"Riley Factor"

This article was featured in the June 2007 issue of Business Matters, our monthly print newsletter.

Congressional Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Tim Holden

In April, the Greater Reading Chamber of Commerce & Industry conducted a Congressional Town Hall Meeting with Congressman Tim Holden.  The event was the first in a new series of town hall meetings that will be scheduled with the Congressmen that represent Berks County.

The event provided a great opportunity for our members to have an open dialogue with one of the members of our Washington, D.C. delegation.

Congressman Holden addressed these issues:

Agriculture

As Vice-Chairman of the Agriculture Committee and the Chairman of the Conservation, Credit, Energy, and Research subcommittee, Congressman Holden plays a leading role in making the United States more energy independent through the 2007 Farm Bill.  The Farm Bill will establish agriculture policy for the next five years.

Transportation

As a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Congressman Holden highlighted the over $6 million he secured for Berks County during the 2005 Highway Bill and the upcoming 2009 Highway Bill.

Research & Development Tax Credit

Congressman Holden expressed his support for the R&D tax credit and recently cosponsored the Investment in America Act of 2007.  This legislation will extend the Alternative Simplified Credit at an increased rate of twenty percent, extend the traditional credit and make the credit a permanent part of the tax code.

Iraq War

Congressman Holden spoke about the supplemental funding bill for the Iraq War.  During his over fourteen years in Congress, he has voted for every Defense Appropriations bill, Military Construction bill and Supplemental Appropriations bill that provides funding for our military and troops.  He did say he believes the dates for withdrawal time tables should remain confidential between the President, the Congress, the Pentagon, and the Iraqi government; and he voted to eliminate the time tables on a separate motion, but the motion failed.  Overall, the bill would have provided $124 billion for equipment, readiness preparation and healthcare for our troops.  The President vetoed the bill, and Congress is working on another supplemental bill for our troops.

Medicare Reimbursements

Congressman Holden supports changing the Medicare reimbursement formulas for physicians to avoid severe cuts in payment.  He will support legislation to eliminate the sustainable growth rate payment update system (SGR), or a one-year temporary payment cut freeze, should either be brought to the House floor for a vote.

Immigration

Congressman Holden supports immigration reforms that include a more secure border and increasing the accountability of employers who hire illegal aliens; however, he does not support proposed reforms that would be an amnesty for illegal aliens who are already in the United States.  These illegal immigrants would be eligible to apply for guest worker reprieve, thus they would ultimately be excused for violating our immigration laws and be rewarded with residency before those taking the legal path to citizenship.

Overall, a very good event!  Special thanks to Sovereign Bank for sponsoring the Congressional Town Hall Series and to Directlink Technologies for hosting us and providing an excellent tour of their facilities.