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Bayh on MLK, Jr. and Rep. Carson

Evan Bayh:

Two Legacies of InspirationToday, we pause to honor two Americans of uncommon gifts and reflect on their extraordinary lives of accomplishment.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. transcended politics and breathed life into a civil rights movement that shined a light on racial injustice in America. He fought with words rather than bullets. He advocated for marches and sit-ins rather than riots and violence. And he proved to a nation and the world the power of peace.

Today, as we celebrate MLK Day and honor this special American healer, let us also pause to celebrate the legacy of one of Dr. King's greatest Hoosier acolytes, the late Congresswoman Julia Carson, who lost her long battle with lung cancer in December.

Much like Dr. King, Julia was a trailblazer who made history. In her life, she often faced daunting odds, but she never lost sight of her devotion to helping others. She inspired those around her with the belief that we could and should do more in the fight for what is right and just.

Tomorrow, on the first day that the United States Senate comes back into session, I will take the first step in enshrining a permanent reminder of her 35 years of passionate service on behalf of the people of Indianapolis.

With the support of Senator Lugar, I will introduce legislation that proposes renaming the Mapleton Station Post Office in Indianapolis the Julia M. Carson Post Office.

The facility is located at an address that already honors one of her heroes—2650 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Street—a fitting location to remember a Hoosier public servant who left her home a far richer place as a result of her lifetime of service.

Bayh on Iowa's results

Indiana Senator Evan Bayh commented on the results from Iowa:

While in Indianapolis Friday, Bayh called the caucus results very close, pointing out no candidate received 50 percent of the vote. Bayh believes the race for the Democratic nomination will soon be down to two candidates.

"Senator Obama has represented hope and change. That is a good thing. I think Senator Clinton represents change as well. The question is who has the experience and the ability to bring about change. That is an ongoing dialog we are going to have with the American people," said Bayh.

Many political insiders think Bayh would be a promising potential vice-presidential pick for Clinton.

"A lot of Indiana politicians got behind Hillary Clinton, most notably Evan Bayh," said Indianapolis Star political analyst Matt Tully. "The chances of Evan Bayh being on the ticket as a vice presidential nominee really rely on Hillary Clinton getting the nomination, so that's really important for Indiana Democrats."

Senate Adopts Bayh Provision To Help Soldiers With Traumatic Brain Injuries

Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act extends active duty status to military personnel with war's signature injury to ensure access to specialized care

Friday, July 13, 2007

Washington, D.C. – The U.S. Senate late yesterday passed the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act to better ensure that the more than 25,000 service members who have sustained injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan receive the world-class treatment, care and services they deserve. The legislation, which passed unanimously, included a provision originally introduced by Senator Evan Bayh, to provide immediate help for wounded soldiers with traumatic brain injuries (TBI).

The legislation passed as an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization Bill and allows severely wounded soldiers to retain their active duty status for up to three years, with the option of an additional two-year extension. Retaining their active duty status means soldiers can continue to receive care through the Department of Defense at specialized private rehabilitation hospitals and facilities. It also requires the development of a comprehensive plan on prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, and treatment of TBI and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and authorizes $50 million for improved diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of service members with TBI or PTSD.

Earlier this year, Bayh introduced legislation to extend active duty status for wounded soldiers with TBI, which has been called the “signature injury” of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Up to now, bureaucratic red tape and a system designed to handle body trauma and aging veterans has made it difficult for these soldiers to obtain specialized care.

“Until now, the system prevented some of our returning soldiers from receiving the care they need and deserve,” Senator Bayh said. “Time plays a critical role in recovery from a traumatic brain injury. Delays in medical treatment and services can have severe consequences to the quality of life of our returning heroes. This legislation ensures that they will have immediate and ongoing access to the best possible medical care.”

Traumatic brain injuries can include those caused by shrapnel that penetrate the skull, but also injuries with no visible signs, caused by shockwaves from IEDs and mortars. More than 2,000 American soldiers have received a traumatic brain injury in Iraq or Afghanistan. Most problems with care have occurred when soldiers with TBI have been transferred from active duty status to retired, where they can no longer access private care centers and must receive treatment through the Veterans Administration. Some VA hospitals lack access to advanced cognitive therapy programs that maximize the recovery prospects of TBI patients.

