Congressman Ruppersberger

Debunking Arthritis Myths

2013-05-22T18:47:22Z

It’s national Arthritis Month, which aims to raise awareness about the leading cause of disability in the U.S. – and especially about the many myths about arthritis and what can be done to manage it. This debilitating disease costs our country $128 billion annually and it is projected to increase by 40 percent in the next two decades.

Arthritis is common, costly and painful, and people think that there is nothing you can do to prevent or treat arthritis. Misconceptions around the disease contribute to millions living with arthritis pain and the persistent attitude of complacency toward the disease and its impact:

Myth: Only old people get arthritis.
Fact: Two-thirds of people with arthritis are under the age of 65 and some of the most serious forms of arthritis occur in teenagers or people in their 20s and 30s.

Myth: Knuckle-cracking causes arthritis.
Fact: Knuckle-cracking can’t trigger arthritis, but it can stretch tissue and lead to discomfort.

Myth: Cold weather makes arthritis worse.
Fact: There is no scientific evidence that a particular climate is better for people with arthritis, but changes in barometric pressure, often associated with inclement weather, may affect people with arthritis.

Myth: Arthritis is one disease.
Fact: There are more than 100 types of arthritis and knowing what type you have makes a difference in how to treat it.

Fortunately, there are simple steps everyone can take now to manage or even prevent the onset of arthritis, like protecting your joints, controlling weight and staying physically active. As little as 30 minutes of daily physical activity can help reduce arthritis pain, increase mobility and lead toward a more active, independent life.

To learn more about how you can prevent and manage arthritis, visit The Arthritis Foundation.

Remember Fallen Officers with "Blue Alert"

2013-05-15T15:48:47Z

Today, flags around the country are being flown at half-staff in recognition of National Peace Officers Memorial Day, which pays tribute to federal, state and local police officers who have been killed or disabled in the line of duty. Yesterday, the House of Representatives marked the occasion a day early by passing new legislation establishing a Blue Alert to notify the public when a suspect is being sought for seriously injuring or killing a law enforcement officer in the line of duty.

The legislation, modeled off the Amber Alert for missing children and the Silver Alert for missing seniors, has special meaning for me. I was serving as Baltimore County Executive on February 7, 2000, when Sgt. Bruce A. Prothero was killed while working a second job guarding a jewelry store in Pikesville during an armed robbery. The shooting launched an intense regional manhunt for two men that lasted 12 days and finally ended in Philadelphia.

Blue Alerts already exist in some states, but there is no national or even regional coordination, the necessity of which we saw in the Prothero case. I was proud to support this legislation and am encouraging my colleagues in the U.S. Senate to likewise pass it without delay.

Police officers are in harm’s way every hour – every second – of their shifts. Today and every day, we remember those who have paid the ultimate price to keep us safe.

Ruppersberger Helps Open New One-Stop Veterans Assistance Center in Dundalk

2013-05-14T16:01:57Z

Event also featured the official debut of Baltimore’s mobile veterans center

(Baltimore, MD) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) yesterday joined Senator Ben Cardin and local veterans for the official ribbon cutting of the new Baltimore County – Dundalk Vet Center. The center serves as a one-stop shop for a broad range of counseling, outreach and referral services to help veterans transition back to civilian life. Services such as PTSD assessments, marriage counseling and substance abuse help are available at the center free to veterans and their family members.

The event also marked the official debut of Baltimore’s new mobile Vets Center, which puts the same services on wheels. The vehicle features a counseling center, two private offices and flat screen TVs and is driven full-time by a veteran.

“Many elected officials will tell you that taking care of our veterans and their families is one of their highest priorities, but I see it as an obligation,” said Congressman Ruppersberger. “For many veterans lucky enough to return home, actions that seem basic to most of us – like communicating with your spouse, holding down a job, getting a good night sleep – can become challenging. This new Vet Center and mobile Vet Center will help our local heroes overcome these obstacles and get their lives back.”

