Once again, Congress is attempting to dismantle critical programs - and possibly even entire agencies like the
Food & Drug Administration, Consumer Product Safety Commission and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration - by creating so-called "Sunset Commissions"
made up of unelected and unaccountable appointees, operating behind closed doors.
These "Sunset Commissions" could eviscerate the very laws and protections that Americans rely on to hold wrongdoers and those guilty of negligence accountable for their actions.
Can you imagine a nation that would send its soldiers and sailors off to war, only to take away their health care benefits when they return? That's exactly what could happen if HR 5766 or HR 3282 passes.
Urge your Representative to oppose HR 5766 and HR 3282
Under these so-called "Sunset Commission" bills, there is almost no program or agency that would be safe, including Medicare, Veterans benefits and even Social Security. The bills have other problems too:
* HR 5766 is unconstitutional, allowing Congress to shirk its duty and delegate power to a commission appointed by the President.
* Fast track approval process for the commissions' recommendations included in both bills is the wrong way to make policy affecting the safety and well-being of millions of Americans.
* Commission members would be accountable to no one, with no incentive to protect programs impacting education, the environment, workers, housing, nutrition, transportation and other programs on which Americans rely.
Urge your Representative to oppose HR 5766 and HR 3282
In fact, appointees could include those with ties to powerful corporations and their CEOs intent on increasing profits at the expense the health and safety of Americans. With the lack of accountability and fast track approval process, it is impossible to predict what protections and programs would be gutted.
In fact, the commissions' ability to operate in secret brings to mind Vice President Cheney's "energy task force." With the price of gas what it is today, is that the kind of secrecy we want from our government?
Urge your Representative to oppose HR 5766 and HR 3282
Instead of creating a shadowy commission, operating behind closed doors, our Representatives should do their job. Passing legislation that passes the buck from an elected Congress to an unelected commission is the last thing that Congress should be doing.
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