Fred Upton RSS Articles

Upton Fights to Stop Military Sexual Assault

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

With 87 percent of the estimated incidents of unwanted sexual contact going unreported by those serving in our military because service men and women fear retaliation, it is time to change the system. Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, is demanding stronger reforms to stop the spreading epidemic of sexual assault in the ranks of military personnel.

By cosponsoring the bipartisan Military Justice Improvement Act of 2013 (H.R. 2016/S. 967), Upton wants to end the statistic that 62 percent of the women who reported assaults to the Defense Department indicated they suffered some sort of social, administrative or professional retaliation.

Under this legislation – introduced by Congressman Dan Benishek (R-MI) and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) – the decision of whether a sexual assault case goes to trial moves outside the victim’s chain of command to an experienced military prosecutor.

“Our military’s current system is broken and failing to protect those who have sacrificed so much to keep their nation safe and secure. This bipartisan legislation will help fix that problem and create a safer environment for all who answer our nation’s call,” said Upton. “The brave men and women of our Armed Forces have our full support on the field of battle – they deserve no less behind the frontlines and here at home.”

“The last thing a sexual assault victim should have to worry about is whether they will receive justice or retaliation.”

The Military Justice Improvement Act also requires a commanding officer who receives a report of sexual assault in his chain of command to immediately refer the report to the appropriate investigative officer. Further, the legislation would prohibit a commanding officer from overturning a conviction or changing a guilty finding to a lesser included offense.

Upton also supported today’s passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (H.R. 1960), which included a number of provisions to address the sexual assault crisis, including mandatory minimum sentencing for sexual assault offenders and expanded services for victims of abuse. H.R. 1960 passed by a bipartisan vote of 315 to 108.

President Signs Bipartisan Animal Health Bill Benefiting Michigan Jobs, Pets, Livestock

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

President Obama today signed into law S.622, the Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013. This important legislation has been a top priority for Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce. The much-anticipated legislation creates a more efficient federal review process for new and generic animal drugs. A streamlined approval process helps Michigan employers like Zoetis and Perrigo better compete, innovate, and create jobs by getting their drugs to veterinarians, livestock and poultry producers, and pet owners in a timely manner.

“Today we have good news for American families and farmers,” said Upton. “These programs that help keep animals healthy and bring new drugs to market will continue without interruption. Further, this bipartisan measure also protects local jobs because ADUFA and AGDUFA provide companies like Zoetis and Perrigo – which account for hundreds of Southwest Michigan jobs – with the predictability they need to produce innovative drugs for pets and livestock.”

More specifically, S. 622 reauthorizes and combines two existing user fee programs – the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA) – that are set to expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2013. Renewing these important programs benefits Southwest Michigan manufacturers by ensuring that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can continue the timely review of new and generic animal drugs. S. 622 is the near-identical Senate version of the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013, H.R. 1407, which Upton’s committee approved by voice vote last month. S. 622 recently passed the House by a vote of 390 to 12.

“Both ADUFA and AGDUFA help provide the framework for the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to thoroughly evaluate the safety and efficiency of animal drugs, giving veterinarians and livestock producers the tools they need to protect animal health and the safety of animal food products,” Kathy R. Mitchell, Director of U.S. Government Relations at Zoetis, wrote in a recent letter to Upton.

“The reauthorization of these important programs will enable the FDA to continue its timely review of animal drugs, critical to protecting the health and wellness of U.S. livestock and companion animals, through September 2018,” continued Mitchell.

Last Congress, Upton led the way in the House for the successful, bipartisan reauthorization of the Prescription Drug User Fee Act (PDUFA) and the Medical Device User Fee Act (MDUFA), which streamlined the federal approval process for new prescription drugs and medical devices. These commonsense reforms enable Michigan manufacturers like Perrigo, Pfizer, and Stryker to better compete, innovate, and create jobs. The reauthorizations also significantly improve patient care by ensuring that lifesaving American-made products are brought to market in a safe and timely matter.

Upton Praises Friend, Colleague John Dingell on Reaching Historic Milestone

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in honor and recognition of his friend and Michigan colleague, Congressman John D. Dingell, D-Dearborn, who today became the longest-serving Member of Congress in the history of the United States.