The Vet Center is located in the Danville Square Shopping Center on Merritt Boulevard in Dundalk. All services are free and confidential and available to veterans’ family members as well. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-ins are welcome and evening hours are available by appointment.

Learn more about the services offered at the Dundalk Vets Center here.

New Dundalk center offers free services for local veterans

2013-05-14T15:55:57Z

Many elected officials will tell you that taking care of our veterans and their families is one of their highest priorities. I see it not only as a priority, but an obligation.

When I am overseas, I meet with the men and women on the frontlines, living in remote places far from home and putting their lives on the line to protect our country and our way of life. Unfortunately, for those lucky enough to return home, actions that seem basic to most of us – like taking care of the house, communicating with your spouse, holding down a job, getting a good night’s sleep – can suddenly become huge challenges.

My district is home to thousands of veterans and their families and we help many of them overcome these obstacles every day. Yesterday, our job got a little easier with the opening of a new “Vet Center” in Dundalk. This beautiful center is a one-stop shop where our local heroes can come if they are struggling with PTSD, if they are having trouble with their marriage, if they just need someone to talk to or if they are in need of medical referrals.

I was proud to help open the facility and also check out the new mobile Vet Center, which will offer the same services on wheels. They will both be great assets to the entire Baltimore region. You can check out more photos from the ribbon cutting ceremony here and coverage from WBAL-TV here.

You can learn more about the services offered at the Dundalk Vet Center here.

Ruppersberger Presents �Good Neighbor� Award to Giant Food for Assisting Victims of Tragedy

2013-05-10T17:25:54Z

Baltimore grocery store supplied victims of recent fires with food, clothing

(Baltimore, MD) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger (D-MD) today awarded a Baltimore-area Giant Food grocery store his first-ever “Good Neighbor” award for stepping up to assist local families affected by recent fires. The Parkside Giant supplied food and clothing after two recent fires in Baltimore’s Moravia community, including one that resulted in the death of four children and their grandmother. A dozen families were displaced by the other fire.

The store also routinely provides civic groups with food and paper products for events and low-income neighbors with bread and produce from its shelves.

“Being engaged in the community just makes good business sense, but sometimes businesses go above and beyond engagement,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “The Parkside Giant routinely reaches out to offer its neighbors a helping hand not just because it’s good for its bottom line – but because it’s the right thing to do.”

Store manager Charles Prescimone was on hand to accept the award. Thanks to Mr. Prescimone’s efforts, families had fresh food within hours of the fires, according to Cecilia Johnson, who is president of the Moravia Park Parent Teacher Community Organization and who nominated the Parkside Giant for recognition. Two of the children who died in the October 2012 fire attended Moravia Park Elementary School. Its principal, William Allen, also attended the event, as did Maryland Delegate Cheryl Glenn.

New Super Computing Center Underway at NSA

2013-05-06T20:24:44Z

Today, I had the privilege of breaking ground on a new super-computing center at the National Security Agency at Fort Meade. The center will help the dedicated workers of NSA better detect incoming cyber attacks against the computer networks that keep our troops safe on the frontlines and guard our national security secrets.

I was joined by Senator Barbara Mikulski, who worked with me to secure the federal funding necessary to build this state-of-the-art facility, which is set to open in 2016. About 6,000 workers will be involved in the construction and development, not including the cyber warriors that will operate out of the center once it is completed.

The center helps cement Maryland’s reputation as the cyber capital of the world. Because we are home to dozens of federal assets like NSA, the new U.S. Cyber Command and this new data center – plus hundreds of private-sector partners – our country’s cyber defenses start and end right here in the Second District.

Here are some photos from today’s groundbreaking ceremony.

Remembering Yeardley Love

2013-05-03T16:47:02Z

Today marks the third anniversary of the heartbreaking loss of Yeardley Love, a Cockeysville native and student of the University of Virginia whose life was cut short by an abusive boyfriend. I had the privilege of meeting with Yeardley’s mother, Sharon, last week and was impressed with her courageous work to end relationship violence in her daughter’s memory.

