In states that continue to reject the Affordable Care Act (ACA or "Obamacare") or more importantly the Medicaid expansion, there is a critical question that must be answered - will the working poor remain uninsured? Currently, there are twenty-six states that continue to reject creating health exchanges and thirty states...

This week made clear that Wall Street has made its comeback. The Dow Jones industrial average pushed past the high it last reached over five years ago, but what about the rest of America, particularly the working poor?

After taking us to the economic brink in 2008, the...

We have sin taxes to discourage tobacco and alcohol use. We have laws to reduce illicit behavior. We have speeding tickets to prevent unsafe driving. Yet, I never imagined our government would attempt to diminish or deter charitable giving. But recent actions in Washington and within our court system show...

The president this weekend was sworn in for a second term and his inaugural address made clear that we must come together as a nation. This theme of unity began last week when the President and Vice President laid out a bold set of recommendations to address gun violence in...

For many young people across America, especially in communities of color, gun violence is sadly a normal way of life. In both urban and rural cities and towns from Henderson, NC or Laredo, TX to Chicago or South Central Los Angeles our young people too often die as a result...

Now that President Obama and the United States Congress are redirecting their attention to lingering issues, such as expiration of the Bush tax cuts and the importance of getting our nation's fiscal house in order by finding and agreeing to a balanced approach to deficit reduction, I trust there is...

Between now and 2050, the world faces two critical challenges. First we must feed a hungry planet, amid growing demand from a rising population. And secondly, we must do this while protecting our environment. Meeting both challenges will require robust economic growth powered by rising levels of agriculture productivity and...

Hurricane Isaac brought much-needed rain to parts of the Midwest farm belt this week, but experts say it's unlikely to break the worst drought this country has seen in half a century. This is bad news for American farmers - and small farmers, in particular - who were struggling even...

During a recent speech given by Congresswoman Marcia Fudge (D-OH) in North Carolina, she emphasized the need to be ever more vigilant about the right to vote and the fact that protecting that right should be the first priority for legislators both in the states and in Congress. Her speech...

There is no question that innovation is exploding as U.S. drug companies invest in the biotech marketplace. New biologic medicines offer the best hope for some of the most devastating and debilitating diseases, including Parkinson's disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's. However, while these drugs are being rapidly produced in countries around...

In Friday's Los Angeles Times, there was an opinion editorial titled "America Needs a Farm Bill That Works" -- this title is precisely why I think members of Congress need to be committed to pushing forward a bipartisan piece of legislation.

A 2012 Farm Bill will...

After each G8 summit, a communique is regularly issued to demonstrate that all member states are in full agreement over their priorities.  In the realm of food security, the G8 had an ideal opportunity to provide a clear solution that embraces trade and opportunity, a new paradigm if you will,...

The recent success of the viral video "Kony2012" reminded Americans of just how precarious the lives of so many millions of Africans are today. While the continent has made great progress recently, for too many residents their future is marked by poverty, conflict, lack of opportunity, and...

Recently, it was reported that attorneys general (AGs) in New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Texas and California are considering filing suit against the proposed merger between Express Scripts, Inc. (ESI) and Medco Health Solutions, if it is approved by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) without conditions sufficient to guard against rising...

Donald Payne was a leader who was courageous, competent, and compassionate. He leaves a great legacy and example for Members of Congress to follow. Indeed, his constituents of New Jersey's 10th Congressional District will miss him, most of all for his dignified and dedicated representation. But perhaps the constituency group...

American consumers, still worried about finding or keeping their jobs and paying their bills in today's troubled economy, could receive another blow if a major health-industry merger is approved.

Early this year, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) will decide whether or not to allow pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) Express...