“This is a critical step forward for the soldiers affected by traumatic brain injury,” said Stacy Payne, executive director of the Brain Injury Association of Indiana. “This means these soldiers will be able to take advantage of the best possible rehabilitation care and emotional support available.”

Senators Bayh and Clinton worked with the Military Officers Association of American and the Wounded Warrior Project to draft the legislation to provide an immediate solution to the problems returning soldiers afflicted with TBI were encountering.

In addition to the TBI provisions, the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act requires periodic reports on the Army’s action plan to respond to the deficiencies that came to light earlier this year at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. The legislation requires the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy by Jan. 1, 2008, on the care, management and transition from the military to VA or civilian life for severely injured service members. The act also requires the Secretary of Defense to establish uniform standards for military medical treatment facilities, specialty medical care facilities and military quarters that house patients.

“What we discovered at Walter Reed earlier this year is appalling,” Senator Bayh said. “The brave men and women recovering at Walter Reed and other military hospitals have made incredible personal sacrifices to defend our nation’s freedom, and we owe it to them to provide the safest and most effective treatment possible when they return from combat. The Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act will help ensure that these soldiers are treated with the respect they deserve throughout their recovery.”

Senators Clinton, Webb, Byrd & Bayh Call for Armed Services Hearing to Focus on Redeployment of U.S. Forces from Iraq

Press Release of Senator Bayh

Monday, July 23, 2007

Washington, DC - In the wake of last week's unacceptable response from Under Secretary of Defense Eric Edelman regarding the Pentagon's planning for the redeployment of U.S. forces from Iraq, Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Jim Webb (D-VA), Robert Byrd (D-WV), and Evan Bayh (D-IN) are calling for a Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) hearing to focus on this important national security issue affecting the safety of our troops. The primary purpose for such a hearing would be to have Administration witnesses testify on the status of withdrawal planning, but the hearing also could solicit the views of outside experts who have experience in the redeployment of large numbers of troops. If necessary, portions of the hearing could be held in closed session.

In May, Senator Clinton called on Secretary Gates to brief the appropriate oversight committees in Congress – including the Senate Armed Services Committee on which Senators Clinton, Webb, Byrd & Bayh serve – on what current contingency plans exist for the future withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq. Alternatively, if no such plans exist, she asked for an explanation for the decision not to engage in such planning. In that letter, Senator Clinton wrote, “the seeds of many problems that continue to plague our troops and mission in Iraq were planted in the failure to adequately plan for the conflict and properly equip our men and women in uniform. Congress must be sure that we are prepared to withdraw our forces without any unnecessary danger.”

Last week, responding to this May inquiry on behalf of Secretary Gates, Defense Under Secretary Eric Edelman outrageously and dangerously claimed that congressional oversight emboldens our enemies - a direct contradiction to Secretary Gates himself, who stated in March during testimony before the House Armed Services Committee, “I believe that the debate here on the Hill and the issues that have been raised have been helpful in bringing pressure to bear on the Maliki government and on the Iraqis in knowing that there is a very real limit to American patience in this entire enterprise.” Secretary Gates reaffirmed his belief in the importance of Congressional oversight in a statement he issued this past Friday, saying, "I have long been a staunch advocate of Congressional oversight, first at the CIA and now at the Defense Department. I have said on several occasions in recent months that I believe that congressional debate on Iraq has been constructive and appropriate."

In their letter today, the Senators wrote, "The need for the Committee to know the status of Department of Defense redeployment planning is clear, yet past efforts by individual members to obtain this information were rebuffed."

The Senators noted the bipartisan call for such a hearing, writing, "The importance of holding this hearing was underscored this month when Senators Warner and Lugar introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act calling for the Administration to present its redeployment plan to Congress by October 16, 2007."

They went on to write, "...the roots of the many problems facing our men and women serving in Iraq were planted by the failure of this Administration to develop sound, realistic plans. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistake when our forces redeploy. Congressional oversight will help to ensure that redeployment plans properly address the numerous challenges that our troops will face, including the resources and the diplomatic support required to ensure that any redeployment is safe and orderly."

Senator Clinton's May letter to Secretary Gates, the response from Under Secretary Edelman, and the resulting letter to Secretary Gates can be found at http://clinton.senate.gov/features/gates.cfm.