I was floored to learn just how pervasive this challenge is. More than 2 million people are physically assaulted by an intimate partner every year. Victims are predominantly women and nearly one third of all female homicide victims are killed by a husband, ex-husband or boyfriend.

Protections and resources available to domestic violence victims have come a long way in the past three decades. The One Love Foundation, organized by Sharon and daughter Lexie to streamline their advocacy, created a smart phone app and powerful Public Service Announcement, which you can check out here. But we all recognize more work remains.

Last week, Sharon asked me to support federal legislation naming May 3, 2014, “National One Love Day” in honor of Yeardley and others affected by relationship violence. The day will be celebrated through awareness campaigns, social media posts and representative clothing like hats, ribbons and bracelets to show support for victims and those that work to help them.

I am excited and proud to introduce the bill. This is the type of common sense legislation that should sail through Congress. I am looking forward to working with Sharon and the One Love Foundation to get this bill passed and making a positive difference in the lives of thousands of Americans.

Bipartisan Maryland House Delegation Meets with VA Secretary Shinseki

2013-04-25T13:31:58Z

(Washington, DC) – The bipartisan Maryland House Delegation met today with Secretary of Veterans Affairs Eric Shinseki for an update on how the VA plans to improve the claims process at the VA’s Baltimore Regional Office, which has the largest backlog and highest rate of errors in the country.

Participating in today’s meeting were Representatives C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger, Steny H. Hoyer, Elijah E. Cummings, Chris Van Hollen, John P. Sarbanes, Donna F. Edwards, Andy Harris, and John Delaney.

The Delegation applauded Secretary Shinseki’s plan to expedite claims that have been backlogged for more than a year, as well as his announcement in February that the Baltimore Regional Office would receive additional training, an influx of senior staff, and a new digital processing system ahead of schedule. However, they urged the VA to develop a comprehensive plan to improve the functionality of the Baltimore Regional Office and retain a qualified workforce to meet the needs of Maryland’s veterans.

Nationally, the average wait time for a veteran’s claim decision is 273 days and approximately 65 percent of the 903,000 pending claims are older than 125 days. In Maryland, the situation is worse with veterans waiting on average 332 days or 11 months for a claims decision from the Baltimore Regional Office. 84 percent of the nearly 20,000 pending claims are older than 125 days. In addition, the Baltimore Regional Office has an error rate of 26.2 percent, while the national error rate is 13 percent.

“One of my office’s top priorities is working with local veterans caught in government red-tape, so we know their frustrations first-hand,” said Congressman Ruppersberger. “The situation is and has been unacceptable for years. The Maryland Delegation today met with Secretary Shinseki and discussed solutions, which will require adequate staffing and modern technology to deal with the backlog of cases. We will continue to monitor the VA’s progress to ensure our nation’s heroes get the benefits they earned.”

“We have an obligation to stand up for the brave men and women who have fought so hard for our nation and ensure they have the care and resources they need to transition to civilian life,” said Congressman Hoyer. “Unfortunately, the large backlog and high rate of errors we are seeing at the Baltimore Regional Office means that we aren’t fulfilling that obligation to Maryland veterans. While the VA is taking positive steps to improve the situation, we have more work to do so that veterans in our state receive their benefits in a timely manner. The entire Maryland delegation is united in our efforts to improve services for veterans and their families and we will continue to work with Secretary Shinseki to do so.”

“It was critical that our Delegation have the opportunity to understand the specific measures the Veterans Administration is taking to ensure that all claims are processed as quickly as possible ,” said Congressman Cummings. “Though the Maryland Veterans Benefits Administration office is physically located in my district, the work it does touches the lives of Veterans throughout the region and state. I thank Secretary Shinseki for his time today and am hopeful that we are on our way to providing more efficient and effective service to our Veterans and their loved ones.”

