As the American economy continues to rebound, I am working hard in Congress to provide opportunity for American business to hire more workers and lay a strong foundation for our economic future.
In the 111th Congress, important reforms were signed into law that will provide families and businesses with affordable and meaningful health care coverage, provide small businesses with opportunity to invest and grow, improve our country’s infrastructure, pave the way for renewable energy sources of the future, and improve our education system for the next generation.
In this section you will find information on legislation I introduced, championed and supported in the 111th Congress and how these proposals will help American families and businesses continue to thrive.
As we begin the 112th Congress, I will continue to keep you informed about my work on your behalf. It is an honor to be your voice in Congress.
Healthy Food Financing Initiative, H.R. 6462
Introduced 11/30/2010
Creates a national initiative to provide an economically sustainable solution to the problem of limited access to healthy foods in underserved communities.
- (Press Release )
- (Press Release from The Food Trust )
- (Information on Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative )
- (Information on National Healthy Food Financing Initiative )
- (Editorial: We are what we eat (Philadelphia Inquirer, 11/5/2010) )
- (With a Little Help, Greens Come to Low-Income Neighborhoods (New York Times, 6/16/2009) )
- (A is for Apple (Newsweek, 8/10/2010) )
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
Life Sciences Jobs and Investment Act of 2010, H.R. 6165
Introduced 09/22/2010
Creates tax incentives for small and mid-sized businesses to invest in life sciences research and development on a targeted basis.
Supporting the goals and ideals of "National Save for Retirement Week," H.R. 1481
Introduced 06/28/2010
Designates October 17 through October 23 as “Save for Retirement Week” to raise public awareness of various retirement vehicles and to increase personal financial responsibility and literacy.
- (Press Release )
- (Press Release on Passage of Retirement Week Resolution )
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
Support Working Parents Act of 2010, H.R. 5260
Introduced 05/11/2010
Modifies the child care tax credit to help middle income families afford the rising cost of child care.
- (Press Release )
- (Press Release on Organizations’ Support for Legislation )
- (House Plan Targets Child-Care Tax Credit (Wall Street Journal, 5/11/2010) )
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
GREEN JOB (Grow a Renewable Energy Economy Now--Jumpstart Other Biofuels) Act of 2010, H.R. 5142
Introduced 04/26/2010
Extends and modifies the renewable energy production tax credit to encourage development of the next generation of biofuels.
- (Press Release )
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
Home Health Care Planning Improvement Act of 2010, H.R. 4993
Introduced 04/13/2010
Allows physician assistants, nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists and certified nurse midwives to order home health services for Medicare beneficiaries.
- (Press Release )
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
Community Restoration and Revitalization Act of 2009, H.R. 3715
Introduced 10/01/2009
Modifies the Historic Tax Credit (HTC) to promote the rehabilitation of historic neighborhoods and older buildings.
Healthcare Innovation Zone Pilot Act of 2009, H.R. 3664
Introduced 09/29/2009
Establishes a Healthcare Innovation Zone pilot program to provide incentives to reduce the rate of growth in health care costs while improving quality of care.
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
Preserving Patient Access to Primary Care Act of 2009, H.R. 2350
Introduced 05/20/2009
Improves access to primary care for seniors and those in areas with critical shortages of primary care services. Many of the provisions in this legislation were included in the Affordable Care Act.
- (Press Release )
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )
Green Communities Act, H.R. 2222
Introduced 04/30/2009
Establishes grants to municipalities to promote community greening initiatives, increasing economic development through environmental improvements.
- (Text of Bill )
- (CRS Summary )