Working to Block ACORN Funding

Senator Roberts continues his efforts to block federal funding of the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN), an organization under criminal indictment. Roberts recently voted for amendments he co-sponsored to block grant funding to ACORN in the Interior, and Transportation and Housing appropriations bills. Additionally, he endorsed legislation to permanently deny ACORN of all federal funds including stimulus funding, by introducing "The Protect Taxpayers from ACORN Act," with Senator Mike Johanns of Nebraska. Roberts has also requested that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) immediately instruct the appropriate Senate committee chairs to hold public hearings to determine the extent of ACORN’s wrongdoing.

"I will continue to be vigilant and exhaust all avenues to block any taxpayer dollars from going to ACORN. Kansans are outraged at their tax dollars funding this organization and are demanding Congress spend their money wisely. I fully support cutting off all funding, from any federal government source, to this group. ACORN has been entangled in tax evasion, voter fraud and other controversial behaviors," Senator Roberts said.

Senator Roberts remains committed to responsible health care reform that improves access to affordable insurance and health care for all Americans, while protecting the benefits of millions who would like to keep the coverage they have.

After the President’s speech to a joint session of the Congress regarding health care reform, Senator Roberts made the following statement: "The President has said the time for action is now, the health care debate is over. We agree that many Americans struggle to pay for health care and it is a critical challenge for our nation. I have taken a hard look at the proposals before the Congress and I will not support ill-considered legislation that hurts those it intends to help. Many of the proposals will have dire consequences for patients – denying access to quality, affordable health care, raising taxes and rationing care. The unprecedented cost of a public plan will have a staggering effect on our economy.

"I urge Kansans to do your health care homework, talk to your doctor, your employer, nurses, pharmacists, home health providers -- all of the people you rely on for your family’s health care. They have told me, and will tell you, that these bills are bad for Kansas and bad for America. We need to adopt a thoughtful, step-by-step approach to health care reform."

Senator Roberts is a member of both key committees considering health care reform, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions and the Senate Committee on Finance. He is co-chairman of the Senate Rural Health Caucus.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) accepted Senator Roberts’ personal request to visit the town of Treece, KS and recently sent three top officials to see firsthand the contamination and subsidence issues endangering local residents. At a Senate Agriculture Committee hearing, Roberts invited EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson to visit the area and she quickly acted to send key officials to the town, including: Mathy Stanislaus, Assistant Administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response, Bob Sussman, Senior Policy Counsel to the Administrator, and William Rice, Acting Region 7 Administrator.

Senators Roberts, Brownback and Rep. Jenkins have called for a longer term solution for residents with a $3.5 million federal buyout of the town similar to the buyout EPA Region 6 helped facilitate for residents of Picher, Oklahoma, less than a mile from the town of Treece. Treece is within the jurisdiction of EPA Region 7.

Senator Roberts said, "I am pleased Administrator Jackson sent key decision makers to observe for themselves, the unique and dangerous conditions residents of Treece face on a daily basis. I hope that now that they have visited the town, and compare it with Picher, they can better understand the frustration of residents. I will continue to push for a much needed buyout for the town of Treece and will continue to do everything I can to help keep this community safe."

Senator Roberts continues to fight against the notion of moving the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to Ft. Leavenworth, KS. After exhausting all legislation options, Senators Roberts and Brownback placed legislative "holds" on key Administration appointees to the Departments of Defense and Justice until they could have a dialogue with the Administration regarding the consideration of moving detainees to Ft. Leavenworth, KS. Senators Roberts and Brownback recently removed the "holds" after discussions with senior Administration officials.

Senators Roberts and Brownback upon releasing the "holds" stated, "Based upon these discussions, we have had the opportunity to present the concerns of many Kansans regarding the challenges and obstacles to moving detainees to Fort Leavenworth, along with the severe negative impact it would have on the educational mission of the fort and our relations with foreign nations. We believe that the Administration has a good understanding of obstacles and concerns and is giving them proper consideration. In a good faith effort to continue moving this dialogue forward, we are releasing our holds on all Department of Defense and Department of Justice nominees. We are confident that because of this good faith dialogue, detainees will not be transferred to Fort Leavenworth."

In order to meet the federal government's commitment to fund 40 percent of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Senator Roberts and Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) recently reintroduced bipartisan legislation to finally meet the federal government’s commitment to educating children with special needs. These new resources will ensure that all children with disabilities receive a free, appropriate public education and allow districts in compliance new resources for other important education priorities such as teacher salaries, school construction and technology improvements.

By increasing the federal investment in special education, the bill would also free up local and state funds that had previously been used to meet IDEA requirements. Congress approved IDEA in 1975, requiring states to provide an appropriate education for students with special needs. Prior to this year, federal funding has never exceeded 18 percent. This leaves state governments and local school districts to pick up the tab, many times at the expense of other necessary programs like remedial classes, after-school tutoring and summer school.

"Congress made a promise to our schools and our children to share the cost of special education. It’s time that Congress relieve our state and local governments of the financial burden they have been forced to shoulder, especially in these tough economic times," Senator Roberts said.

-30-