“I was pleased to meet with Secretary Shinseki and members of the Maryland Delegation today to discuss the inexcusable backlog problem that continues to plague the VA’s Baltimore Regional Office. It is completely unacceptable that Maryland’s veterans are forced to wait one year, on average, for an initial decision on a disability claim,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Shinseki, Under Secretary Hickey, and my Maryland colleagues on behalf of the over 450,000 veterans in Maryland who are served by the Baltimore VA office.”

“Maryland’s veterans have made tremendous sacrifices to serve our country and they shouldn’t be forced to fight for the benefits they’ve earned,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “Although the VA was slow to react to the severe problems in the Baltimore regional office, I am guardedly optimistic that we’re beginning to turn a corner and will work with my colleagues in the Congress to ensure continued progress.”

“The egregious backlog at the VA’s Baltimore Regional Office does not do justice to Maryland’s servicemen and women who served our nation with dignity,” said Congresswoman Edwards. “Maryland veterans and their families rely on these benefits to bridge the gap to civilian life, so it is critical that they receive them in a timely fashion with fewer errors. It is clear that Secretary Shinseki is dedicated to rectifying this wrong by implementing a plan to expedite backlogged claims and improve functionality in the long-term. I appreciate Secretary Shinseki briefing our delegation and expect to receive further updates on the progress moving forward.”

“Our veterans deserve the best possible healthcare for serving this country,” said Congressman Harris. “It is unacceptable that the average wait for a claims decision is nearly 11 months at the Baltimore Regional Office. I welcome the plan Secretary Shinseki put forward to improve the healthcare at this facility and look forward to working with him to make sure it gets implemented.”

“All Americans, whatever their party, believe that our veterans have earned our support and deserve the benefits they’ve earned,” said Congressman Delaney. “Along with my colleagues in the Maryland delegation, I’m extremely concerned by the reports of a massive casework backlog and long wait times for our Maryland veterans. Having our wounded warriors wait a year to receive disability benefits is unacceptable. I appreciate that Secretary Shinseki recognizes this is a problem. As a delegation we’re dedicated to finding solutions to this problem and we should think out of the box to better streamline the process.”

Constituent Success Story: The Green Family

2013-04-22T17:01:38Z

This week, I was honored to have the opportunity to serve a new Second District constituent from Jessup. Mrs. C.I. Green, an Army veteran and mother of an autistic child, contacted our office for help expediting a benefits claim with the Veterans Administration.

Mrs. Green was deployed in the 101st Airborne Air Assault at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Her husband, also an Army veteran, served tours in Italy, Germany and Bosnia. Several months behind on their mortgage and facing foreclosure, the Greens were in urgent need of a resolution to their claim.

I am proud to report that Mrs. Jessica Facini, a Team Dutch member since 2009, secured her resolution after only one week on the case. A mere two weeks later, the check was deposited in Mrs. Green’s account.

“I was so pleased,” Mrs. Green said. “Jess had the most determined attitude from the first conversation. Whatever she did, however she does it, it’s great that Congressman Ruppersberger has people representing him that care so much about veterans and constituents alike.”

It is one of my highest honors to serve the many troops and U.S. veterans who call Maryland home. I believe that the men and women who put their lives on the line to defend our freedom deserve the best care and resources when they return home. If you are a U.S. veteran in need – or know someone who is – please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Rogers-Ruppersberger Cyber Bill (CISPA) Passes House

2013-04-18T18:58:10Z

Cyber Information Sharing & Protection Act (CISPA) Passes with Overwhelmingly Bipartisan Vote of 288 to 127

(Washington, DC) – Congress took an important step forward today towards giving American companies the help they need to better protect themselves against the dangerous cyber espionage campaigns being waged against them by China, Russia and Iran.

In a show of leadership and bipartisanship, the House of Representatives today passed the Cyber Information Sharing & Protection Act (CISPA) by a decisive vote of 288 to 127. This important legislation enables cyber threat sharing within the private sector and, on a purely voluntary basis, with the government; all while providing strong protections for privacy and civil liberties.

