The Local Delegation: Rep. Jim Moran (D-Va.)

U.S. Rep. Jim Moran of Virginia's 8th District was online Tuesday, May 20 at 11 a.m. ET to take your questions about his work and goals during this session of Congress.

The transcript follows.

Rep. Moran has been a U.S. congressman serving Northern Virginia since 1990, and has worked on federal workforce, public transportation and environmental issues. Moran is a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, and is a co-founder of the Congressional Prevention Caucus, the Task Force on Sovereign Wealth Funds and the New Democrat Coalition.

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Rep. Jim Moran: Good morning, it's great to be online with you and the Post today. I look forward to your questions, let's get started.

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Anonymous: I am a Federal employee who will retire under the FERS Retirement system. Thank you for trying to pass legislation that will give FERS employees credit for any unused sick leave at the time of retirement. My question is, why didn't you use the same formula that is being used for CSRS employees? Your proposed formula seems a bit unfair to the FERS employees as compared to that of the CSRS people.

Rep. Jim Moran: Very good question. The problem is a matter of cost. To have done what we wanted to do, which is to achieve parity with CSRS, would have cost $317 million annually. As a result, I fear it would have been dead on arrival. My bill gets our foot in the door with a $10000 convertible benefit and my intent is to increase it as fast and to the extent possible in the political and fiscal context within which we have to deal.

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Springfield, Va.: Hello. It's a pleasure having you in the chat with us today, congressman. First off, what is the Task Force on Sovereign Wealth Funds? Also, do you have any suggestions for recent college grads/the new workforce on how to become civically involved in this area? Thank you.

Rep. Jim Moran: Tom Davis and I co-chair the Congressional Task Force on Sovereign Wealth Funds in an attempt to educate our colleagues on how important this tectonic shift of wealth to China and the oil producing nations is to the U.S. Sovereign Wealth Funds today amount to about $2.5 trillion. Goldman Sachs estimates they will rise to about $12.5 trillion in about 5 years. Much of this is our money which we are going to need to be reinvested in the capital assets of the U.S. To prevent this reinvestment because of political and security concerns, all of which are understandable, will further aggravate the financial credit crisis we are currently facing.

I believe that public service is going to offer a great many more and exciting opportunities for career fulfillment in the future, because we may be about to enter into a new progressive era where the federal government. will be viewed less as part of the problem and more as the necessary means to the solution of many of our domestic and international challenges.

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Ballston, Va.: Why does congress allow some of the major professional sports an antitrust exemption? Can anyone honestly say that Major League Baseball and the National Football League are not businesses? It has lead to the D.C. area being messed with by Angelos, as well as other problems.

Rep. Jim Moran: I have supported legislation to remove the antitrust exemptions enjoyed by much of professional sports for the reason that you cite, that they are businesses with less and less claim on the loyalty of their fans.

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Alexandria, Va.: A comment and a question from a constituent: You have demonstrated phenomenal leadership in animal protection issues, from curbing enormous abuses in the poorly-regulated "factory farming" and slaughter system to promoting the reform of commercial hunting and criminalizing animal cruelty. Why the tremendous push-back on these issues? Is it simply a matter of money from the agriculture and hunting lobbies directed to Midwestern members? Many thanks for your excellent service -- the 8th District is well-represented.

Rep. Jim Moran: Thank you for your awareness of my positions on animal rights issues. You be interested to know that I voted for the Farm bill last week because it prohibited "puppy mills", animal fighting, and increased funding for enforcement for many of the animal rights laws that are currently on the books.

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Falls Church, Va.: I am a U.S. citizen and Fairfax/Falls Church resident. I got married about a year ago and mistakenly filed a form with the Citizenship and Immigration Services office in Vermont (it should have been in the Chicago CIS office instead with other forms) regarding my immigrant wife. I am now trying to to withdraw and terminate this particular application. I have repeatedly tried to notify the Vermont CIS office in writing to do this, but they don't respond. In the meantime, the Chicago CIS office won't act on the forms filed there because the Vermont filing is stuck in the CIS computer system. There are no problems with her personal qualifications for permanent residency.

I am asking if your office can provide me a direct contact person within the Vermont CIS office to cancel the application there. My wife is worried about running out of time to get her temporary green card before her current work visa expires. Thanks for any information you can provide. If you are not sure what to do for me right now, can you give me a staff contact in your own congressional office. Thanks.

Rep. Jim Moran: You can contact Andrew in my Alexandria District Office with the details of your specific situation. The number is 703-971-4700.

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Arlington, Va.: What is the status of the bill (HR 5781 I believe) that would give federal workers four weeks of maternity/paternity leave? Have you received a lot of interest from the public? Having come from private practice where I received four months paid maternity leave, it is astonishing that we federal government works must use annual leave/sick time, then to return to work with no leave to care for a child if something comes up. This contrasts so sharply with other Western governments (I believe the U.K. gives six months of maternity leave). Sadly, as a new federal government employee, I am faced with the decision to leave the federal government in order to have enough leave for a second child. The U.S. government is far behind even the private sector, and should -- at a minimum -- give four weeks.