“Historians will forever rank John Dingell among the greatest members ever to serve in the United States Congress. Administrations have come and gone, wars have been fought, and the great headlines of the day have all but faded, but the gentleman from the Great State of Michigan presides. For decades, John has earned the respect and admiration of his colleagues for his thoughtful leadership, masterful command of the legislative process, and love for our great nation. It has been a privilege to continue to work beside him on so many issues important to our state and the nation: fighting for Michigan’s manufacturers and auto industry, defending our treasured Great Lakes, and enacting comprehensive pipeline safety standards, only to name a few. But above all, it is an honor to call him a close personal friend.”

Dingell has served in the U.S. House of Representatives since December 1955. Before Upton became Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce in 2011, Dingell served as Chairman from 1981 to 1994 and again from 2007 to 2008.

Upton Hails House Passage of Critical Health Bills to Support Animal Drug Programs, Secure Prescription Drug Supply Chain

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The House voted today to pass important legislation to renew the successful federal approval programs for new and generic animal drugs as well as legislation to secure the nation’s prescription drug supply chain. Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, praised the passage of both bills, which were approved on May 15, 2013, by his Energy and Commerce Committee.

The Animal Drug and Animal Generic Drug User Fee Reauthorization Act of 2013, S. 622, reauthorizes and combines two existing user fee programs – the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA) – that are set to expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2013. Renewing these important programs benefits local employers like Zoetis, Perrigo, and MPI Research by ensuring that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can continue the timely review of new and generic animal drugs. A streamlined approval process helps Michigan manufacturers better compete, innovate, and create jobs by getting their drugs to veterinarians, livestock and poultry producers, and pet owners in a timely manner. S. 622 is the near-identical Senate version of the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013, H.R. 1407, which Upton’s committee approved by voice vote last month. S. 622 passed the House this evening by a vote of 390 to 12 and next heads to the President’s desk for approval.

“These programs ensure that veterinarians, livestock and poultry producers, and pet owners have access to the drugs they need to keep their animals healthy. In addition, they assist our drug manufacturers by fostering a predictable federal review process,” said Upton. “Timely reauthorization of these programs is important for companies like Zoetis, Perrigo, and MPI Research, which employ hundreds of folks in Southwest Michigan. These FDA programs give them the predictability they need to produce innovative drugs for pets and livestock, helping them better compete with overseas competitors.”

“Both ADUFA and AGDUFA help provide the framework for the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) to thoroughly evaluate the safety and efficiency of animal drugs, giving veterinarians and livestock producers the tools they need to protect animal health and the safety of animal food products,” wrote Kathy R. Mitchell, Director of U.S. Government Relations at Zoetis, Inc, in a May 8, 2013, letter to Upton.

“The reauthorization of these important programs will enable the FDA to continue its timely review of animal drugs, critical to protecting the health and wellness of U.S. livestock and companion animals, through September 2018,” continued Mitchell.

The Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act 2013, H.R. 1919, seeks to enhance the security of the drug supply chain for U.S. patients without saddling drug manufacturers, wholesale distributors and pharmacies with duplicative federal and state requirements. Further, H.R. 1919 establishes the process on how to trace individual units of pharmaceutical products and when that would begin. H.R. 1919 passed the House this afternoon by voice vote and now awaits consideration in the Senate.

“This bipartisan bill strengthens the prescription drug supply chain in order to protect Michigan families against counterfeit drugs. It also helps prevent increases in drug prices, avoid additional drug shortages, and eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of government red tape on American businesses that is harming job growth,” said Upton.

“The prevalence of counterfeit prescription drugs is a threat to the safety and wellbeing of our communities. A track and trace system is an effective way to help combat the actions of those who put our nation’s families at risk,” said Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey. “The law enforcement community applauds Congressman Upton for his continued leadership to help keep our region safe.”

Upton Votes to Prevent Student Loan Interest Rates from Doubling in July

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Millions of student loan borrowers will soon see their interest rates double unless a responsible, long-term solution is enacted. Under current law, interest rates for subsidized Stafford loans made to undergraduates are scheduled to jump from 3.4 to 6.8 percent on July 1, 2013. To prevent this hike from hitting Michigan students and their families, Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, voted today for bipartisan legislation that would move all federal student loans (except for Perkins loans) to a market-based interest rate, as opposed to a fixed rate chosen by Congress. Based on the current Treasury note, today’s legislation – the Smarter Solutions for Students Act (H.R. 1911) – could reduce interest rates for millions of borrowers by as much as 2 percent this summer. H.R. 1911 passed the House of Representatives this afternoon by a vote of 221 to 198 and now awaits consideration in the Senate.