“I am very proud that so many of my colleagues were able to look past the distortions and fear mongering about this bill, and see it for what it really is – a very narrow and focused authority to share cybersecurity threat information to keep America safe. I look forward to working with my Senate colleagues to get cyber threat information sharing legislation passed into law this year,” Chairman Mike Rogers said.

“Passing this legislation is not just a victory on the House floor. This is victory for America,” said Ranking Member C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger. “Our nation is one step closer to making a real difference protecting our country from a catastrophic cyber attack.”

Ruppersberger continued, “This has been an open, deliberative, and bi-partisan process where a number of groups came together to share ideas and make a good bill even better. CISPA recognizes that you can’t have true security without privacy, and you can’t have privacy without security. This bill effectively works to protect both. I look forward to seeing it taken up in the Senate," he said.

Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Ruppersberger worked openly and collaboratively for over two years with hundreds of U.S. companies, industry associations, privacy and civil liberties groups, and Executive Branch agencies to get this important legislation to this point.

This bill is a vital first step toward providing better protection for the networks and systems that Americans depend on every day.

Ruppersberger, Team Maryland Announce $1.4 Million Grant for Baltimore City Fire Department

2013-04-17T18:43:22Z

Grant will pay for 300 new Automatic External Defibrillators

(Washington, DC) – U.S. Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger along with Senators Barbara A. Mikulski and Ben Cardin as well as Representatives Elijah Cummings and John Sarbanes (all D-Md.) today announced that the Baltimore City Fire Department has been awarded $1,449,600 in competitive federal funding through the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) program to purchase life-saving firefighting equipment.

The grant funds will allow the Baltimore City Fire Department to purchase 300 Automatic External Defibrillators (AEDs), which enable firefighters to quickly detect and treat life threatening cardiac emergencies.

“Studies show that, for each minute defibrillation is delayed, the chance of survival for someone in sudden cardiac arrest is cut by 10 percent,” said Congressman Dutch Ruppersberger. “So this grant is putting proven life-saving technology into the hands of our first responders. It’s just the type of investment in basic government services and human lives we should be making.”

AFG grants fund firefighting equipment, personal protection equipment, training, firefighting vehicles, firefighter/first responder safety projects, and staffing recruitment and retention, as well as public fire safety education. Since 2001, Maryland fire departments and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) units have received more than $123 million in AFGP funding, almost $10 million of which has gone to the Baltimore City Fire Department.

“I know how important this funding is to Maryland communities – often it’s the difference between life and death. First responders protect our homes and communities, and the federal government has a responsibility to protect them by providing them with the tools they need to do their jobs safer and smarter,” Senator Mikulski said. “Every day when our first responders report for duty, they don’t know what they will face. That’s why I fight every year for the equipment, training, and staffing our protectors and communities deserve.”

“When a natural disaster occurs or we are faced with a terrorist attack, it is our first responders who provide the first line of defense for our citizens,” said Senator Cardin. “This federal funding is an important investment in keeping Maryland families and businesses safe if and when a disaster strikes. It ensures that our first responders have the resources they need to protect us and the equipment and training they need to do their jobs.”

“This funding is a significant endowment for the Baltimore City Fire Department and for the public service system of our City. These brave first responders respond to more than 235,000 emergency 911 calls each year, and this funding will equip them to be more effective and efficient in that work,” said Cummings. “I commend the Baltimore City Fire Department on earning this award – an honor that underscores their pledge to provide the best possible service to the people of Baltimore.”

“Baltimore's first responders put their lives on the line every day to keep our and communities safe,” said Congressman Sarbanes. “These brave men and women are ready to roll at the sound of an alarm and it's our responsibility to make sure they have first-rate equipment and adequate resources to do their job.”

“We are grateful for the efforts of Senator Mikulski and Baltimore’s entire Congressional delegation to secure the AFG grant award for the Baltimore City Fire Department,” said Baltimore Mayor Rawlings-Blake. “This grant funding will support our ongoing effort to improve emergency response and better serve our community.”