Rep. Jim Moran: I am a cosponsor of this bill whose principal sponsor is Carolyn Maloney of New York, because she is on the committee of jurisdiction. We are working with the leadership to get it on the calendar for consideration and passage, hopefully by the end of the year.

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Burke, Va.: Can you recommend anyone good to succeed Tim Kaine as governor?

Rep. Jim Moran: My brother, Brian Moran, will be running for governor. He's younger, handsomer and brighter than his older brother. What's not to like?

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Manassas, Va.: Rep. Moran, my family is a two-federal career family. During the years, as the mother I was the one who used my sick leave to take care of children, get them to doctor's appointments and took the time off for school meetings. My husband's leave balance after 26 years is well above 3,000 hours, and mine after working for the federal government for 12 years is a grand total of 50. My question: Is it possible that sick leave ever could be considered a "family asset," so that if I got sick and needed it, I wouldn't have to exhaust every drop of annual leave and sick leave before my husband could donate his leave to me?

Rep. Jim Moran: It's an interesting idea. I'm glad you raised it and we will look into it.

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Falls Church, Va.: The high price of real estate has been a major deterrent in addressing the vexing problem of homelessness in the Northern Virginia region. Considering the current market, is this a good time for government to intervene and get some folks off the streets?

Rep. Jim Moran: Yes, and that's why I strongly supported Barney Frank's legislation to allow states and localities to purchase foreclosed properties and make it available for affordable housing.

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Alexandria, Va.: Hi Jim -- what Democratic Presidential candidate are you supporting, and what does the party have to do to win against the Republican presidential candidate this fall?

Rep. Jim Moran: I endorsed Barack Obama prior to the Virginia primary. If we get out the vote of all of those who understand the compelling need for a change of direction in this country, both domestically and internationally, the democratic process will work its will and take America back to its fundamental principles of equality of opportunity, fiscal responsibility, environmental preservation and international peace with justice.

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Arlington, Va.: Hi -- my roommate and I both voted for you in the last election. Thanks for the chat. Did you vote to pass the farm bill? If so why? The flaws, both nutritional and economic, have been well-documented in the press. While I disagree with John McCain and Bush on just about everything, on this point they are right -- there are many aspects of the farm bill that are irresponsible and unnecessary.

Rep. Jim Moran: Even though it was a flawed bill, it was a significant improvement from the current gross subsidies for corporate grain producers. The caps imposed on non-farm and farm are much than I would have preferred, but they are much lower than the farm lobby wanted. The bill includes a very substantial increase in food stamps, child nutrition programs and some conservation efforts such as the Chesapeake Bay program. I was also persuaded by the fact that it makes fruit and vegetables available for school lunch programs. And, for the first time properly funds farmers markets in urban and suburban areas.

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Arlington, Va.: Given the country's poor financial condition and runaway commodity prices, can you explain to your constituents why the federal government continues to subsidize oil companies and farmers? With current prices, neither of these interests require additional incentives to invest in additional production capabilities. Do you support these subsidies? Why or why not?

Rep. Jim Moran: I totally agree with you. I have consistently argued for and voted for removing the $18 billion in subsidies oil companies get for drilling on publicly owned land. It is also outrageous that we are subsidizing grain producers when grain prices are at their highest levels ever. Unfortunately, the elimination of oil subsidies failed by one vote in the Senate and the only way to make progress on farm subsidies is to accept the compromises in the current farm bill. If I had my druthers, we would be taking much more aggressive action.

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Reston, Va.: I'm curious about your opinion regarding Sen. Webb's new GI bill. Do you think it has a chance at passing the House and Senate? Thanks!

Rep. Jim Moran: I strongly support Jim Webb's GI bill. Less than one percent of the American population has been asked to make any sacrifice in the war in Iraq. The current GI bill gives them about $300/month in educational benefits when they leave the service. The cost of Sen. Webb's bill per year is less than the cost per week of fighting the war in Iraq. It seems to me appropriate to enable these self-sacrificing men and women to be able to convert the courage and initiative they have been trained to show in the military to the productivity and expansion of our economy. The subsidy per year in Virginia would be about $9,500 per year, plus a housing stipend, for four years. I expect that this is going to substantially raise the quality of the applicants enlisting in the military.

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Arlington, Va.: Congressman, I'm not sure if you are the right one to ask but ... do you think that rail travel ever will be expanded in this country? I would love to travel to rural New York (where I was born) by train, but it takes a full 20 hours. The same trip takes 10 hours by car. With fuel prices so high, it just seems logical to expand rail travel. Europeans have this system down; why can't we?

Rep. Jim Moran: I am strongly in favor of expanding rail service because on the two coasts, we've largely run out of open space to cover with asphalt, even if we wanted to. A better approach to the environmental, energy and economic needs met by intelligent transportation systems is rail. I would love to see a Mag-Lev rail corridor up the East Coast, complimented by light rail systems that connect exurban areas throughout the country.