The full text of the Senators' letter today to Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Carl M. Levin follows:

July 23, 2007

The Honorable Carl Levin
Chairman
Committee on Armed Services
United States Senate
R228
Washington, D.C. 20510

Dear Chairman Levin:

We write to request that the Senate Committee on Armed Services hold a hearing on Department of Defense contingency planning for the redeployment of United States military forces from Iraq. Such a hearing could solicit the views of outside experts who have experience in the redeployment of large numbers of troops as well as administration witnesses. If necessary, portions of the hearing could be held in closed session.

The importance of holding this hearing was underscored this month when Senators Warner and Lugar introduced an amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act calling for the Administration to present its redeployment plan to Congress by October 16, 2007. As they noted, the safety and security of our military forces, as well as our nation’s credibility in the region, require that any military withdrawal or redeployment from Iraq be carefully planned and executed. A poorly planned withdrawal would compound the risks to our forces, coalition partners, and the government of Iraq.

The need for the Committee to know the status of Department of Defense redeployment planning is clear, yet past efforts by individual members to obtain this information were rebuffed. Following reports that the Pentagon was not engaging in detailed planning while the Iraqi Defense Ministry was preparing its own plans in the event that the United States and its forces departed Iraq quickly, the Secretary of Defense was requested in May to provide the appropriate oversight committees in Congress with briefings on the current status of contingency planning for the withdrawal of U.S. forces.

Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Eric Edelman responded to this request on Secretary Gates’ behalf on July 16. A copy of his letter and other correspondence relating to this matter are enclosed for your reference. As you will see, Under Secretary Edelman raised spurious arguments to avoid discussing contingency planning and claimed that premature discussion of the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iraq reinforces enemy propaganda. His assertion that necessary congressional oversight emboldens our enemies is outrageous.

As you are aware, the roots of the many problems facing our men and women serving in Iraq were planted by the failure of this Administration to develop sound, realistic plans. We cannot afford to repeat the same mistake when our forces redeploy. Congressional oversight will help to ensure that redeployment plans properly address the numerous challenges that our troops will face, including the resources and the diplomatic support required to ensure that any redeployment is safe and orderly.

Thank you for considering this request.

Sincerely yours,
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Robert C. Byrd
Evan Bayh
Jim Webb

CC:
The Honorable John McCain
Ranking Member
Committee on Armed Services

Bayh Secures Key Committee Approval of $4 Million For South Bend Company To Provide Up-Armored Humvees in Iraq

Projected funding would safeguard more than 2,200 jobs at AM General

Friday, June 1, 2007


Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senator Evan Bayh today announced that he has taken the critical first step in securing $4 million for AM General to provide additional up-armored Humvees for soldiers serving in Iraq.

The projected funding is part of a $986,409,000 total authorization for up-armored Humvees included in the Senate Armed Services Committee Authorization bill for 2008

“Year after year, the Pentagon continues to underestimate the critical role up-armored Humvees play in protecting our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan,” Senator Bayh said. “Every day our troops on the front lines are put in danger unnecessarily because they do not have the protective equipment they need. This funding will help ensure that up-armored Humvees are available to our troops so they can stay safe while accomplishing their mission.”

The projected funding will also mean continued economic opportunity for the South Bend area. AM General estimates that 2,234 Hoosier jobs will be maintained as a result of this funding.

Once appropriated, the funding will be used for the continued procurement of the Up-Armored High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV) for the United States Army. The HMMWV is the premier light tactical vehicle in the world and provides its crew complete ballistic protection against anti-tank and anti-personnel mines and 360-degree protection against armor-piercing munitions.

“Every day our troops risk life and limb to protect America, and the government has a solemn responsibility to provide them with the equipment they need to protect themselves,” Senator Bayh said.

Senator Bayh is a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence

Senator Bayh, Congressman Emanuel Introduce Bipartisan Tax Bill to Make Higher education Universal

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Today, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh, U.S. Representative Rahm Emanuel (D-IL), and U.S. Representative Dave Camp (R-MI) introduced the Universal Higher Education and Lifetime Learning Act, which will strengthen and simplify the three existing tax breaks students currently use to help pay for higher education: the Hope Scholarship, the Lifetime Learning Credit, and the deduction for tuition and fees.

The bill will benefit 9 million students attending four-year public and private colleges and universities and an estimated 1.1 million students attending community colleges. The introduction of the bill comes just one day after Indiana University trustees voted to raise tuition and fees for students attending classes at the Bloomington campus.

