October 2008

Over the last two years as part of the minority party, Geoff Davis has continued to work with colleagues on both sides of the aisle to develop common-sense legislation.  To highlight a few:

·         H.R. 755, Promoting Transparency in Financial Reporting Act (with Representative David Scott [D-GA]), passed the House on 2/27/2007 and again on 9/11/2008 (as part of H.R. 6513, the Securities Act of 2008). 
The bill would require annual oral testimony before the Financial Services Committee from the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Financial Accounting Standards Board, and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, relating to their efforts to promote transparency in financial reporting. By requiring annual congressional testimony by the SEC, FASB, and PCAOB, the bill would give Congress a way to measure progress on reducing complexity, modernizing processes, increasing transparency, and reducing costs of financial reporting.

·         H.R. 7221, the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing (HEARTH) Act of 2008 (with the late Representative Julia Carson [D-IN] and Representative Gwen Moore [D-WI]), passed the House on 10/2/2008

The bill modernizes the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act by updating the definition of homelessness to more accurately serve families and children.  In addition, the bill increases local flexibility and expands prevention programs.

In their endorsement of Congressman Geoff Davis for a third term in office the Louisville Courier-Journal noted: “Mr. Davis, a conservative, is not a doctrinaire anti-government type. He worked two years, and with bipartisan skill, for example, to pass a bill addressing child homelessness.”  (Louisville Courier Journal 10/25/2008)

·         H.R. 5611, National Association of Registered Agents and Brokers (NARAB) Reform Act of 2008 (with Representative David Scott [D-GA]), passed the House on 9/17/2008.
As a result, a patchwork of duplicative licensing requirements developed that are particularly punitive to small businesses who serve communities on state borders, like Kentucky and Ohio.  The nonprofit organization created by the bill would establish a uniform set of licensing requirements that will in most cases be stricter than many states currently require.  Provided an agent meets these requirements, he or she may sell insurance in any state. This eases the unnecessary burden on small businesses and increases consumer choice.  It does not change any state’s ability to regulate insurance or prosecute misconduct.

In addition, Congressman Davis has actively participated in crafting four successful National Defense Authorization Acts (NDAA) during his tenure in Congress.  The NDAA is constructed by the Armed Services Committee and sets the national defense policy of the United States each year. 

In last year’s NDAA (for FY2008), Congressman Davis was responsible for including a provision in the bill that doubled the Hardship Duty Pay to a maximum of $1500/month (from the previous $750/month).

The most recent NDAA for FY2009 was signed into law on October 14, 2008.  Some highlights include:

·         A 3.9% pay raise for all members of the Armed Forces;

·         Implementation of a cost-sharing requirement with the Iraqi government;

·         Tuition assistance and training opportunities to support spouses seeking degrees and careers in high-need fields such as mental health providers.  Military spouses often do not have the opportunities to develop a career as they move from one military base to another.  This assistance will help spouses develop skills for careers that are portable, offsetting the stress of relocation;

·         An increase in the end strength of the Army and Marine Corps to help relieve the strain on service members and their families; and

·         Fully funds the Air Force Alternative Fuels development program.

Congressman Davis has also been effective in both the 109^th Congress (as a member of the majority party) and in the 110^th Congress (as a member of the minority party) in securing federal funds for important projects in the Fourth District.  A few examples include:

·         109^th Congress:

o       $46.5 million for the Brent Spence Bridge project (with Senators Bunning and Voinovich);

o       $150,000 for the FIVCO Area Drug Enforcement Task Force;

o       $1.6 million for the I-471 Corridor Project.

·         110^th Congress:

o       $286,899 - Gateway Community and Technical College’s Center for Advanced Manufacturing;

o       $250,000 - Thomas More College’s Center for Regional Health Sciences and Health Care Management;

o       $1,471,080 - University of Kentucky for research on coal-to-liquid transportation fuels;

o       $196,000 for the Senior Services Center of Northern Kentucky’s Transportation to Wellness Program.  The program provides transportation services to seniors and disabled veterans.

