Scientists & Engineers for America

Deborah Halvorson


Deborah Halvorson
D-11-IL


Contact
Visit Official Site
202-225-3635
1541 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-1311

Campaign Contact Information

Campaign Contact
Campaign Website
708-672-4100
1395c Main St.
Crete, IL 60417

Biography

HALVORSON, Debbie, an Illinois State Senator and Majority Leader of the Illinois State Senate; graduated, Governor’s State University, Robert Morris College and Prairie State College; candidate for U.S. House of Representatives in Illinois' 11th congressional district in 2008.

Election Update

Rep. Halvorson was elected in 2008 to serve in the 111th Congress.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY POLICY QUESTIONNAIRE

During the 2008 elections, all candidates were invited to respond to the Innovation & the Elections 2008 questionnaire on science and technology policy. Many answered, but Deborah Halvorson did not. You can still urge her to answer by contacting her through her webform today.

DEBORAH HALVORSON'S RECORD ON SCIENCE


Contents

[edit] Education

  • Halvorson's website states that “I don’t think there is an issue of greater importance for the future of our nation than education. Our Federal government must step up to the challenge the new global economy creates. No Child Left Behind has been short-sighted and under-funded from the start. Before we consider reauthorization, we must demand key revisions: additional performance measures, smaller classes, and more highly qualified teachers. We also need to fully-fund special education. After years of being a student, I’ve recently had the opportunity to be in the front of the classroom. I’ve taught several classes at Governor’s State University, where I earned both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. This experience underscored my commitment to quality education and our need to make college more affordable for all families. In the State Senate, I fought to increase grants for low-income and middle-class families. But more needs to be done, and slashing college aid, as President Bush did, is not the answer. I am proud of my record on education - especially my votes for higher standards for high school graduation requirements, better testing for elementary and middle school children, and additional funding for early childhood education – and I will continue to make education a top priority in Congress." [1]
  • Educational Training
    • Nothing posted to date
  • Educational Funding
    • Nothing posted to date
  • Teaching Evolution/Intelligent Design
    • Nothing posted to date

[edit] Energy

[edit] Environment

  • After the House failed to pass S. 22 under suspension of the rules (which requires 2/3 to vote for a provision, but does not allow any amendments), the Senate called an unrelated bill, (HR 146), to carry the omnibus land bill. The bill is a combination of over 150 public land bills and will designate over 2 million acres of land as wilderness, improve the management of currently protected land, establish new water projects, and more. Swapping the original legislation in HR 146 for the land bill was designed to make finalizing the bill in the House easy.

    When HR 146 was brought to the Senate, Sen. Coburn (R-OK) introduced several amendments, though only one passed:
    • Amendment 682: to make it less likely that casual stone collectors would run afoul of the criminal restrictions on taking paleontological fossils from federal land (passed)
    • Amendment 675: to stop federal officials from using the power of eminent domain to take land from citizens. Critics say this amendment was unnecessary as eminent domain would not be used in any lands included in the bill.
    • Amendment 677: to require an annual report on the total size and cost of federal property.
    • Amendment 679: to strike provisions that would block renewable-energy development on public land
    • Amendment 680: to bar new construction in national parks until the Interior secretary certifies that current sites are up to date, and
    • Amendment 683: to eliminate what Coburn considers to be "frivolous" projects
The bill passed the Senate on March 19, 2009. It passed the House by a vote of 285-140 on March 25, 2009. Representative Halvorson voted for this bill. It was then signed into law by President Obama on March 30, 2009.
  • On her website, Halvorson stated “Our nation is finally at a tipping point for energy and environmental issues. The effects of global warming and pollution on the environment are indisputable. Our dependence on foreign oil weakens our foreign policy. The high cost of energy prices on our economy has taken a toll and is set to become much worse. Now is a time for action. We must commit our nation to higher environmental standards and clean and renewable sources of energy. These goals are not only good for our environment, but will improve our economy, generate jobs, and make us more secure. As an Illinois State Senator, I sponsored and helped to pass energy legislation that utilizes environmentally friendly, Illinois-based resources. This is the type of legislation that will reduce energy costs while creating new jobs for people in the 11th district. As a former Agriculture and Conservation committee member, I understand the challenges facing family farmers and conservationists alike. I will use my experience in the Illinois Senate to pass practical legislation in Washington that will move America forward while benefiting the 11th district." [2]

