Washington Mission Advocates for Community Priorities

On May 15 and 16, twenty-five Federation agency representatives and community lay leaders participated in the annual Washington, DC mission and advocated for a wide range of issues that will impact our Affiliate Agencies, the Federation, and our community The mission was led by Government Affairs Committee Chairman Senator Art Berman (Ret.).

After being briefed by leading advocacy groups as well as Governor Blagojevich’s office, mission participants met with staff from the offices of Senators Richard J. Durbin and Barack Obama. The group also met with Representatives Judy Biggert, Danny Davis, Rahm Emanuel, Jesse Jackson, Jr., Mark Kirk, Jan Schakowsky, and John Shimkus as well as staff for Representatives Melissa Bean, Jerry Costello, Luis Gutierrez, Dennis Hastert, Tim Johnson, and Peter Roskam.

The Jewish Federation hosted a reception on the Hill where participants were able to speak with Members and staff from the Illinois delegation. The evening continued with a magnificent evening tour of the Capitol led by Representative John M. Shimkus. Congressman Shimkus led the group through the nearly empty Capitol, sharing his insights and history of the building along the way.

Finally, the group met with key White House staffer Julie Goon, Special Assistant to the President for Economic Policy at the Economic Policy Council. Ms. Goon’s focus at the Economic Policy Council is on health care specifically Medicare and Medicaid. The group had a lively discussion on health care issues as well as the rest of our agenda items.

The group asked Members of the Illinois delegation and the White House to support issues related to the IRA Charitable Rollover, Iran, Medicaid, Mental Health Parity, SSI Benefits for Refugees, and the Citizenship Promotion Act. These issues are very important to the Jewish Federation, our Affiliate Agencies and those we serve.

IRA Charitable Rollover

The Public Good IRA Rollover Act of 2007 would build on the success of the current IRA Rollover by making it permanent, removing the current dollar limit on donations per year, making all charities eligible to receive donations, and providing IRA owners with a planned giving option starting at age 59½. This important charitable incentive has already enabled the Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago to generate $1.5 million from over 100 contributors. The current IRA Charitable Rollover is scheduled to expire at the end of 2007.

Senators Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Olympia Snowe (R-ME) introduced S 819 and in the House, Representatives Earl Pomeroy (D-ND) and Wally Herger (R-CA) introduced HR 1419. Following meeting with the group, Senator Durbin agreed to sign on to the bill as a cosponsor. Representatives Bean, Emanuel, and Weller are cosponsors of this important legislation in the House. 

Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007

The Iran Counter-Proliferation Act of 2007 closes loopholes in existing sanctions law, strengthens U.S. tools to cut off funds to Iran's nuclear program and prohibits U.S. nuclear cooperation with those aiding Iran's atomic efforts. Along with the federal government, many states, including Illinois, are taking the necessary steps to ensure that Iran does not have the financial capabilities to continue their nuclear program. Representatives Tom Lantos (D-CA) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) introduced HR 1400, and Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Dick Durbin (D-IL) introduced S 970. Senator Obama is also a cosponsor of S 970. Representatives Bean, Emanuel, Hare, Jackson, Johnson, Kirk, Lipinski, Rush, Schakowsky, Shimkus and Weller from the Illinois delegation are cosponsors of HR 1400; Representatives Johnson and Lipinski signed onto the bill following our mission. 

Medicaid Regulations

The Administration’s FFY’08 budget contains both legislative and regulatory proposals, which cut Medicaid funding by $24.7 billion over the next five years and $60.9 billion over ten years. One of the Administration’s regulatory proposals would limit the amount of Medicaid payments to hospitals, nursing homes, and other institutions that are operated by state or local governments to the cost of furnishing services to Medicaid beneficiaries. The proposed cuts will translate to a $600 million annual decrease to the Illinois Medicaid program. A cut this large will not only impact Medicaid providers and recipients, but all of our social service programs are at risk of losing state funding.

Senator Durbin sponsored an amendment, which would enact a two-year moratorium on any action on the proposed regulations, and this was included in the Senate supplemental appropriations bill. Unfortunately, for unrelated reasons the bill was vetoed.

Since the group met with the Illinois delegation, Congress acted to stop this detrimental proposal. On May 24, 2007, both the House and Senate passed the updated version of the war supplemental bill, which included a one-year Medicaid moratorium. The President signed the bill into law on May 25, 2007. The moratorium stops the Centers for Medicaid and Medicare Services (CMS) from implementing the proposed rule for one year. On May 29, CMS published its final version of the January regulation in the Federal Register. While the Bush Administration is still challenging the legality of the financing mechanism, CMS intends to comply with the statute imposing the one-year delay.

Mental Health Parity

Mental health parity legislation would prohibit group health insurance plans from imposing treatment limitations or additional financial requirements on the coverage of mental health conditions that do not also apply to physical conditions. Offering insurance coverage for mental illness on par with coverage for physical illness does not increase health insurance costs, according to a study of potential implications for the ongoing debate over what health insurance should cover and how.

Representatives Patrick Kennedy (D-RI) and Jim Ramstad (R-MN) introduced The Paul Wellstone Memorial Equity & Addiction Act of 2007, HR 1424, and Senators Pete Domenici (R-NM), Edward Kennedy, (D-MA), and Mike Enzi (R-WY) introduced the Mental Health Parity Act of 2007, S 558. Senators Durbin and Obama are cosponsors of S 558; Senator Obama became a cosponsor of the bill following meeting with the group. Representatives Bean, Costello, Davis, Emanuel, Gutierrez, Hare, Jackson, Kirk, LaHood, Lipinski, Rush, and Schakowsky from the Illinois delegation are cosponsors of HR 1424.

Citizenship Promotion Act

On February 1, the US Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) proposed significant increases in citizenship application fees, raising fees an average of more than 80%. The Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007, S 795/HR 1379 would authorize USCIS to receive federal appropriations and not rely exclusively on the fees charged to applicants to fund operations and infrastructure. Senator Barack Obama (D-IL) introduced S 795 and Representative Luis V. Gutierrez (D-IL) introduced HR 1379. Senator Durbin is a cosponsor of S 795 and Representative Schakowsky is a cosponsor of HR 1379.

On May 30, USCIS published the rule in the Federal Register, which is the last step in the process for increasing the fees. These fee regulations will now take effect on July 30, 2007. The Jewish Federation is working to help those who will be affected by these changes and with continue to work with our elected officials to pass legislation to roll back these fee increases as included in the Citizenship Promotion Act of 2007.

SSI Benefit Extension for Refugees

The SSI Extension for Elderly and Disabled Refugees Act, S 821, will provide an additional two years of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) to elderly and disabled refugees and other humanitarian migrants who are reaching their seven-year deadline for naturalization, as well as those who have already lost their benefits. Senators Gordon Smith (R-OR) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) introduced S 821 and Senators Durbin and Obama are cosponsors of the Senate legislation. Representative Jim McDermott (D-WA) is expected to introduce a House companion bill in the coming weeks.

The Washington Mission is a critical part of the Government Affairs Committee activities. At these meetings, Members of Congress learn about key Jewish Federation issues from their constituents. Meetings with constituents are an effective way to get a member to learn about specific areas and help the work of the Washington office. Since the mission, Members of Congress have been following up on the issues raised and have cosponsored legislation which will benefit the work of the Federation and our agencies. The relationships developed on this trip and by the Washington staff throughout the year, allow the Jewish Federation access to our elected officials regarding important, federal funding and legislative initiatives.