					Please visit our sponsors



*A fresh new voice!*

The Home Star Jobs Bill

May 12, 2010

Dear Friends,
Creating jobs in North Mississippi and uplifting our local, state and national economies is my number one priority. To ensure that you have the latest news on the state of our economy, I’ve created an “Economic Outlook” webpage, which will be updated regularly.
The Home Star Jobs Bill

Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the bipartisan Home Star Energy Retrofit Act to create jobs, cut costs for hard-working families and strengthen national security. Much like Energy Star legislation that implemented energy-efficient appliance rebates, the Home Star bill will provide rebates to homeowners who install energy-saving products and reduce energy use in their homes.
The Home Star bill will boost the American clean energy economy by creating nearly 170,000 jobs, reducing our dependence on foreign oil, and saving American families $9 billion over 10 years. By providing rebates and promoting the installation of energy-saving technologies that lower bills, the legislation will help North Mississippians save money during tough economic times.
In addition, the bill will uplift our construction and manufacturing industries in the short term by creating jobs immediately. More than 90 percent of the materials and products used in eligible measures are made in the United States. And the bill will encourage innovation and entrepreneurship in the growing clean energy industry.
The Home Star Energy Retrofit Act has received bipartisan support, and has been endorsed by a broad range of business, labor, environmental, and consumer groups, including the National Association of Manufacturers, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the National Association of Home Builders.
The Home Star Jobs Bill features two levels of rebates that will help an estimated three million American homeowners. The Silver Star program would provide up-front rebates of up to $3,000 for the installation of proven energy-saving technologies, such as insulation, duct sealing, window and door improvements, air sealing and advanced water heaters.
The Gold Star program rewards homeowners with up to $8,000 for conducting a comprehensive energy audit and substantially reducing their energy use at home.
For additional information, visit the House Committee on Energy and Commerce.
As always, please continue to keep me informed about your opinions and concerns by phone at (202) 225-4306 or by visiting my website at www.childers.house.gov.

Congressman Travis W. Childers
First District, Mississippi

North Mississippi Mailroom

Constituent Letter

Dear Representative Travis Childers:

I am a patient who is concerned about the constant cycle of mandated Medicare physician payment cuts.
Every year, doctors are threatened with cuts to their Medicare payments for treating those most in need. I fear that these cuts to Medicare have the potential to prevent many doctors from investing in health information technology and other improvements to their practice. These cuts impact future patients, as many doctors are now thinking of not taking on new Medicare patients, or perhaps even quitting their practice altogether.
The constant cycle of cuts and temporary patches makes me very worried that I won't be able to find a physician when I need one.
Cutting these Medicare payments will restrict patients' access to healthcare, which makes absolutely no sense as millions of baby boomers are about to retire and enter into the Medicare system. It is time--right now--to permanently fix the Medicare physician access problem.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Fred
Olive Branch, MS

Response:

Dear Fred,

Thank you for contacting me with your support for legislation that would permanently fix the Medicare physician payment system. I always appreciate hearing from the people of North Mississippi about the issues that are important to them.
On April 15, 2010, the Continuing Extension Act of 2010, H.R. 4851 was passed by the House of Representatives and signed into law. This important piece of legislation prevents a 21 percent cut to doctors who treat Medicare patients up until May 31, 2010.
The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act, H.R. 3691, which would permanently reform the Medicare physician payment system, passed in the House, but is currently awaiting Senate action.
On November 19, 2009, I voted to preserve seniors’ access to their doctors by fixing the way Medicare pays physicians. The Medicare Physician Payment Reform Act will permanently reform the Medicare payment system, repealing a 21 percent cut in payments to doctors scheduled to take place in January and replacing it with a stable system that protects seniors, preserves their relationship with their doctors, and promotes primary care.
This bill tackles one of seniors’ main concerns – that significant pay cuts could encourage doctors to stop seeing Medicare patients. By fixing this system in a responsible way we are ensuring that our seniors have reliable access to their doctors and the primary care they need.
In particular, this bill will protect areas like North Mississippi from massive Medicare cuts that would have had an especially horrific impact on rural providers.
Medicare is a lifeline for America’s seniors and this bill takes crucial steps toward strengthening it and providing the highest quality of care and benefits for our elderly. Again, thank you for contacting me about this important matter of mutual concern. Please continue to share your views with me as we move through the legislative process. For additional information on this or other legislation please call me at (202) 225-4306 or visit my website at www.childers.house.gov and sign up for my periodic e-mail update.

Sincerely,

Travis W. Childers

Keep the letters coming! If you have something to share with me about an important issue going on at home or in Washington.