[edit] Climate Change

    • Nothing posted to date

[edit] Health

  • Template:Vote-HHRAndEducationAndAppropriations2010
  • Introduced on March 3, 2009 by Rep. Henry Waxman (D-CA), the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1256) aims to increase the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in regulating tobacco in America. The legislation would empower the FDA to require larger warning labels on cigarette packaging, control nicotine levels, and regulate the advertising and marketing of cigarettes. During the 110th Congress, an identical bill had passed in the House in July of 2008 but was never considered in the Senate. The current bill passed in the House on April 2, 2009 by a vote of 298-112. Representative Halvorson voted for this bill. The Obama administration has released a statement in support of the bill and Senator Edward Kennedy stated that “the Senate will approve it expeditiously.”
  • See stimulus discussion under Innovation section.
  • On her website, Halvorson wrote “Affordable and accessible health care is out of reach for many American families. Over 47 million Americans have no health insurance, and the cost of coverage continues to rise much faster than inflation. The result is a difficult reality for many Americans. It’s also a struggle I’ve personally witnessed while growing up, when my mother searched for coverage as a breast cancer survivor. During my service in the State Senate, I created a first-in-the-nation program that offered every senior citizen and disabled person in Illinois cheaper prescription drugs. I also supported legislation to help thousands of Illinois children and low-income families obtain affordable health insurance. We need to build on that progress both in Illinois and nationally so that everyone can have access to quality, affordable health care."[3]
  • Halvorson also wrote “Small businesses should be able to bargain collectively for lower premiums on their employee health benefits. We must strengthen Medicare by allowing the Federal government to negotiate with drug companies for lower prescription drug prices. We also need to make sure insurance companies hold up their end of the bargain. Through quality care and access to preventative care, we can save significantly, and more importantly, Americans will be healthier." [4]
  • Healthcare
    • After being vetoed twice by President Bush in 2007, the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) (H.R. 2) bill was reintroduced in the 111th Congress on January 13, 2009. SCHIP provides a subsidy for children’s insurance for families that cannot afford private insurance yet earn too much to qualify for Medicaid. The cost of the program is funded by an increase in cigarette taxes of 62 cents per pack. The House of Representatives voted 289-139 to pass the bill on January 14, 2009. Representative Halvorson voted for this bill. The Senate also passed SCHIP, and it was signed into law by President Obama on February 4, 2009.
  • Embryonic Stem Cell Research
    • Nothing posted to date
  • Non-Embryonic Stem Cell Research
    • Nothing posted to date
  • Food

[edit] Innovation

  • Stimulus
    • On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (H.R. 1). This stimulus bill contains over $30 billion for energy initiatives including the Smart Grid Investment Program and advanced battery systems; $20 billion in tax incentives for renewable energy for both businesses and homes; over $8 billion for augmenting energy efficiency in federal buildings and housing programs; and $7 billion to extend broadband service to underserved communities. The Act also gives the National Science Foundation $3 billion for research; the National Institutes of Health over $10 billion for research and renovations; NASA $1 billion, a portion of which to employ more scientists; and the Department Of Energy’s Office of Science $1.6 billion for energy research. Finally, it provides $19 billion for a modernized Health Information Technology (HIT) system; $87 billion to help fund Medicaid programs; $1 billion for health prevention programs; subsidies for temporary insurance; and $19 billion for clean water and environmental restoration programs. For a more complete listing of the bill’s provisions, click here.

      It passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 246-183 on February 13th and passed the Senate on February 13th. Representative Halvorson voted for this bill.
  • COMPETES Act
    • Nothing posted to date

[edit] Research and Research Management

[edit] Technology

  • On March 18, 2009, Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN) introduced the Electronic Waste Research and Development Act (HR 1580) which works to reduce the waste caused by dumping unwanted electronics and to boost awareness of how to recycle such products. The bill would fund increased research on how to separate out hazardous material from waste as well as fund grants to universities to create curriculums to help in the reduction of this waste. HR 1580 passed in the House by voice vote on April 22, 2009. Representative Halvorson voted for this legislation.
  • See stimulus discussion under Innovation section.

[edit] Endnotes

  1. ↑ Debbie Halvorson. Issues. Education. http://www.debbiehalvorson.com/node/37
  2. ↑ Debbie Halvorson. Issues. Energy, Environment, and Agriculture. http://www.debbiehalvorson.com/node/39
  3. ↑ Debbie Halvorson. Issues. Health Care. http://www.debbiehalvorson.com/node/33
  4. ↑ Debbie Halvorson. Issues. Health Care. http://www.debbiehalvorson.com/node/33
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