Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, encouraged college students and young adults to get involved in the health care debate and learn about all of the benefits available to them if the proposed legislation is approved. Slaughter said that young adults, including recent college graduates, often fail to buy health insurance because they cannot afford it. However, the legislation currently being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives would allow students to remain on the plan held by their parents through their 27th birthday.

“Between finding your first job, paying student loans, and building a life of your own, young adults have enough on their plates, without having to worry about losing their health insurance when they turn 18 or graduate from college," said Slaughter. "I'm pleased we are able to include this provision in the bill.”

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, issued the following statement in response to reports that the Pentagon has reversed a policy banning embedded reporters from taking photos of American war casualties.

“I am relieved that this short-lived attempt to control the media and the public’s right to know has come to an end,” Slaughter said. “Prior restraint on photography is not a good policy for the Pentagon. It’s always been my belief that the American people should see the hard reality of our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.”

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter said that almost $366,000 in federal stimulus funds will go towards the planning of clean water projects for Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes.

“The freshwater from the Great Lakes and the Finger Lakes is one of our greatest local resources,” said Slaughter. “I’m pleased that federal stimulus dollars are going towards grants used to help us keep local waters clean.”

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28), Chairwoman of the House Committee on Rules, issued the following statement following the release of a Government Accountability Office report raising new questions about the Pentagon’s troubled testing program for soldier’s body armor. Slaughter was the first lawmaker to raise questions about the reliability of the military’s testing system for armor plates, which are worn by some members of the military deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“This again confirms my concern that the Pentagon has been slow to come up with a reliable testing protocol for our soldiers’ last line of defense,” Slaughter said. “Since Day 1 on this issue, I have asked for a system that produces armor that offers the maximum protection to our servicemen and women. The GAO’s study shows that the Army didn’t follow its own guidelines and incorrectly measured crucial data. I am pleased that the military responded to my earlier concerns by ending the practice of contracting out the testing. However, even if it is conducted in-house by Army personnel, we must have confidence that the tests are reliable.”

Rep. Louise Slaughter said that a new hearing in Congress on the benefits of high-speed rail demonstrates again that the projects can spark economic growth, new jobs and improved quality of life. Slaughter has been a leader in New York in pushing for creation of a new efficient high speed corridor between Albany and Buffalo and has worked closely with federal, state and local officials to bring the plan to fruition.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter (D-NY-28) said that money from the federal stimulus package will benefit the residents of Buffalo’s East Side in the training of new green jobs is money well spent.

The Green Entrepreneurship Center has received $230,000 in stimulus money for job creation, training and certification in green jobs. The Center aims to create transitional and permanent jobs in areas such as solar panel installation, weatherization, and cooking oil recycling.

“This is certainly money well spent and I’m so pleased that federal stimulus dollars are going towards the development of green jobs right here in Buffalo. The Community Services Block Grant program will foster more than just job creation in the industries of tomorrow, but will also clean up our environment and support vital anti-poverty programs giving the residents of Buffalo the tools they need to succeed.”

Congresswoman Louise Slaughter (NY-28), Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) and Congressman Chris Lee (NY-26) called passage of H.R. 3371, the Airline Safety and Pilot Training Improvement Act of 2009, a strong first step forward to improve the safety of air travel in the United States. This bipartisan legislation includes a number of long overdue reforms that address aviation safety and passenger confidence in the wake of the Continental Connection Flight 3407 tragedy that claimed the lives of 50 people on February 12, 2009. Among the key provisions of the bill are measures to combat pilot fatigue, increase commercial pilot licensing requirements, improve training practices and establish an electronic pilot records database. To watch the Western New York’s delegations remarks on the House floor please follow these links (To view Congresswoman Slaughter’s HERE , Congressman Higgins’ click HERE, and Congressman Lee’s remarks click HERE).

“The tragedy of Flight 3407 awakened Western New Yorkers to the lack of training and standards in the regional airline industry,” said Congresswoman Slaughter. “Today I’m proud that the House is moving forward with legislation that I believe includes a strong new set of guidelines for improving passenger and crew safety. With vital input from the families of Flight 3407, measures in this bill mean safer flights for all of us.”

In June I was able to block a legislative provision that would have superseded FOIA and suppressed the release of photos documenting prisoner abuse under the Bush Administration. Unfortunately, that same measure has just been inserted into the conference report for the DHS funding bill. Despite my best efforts, it seems likely that this measure may be headed for a vote before the House and Senate.

Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter issued the following statement, after learning the House-Senate Conference Committee of the Homeland Security Appropriations Bill had added a provision exempting controversial detainee abuse photos from FOIA laws. Last June, Rep. Slaughter led the effort to stop the White House and some members of Congress from passing a law that would make any detainee photos taken in recent years “exempt” from the Freedom of Information Act. But the measure had support in the Senate and was added in conference this week.

“I’m disappointed that this anti-Democratic provision would be added to the conference report late in the process, even after the House flatly rejected it,” Slaughter said. “I find it offensive that anyone in Congress would want to undermine FOIA laws, which are a pillar of our First Amendment principals. It’s especially unfortunate given that this Administration promised that openness and transparency would be the norm. We should never do anything to circumvent FOIA and we should understand that this country would gain more by coming to terms with the past than we would by covering it up.”