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Week of September 21st
HEALTH CARE: This week, I will closely follow the developments in the Finance Committee's mark up of the health care reform bill, America's Healthy Future Act. I want to ensure that the bill will accomplish my three top priorities: to reduce the escalating costs of health care, to increase access to affordable health coverage, and to do so without increasing the federal deficit. On Wednesday, I will join Vice President Biden at Leisure World in Silver Spring for a discussion on how health insurance reform will lower costs, cut waste, and improve health care quality for seniors. Also participating in the event will be Senator Barbara A. Mikulski, Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius, and Director of the White House Office of Health Reform Nancy-Ann DeParle.
SECURITY & OVERSIGHT AT BIOLOGICAL RESEARCH LABS: As Chairman of the Judiciary Terrorism and Homeland Security Subcommittee, I will be chairing a hearing on Tuesday entitled "Strengthening Security and Oversight at Biological Research Laboratories." High-containment laboratories, like the one at Ft. Detrick, play a critical role in our biodefense effort, but the increasing number of personnel and laboratories with access to deadly agents may increase the chances of accidental or deliberate misuse of hazardous materials. In addition to testimony from outside experts, I will question witnesses from the FBI, the Department of Defense, and the Department of Homeland Security to closely examine the executive branch's current efforts to strengthen and improve biosecurity and biosafety at laboratories.
FOREIGN POLICY: President Barack Obama will host a meeting Tuesday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in an effort to lay the groundwork for renewed peace negotiations. I applaud President Obama for making the renewal of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks as a major goal of his presidency. On Wednesday, the President will address the UN General Assembly, and on Thursday he will chair the UN Security Council. On Thursday and Friday, President Obama will host the G-20 summit in Pittsburgh to address the enormous work that remains for the international community to restore the global economy. As Chairman of the Helsinki Commission, I am pleased that President Obama recognizes the importance of international cooperation in dealing with climate change, arms control, and economic recovery.
APPROPRIATIONS: This week, the Senate will consider the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This legislation provides funding for the Department of Interior, Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the U.S. Forest Service, the Smithsonian Institution, and the National Endowment for the Arts and National Endowment for the Humanities. This funding is an investment in local communities in Maryland and throughout the country, and will provide funding for important water infrastructure and environmental projects.
UPCOMING MEDIA: For those of you in the Cumberland area, I will be on the Dave Norman Show on WCBC (1270AM) on Wednesday at 8:30 am. If you live on the Eastern Shore, I will be talking with Bill Reddish on WICO (1320AM) Thursday morning (9/24) at 8:10 a.m. On Friday, I am scheduled to be on the Sherry Elliker Show on WBAL-AM (1090 AM) at 10:05 am. to discuss my proposal to save the newspaper industry.
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