“The cost of higher education can be daunting for students and families here in Michigan and across the country. Leaving Washington in charge of setting student loan interest rates is shortsighted and brings nothing but greater uncertainty for borrowers,” said Upton. “These common-sense reforms allow borrowers to take advantage of low interest rates today and put in place caps to protect students from higher rates in the future. This responsible approach stabilizes the federal loan program for students, cuts out the politics, and is fair to the American taxpayer.”

Under H.R. 1911, student loan interest rates would reset once a year and move with the market, allowing borrowers to take advantage of lower interest rates when available. Both subsidized and unsubsidized Stafford loans for undergraduates will be calculated based on the 10-year Treasury note plus 2.5 percent. PLUS loans for graduate students, professional degree students, and parents of dependent undergraduate students will be calculated based on the 10-year Treasury note plus 4.5 percent. H.R. 1911 also protects students against high interest rates in the future by including an 8.5 percent cap on Stafford loan interest rates and a 10.5 percent cap on PLUS loan interest rates.

"We're happy that Congress is making strides toward finding a solution to this vexing problem, as the July 1 deadline looms," says Greg Rosine, Western Michigan University vice president for government affairs. "The important outcome we all want to see is a predictable and affordable loan environment for our students.".R. 1911 maintains a student’s ability to consolidate their loans after graduation and lock in a fixed rate for the life of the loan. Students can also continue to take advantage of generous federal repayment and debt management initiatives, such as the income-based repayment program, loan forgiveness programs, and opportunities for deferment or forbearance.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that H.R. 1911 will save the federal government nearly $1 billion over the next five years (2013-2018) and $3.7 billion over the next 10 years (2013-2023).

Upton, House Support Bipartisan Bill to Build the Job-Creating Keystone XL Pipeline

Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Watch Fred's Floor remarks HERE

The U.S. House of Representatives today stood up for American jobs and energy security by approving bipartisan legislation to build the Keystone XL pipeline. The Keystone XL pipeline is a $7 billion private-sector infrastructure project that will bring tens of thousands of jobs and greater energy security to the United States, but unfortunately the project has been tied up in regulatory review for more than four years. Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, praised the passage of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, which will clear away the project’s remaining regulatory and legal hurdles, including removal of the requirement for a Presidential Permit. H.R. 3 passed the House this evening by a vote of 241 to 175 and now heads to the Senate for further consideration.

“Today, we have an historic opportunity to create tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and take a major step toward actualizing North American energy independence,” said Upton, who serves as Chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and who earlier today spoke on the House Floor in support of H.R. 3. “After more than four years of regulatory delay, the administration has run out of excuses.”

Approval of the Keystone XL pipeline means jobs, energy security, and lower gas and energy prices here in the United States. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the Keystone pipeline would transport some 830,000 barrels of oil per day from Alberta, Canada, to U.S. refineries in the Midwest and Gulf Coast regions. Construction of the project would directly create 20,000 jobs and indirectly create tens of thousands of spin-off jobs.

While enjoying bipartisan support in Congress, H.R. 3 is also supported by a broad range of diverse organizations representing American workers and employers.

The Keystone XL project has been subject to more than 15,500 pages of federal environmental review. What’s more, pipelines remain the safest and most environmentally sound way to transport oil supplies. In the last Congress, Upton worked closely with Michigan Congressman John Dingell, the former Democratic Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, to craft and shepherd through the bipartisan Pipeline Infrastructure and Community Protection Act (H.R. 2937), which ensures vital updates and improvements are made in U.S. pipeline safety. A final agreement on pipeline safety legislation was signed into law by the President at the beginning of 2012.

