|
Congress Urges Action on Honduras Human Rights Violations |
 |
 |
|
Letter cites “serious concern that the rule of law is directly threatened by members of the Honduran police and armed forces.”
Washington, DC – Congressman Sam Farr (D-CA), joined by 29 other Members of Congress, sent a letter to Secretary of State Hillary Clinton today calling on the Obama Administration to suspend aid—particularly military and police assistance—to the government of Honduras, while murders of political activists and media workers and other attacks in that country continue with near impunity.
The letter describes recent human rights violations, including the killings of rural activists, a labor union leader, and a journalist critical of the current regime, among others. It notes that neither these nor dozens of other politically motivated attacks that have taken place since the coup d’état of June 28, 2009 have been properly investigated. The letter goes on to say that the victims of these crimes have been left vulnerable with no access to justice, and notes that there exists “serious concern that the rule of law is directly threatened by members of the Honduran police and armed forces.”
Additionally, the letter points out that Honduras’ authorities have on many occasions “summarily dismissed the attacks against political activists, human rights defenders and journalists as a symptom of criminality linked to drug trafficking and organized crime.” In response to this behavior, the letter calls on the State Department to urge the Honduran regime to recognize the human rights violations, and the political nature of their attacks.
The letter concludes by urging the Obama Administration to “refrain from supporting the immediate re-entry of Honduras in the Organization of American States. The Obama Administration does a great disservice to democracy and human rights across the Western Hemisphere by making an exception for Honduras, while the Lobo Administration continues to include perpetrators of the June 28, 2009, coup d'etat and fails to prosecute politically motivated crimes.”
##
Click here for a copy of the letter. |
|
Rep. Sam Farr Hails Legislation to Provide One-Time $250 Check for Seniors |
|
|
|
Special Stipend to make up for Lack of Cost-of-Living-Adjustment for Next Year
Washington, DC – Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel), a cosponsor of the legislation, today hailed the announcement from House Democrats to move ahead with legislation to provide Social Security recipients with a one-time $250 payment. The Social Security Administration announced on Friday that there will be no automatic Cost-of-Living-Adjustment for 2011. That means that 2011 will be the second consecutive year that Social Security retirees, veterans, and people with disabilities will see no increase in their monthly Social Security, SSI, VA Pension and Compensation, and Railroad Retirement benefits.
“The lingering effects of the worst economy since the Great Depression mean Americans who need Social Security to survive can’t afford to make ends meet,” said Rep. Sam Farr. “For that reason, I will join my colleagues in taking quick action to enact a one-time $250 payment to seniors, veterans, and people with disabilities who receive Social Security—to help them through this tough time, when housing values are down, other retirement income is volatile, and many are facing rising expenses.”
When passed, H.R. 5987—the Seniors Protection Act—will benefit an estimated 77,000 Social Security Recipients on the Central Coast, and will inject millions of dollars into the local economy and provide critical assistance to individuals on a fixed income.
“We need to make sure we do not leave seniors behind as we begin this economic recovery, and the Seniors Protection Act plays a critical role in ensuring that seniors also see the light at the end of the tunnel. I want to thank the House leadership for their commitment to advancing this legislation, which will assist 54 million recipients struggling to stay afloat.”
The COLA is automatically calculated using data on inflation published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). In 2009, Social Security recipients saw a 5.8% increase in their benefits, the largest since 1982, as a result of rising costs; but in 2010, they saw no COLA at all.
Social Security benefit levels are modest – only $14,000 a year for the average retiree. The median income for senior households is just $24,000, reflecting just how much Social Security means to most elderly Americans. Six in ten seniors rely on Social Security for more than half of their income, and about a third of retirees have little other than Social Security on which to live.
### |
|
|
Academy Deadline Approaching |
|
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Farr (D-Carmel) is currently accepting applications for nomination to one of the nation’s service academies. Operated by the Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marines and Navy, these academies provide a college education in exchange for a commitment to serve as a commissioned officer.
For all service academies (except the Coast Guard), applicants must be nominated by one of several federal officials including U.S. representatives, U.S. senators and the vice president.
"Over my years in Congress, I’ve been proud to nominate many talented young men and women for our service academies, and I’m looking forward to nominating another strong group of students this year," said Rep. Farr. "The service academies not only offer a strong education, they also provide the opportunity to serve our country. I encourage any student who is interested in attending an academy to contact my office."
Candidates must be at least 17 years old but not older than 23 as of July 1, 2011. They must reside in California's 17th Congressional District, be U.S. citizens and must never have been married.
In order to be considered for a nomination, the following information is necessary:
A completed application form, available from Congressman Farr’s office or Web site (www.farr.house.gov).
A personal statement not to exceed 1,000 words.
An official high school transcript, sealed and in a school-stamped enveloped.
Official Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) scores. If you have the scores forwarded by the testing center, Congressman Farr’s SAT Score File Number is 4639. If your SAT scores are shown on your high school transcripts, that is acceptable.
Three letters of recommendation, not from relatives.
DEADLINE: Applicants for the class entering July 2011 must submit all application material no later than Nov. 1, 2010. All materials should be sent to Congressman Sam Farr, ATTN: Julian Chacon, 701 Ocean Street, Room 318, Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Please direct any questions to Julian Chacon at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
or call 831-429-1976. More information is available online at www.farr.house.gov.
# # # |
|
Farr Urges Bank Investigations |
|
|
|
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Sam Farr along with other members of the California Democratic Congressional Delegation sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder, Federal Reserve Chair Ben Bernanke and Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan requesting investigations into systemic wrongdoing by financial institutions in their handling of delinquent mortgages, mortgage modifications, and foreclosures.
Rep. Farr and other delegation members have received thousands of complaints from their constituents, which appear to outline a clear pattern of misconduct on the part of lenders and servicers. Recent press accounts have also reinforced the view that these institutions are routinely failing to respond in a timely manner, misplacing requested documents, and misleading both borrowers and the government about loan modifications, forbearances, and other housing related applications.
"Our families deserve the peace of mind to know that every effort is being made to keep them in their homes," said Rep. Farr. "As we work to stabilize the housing market, I'm hopeful that Attorney General Holder will investigate this situation and work with the appropriate agencies to ensure that lenders and loan servicers are acting in a transparent, responsive way."
Link to Letter: http://farr.house.gov/images/stories/Documents/bankletter.pdf
# # # |
|