In making their endorsement, the Enquirer called Geoff Davis “a knowledgeable, articulate and increasingly influential member of Congress who carefully weighs the issues and the needs of his district and the state.” (The Enquirer 10/11/2008)

Since being elected in 2004, Congressman Davis has not only made access, but service and outreach, to those he represents a top priority.  Congressman Davis expanded our Kentucky offices from two locations to five to provide better, more convenient service to everyone in the Fourth District.  Whether in Washington or in Kentucky, much of his time is spent meeting with constituents.  We schedule meetings with any constituent who requests one.  Open office hours are held in every county in the district, monthly.  When not voting in Washington, the Congressman is at home in Hebron and traveling the twenty-four counties of the Fourth District.  We’ve helped thousands of Kentuckians in the last four years, and hope to have the opportunity to help thousands more.

When Geoff Davis first ran for Congress in 2002, he started with nothing but a determined will and dedication to service.  It was only through diligence and hard work directly engaging constituents throughout Kentucky’s Fourth Congressional District that he was ultimately chosen by the Kentuckians he represents.  The respect of your constituents cannot be bought; it must be earned, time and again. 

Patrick Crowley noted the following about Congressman Geoff Davis during his July 17, 2008, show “On the Record” – “Nobody works harder.”

The Maysville Ledger Independent has joined the Cincinnati Enquirer in endorsing  the re-election of Congressman Geoff Davis. 

Congressman Davis has the “experience in business, foreign policy and military policy” that we need “considering the fragile state of our nation’s economy and its relationship with the world.”

Also, the editorial board pointed to Congressman Davis’ record of service to the constituents of the 4^th District, specifically “making himself readily available in the area” through his Maysville Office and by securing much needed funding for local projects. 

As paychecks are “squeezed tighter and tighter” the Ledger Independent noted that Congressman Davis “is no stranger to the hardships many of are dealing with today” noting that “during high school, he helped supplement his family’s income by working as a janitor and has dealt with the issues owners of small business face.”

To read the entire editorial board endorsement by the Maysville Ledger Independent please click here.

Congressman Geoff Davis has released his second ad of the general election.  The ad is airing district-wide. 

Northern Kentuckian Rick Jordan, a manufacturing executive and member of the Kentucky Association of Manufacturers, is featured in the ad.  Rick talks about how Congressman Davis has helped keep thousands of jobs in Kentucky and bring new job training opportunities to the area.

On October 2, the House passed the Homeless Emergency Assistance and Rapid Transition to Housing Act (HEARTH) of 2008.  The legislation “amends the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s definition of “homeless” to include unaccompanied youth and homeless families with children who are defined as homeless by other federal definitions (such as the definition used in Department of Education homeless youth programs), but currently do not fall under HUD’s definition.” 

Congressman Davis proposed this legislation in 2007 and worked with Democrats and Republicans to forge a bipartisan comprise bill this year.  Congressman Davis stated that this landmark legislation “has been one of my top priorities for over two years. This is a huge step towards helping the ‘invisible’ homeless get the assistance they need to get back on their feet. If we are truly serious about ending homelessness in the long-term, we have to ensure that homeless children are given the opportunity to grow and learn in a stable home environment.”

To read more about this piece of legislation and the help it will bring to the community please read the Kypost.com article by clicking here.

The Cincinnati Enquirer has endorsed Congressman Geoff Davis for re-election to Kentucky’s 4th Congressional District. 

The Editorial Board noted Congressman Davis’ desire to be “part of the solution, not part of the problem, in an increasingly partisan Congress.“   They lauded him as a “knowledgeable, articulate and increasingly influential member of Congress who carefully weighs the issues and the needs of his district and the state.“ 

To read the entire endorsement from the Enquirer please click here. 

Congressman Geoff Davis has released his first ad of the general election.  The ad began airing district-wide on cable systems on Tuesday. 

The ad draws on Congressman Davis’ success and experience before he was elected to Congress — both in the Army and in the manufacturing field.  Congressman Davis built a business that helped manufacturing companies be more competitive in the global economy.    In Congress Geoff Davis has worked to bring job training opportunities to Kentucky, helping thousands secure good jobs in our communities.