Webb sponsors legislation promoting investment in motorsports
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) has cosponsored bipartisan legislation to ensure the motorsports industry, which supports thousands of jobs across Virginia and the rest of the country, is able to continue to invest in and modernize its facilities.
The Motorsports Fairness and Permanency Act, S.1174, would make permanent a tax provision that allows motorsports facilities to depreciate aging property. With a permanent depreciation provision, motorsports facilities can make long-term planning and investment decisions for facility improvements, maximizing both their economic impact and job creation. Read more
Webb: Burmese minister’s visit ‘appropriate time’ to lift sanctions
Sen. Jim Webb, whose historic trip to Burma in 2009 set the stage for a new direction in U.S. policy toward that country, today called the first official visit by the Burmese Foreign Minister to the United States an “appropriate time” for the Obama administration to lift economic sanctions on that country.
Foreign Minister Wunna Maung Lwin is coming to Washington, D.C., this week to meet with senior leaders, including Sen. Webb.
“The President has the power to lift economic sanctions,” said Sen. Webb, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations East Asian and Pacific Affairs Subcommittee. “It is time for him to act.” Read more
Webb: ‘Humanitarian interventions’ must have congressional approval
Sen. Jim Webb today announced he will introduce legislation to require Congressional approval before the president could take military action for so-called “humanitarian interventions,” where U.S. armed forces might respond to crises abroad but American interests are not directly threatened.
The legislation would require the President to obtain formal approval by the Congress before using military force, and would also require that debate begin within days of such a request and that a vote must proceed in a timely manner. Read more
Webb to postmaster general: Keep post offices open until reform is enacted
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va) and other senators have asked Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to extend the moratorium on the closing of post office and mail processing facilities until Congress approves reform legislation. The current moratorium ends May 15.
“For those in rural communities in Virginia and throughout our nation, a post office is critical to economic development and the quality of life,” said Sen. Webb. “I signed this letter because I want to assure that no additional offices are closed until the Congress completes action on postal reform.” Read more
Webb pushes FEMA on Louisa denial
Sen. Jim Webb today asked Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator W. Craig Fugate to explain FEMA’s rationale for refusing to grant a federal disaster declaration to Louisa County following the August 23 earthquake.
“Louisa County has documented close to 1000 damaged homes, including a number of homes that were completely destroyed,” said Webb in a letter to Administrator Fugate. “More troubling, is the fact that the overwhelming majority of residents in this rural community lack adequate earthquake insurance protection, necessitating government assistance in a time of great need.”
The full text of Sen. Webb’s letter below:
Dear Administrator Fugate:
I write to express concern over FEMA’s recent refusal to grant Louisa County a federal disaster declaration following the August 23 earthquake in Virginia.
As you know, the 5.8 magnitude earthquake in Louisa County—felt by millions across the east coast—was the strongest quake to hit the Commonwealth in over a hundred years.
Louisa County has documented close to 1000 damaged homes, including a number of homes that were completely destroyed. The quake caused structural damage to churches, schools, and even caused the shutdown of nuclear power stations in North Anna. More troubling, is the fact that the overwhelming majority of residents in this rural community lack adequate earthquake insurance protection, necessitating government assistance in a time of great need.
In order to help this community overcome the devastation caused by the earthquake, I request that you provide my office the following:
1—a detailed rationale for your denial of disaster declaration for Louisa County;
2—your recommendations to the Commonwealth on how to effectively appeal and reverse FEMA’s original decision; and
3—identification of alternative funding mechanisms through FEMA and other federal agencies that can mitigate the disaster impacts on citizens of the Commonwealth.
Given the urgency of this issue to the citizens of Louisa County, I respectfully request that you provide me with a response as soon as possible.
Webb introduces legislation to stop technology drift to China
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) today introduced legislation to stop technologies developed with the support of U.S. taxpayers from being given away to China or other countries.
Many American companies operating in China are required to transfer their intellectual property and proprietary technology to China as a prerequisite for doing business there. Many of these technologies were developed using U.S. tax dollars through grants, loans, loan guarantees and other federal incentives in order to make America competitive and create American jobs.
