WASHINGTON, DC: Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) took to the floor of the U. S. House of Representatives today to urge his colleagues to pass the two-month extension of the payroll tax cut and the unemployment insurance.  “We know the vast majority of people are suffering because of an economy that is beyond their control,” Towns stated.  “The bottom line is that they need us to do something.  They need us to extend the payroll tax cut and unemployment insurance for at least the next two months until we can agree on how to do it for the entire year.”

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY10) issued the following statement today, joining President Barack Obama in welcoming troops home from Iraq, saluting the official end of the war with all troops expected back in the United States by December 31, 2011:

“During the past nine years, more than a million of our brave U.S. servicemen and women fought in the war in Iraq.  Nearly 4,500 – including 189 from the state of New York—made the ultimate sacrifice by giving their lives and more than 23,000—including 1,425 from New York were wounded.  I join all Americans today in honoring their service and sacrifice.

WASHINGTON, DC – Last night, Rep. Edolphus “Ed” Towns (NY-10) introduced H.R. 3519, a bill which will exempt Medicare providers from pending cuts through sequestration.

“Hospitals in New York are already slated to experience $15 billion in Medicare and Medicaid cuts under the Affordable Care Act over the next ten years. If sequestration occurs, hospitals will lose another $2.6 billion – or over $116 million in my district alone,” stated Rep. Towns. “Cuts like these will severely harm patient access to care and undermine an employment base that supports over 700,000 jobs in New York State. We simply cannot balance the nation’s budget on the backs of seniors, while simultaneously harming jobs.”

Washington, DC- Congressman Edolphus “Ed” Towns (D-NY10) sent a letter today urging Federal Trade Commission Chairman Jon Leibowitz to expeditiously review the proposed merger of Express Scripts and Medco to ensure that Americans have access to potentially lower drug costs.  Six of his congressional colleagues co-signed the letter.