The Brooks-Critz-Ryan Amendment restores a nearly 40-year precedent of ensuring that armor steel plate be melted domestically, a policy critical to the future viability of the armor plate industry and its workers, as well as to the nation’s national defense.  The current Defense Department rule defines the term “produced,” as it relates to armor plate, in such a way as to allow the product to be made with metals melted and rolled outside of the United States, merely requiring that late-stage finishing processes take place domestically. 

“The Defense Department’s definition of ‘domestically produced’ armor steel plate threatens our industrial base by increasing our reliance on foreign suppliers at the expense of American steel workers,” said Congressman Critz, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee who cosponsored the amendment and voted for final passage of the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act.  “It’s absurd to call a product ‘Made in America’ if it is melted and rolled in China and only tempered here in the states.  This current definition is unacceptable, and the Brooks-Critz-Ryan amendment ensures that the Defense Department procures armor steel plate that is produced in the United States.”

The Amendment, which is critical to domestic steelmaking jobs as well as jobs throughout the raw materials supply chain, was authored by Representatives Mo Brooks (R-AL), Mark Critz (D-PA) and Tim Ryan (D-OH).  The legislation must now be considered by the full House of Representatives, which will occur as early as next week.  The Brooks-Critz-Ryan Amendment was strongly supported by the United Steelworkers, the Alliance for American Manufacturing, Allegheny Technologies Inc., ArcelorMittal, and Nucor (see attached letter).

During debate on the legislation late last night, a amendment was offered and agreed to in Committee that prohibits the Air Force from moving forward with proposed retirement of Active Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Air National Guard, and Army National Guard aircraft in fiscal year 2013, including all C-27, A-10, C-130, F-16, C-5, KC-135, E-8, MC-12, C-23, or other aircraft slated for retirement/transfer in the President’s budget request. 

“The House Armed Services Committee has made it clear that we disagree with how the Air Force arrived at its unilateral restructuring decisions and how these proposals impact our military readiness and local communities,” said, Congressman Critz, a Member of the House Armed Services Committee who voted for the amendment and for final passage of the FY13 National Defense Authorization Act.  “How the Air Force handled these issues is unacceptable, and this legislation is an important first step to crafting a more reasonable solution.”

The amendment covers the cost of continuing to operate the aircraft by increasing funding for the Air Force, Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve, and Army National Guard personnel and operations.  The amendment also requires a Defense Department report, by March 1, 2013, laying out the economic analysis, alternative options, and effects of the various planned retirements/transfers.

“The Rostraver Airport provides a wide-range of benefits to residents and businesses in the Mon Valley,” said Congressman Critz.  “The airports current runway lighting system was installed more than twenty years ago and has outlived its useful life.  This federal grant will install a new runway lighting system that will enhance safe airfield operations during low visibility operations.”

In August 2011, Congressman Critz announced a $127,500 federal grant to construct a taxiway and design a new runway lighting system at the Rostraver Airport.  In August 2010, Congressman Critz announced a $134,500 federal grant to acquire critical snow removal equipment at the airport.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Congressman Mark S. Critz (PA-12) announced today that the New Kensington Community Health Clinic, Inc. has received a $500,000 federal grant for the renovation of its medical services facility.  The grant is being provided by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under the Affordable Care Act Capital Development in Health Centers grant program.

“The Community Health Clinic provides thousands of low income, underserved, and uninsured patients in Westmoreland and Allegheny Counties with quality, affordable comprehensive primary healthcare services,” said Congressman Critz, who wrote to HHS last November in support of this grant application.  “I’ve seen firsthand the difference that this dedicated group of health professionals has made in our area, and I’m thrilled to know that this $500,000 federal grant will help to improve these vital services.”

The Community Health Clinic provides general medical services for adult and pediatric patients, to include: high blood pressure and cholesterol services; gynecological services; sexually transmitted disease testing, treatment and counseling; immunizations; diet and nutrition services; and laboratory testing.  This grant will be used to renovate the medical services facility.

“Coming from a family of educators, I have always believed that we must promote an educational system that affords all students the opportunities of higher education and career training programs,” said Congressman Critz.  “At a time of ever-increasing education costs, and the challenging job market graduates face, we cannot let interest rates on federal Stafford loans double this year and cost students and families thousands of extra dollars.”

The legislation Critz is a cosponsor of, H.R. 3826, will prevent subsidized Stafford student loan rates from doubling from 3.4% to 6.8% by extending the 3.4% interest rate for these loans.  In order to receive a subsidized Stafford Loan, you must demonstrate financial need.  About two thirds of subsidized Stafford loans are awarded to students with families making under $50,000; one fourth to students with families making $50,000 to $100,000; and a little less than 10% to students with families making over $100,000.  This issue also cuts across age groups impacting students, parents and even grandparents, many of whom cosign loan notes that students take out.

Earlier this year, President Obama called on Congress to prevent this doubling of student loan rates.  “We must take action to protect middle class families and their children from higher loan rates during this challenging economic time,” added Congressman Critz.

“Our seniors have worked hard, and I’m fighting every day in Congress to make sure that the benefits they have earned are there when they need them,” said Congressman Critz.  “I’m thrilled to be recognized by the Alliance for Retired Americans with a perfect voting record, and I promise to keep working hard to strengthen and preserve Social Security and Medicare.”

The 2011 scorecard was based on ten House votes, which included a motion to recommit offered by Congressman Critz last March to bar the use of funds to develop or implement a system that would cut Social Security or Medicare benefits, privatize Social Security or establish a Medicare voucher system that limits benefits. 