“If taxpayers supported the development of the technology, they own a piece of it and it can’t just be given away,” said Webb. “Federal dollars that go toward R&D funding, loan guarantees, and public-private partnerships in order to help develop the next generation of technologies here are supposed to be making American businesses competitive and generate American jobs—not to help develop other industries, such as those in China.”
“In cases where technologies are developed with the support of the American taxpayer, my legislation prohibits companies from transferring the technology to countries that by law, practice, or policy require proprietary technology transfers as a matter of doing business,” continued Senator Webb. “The transfer of publicly supported proprietary technologies by American firms to China — and potentially other countries — clearly and unequivocally places the competitive advantage of the American economy at risk.”
Examples of China profiting from U.S. taxpayer-funded technologies:
· General Electric has transferred valuable aviation avionics technology to state-owned Aviation Industry Corporation of China. The U.S. government has long supported the aviation industry through procurement initiatives and federal research projects. The fruits of U.S. taxpayer support will now be incorporated into Chinese commercial airliners, in line with Beijing’s desire to develop an internationally competitive aircraft industry that could rival U.S.-based Boeing. (Source: The Washington Post)
· Westinghouse Electric has transferred more than 75,000 documents to Chinese counterparts as the initial phase of a technology transfer agreement in exchange for a share in China’s growing nuclear market. These documents relate to the construction of four third-generation AP1000 reactors that Westinghouse is building in China. U.S. taxpayers supported the development of the AP1000 as well its predecessor, the AP600, through decades of nuclear energy research and development at the Department of Energy (DOE). Moreover, the DOE Nuclear Power 2010 program provided years of government support for the design and licensing of this reactor. (Source: The Financial Times)
· Ford Motor Company is looking to share certain proprietary technologies for electric vehicles in exchange for selling cars in China. The electric vehicle sector has enjoyed significant federal R&D funding, loan guarantees, and public-private partnerships funded by U.S. taxpayers. In 2009, Ford Motor Co. received a $5.9 billion loan guarantee from the Department of Energy to advance its vehicle technology manufacturing program. (Source: The New York Times)
A U.S. Chamber of Commerce report warns that China’s “persistent” intellectual property theft is “compounded by the indigenous innovation industrial policies which compel technology transfers in order to have access to the China market.”
In a January 2010 letter to Obama Administration officials, the heads of 19 U.S. business and industry associations—including the Business Roundtable, the National Association of Manufacturers, and the Chamber of Commerce—wrote of “[s]ystematic efforts by China to develop policies that build their domestic enterprises at the expense of U.S. firms and U.S. intellectual property.”
Webb: Post-9/11 Bill has helped 500K
Sen. Jim Webb (D-Va.) today made the following statement on the three-year anniversary of the Post-9/11 GI Bill being signed into law:
“Today marks the three-year anniversary of the Post-9/11 GI Bill. I was privileged to introduce this landmark legislation on my first day in office. We began with a simple concept—if we continue to call our veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan the next ‘Greatest Generation,’ then we should as a nation express our appreciation in a proper way by giving them the same educational benefits as those who served during World War II.
“Our idea was to provide those who have served since 9/11 the most comprehensive educational benefits since World War II, and we did just that. As of today, more than 875,000 students have applied to receive their new benefits and more than 500,000 have enrolled in classes on the Post-9/11 GI Bill. That’s half a million men and women who otherwise might not have had the opportunity to attend college.
“The United States has never erred when it has made sustained new investments in higher education and job training – and its veterans. Educated veterans not only have an easier transition and readjustment experience, but they boast higher income levels, which in the long run increase tax revenues.
“We can all take pride in saying that we have brought about a proper investment in the future of those who, since 9/11, have given so much to this country.”
Signed into law on June 30, 2008 and implemented two years ago, the Post-9/11 GI Bill offers returning service members up to 36 months of benefits including payment of tuition, fees and educational costs, plus a monthly housing allowance while enrolled in full-time training.