"Middle class families struggling to afford college tuition deserve a break—a tax break," Senator Bayh said. "The American Dream is founded on the idea that anyone who is willing to work hard and sacrifice will be able to create a better life for themselves and their children. However, the rising cost of higher education is putting that dream out of reach for too many of our young people. This legislation is a lifeline to families who need a little help to send their kids to college."

"Skyrocketing costs are putting college out of reach for millions of middle-class students and saddling millions more with thousands of dollars of debt that will take years to pay off. In order to ensure that we remain globally competitive, we need to take steps to guarantee the best-educated workforce in the world," said Emanuel. "This bill makes college more affordable and accessible for the middle class and provides a significant investment in ensuring that our workforce remains the envy of the world."

Studies show that 80% of the new jobs over the next decade will require some level of higher education and that a college graduate can expect to make 75% more than a high school graduate. At the same time skyrocketing costs are putting higher education out of reach for middle-class students. The average total costs for a year at a community college is over $12,000, while the average cost for a year at a four-year state school is now over $16,000. Estimates show that 4.4 million academically qualified students will opt out of going to a four year college, and another 2 million will forgo college entirely. In addition, the typical college student is now finishing school with over $19,000 in student loan debt.

In addition to addressing the soaring cost of higher education, the bill dramatically simplifies the tax code so students and families can use the new tax credit without having to wade through complex I.R.S. forms, instructions, and pamphlets.

"The three varying tuition tax breaks currently on the books are good, but students aren't tax experts and they shouldn't have to be in order to determine which one is the right one for them. These students are doing enough reading during the school year and we shouldn't make them delve into nearly 100 pages of IRS documentation just to get a little tuition assistance," said Camp. "Our bill combines and simplifies the existing credits. By eliminating the complexity and duplication, more students will get the financial help Congress intended. This is a common sense proposal that will help more young adults get the college degree they will need to excel in life."

Under current law, families and students must wade through an 83-page IRS document to determine whether they qualify for an education tax benefit and then determine which one provides the maximum benefit. The Government Accounting Office estimated that 27% of eligible taxpayers do not take advantage of these tax benefits in part due to the complexity of the current system.

The federal government has created three separate higher education tax incentives with provisions that are confusing and difficult to apply. The Universal Higher Education and Lifetime Learning Act of 2007 simplifies the tax code so students and families can easily understand and access the credit.

Specifically, the bill will:

•Simplify and Consolidate Three Higher Education Tax Incentives. Emanuel's bill consolidates the Hope Credit, Lifetime Learning Credit, the tuition tax deduction into one simple, streamlined, easy-to-understand credit, which combines the best features of the existing tax benefits. According to a GAO study, 27% of all eligible tax filers did not claim either the tuition deduction or a tax credit.

•Make College More Affordable for the Middle Class. The bill provides a maximum $3000 credit that is available on a per student basis. The bill expands eligibility for the credit to higher income levels and increases the benefit for middle-class families struggling to keep up with rising tuition costs.

•Makes College More Accessible for the Middle Class. One-third of all American households, which are home to about half of all American children, do not have federal income tax liability. The Emanuel bill provides a 50% refundable credit that will allow these households, for the first time, to receive a tax benefit for higher education. Currently, among the 67 million taxpayers that earn less than $30,000, the higher education tax benefits are only providing $1.5 billion in assistance.

•Creates Universal Credit for All Post-Secondary Education. The credit is available for all four years of college (public or private), two years of community college, two years of graduate school, and is available to individuals that are updating their skills in a training or certificate program.

•Covers Non-Tuition Costs. The Emanuel bill expands the type of eligible education expenses that qualify for the tax credit to include room and board, books and supplies, and transportation. By modifying the definition, the Emanuel bill conforms how eligible education expenses are defined in the tax code with how they are defined for the purpose of qualifying for federal financial aid.

George R. Boggs, President of the American Association of Community Colleges, which represents the nation's 1,200 community colleges, said that, "Community colleges strongly support this legislation, which will greatly enhance access to community college. The bill also increases equity in the tax code's college financing vehicles and dramatically reduces their unnecessary complexity."

A broad spectrum of education and business organizations have endorsed this legislation, including: the American Association of Community Colleges, the American Association of Universities, the National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the American Council on Education, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the Financial Services Roundtable, the United States Public Interest Research Group, and the Business Roundtable.

