Rothman: Pay women as you would men

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman voted July 31 to make equal pay for equal work a reality to American women by casting his vote in favor of the Paycheck Fairness Act (H.R. 1338). Said Rothman of the vote:

"In the New Direction Congress, Democrats have both introduced and now passed legislation to end pay discrimination against women. As an early cosponsor of the Paycheck Fairness Act, I am delighted that our legislation passed the House today. As the father and step-father of four daughters, I find it outrageous that employers continue to get away with paying women 77 cents for every dollar that a man with the same qualifications, in the same job, earns and that minority women earn even less than that. But this hurts not only a woman’s daily wage, but her retirement savings, pension, and Social Security. It is detrimental to women and the American economy as a whole."

The Paycheck Fairness Act passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 247 to 178. This legislation will increase penalties against employers who discriminate in the payment of wages, enhance the Department of Labor's outreach and training programs to work with employers to eliminate pay disparities, and enable employees to share salary information with their co-workers. This bill will now be referred to the U.S. Senate.

Rothman Calls for Halt to Oil Speculation

WASHINGTON, D.C. — U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman joined a group of his colleagues on Capitol Hill to announce legislation to reduce oil speculation in the energy markets. Experts agree that speculation is inflating the price of oil, possibly as much as $70 a barrel. Even oil company executives and the Bush Administration’s own political appointee have testified before Congress that speculation is a cause of exorbitant oil prices.

As a co-sponsor of the Consumer Oil Price Protection Act (H.R.6264), Rothman urged the bill’s swift passage during a press conference on the Cannon Rotunda: “Our country is in the middle of an energy crisis and Americans are struggling to afford record high gas prices. Meanwhile, oil speculators are getting rich at the expense of everyone else. This type of betting against the market is artificially distorting the price of oil and undermining the entire free market economy. Congress must regulate and reduce oil speculation and pass those savings on to the American consumer.”

The Consumer Oil Price Protection Act (H.R.6264) would limit speculation on the energy futures markets by requiring that traders who wish to participate in the oil market have the capacity to manufacture, store, or ship the oil that they trade, thereby ensuring that speculators have a vested interest in their dealings. This requirement would restore real, un-inflated supply and demand to the oil trading market. The legislation, introduced by Reps. John Larson (D-Conn.) and Frank LoBiondo (R-N.J.) has more than 100 co-sponsors, Republicans and Democrats.

In March, Guy Caruso, administrator of the Energy Information Administration for the Bush Administration, testified before the U.S. Senate that speculation adds as much as 10 percent to the price of oil, while testimony from the private sector suggested prices could be inflated by as much as 100 percent. In 2000, $9 billion were invested in the oil futures market. Today, that number has risen to $250 billion.

Additional Efforts

As a member of the Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Caucus, Rothman is working to establish a national energy policy that balances immediate relief for consumers with a long-term goal of decreasing our dependence on foreign oil. The Congressman recently voted in favor of a number of energy bills that would:

• Direct the Commodity Futures Trading Commission to examine excessive oil speculation and use their emergency powers to take corrective actions;

• Increase federal funding for mass transportation and alternative energy sources for automobiles, buses, and industry, to help Americans struggling with high gas prices and reduce demand for foreign oil, which can in turn affect price; and

• Give U.S. authorities the ability to prosecute anti-competitive conduct committed by international cartels like OPEC that restricts supply and drives up prices.

In May, Rothman helped pass legislation that suspended the filling of the Strategic Petroleum Reserve on June 30, which will put more oil on the market to help drive down gasoline prices. In addition, he voted in favor of the Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act, legislation that will increase tax incentives for investment in renewable energy, reduce our dependence on oil-rich nations, create hundreds of thousands of green jobs, and spur American innovation and business investment.

Obama Campaign well underway in Jersey, Rothman says

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, northeast regional co-chair for Obama for America, issued the following statement Wednesday:

"The Obama campaign in New Jersey is up and running. There are 10 paid Obama staffers currently in the state working on voter outreach and registration efforts. There is leased office space in Trenton, Cherry Hill and Hackensack. There are also 95 Obama Fellows operating in New Jersey today. These folks have been through an extensive training program and are working closely with the New Jersey State Democratic Committee to organize the hundreds of thousands of new Democrats generated in our Feb. 5 primary and register new voters. In the weeks to come, the campaign will be opening additional offices, bringing in more staff and appointing a New Jersey State director.

"Obama will compete vigorously for New Jersey's 15 electoral votes and be a full partner with Senator Frank Lautenberg's campaign and our other important races across the state. Stay tuned for more news to come."