“This Fire Act Grant will allow us to provide state of the art Emergency Medical care to the residents of Baltimore. I want to thank Senator Mikulski, Senator Cardin and the entire Maryland delegation to Congress for their continuing support of the fire service and especially the City of Baltimore. We would not be able to upgrade our life-saving equipment without your help,” said Baltimore City Fire Chief Clack.

Golf: More Jobs, Lower Healthcare Costs?

2013-04-16T19:36:59Z

I’ve always loved sports – especially lacrosse, football and baseball – and, on occasion, golf. Now that I’m in public office, I’ve come to realize that the golf course isn’t just a place to broker deals or enjoy a few hours in the sun. Here in Maryland, golf generates more than 14,000 jobs and has a $1.3 billion economic impact.

More golf by the numbers:

2 million: Jobs supported by golf in America.
$176.8 billion: Golf’s total impact on the American economy.
2,000: Calories burned walking an 18-hole golf course.
$3.9 billion: National charitable impact of golf.
2,500: Square footage of turf grass on a golf course that can supply enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe.

Today, advocates for the golf industry visited my office to ask me to support the “Personal Health Investment Today Act,” which will allow Americans to use pre-tax medical insurance accounts to pay for physical activity expenses like gym memberships, youth sports leagues and exercise equipment – even entry fees for road races. I was happy to be able to tell them that I am already a cosponsor of this common-sense bill because providing incentives for healthy lifestyles will reduce insurance costs for all Americans.

You can learn more about the “PHIT Act” and why I support it here.

Baltimore Sun: Obama wrong to seek limits on tax-exempt bonds

2013-04-15T17:31:33Z

President, Congress should not pursue deficit reduction in a way that hurts municipalities

Local government is truly where the rubber meets the road. As Baltimore County executive, I proudly oversaw capital projects ranging from the restoration of the Randallstown Library after a fire to the expansion of Cromwell Valley Park. We rebuilt Essex Elementary School and constructed a new interchange at I-795 and Dolfield Road in Owings Mills.

We were able to pay for these and dozens of other projects — which improved the everyday lives of thousands of people — with the help of tax-exempt municipal bonds. These are bonds floated by local or state governments in which a portion of the interest earned by the bond purchasers is exempt from taxes.

In his budget proposal for fiscal 2014, released this week, President Barack Obama suggests limiting the value of tax benefits for top-earning investors in municipal bonds to 28 percent, down from the current 35 percent. Even worse, some federal legislators would eliminate the tax exemption on municipal bond interest altogether.

Why is this important for our state? For more than 100 years, these bonds have been the single most important tool in the country for financing new roads, schools, hospitals and more. Here in Maryland, tax-exempt municipal bonds recently funded part of the Port of Baltimore expansion at Seagirt, generating 5,700 jobs and opening the port to bigger ships for decades to come. They are also funding the express toll lanes on I-95, a project that created 300 direct jobs and will significantly reduce congestion north of Baltimore when it opens next year.

Nationally, studies suggest that three-fourths of infrastructure projects are financed by these bonds, supporting hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs.

As a former county councilman, county executive and president of the Maryland Association of Counties, I understand that tax-exempt bonds are the most efficient way to fund such infrastructure projects. Unfortunately, not enough members of Congress have local government experience.

The president and some in Congress see capping this tax exemption as a way to help lower the deficit. The Senate, like the president, is considering a 28 percent cap. A proposal in the deficit reduction plan widely known as Simpson-Bowles suggests a complete elimination of tax-exempt financing. While I support the overall goal of Simpson-Bowles, I strongly oppose this particular recommendation.

I'm far from alone in this concern: According to Reuters, a coalition of city and county leaders estimated they would have had to pay $18.8 billion more in interest over the last decade under President Obama's cap — and $53.8 billion if the exemption were removed.

Local governments save an average of 25 percent to 30 percent on interest costs with tax exempt municipal bonds as compared to taxable bonds. If the federal income tax exemption is eliminated or limited, states and localities will pay more to finance projects, leading to less infrastructure investment and fewer jobs. Worse, they will undoubtedly shift costs to their main revenue source: property taxes. It will be a direct sucker punch to the already-suffering real estate market and, more importantly, your wallet.