Bayh Calls on FDA to weigh Restrictions on Imports of Unsafe Chinese Ingredients

Monday, May 21, 2007

Washington, D.C. - Responding to a disturbing weekend news report that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) confiscated 107 contaminated food imports from China at U.S. ports last month alone, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh today called on the FDA to consider restricting the importation of food and medicine ingredients from China until it can be established that its bulk ingredients meet U.S. health and safety standards.

In a letter to FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, Senator Bayh called on the United States to exercise its rights under the World Trade Organization to restrict imports from countries that have failed to institute an adequate food safety regime.

"While our over-stretched FDA inspectors have been vigilant in policing this problem, recent evidence indicates that a firmer approach is needed," Bayh wrote.

Bayh's request comes on the eve of this week's two-day, U.S-China "strategic dialogue" in Washington. In his letter, Bayh noted the recent deaths of Panamanian children from tainted Chinese cough syrup as well as the recent announcement by the FDA that chicken feed used at 38 Indiana poultry farms had been contaminated by tainted feed ingredients from China containing the toxic chemical melamine.

"While international trade can be a powerful tool for economic growth and job creation, we must not lose sight of our fundamental responsibility to protect Americans from imports that pose serious health and safety risks," Senator Bayh said. "By restricting food and drug imports from countries with poor quality standards, we can take an important step toward ensuring the security of the American food supply."

In the letter, Bayh noted that over the past several years, the United States has rejected numerous food imports from China because they are contaminated, filthy or laced with illegal pesticides, creating an enormous burden on already overextended FDA inspectors. Bayh called for the more aggressive approach of restricting imports from countries with ineffective safety inspection procedures to ensure the safety of food and medicine imported into the United States by making more effective use of FDA inspectors.

"The recent discovery of the chemical melamine in American pet food and agricultural feed highlights how vulnerable the U.S. food supply is to both accidental and intentional contamination," Senator Bayh said. "We must treat this as a wake-up call and provide the FDA with the funding it needs to ensure that all of the food products that come through our ports and from our fields are safe and free of toxic chemicals like melamine."

In a separate letter sent to President Bush today, Bayh called on the administration to release the FDA Import Strategic Plan, which was developed years ago to guard against agents and toxins posing a serious threat to public health, but never released. Bayh also called for more comprehensive screening and inspection procedures for agriculture and food items under a Homeland Security Presidential Directive issued on February 3, 2004.

Bayh targeting middle-class issues as a co-sponsor of legislation for child-care credits

Senator Bayh is the co-sponsor of the the Middle Class Opportunity Act of 2007, which was introduced by Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
The Middle Class Opportunity Act has four components:

# Helping families with young children via a doubling of the child tax credit in the first year and expansion of the dependent care tax credit;
# Helping families avoid unfair tax penalties by providing relief from the individual AMT;
# Helping families send kids to college via the simplification, consolidation, and expansion of the various tax benefits for higher education; and
# Helping families care for their aging parents through a new elder-care credit

"The middle class is the foundation upon which our country has always been built," Bayh said.

"Many families are struggling to realize the American dream. If they're willing to work hard and sacrifice to achieve opportunity, we ought to give them a helping hand.

"Too often the middle class gets left out and they're left asking, 'Who's representing me?'" Bayh said. "I think we need to represent them."

SENATE DEMOCRATS ANNOUNCE JOINT RESOLUTION TO TRANSITION THE MISSION IN IRAQ

Washington, DC — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid today joined Assistant Democratic Leader Dick Durbin, Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer, Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray, Senator Russ Feingold, and Senator Evan Bayh to announce a new Joint Resolution to revise U.S. policy on Iraq. Iraq has fallen into a bloody civil war, and as conditions on the ground have changed so must U.S. policy change to meet them.

The Reid Joint Resolution builds on the longstanding Democratic position on Iraq and the Levin-Reed Amendment: the current conflict in Iraq requires a political solution, Iraq must take responsibility for its own future, and our troops should not be policing a civil war. It contains binding language to direct the President to transition the mission for U.S. forces in Iraq and begin their phased redeployment within one-hundred twenty days with a goal of redeploying all combat forces by March 31, 2008. A limited number of troops would remain for the purposes of force protection, training and equipping Iraqi troops, and targeted counter-terror options.

"The President's strategy in Iraq is not working, and Congress must decide whether to follow his failed policies or whether to change course," said Senator Reid. "Democrats believe, as does an overwhelming majority of the American people, that the time has come to transition the mission of U.S. forces in Iraq. Hopefully, Senate Republicans will now join Democrats and the American people in calling for a change in course. They must put doing the right thing above protecting the President."