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Kabul, Afghanistan: Sir, Foreign Service Officers serving overseas do not receive Washington locality pay, which imposes an effective 20 percent pay cut on any of us serving our country abroad. This problem was rectified for our Senior Foreign Service colleagues several years ago, but the rest of us must struggle with the challenge -- and expense -- of working abroad while earning less than our peers in Washington. This has been a perennial issue for the American Foreign Service Association, our union, but it never seems to gain traction on the Hill. Do you see any hope in sight? Thanks.

Rep. Jim Moran: I fully agree with you that this is an injustice that needs to be rectified. I am cosponsoring with Rep. Chris Smith, a bill to do just that and cosponsoring another bill with Rep. Frank Wolf to provide a tax break on civilian pay in war zones.

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Arlington, Va.: Thanks for participating in this talk. From a constituent, why are food stamps, conservation efforts and school food programs included in the farm bill? It seems the best way to reform farm aid is to remove these items and make them part of other bills.

Rep. Jim Moran: The farm bill's members put food stamps and conservation efforts into the bill as well incidentally animal protection measures, in order to gain the votes of suburban legislators such as myself. It appears so far to be a successful tactic doesn't it?

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Arlington, Va.: Good morning. As I am sure you are aware, the situation of the cyclone survivors in Burma is quite dire at the moment because of their government's refusal to allow foreign aid workers in the save the victims. What can Congress do to help? Should the U.S. join with France and other allies to invoke the U.N.'s duty to protect these people from their own obstinate government, and force aid into the stricken areas?

Rep. Jim Moran: The military junta of Burma is corrupt, despotic and must be overthrown by the people of Burma. I would take more aggressive action than the U.S. is, consistent with some of France's proposals. Our best shot for achieving change is the leverage we have with China; without their support the junta couldn't last. It is unbelievable that the senior military junta leader only yesterday went to view the horrible catastrophe in his country for the first time. They have deliberately deprived their people of food, shelter and essential aid and should be internationally condemned.

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Washington: Good morning Rep. Moran. I'm a long-time admirer of your work, and your tendency to speak the truth. Like many people, I'm extremely concerned about global climate change and energy security challenges. It seems that while Congress has taken baby steps to address global warming and out-of-control energy prices, we're only nibbling around the edges. What more can be done -- beyond, say, corn ethanol mandates and subsidies -- to bring new and more innovative technologies to market?

Rep. Jim Moran: The corn ethanol mandate is ill-considered and should be eliminated, since in many ways it exacerbates the problem and is contributing to a global food shortage and prohibitively high food prices. We passed in the House a 15% renewable, alternative energy requirement on the utility companies--which the Senate subsequently killed. It is imperative that we have national leadership that has the courage to mandate conservation measures far more restrictive than what are being attempted today. The 35 mpg fuel efficiency standard that we passed in the House is a good start, but much more needs to be done in increasing the manufacture of plug-in hybrid vehicles to reduce their purchase cost. Tax incentives for solar, wind and geothermal power and scientific research into such means as extracting energy from coal without having to burn it.

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Merrifield, Va.: As a native of the Middle East, I am concerned about American policies there and the lack of a serious effort to bring peace to the region. In particular, I worry about this administration's pro-Israeli bias and the lack of dialogue with Arab countries regarding Palestinian issues. Is there any way to reduce Israeli influence and develop a broader consensus in the Middle East?

Rep. Jim Moran: We do need to hear from more people who have a fuller perspective of the conditions in the Middle East. There is a new group that plans to offer what they consider a more balanced approach on the Israeli-Palestinian struggle, known as the J Street Project. It is led by Jeremy Ben-Ami and Daniel Levy, both of whom have an intimate knowledge of the conflict.

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Anonymous: Every year we hear that more and more members of Congress co-sponsor a bill that will eliminate the WEP and CSRS offset. A lot of articles written in the Federal Web, such as FedSmith, suggest that the bill never will get much further. It seems that it never will pass. What are the chances with a Democratic President and Congress that the bill will come to fruition?

Rep. Jim Moran: I am a sponsor of both bills as you are probably aware. But with an annual deficit of $250 billion (equal to the annual cost of the Iraq war and the Bush tax cuts), it becomes more and more difficult to find an off-set within the existing budget unless we pass the cost on to our children and grandchildren by borrowing the money to pay for it.

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Falls Church, Va.: Leslie Byrne and Doug Denneny, two of the 11th Congressional District candidates, said Monday night they wouldn't support rail to Dulles unless it includes a tunnel through Tysons. Isn't the tunnel dead? Won't their opposition of rail to Dulles in any other form help kill the project? By the way, thank you for your leadership on getting rail to Dulles.

Rep. Jim Moran: I would prefer a tunnel through Tysons Corner for many of the reasons Mr. Denneny and Mrs. Byrne probably cite. But we have been told unequivocally that it will cause a delay of almost a year to conduct an environmental review. Such a delay will knock the project out of the queue for $900 million in federal funding and effectively kill any federal involvement. Even under a Democratic administration, there are so many projects requesting funding with much lower costs per rider estimates that it is inconceivable that a federal earmark would ever be approved by Congress to get rail all the way out to Dulles.

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Rep. Jim Moran: I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity and hope I get an opportunity to be in contact further with those participating--especially those whose questions I was unable to answer due to time constraints.

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