Upton Demands Taxpayer Protection from IRS Targeting

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Following the exposure of Internal Revenue Service (IRS) actions that targeted conservative-leaning organizations, Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, is demanding stronger protections for American taxpayers by making it a crime for IRS employees to engage in targeted discrimination. Upton is a cosponsor of the Taxpayer Nondiscrimination and Protection Act of 2013, H.R. 1950, which aims to prevent such biased, politically-motivated discrimination by increasing the maximum penalty for IRS employee misconduct against taxpayers from termination to a criminal punishment.

“This thuggish abuse of power is outrageous and undermines the public trust,” said Upton. “Such wrongful discrimination threatens our constitutional rights of free political speech and expression – it’s simply un-American. No administration is above the law; we must ensure full public accountability and guarantee that American taxpayers are never the targets of their own government.”

H.R. 1950 would allow the federal government to impose a fine, up to five years imprisonment, or both for an IRS employee engaging in such discrimination. This is identical to the maximum imprisonment for a member of the President’s Cabinet who directs an employee to take that sort of action. The legislation further reaffirms that political speech and political expression are rights guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

In a May 10, 2013, appearance before the American Bar Association, Lois Lerner, head of the IRS division that oversees tax-exempt organizations, acknowledged that the agency has been targeting conservative-leaning groups. That statement directly contradicts testimony and written responses provided by the IRS to Congress during the course of a nearly two-year investigation initiated by the House Committee on Ways and Means and joined by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

On Tuesday, May 14, 2013, the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration issued a 54-page report concerning the IRS’s use of “inappropriate criteria that identified for review Tea Party and other organizations applying for tax-exempt status based upon their names or policy positions instead of indications of potential political campaign intervention.” Click HERE to read that report.

Upton Supports Full Repeal of Obamacare as Rate Hikes Loom

Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The U.S. House of Representatives voted this afternoon to fully repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. Today’s vote follows the recent release of a report by the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Chaired by Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, which highlights the significant health insurance premium increases consumers could face as a result of the healthcare law. The repeal legislation, H.R. 45, passed the House by a vote of 229 to 195 and now awaits consideration in the Senate.

“Since the passage of Obamacare, we have encountered an ugly reality filled with broken promises, rampant uncertainty, rising premiums, and harmful consequences for jobs and our economy,” said Upton. “The looming rate increases will be devastating for millions of Americans, particularly those with a limited income, including recent college graduates and older Americans. Today we keep our promise to the American people as we continue working to repeal this bureaucratic train wreck and replace it with real solutions that drive down healthcare costs for all Americans.”

Upton’s committee has exercised rigorous oversight into how the law has been implemented as well as the impact it will have on patients, providers, the economy, taxpayers, and states.

Released on Monday, May 13, the Energy and Commerce report cites one leading national insurer that has predicted a 96 percent increase in premiums for those getting a new health insurance plan in the individual market. Customers who want to keep their existing insurance can expect an average increase of 73 percent. The average yearly cost for a new customer in the individual market grows from $1,896 to $3,708 – a $1,812 cost increase.

Read the full Energy and Commerce Committee report, “The Looming Premium Rate Shock,” HERE.

Upton’s Committee Advances Bipartisan Health Bills to Support Animal Drug Programs, Secure Nation’s Prescription Drug Supply Chain

Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

The House Energy and Commerce Committee, chaired by Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today advanced bipartisan legislation to renew the successful federal approval programs for new and generic animal drugs as well as legislation to secure the nation’s prescription drug supply chain. Both measures passed by voice vote and await consideration before the full House of Representatives.

The Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013, H.R. 1407, reauthorizes and combines two existing user fee programs – the Animal Drug User Fee Act (ADUFA) and the Animal Generic Drug User Fee Act (AGDUFA) – that are set to expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2013. Renewing these important programs benefits local employers like Zoetis, Perrigo, and MPI Research by ensuring that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) can continue the timely review of new and generic animal drugs. A streamlined approval process helps Michigan manufacturers better compete, innovate, and create jobs by getting their drugs to veterinarians, livestock and poultry producers, and pet owners in a timely manner.

“These programs ensure that veterinarians, livestock and poultry producers, and pet owners have access to the drugs they need to keep their animals healthy. In addition, they assist our drug manufacturers by fostering a predictable federal review process,” said Upton. “Timely reauthorization of these programs is important for companies like Zoetis, Perrigo, and MPI Research, which employ hundreds of folks in Southwest Michigan. These FDA programs give them the predictability they need to produce innovative drugs for pets and livestock, helping them better compete with overseas competitors.”