"Democrats are united when it comes to changing our mission in Iraq," said Senator Schumer. "What's happened here is that Iraq has devolved into a Civil War. And that's not what we bargained for. That's why Democrats believe we should change the mission from policing a civil war to focusing on counter-terrorism. We want 2007 to be a year of transition. The focus should now be on our own plan to focus on counter-terrorism. Our goal is to ratchet-up the pressure on the President to change course."

"Democrats are united in our commitment to changing course in Iraq. We heard the American people and our military leaders. We heard our troops and their families. It's time to plan to end a war that this Administration has failed to effectively prepare for and execute. I urge our Republican colleagues to stand united with us in changing course in Iraq," Senator Murray said.

Senate Republicans have twice blocked the Senate from even debating the President's policies in Iraq and have given a green light to the President's escalation plan. Last November, the American people made a clear call for a new direction, and Democrats are committed to bringing stability to Iraq and bringing our troops home from a civil war.

Bayh Co-Sponsors Bill to Improve Conditions at Military Hospitals

Washington, D.C. - Following an Armed Services Committee hearing on the living conditions and patient care at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, U.S. Senator Evan Bayh announced today that he is co-sponsoring a bill to improve care for wounded troops at military hospitals. The Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act, introduced by Senators Barack Obama (D-IL) and Claire McCaskill (D-MO), is designed to remedy unacceptable conditions at Walter Reed Medical Center by providing better hospital facilities, reducing red tape and hiring more caseworkers.

"The brave men and women recovering at Walter Reed and other military hospitals have made incredible personal sacrifices to defend our nation's freedom, and we owe it to them to provide clean, safe and effective treatment when they return from combat," Senator Bayh said. "The Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act will help ensure that when our soldiers return from deployment, they are treated with the respect they deserve throughout their recovery."

The Dignity for Wounded Warriors Act was written in light of reports by the Washington Post that described living conditions for long-term patients living on the hospital grounds at Walter Reed, including black mold, rodent droppings, and cockroach infestations. Caseworkers are overburdened and paperwork is tied up in red tape. Currently soldiers must file 22 forms with eight different command posts to enter and exit the medical processing system.

The bill addresses these problems by requiring more frequent inspections and establishing timelines for repairs, while also improving patient care overall by simplifying paperwork, increasing the training for caseworkers and improving the ratio of caseworkers to recovering soldiers. To ensure that improvements are made, the bill requires the Department of Defense to regularly report to Congress the number of soldiers and caseworkers at military hospitals, the average wait time for treatment and the number of deaths due to suicide, drug overdose or accidents.

As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Bayh has been a leader in the effort to support America's servicemembers and their families, including authoring legislation in 2005 to give more of our nation's soldiers relief from the Patriot Penalty, a pay cut many National Guard and Reserve members face when they are called to active duty and lose their civilian salaries. Bayh also introduced legislation passed by Congress to protect military families who are facing foreclosure, eviction or loan default due to financial hardship caused by their military service. In addition, Bayh has pushed to ensure that our troops in the field have the equipment they need to protect themselves in combat, including helping secure $2.2 billion for additional up-armored Humvees.

US: Parts makers welcome IPR enforcement plan introduced by Bayh & Voinovich

Senator Evan Bayh continues to crusade for US automotive manufacturers.

The Motor and Equipment Manufacturers Association (MEMA), the association representing US automotive and heavy duty suppliers, is supporting the Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) Enforcement Act, introduced on 7 February by Senators Evan Bayh and George Voinovich.

“Penetration of our domestic and overseas markets by counterfeit automotive products undercuts US and foreign safety standards putting consumers at risk, damages brand reputation with our customers, cuts into sales and profits and steals good American jobs.

“Passage of this important legislation will strengthen domestic and international enforcement against counterfeiters, facilitate cooperation between law_enforcement and the private sector and sustain focus on combating IPR crimes over the long term,” said MEMA vice president of government affairs Ann Wilson.

“We are prepared to work vigorously for passage of this legislation.”

MEMA represents around 700 motor vehicle product manufacturers with 12,000 US plant locations and 1.2m workers.

NPR Interviews Bayh

Listen to NPR Reporter Michele Norris interview Senator Bayh on NPR's All Things Considered. She asks him about presidential campaigns in general, campaign fundraising and whether he is interested in a vice-presidential campaign.