Though preliminary research suggests I am facing an uphill climb, it is nevertheless my intention to move quickly and aggressively on this issue in Congress. I am already communicating with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle and strategizing how to best protect this crucial tax exemption.

Deficit reduction is an important goal, but we can find a balanced and creative way to reduce government spending and reform our broken tax structure without compromising our communities' ability to improve themselves.

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, a Democrat, has represented Maryland's 2nd Congressional District since 2003.

Ruppersberger Issues Statement on Boston Marathon Bombings

2013-04-15T14:00:14Z

(Washington, D.C.) – Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger released the following statement after the bombings in Boston today:

“Two bombs exploded today in Boston during the Boston Marathon, killing several people and injuring many others. My heart goes out to the families of the victims of the bombings, and the entire Boston community. Our country mourns alongside them.

We are still learning more about the bombings. State, local and federal law enforcement officials are working together with the intelligence community to figure out who did this and why. We are receiving briefings as information comes in and will continue to receive updates from the appropriate agencies.

The federal government is mobilizing its resources and the Intelligence Community will assist wherever it can. We must hold whoever is behind this despicable act accountable for their actions.”

Ruppersberger Sponsors "Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act"

2013-04-09T18:32:28Z

(Washington, DC) – Today,Congressman C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger joined Reps. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), John Garamendi (D-CA), Betty McCollum (D-MN), Jared Polis (D-CO) and Allyson Schwartz (D-PA) in reintroducing the “Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act.” This legislation will create jobs, accelerate economic growth, and make targeted investments that keep America on the cutting edge of innovation.

“In Maryland, the growing life sciences sector – which includes many small biotechnology firms - has generated one third of all job gains over the past decade and this bill will enable them to expand and hire even more,” Congressman Ruppersberger said. “It’s exactly the type of common sense jobs bill that lawmakers should be focused on right now.”

The Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act will:

ACCELERATE INNOVATION by providing a 25 percent tax credit for qualified equity investments in eligible high technology and biotechnology small business concerns.
INVEST IN QUALITY by directing credit-qualified investments only to those small businesses that have met the federal government’s rigorous requirements for receiving Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant awards.
CONTROL COSTS by establishing a per company cap for the Innovative Technology Investment Credit at one half the value of the receiving company’s SBIR award and an initial program cap of $500 million.
REWARD LONG-TERM INVESTMENT by requiring a holding period of at least three years for qualified investments.

“As our economy continues to recover, the Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act will provide an important boost to America’s most innovative small companies at a time when that boost is needed most,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “Putting Americans back to work is our number one priority. This pro-growth initiative – modeled after the highly successful Maryland Biotechnology Investment Incentive Tax Credit and similar legislation in other states – will leverage private capital to create good-paying jobs, reward innovation, and lay the foundation for our future prosperity.”

“High tech businesses are the shining stars of our economy. Northern California’s technology clusters, including the City of Davis, have seen these businesses’ remarkable ability to generate economic growth and jobs,” said Congressman Garamendi. “However, there is a ‘valley of death,’ a slew of barriers that prevent an idea from becoming a profitable product, and foremost among these is stable financing. The Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act helps small businesses overcome these challenges and turbocharge America’s job creation machine.”

“Colorado’s growing clean energy industry is an essential part of our economy and incentivizing investment is a great way to spur further innovation and job creation,” said Congressman Polis. “I am proud to work with my colleagues to replicate this successful program so that innovative companies across the country can benefit from the same incentives that have proven effective in Maryland.”

“Small businesses are the largest job creators in the country. The Innovative Technologies Investment Incentive Act will give our entrepreneurs and innovators the tools and resources they need to continue to grow, hire and compete. Developing America's small businesses is critical to our economic recovery and this bill will help ensure our nation's leadership in the global marketplace,” said Congresswoman Schwartz.

To read the text of the legislation, click here.