Getting Beyond Getting Ready | Protecting Access to Medicare | Looking Toward Winter | Here to Help| Privacy Statement

Dear Friends, Help is on the way for Rhode Island families and communities hit by the ongoing mortgage crisis. After months of debate and negotiations, Congress this month passed the most comprehensive housing bill in decades to help those struggling to stay in their homes. I am pleased that President Bush withdrew his veto threat and signed the bill into law on July 30. The American Housing Rescue and Foreclosure Prevention Act of 2008 will: Allow struggling homeowners to refinance into more affordable, government-backed mortgages Boost homeowner resources with tax provisions that offer credits for first-time homebuyers Improve access to low-income housing Increase the standard deduction for property taxes Overhaul the Federal Housing Administration Create a National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Provide grants to local governments to purchase abandoned and foreclosed properties Establish an independent Federal Housing Finance Agency to regulate Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Bank System Provide emergency authority to the Treasury to stabilize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if necessary
This legislation is an important, common-sense response to the housing crisis and will help strengthen Rhode Island families and our national economy. Langevin talks with Galilee Mission board members during a recent s#top in Narragansett. Langevin, Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology, recently presided over a field hearing at the State House on Emerging Biological Threats and Public Health Preparedness. Getting Beyond Getting Ready This month I hosted my first field hearing in Rhode Island as the Chair of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity and Science and Technology. Throughout my tenure on the Homeland Security Committee I have made it a point to investigate our country's level of preparedness to handle naturally occurring and man-made threats. This field hearing examined how well our nation is doing in providing necessary resources and guidance to prepare our communities against contagious biological threats. The testimony provided by a variety of federal and state agencies was helpful for me as I continue my subcommittee work in Washington,D.C. (Back to top) Bill Hogan, general manager of Dave' sMarketplace, talked to Langevin about the challenges posed to his business by the rising cost of energy. Did you know? Rhode Island will be receiving $11.6 million in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) grants for various agencies, including Rhode Island Hospital and the state emergency management agency. This round of grants will help them prepare for and respond to natural and man-made disasters. Dr. Kathleen Hittner, president of Miriam Hospital, recently showed Langevin their new building, including the new operating room suite. Protecting Access to Medicare More and more often, Congress seems to be fighting Presidential vetoes, andthe Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act was no exception. Itis regrettable that the President stalled this important measure, potentially jeopardizing access to Medicare services for millions of seniors and people with disabilities. By overriding his veto, Congress affirmed its commitment to ensuring continued access to care for America's Medicare beneficiaries. The bill contains a number of important provisions, including increased access to low-income assistance, additional supports for rural providers and beneficiaries, an extension of access to therapy services through 2009, and a delay in the impending 10.6 percent cut in Medicare physician reimbursements scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2008. This legislative fix, although temporary, will help ensure that access to care is not compromised and physicians can continue serving our most vulnerable populations. I look forward to working on a permanent solution in the coming months. (Back to top) Langevin chats with a constituent atthe Healthy Body, Mind and Spirit block party at McAuley House in Providence. Looking Toward Winter I recently joined my New England Congressional Delegation colleagues insending a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi asking her to provide a boos tto energy assistance funding in an upcoming economic recovery package or other legislation. Although it is the middle of summer, I am already thinking about the strain skyrocketing home heating oil costs will place on hardworking families in the coming months. Our neighbors should not have to decide between heating their homes and putting food on the table as winter hits, and I will be working in Congress to secure federal assistance for those who need it. (Back to top) Langevin learned about the Eliminator Trawl on a recent trip to Superior Trawl in Galilee. Here to Help These are indeed challenging times and I am working tirelessly in Washington,D.C., to try to ease the burdens on Rhode Island families where ever I can. As always, if you or someone you know needs help, please do not hesitate tocall my office. We can point you in the right direction. Many in ourcommunity - from our Community Action Programs and Rhode Island Housing tofood pantries - are ready to help, especially during these difficult times. (Back to top)

Sincerely,

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