Childhood cancer claims the lives of over 2,000 children annually.  One in every 330 youths develops cancer before the age of 20, and 12,400 children are diagnosed with cancer each year.  Cancer in children is much different from the cancer experienced by adults, and children’s bodies are more fragile and require different types of treatment and research. It is extremely important that we increase awareness and treatment of the devastating effects of childhood cancer.  I am grateful for the support I received from my Senate colleagues in unanimously approving this resolution, because it is vital we support initiatives that seek solutions to this deadly disease.  The resolution and its emphasis on grassroots outreach are supported by a number of childhood cancer awareness organizations, including the Rally Foundation in Roswell, Ga.

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month
October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month and I’d like to bring attention to the fact that nearly 20 percent of the American population has a disability. Despite wanting to work, people with disabilities face a 65-percent or more unemployment rate.  This effort to educate the American public about issues related to disability and employment actually began in 1945, when Congress enacted a law declaring the first week in October each year “National Employ the Physically Handicapped Week.” In 1962, the word “physically” was removed to acknowledge the employment needs and contributions of individuals with all types of disabilities. In 1988, Congress expanded the week to a month and changed the name to “National Disability Employment Awareness Month.”

I am pleased that we have many organizations in Georgia such as the Bobby Dodd Institute that addresses this issue through programs such as the AbilityOne program and that work closely with individuals faced with disabilities find employment.  These and other important programs are an asset to our community and help people with disabilities contribute to the economy by becoming working tax payers.  Throughout the year, but especially during National Disability Employment Awareness Month, I ask the community to recognize that all people have the ability to contribute to the workplace. 

What’s on Tap for Next Week?

Next week, the Senate is expected to vote on final passage of the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill.

Sincerely,
Johnny Isakson