Last September, the Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans (PARA) presented Congressman Critz with their Social Security and Medicare Hero Award for his advocacy on behalf of Pennsylvania’s seniors.  The certificate reads, “In Recognition of His Outstanding Leadership & Support, The Pennsylvania Alliance for Retired Americans proudly presents on September 8, 2011 this Social Security & Medicare Hero Award to Congressman Mark Critz, United States Representative, Twelfth Pennsylvania District.”

“The residents of Derry and East Vandergrift have spoken loud and clear,” said Congressman Critz.  “They do not want their post offices closed and they are especially upset at what appears to be a deliberate effort by the US Postal Service to label post office lease holders as ‘unreasonable’ in an attempt to close these offices outside of the public review and appeals process.”

In the cases of Derry and East Vandergrift, both of Westmoreland County, landlords agreed to the exact terms set forth by the USPS, only to be labeled as “unreasonable” and told that these post offices would be closing anyway.  Congressman Critz and community leaders worry that it exposes a pattern of creating a conflict designed to close postal centers.  The same practice has been raised as a concern in New Florence and New Alexandria, also in Westmoreland County, and in Sipesville, Somerset County.  At these locations, residents were not even aware that their post office was closing later this summer until Congressman Critz began his own review.

“Even the US Postal Services’ own feasibility study, which is being used as the basis for the possible closure of more than 3,600 post offices nationwide, has ‘serious flaws’ according to the Postal Regulatory Commission,” added Congressman Critz.  “Now, communities outside the study have to worry that they are secretly being targeted for closure as well.”

In Westmoreland County alone, there are 28 post offices that have leases set to expire in the next two years that could be threatened.  In addition to those mentioned above, the list includes Acme, Adamsburg, Ardara, Belle Vernon, Calumet, Crabtree, Darragh, Delmont, Harrison City, Laughlintown, Mammoth, Manor, New Stanton, Penn, Pricedale, Scottdale, Smithton, Southwest, Sutersville, Tarrs, Trafford, Wendel, Westmoreland City and Whitney.

The 529 petition signatures collected from Derry and East Vandergrift residents will be delivered to the Postal Regulatory Commission.

“Today, House Republicans passed another budget that destroys jobs and ends the Medicare guarantee for our nation’s seniors – all the while giving tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires. Republicans are cleverly disguising this budget as what’s best for the country, when the truth is this budget is disastrous for our nation’s economy, middle class families and our seniors.”

Earlier this month, Congressman Critz testified to the House Budget Committee to urge the committee to “put politics aside and protect our promise to seniors, veterans and working families.” 

“At a time when our nation’s infrastructure needs couldn’t be greater, House Republicans today chose to punt action on a new bipartisan transportation bill that would create jobs and make key investments in our roads, bridges and public transit.  Passing continued extension measures, rather than a new transportation bill, creates disruption and uncertainty for the hundreds-of-thousands of transportation and construction jobs across the country.  Passing another short-term extension that expires in the middle of construction season, is simply irresponsible.”

Last week, Congressman Critz urged swift action to pass the Senate Transportation Bill, calling upon House Republicans to “put politics aside and pass a transportation bill that creates jobs, repairs our roads and bridges and strengthens our economy.”  Today’s vote also means that repeal of the toll-credit language that is necessary to complete U.S. Route 219, is delayed once again.

“Over the past few months, my office has discovered multiple instances where post office lease holders have agreed to the exact terms set forth by the USPS, only to be told after agreeing to these terms that these centers would be closing anyway,” wrote Congressman Critz, who is already on record as fighting the planned closures of 33 postal centers in the 12th Congressional District.  “In other words, I fear that the USPS believes it has identified a loophole through which they are free to close hundreds, if not thousands, of postal centers without question.” 

Postal centers that are part of the larger feasibility study require a public meeting and have an appeals process built in.  Congressman Critz has already collected hundreds of such appeals in the event of actual closures in these towns.  The study targets by name 3,600 centers nationwide.  Concern that lease issues were being used as a separate means to close even more centers prompted the Congressman’s review.

“The American people deserve the truth in terms of what exactly the USPS is attempting to do,” added Congressman Critz.  “The inability to work a lease agreement with one landlord in a community does not give the USPS the right to simply abandon that community.  I have been upset from the very beginning that the feasibility study currently being conducted by the USPS unfairly targets rural Pennsylvanians, and discovering these issues involving lease agreements only deepens my frustration and warrants an immediate investigation by the Postal Regulatory Commission.”

Below and attached is Congressman Critz’s letter to the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission:

______________________________________________________________________________ 

March 22, 2012

“Last month, I called upon House Republicans to put politics aside and pass a transportation bill that creates jobs, repairs our roads and bridges and strengthens our economy,” said Congressman Critz.  “And just last week, Democratic and Republican Senators voted overwhelmingly to pass a transportation bill that makes progress in rebuilding America.  Today, I cosponsored that job creating legislation and am urging the House Republican Leadership to bring this bipartisan bill to the House Floor before the current highway program expires at the end of this month.”

At a time when 50% of our roads are in disrepair, 70,000 bridges are structurally deficient, and transit ridership was up a whopping 235 million trips last year, this bill provides critical infrastructure upgrades in all 50 states.  The Senate transportation bill maintains investments for highways and public transportation, consolidates and streamlines highway programs, strengthens safety, establishes a national freight program, and institutes performance measures and improves accountability for transportation infrastructure investments.

“The Senate transportation bill also includes the repeal of the toll credit language that will help complete Route 219 south to I-68 in Maryland,” added Critz, calling it, “great news for Somerset and Cambria counties.  In 10 days the current highway law expires, and in order for us to complete Route 219, we must ensure that the Senate bill becomes law.  The alternative is passing another extension measure that hurts our transportation infrastructure and keeps the breaks on Route 219 – we can’t afford to wait.”