September 25, 2009
Washington, D.C. -- Today, Congressman Joe Sestak (PA-07) voted for a continuing resolution within the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill to extend funding of federal government and authorization for several key programs set to expire at the end of September through October 31st. While the House has passed all twelve of bills to fund the federal government and several of the reauthorizations, the Senate has not.
Along with extending, until October 31st, funding fiscal year 2009 levels for federal programs through October 31st, it also extends for that period the chemical security measures, childhood nutrition program, funding for service-members who have had their enlistments involuntary extended since September 11, 2001, several housing program, highway and transit funding, the E-verify program, provisions affecting the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay, Ryan White AIDS program, and the visa programs for religious workers and for U.S. medical school graduates serving underserved areas. Additionally, this bill extends authorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, allows the U.S. Postal Service to reduce their upfront funding of retirement benefits in order to remain solvent through October; steps up funding for the Veterans Medical Services and Census Bureau, and freezes federal funding for the Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now from this and prior appropriation measures.
Born and raised in Delaware County, former 3-star Admiral Joe Sestak served in the Navy for 31 years and now serves as the Representative from the 7th District of Pennsylvania. He led a series of operational commands at sea, including Commander of an aircraft carrier battle group of 30 U.S. and allied ships with over 15,000 sailors and 100 aircraft that conducted operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. After 9/11, the Congressman was the first Director of Deep Blue, the Navy’s anti-terrorism unit that established strategic and operations policies for the Global War on Terrorism. He served as President Clintons Director for Defense Policy at the National Security Council in the White House, and holds a Ph.D. in Political Economy and Government from Harvard University. According to the office of the House Historian, Congressman Sestak is the highest-ranking former military officer ever elected to the U.S. Congress.
Media Contact:
Jonathon Dworkin
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