Rothman's teen safety measure passes House

WASHINGTON, D.C. — A teen safety measure introduced by U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fairlawn, overwhelming passed the House of Representatives as part of groundbreaking legislation to stop child abuse and neglect at private treatment facilities, such as teen boot camps and correctional boarding schools. Specifically, Rothman’s amendment requires that residential programs notify parents within 48 hours of any reports of abuse, neglect or violations of health and safety standards. This provision was included in the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act (H.R. 5876), which passed by a vote of 318 to 103.

“The severity of the abuse and neglect reported at some of these private programs is horrifying. No child, regardless of how troubled, should ever be subjected to physical violence at the hands of their caregiver. The type of ‘tough love’ practiced in some of these facilities can result in serious abuse and even death. In 2005, a 14-year-old boy from Florida was beaten and kicked to death a mere three hours after his admission to a boot camp program, by the very people entrusted with his care. These alarming incidences of abuse must end. I am proud that this Congress has taken action to establish new national safety standards and guidelines for private therapy facilities, to reduce these incidents,” Rothman said.

Underscoring the need for this bill, a recent study by the Government Accountability Office found thousands of reports of abuse in privately-run facilities for teens. In 2005 alone, 33 states reported 1,619 staff members were involved in cases of abuse. The Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act begins the process of cleaning up these facilities by establishing new, stricter guidelines and means of reporting.

Rothman was a major proponent of the base bill, H.R. 5876, and worked closely with the Committee on Education and Labor to strengthen its accountability measures. Rothman’s amendment not only mandates that residential programs swiftly inform parents about any reports of child abuse and neglect, but also requires increased transparency in the public reporting of any deaths at a facility. The Rothman provision directs such programs to notify parents of any report of abuse immediately to the maximum extent practicable, but no later than 48 hours. The bill also creates a publicly searchable Web site that will contain information about these facilities, such as deaths, reports of abuse and violations of safety standards. Rothman’s provision instructs facilities to also provide the cause of any deaths which occur during treatment on the Web site.

As a member of the House Caucus on Children’s Health and the Children’s Study Working Group, Rothman has been a strong ally of children during his six terms in the House of Representatives. Having passed the House, the Stop Child Abuse in Residential Programs for Teens Act now heads to the U.S. Senate.

Rothman votes againt further Iraq War spending

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fairlawn, a vocal member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, opposed further funding for the war in Iraq if it is not linked to the safe redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq. The congressman issued the following statement about his vote:

“Tonight, I voted against a $165.4 billion funding bill for the war in Iraq. At a time when Americans are facing rising food costs, higher prices at the pump, home foreclosures and failing roads, sewers and bridges, it is irresponsible to continue to misuse our military forces, and misspend our finite U.S. tax dollars to continue to police the Iraq civil war. With no clear end in sight, estimates show that the war in Iraq could ultimately cost the United States up to $3 trillion. The Department of Defense is spending an estimated $10.3 billion a month on operating costs in Iraq — while here at home our economic resources are exhausted.

“I will only support funding for the Iraq war if it is linked to beginning the immediate redeployment of U.S. troop from there. Our failed Iraq policy has resulted in the deaths of over 4,000 American troops and left nearly 30,000 of our soldiers wounded. It has stretched our military to the breaking point and strained military families with repeated and lengthy deployments.

“I have and will continue to fight efforts to provide federal funds for the war in Iraq unless that money is used to bring our brave young men and women home. It is long past time for the U.S. to redeploy all servicemen and women out of Iraq, maintaining a rapid action force in neighboring countries, just over the Iraqi horizon. Democrats and Republicans alike must work together to develop a foreign policy strategy that focuses on real threats to America’s security, not on policing civil wars half a world away.”

Read more about Rothman's views on the Iraq War at: http://rothman.house.gov/topic_iraqwar.htm.

Rothman votes against further Bush War funding

U.S. Rep. Steve Rothman, D-Fairlawn, a vocal member of the Out of Iraq Caucus, voted against providing the Bush Administration with any new funding to prosecute its failed war in Iraq. Rothman has pledged to only support new funding for Iraq that is linked to the safe redeployment of U.S. troops out of Iraq. Rothman issued the following statement about his vote:

"I remain resolute in my opposition to any new funding for the Bush Administration's failed policy in Iraq unless the money is for the protection and safe redeployment of our troops out of Iraq. Over 42,000 New Jerseyans in the Armed Forces and Reserves have been sent to Iraq since the Iraq War began. All of these men and women are courageous and have earned their country's deepest gratitude and respect. It is the American government's responsibility to bring our troops home. Our country must have a foreign policy that makes more sense than policing an Iraqi civil war for the next 100 years."

Read more about Congressman Rothman's views on the Iraq War by clicking here.