Upton’s committee also passed the bipartisan Safeguarding America’s Pharmaceuticals Act 2013, H.R. 1919, which seeks to enhance the security of the drug supply chain for U.S. patients while preventing duplicative federal and state requirements from saddling drug manufacturers, wholesale distributors, and pharmacies. Further, H.R. 1919 would establish a collaborative, transparent process between the FDA and stakeholders in order to better understand how and when to move to unit-level traceability.

“This bill would work to protect American families against counterfeit drugs and eliminate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of duplicative government regulations.”

Upton Requests Further Action to Protect Great Lakes from Asian Carp

Tue, 14 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, joined a bipartisan group of Members of Congress from Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin in requesting that the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee prioritize the protection of the Great Lakes region from Asian carp.

“ … The spread of Asian carp in the Great Lakes has posed a significant threat to the ecologic balance and economic viability of the Great Lakes fisheries that generate $7 billion annually,” the letter to the Committee Chairman and Ranking Member stated. “As our economy continues to slowly recover, it is necessary to ensure that preventive measures are in place to protect our Great Lakes region that supports 1.5 million U.S. jobs.”

The bipartisan letter, led by Michigan Congressman Mike Rogers, requests that the committee hold a legislative hearing on the impact of the Asian carp on the Great Lakes as well as feasible prevention and control strategies. It also asks the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to examine projects administered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and offer recommendations for a coordinated federal response to this invasive species issue.

“Our Great Lakes are our most treasured natural resource, providing for countless jobs and economic activity here in Southwest Michigan,” said Upton. “Left unchecked, this destructive species will decimate the Great Lakes ecosystem along with the industry it supports. We owe it to future generations to protect these precious waters.”

Upton is also an original cosponsor of the Asian Carp Prevention Act of 2013, H.R. 985, which directs the Secretary of the Army to coordinate and lead federal actions to prevent the spread of the invasive species in the Great Lakes and its tributaries. Those projects may include: installing electric, acoustic, air bubble, or other barriers; applying pesticides; improving the locks; and taking necessary actions at the Brandon Road Lock and Dam near Joliet, Illinois.

H.R. 985 further requires the Secretary to implement the emergency measures recommended in the dispersal barrier efficacy study, or provided in interim reports, authorized by Congress under the Water Resources Development Act of 2007.

A copy of the letter to the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee is below. A copy of the letter may be found HERE.

May 13, 2013

The Honorable Bill Shuster
Chairman, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

The Honorable Nick Rahall
Ranking Member, House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee
2165 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Chairman Shuster,

As the committee continues to prioritize legislative proposals during the 113th Congress, we respectfully request that you consider an issue critical to the health and prosperity of the Great Lakes region.

Over the past several decades, the spread of Asian carp in the Great Lakes has posed a significant threat to the ecologic balance and economic viability of the Great Lakes fisheries that generate $7 billion annually. As our economy continues to slowly recover, it is necessary to ensure that preventive measures are in place to protect our Great Lakes region that supports 1.5 million U.S. jobs.

In the 113th Congress, several legislative proposals have been introduced to prevent this invasive species from further damaging our country’s largest freshwater resource. The failure to expediently act on this critical issue will present our region with enormous economic hardships. For this reason, we ask that the committee dedicate a legislative hearing on the impact of Asian carp and feasible prevention and control strategies.

The Army Corps of Engineers has taken a lead role in monitoring aquatic species through eDNA testing and other conventional sampling methods. We encourage the Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment to examine the projects administered by the Corps and offer guidance for a coordinated federal response. Action is required to ensure the Great Lakes remain a national treasure for generations to come.

We thank you for your leadership and look forward to working with the committee on remediation strategies to control the presence of Asian carp in the Great Lakes region and its tributaries.

Sincerely,

Rep. Mike J. Rogers
Rep. Dan Benishek
Rep. Dave Camp
Rep. John Conyers
Rep. Brian Higgins
Rep. Bill Huizenga
Rep. David Joyce
Rep. Ron Kind
Rep. Gary Peters
Rep. Fred Upton
Rep. Tim Walberg

cc: Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment