Due to this, Murtha has since sponsored a bill that could possibly correct the problem the passed legislation is having by allowing price negotiations. He also has cosponsored a bill to once again allow importation of the drugs from Canada, as long as safeguards are installed. Murtha voted against the enormous tax cuts in the past years which actually were going to the overly wealthy because he felt the money should go to help Medicare and Social Security, as well as provide a greater access to health care for the most vulnerable people, but was passed.
Murtha does not agree with how the government is cutting the benefits of Social Security. He says that by depleting some of the hard earned benefits we would be eliminating the security of our nation's senior citizens when their lives are most crucial. He feels that privatization would be extremely costly for our country making America's youth repay the huge debt.
Murtha believes that we can find reasonable, financially viable, long-term solutions that would allow us to keep the promise of retirement that Franklin D Roosevelt made to Americans in 1935. Privatization does not help Social Security's long term challenge. It actually would make the problems worse by taking money away from the Social Security Trust Fund, which would force it to tap into different reserves from earlier.
Jack Murtha was the first Vietnam combat veteran to be elected to Congress. Most Congressional members were veterans; however, they were mostly from WWII or the Korean War, or both wars. There are only ¼ of the members of Congress that are veterans today. This makes it extremely important for veterans to communicate with their representatives who then to keep emphasizing their needs and fulfilling the promises that are made to America's military personnel and families.
There are over 20 million veterans in America today. There are numerous older veterans who are facing health care problems, as well as younger veterans from Vietnam, Desert Storm and Operation Iraqi Freedom. These bring in specials problems to deal with as well. There are veterans' budget cuts that Murtha is continually standing up and fighting against. He wants to make sure that Americans and their families get what they have earned for their hard work and sacrifices to make this great Nation.
Jack Murtha has achieved a lot during his term. By beginning with legislation for the betterment of his constituents in the 12th District, he has been able to make improvements for the state of Pennsylvania and even the whole of the United States. He has received a number of awards from different things. He has received awards in the following categories: General Service, Economic Development, Health Care, Veterans, Defense and National Security, Conservation, Recreation, Historic Preservation, Flood Relief, Honorary Degrees, Military Service and others. He has received twelve awards in the General Service including the John F. Kennedy Profile of Courage Award and the American Ireland Fund: Chairman's Distinguished Leadership Award. In the Economic Development area, he has received twelve awards including Champion of Technology Award from the Pittsburgh Technology Council and Top 100 People of Central Pennsylvania in Pennsylvania Business Central, four times. For Health Care, he has received sixteen awards. Some of these include: National Breast Cancer Coalition, Annual Congressional Award, Brain Injury Association of America, ongoing support and “Thanks from the Children” Award from Children's Hospital of Western Pennsylvania for support and commitment to diabetes research. In the area of Defense and National Security, he has received 29 awards. Some include: The Edmund S. Muskie Distinguished Public Service Award, Defense Industry Award of the American Defense Preparedness Association, CAP Leadership Award of the Civil Air Patrol, and Distinguished American Award from the Air Force Association. There are 11 awards he has received from Veterans Awards including Catholic War Veterans HONOR ET VERITAS Award from the National Department and Appreciation Award of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Murtha has received ten awards for Conservation, Recreation and Historic Preservation including Friends of the National Parks Award and Lifetime Achievement Award of the Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Murtha received three Relief Efforts for after the 1977 Johnstown Flood. He also has received ten Honorary Degrees. For Military Service Awards, he has received eight awards such as Distinguished Service Medal, Pennsylvania's highest honor and American Spirit Honor Medal of the Marine Corps Recruit Department. He has also received 22 awards such as Friends of Education Award form the Greater Johnstown School District and Tough Choices Recognition from the Concord Coalition Citizens Council for support of fiscal responsibility in Washington. Murtha is not only an accomplished Representative for the United States, he is also the author of “From Vietnam to 9/11: On the Front Lines of National Security.”