Good Luck & Best Wishes To Bayh's former Campaign Staff

Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post shared where many of Bayh's staff have landed since he announced he would not seek the 2008 Democratic Presidential nomination. I wanted to add a special thanks to each one of Bayh's staff who assisted in every effort to explore a possible bid. It was our pleasure watching you guys at the wheel.

Scavenging Team Bayh

Minutes after Sen. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) shocked the political world with his December announcement that he would not run for president in 2008, the staff scavenging began.

Members of Bayh's senior staff immediately became some of the hottest free agents in the ongoing talent primary -- the behind the scenes battle to scoop up skilled campaign operatives.

The latest member of Team Bayh to choose a new horse is Chris Hayler, who will be Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton's (N.Y.) Iowa political director. Hayler was serving a similar role for Bayh and during the 2004 race was Sen. John Kerry's (Mass.) southeastern Iowa field director.

Hayler joins former Tom Harkin chief of staff JoDee Winterhof on Clinton's Iowa staff. We hear former Iowa Attorney General Bonnie Campbell, one of the small group of Iowans who backed Bill Clinton's Iowa campaign in 1992, will chair Sen. Clinton's campaign in the Hawkeye State. The Clinton campaign denies any decision has been made.

Sean Downey, who was organizing New Hampshire for Bayh, has now signed on to do the same for Sen. Chris Dodd's (Conn.) campaign. (As usual, John DiStaso -- the preeminent political reporter in New Hampshire -- has this news first.)

Here's a look at other former Bayh staffers who have signed on with other '08 campaigns:

* Kory Mitchell: Mitchell, the finance director for Bayh's bid, will now ply his fundraising skills on behalf of Sen. Joe Biden (Del.). Mitchell headed up Kerry's Florida fundraising in 2004 and for a time raised money for former state party chairman Scott Maddox's (D-Fla.) brief race for governor.

* Nancy Jacobson: Jacobson, who was Bayh's principal fundraiser, is now on Clinton's team. Her husband -- Mark Penn -- is Clinton's pollster and a member of the senator's political inner circle.

* Dan Pfeiffer: Bayh's former communications director will be the traveling press person for Sen. Barack Obama's (Ill.) campaign. Pfeiffer spent the 2002 and 2004 cycles in South Dakota working on the reelection races of Sens. Tim Johnson (a win) and Tom Daschle (a loss), respectively.

With most of Bayh's team now spoken for, expect the remaining campaigns to turn their attention to staffers set free by John Kerry's decision not to pursue a second presidential bid in 2008. Michael Whouley, the field guru widely credited with saving Kerry's Iowa caucus campaign in 2004, is seen as the biggest get, but it remains unclear whether he is even interested in working on another presidential campaign.

One other name to keep an eye on: Amy Dacey, who was Kerry's traveling political director in 2004 and is very well regarded in Democratic political circles.

Bayh & Voinovich Outline Legislation Targeting Loss of Intellectual Property

In an effort to protect our manufacturers in the United States Senator Bayh and Senator Voinovich have joined forces to save billions of dollars.......Ford Motor Company responds.

The bill would create a more organized network in the government to fight intellectual property theft, replacing the current system that involves nine different agencies working on the issue. Taking a cue from the international approach to combat money laundering, it would also try to partner with other countries to help companies remain competitive.

"If we're going to make it as a nation, we have got to look at developing the infrastructure of competitiveness. The world has changed," Voinovich said.Intellectual property loss affects manufacturers large and small.

A U.S. Chamber of Commerce study recently found counterfeiting costs U.S. companies up to $250 billion a year and linked the loss of 750,000 jobs to fake merchandise. Ford Motor Co. estimates it costs them about $1 billion annually in lost sales, undermining vehicle safety and undercutting the billions of dollars it puts into research, design and production."We cannot allow intellectual property thieves ... to prey upon the unsuspecting American consumer," said Joe Wiegand, Ford's global brand protection manager.

The proposal fits into larger concerns on Capitol Hill over the Bush administration's handling of trade issues. Some lawmakers have tired of dialogue and want more action on the nation's soaring trade deficits and lost manufacturing jobs, which critics have blamed in part on unfair trade practices by foreign countries.

"I'm not a protectionist. I believe in competition. But I also believe that all competitors ought to play by the same set of rules. That's not happening today and that's unacceptable," Bayh said.