News from Nita:

Top Stories -November 1, 2007





Identifying and Stopping Waste, Fraud, and Abuse in Iraq Reconstruction Funds

Recent reports by the Government Accountability Office and the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction (SIGIR) have made it clear that the State Department is not fulfilling its responsibility to provide oversight over taxpayer money spent on reconstruction projects in Iraq. Congresswoman Lowey held a hearing this week, at which the SIGIR, Stuart Bowen, estimated that $7-9 billion in U.S. funds already spent on reconstruction in Iraq has been wasted.



For more information about Congresswoman Lowey's efforts to stop waste, fraud, and abuse, please click here.



Protecting Children From Choking Hazards

Parents need to know when their children's toys contain small parts that could cause a child to choke. Congresswoman Lowey introduced the Choking Hazard Awareness Act, which would require advertisements for such products to display warning labels about the hazards they may present. A Senate committee this week adopted this bill when debating broader legislation to overhaul and modernize the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which has been drastically under-funded and under-staffed in recent years.



To read Congresswoman Lowey's legislation, please click here.



Financial Security for Senior Citizens

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently announced that this year's COLA will add 2.3 percent, or $24 per month, to seniors' monthly checks, the smallest increase in four years. This continues a trend since 2000 of expenses rising faster than benefits. It will not help millions of seniors faced with increased health, energy, transportation and food costs. Congresswoman Lowey is advocating for passage of legislation that would base COLAs on the spending activities of elderly Americans, taking into account especially the rising cost of health care.