In the News
Response to the State of the Union
I had hoped to hear President Obama reach out to both sides of the aisle and embrace the opportunity to work with the new majority in Congress to improve the economy, defend our shores, and make life better for all Americans. I had also hoped the President would have built on areas of agreement between the parties, for example, the continued need to reform the VA, and demonstrate some leadership. But, rather than look to chart a new course to improve our economy, move forward with comprehensive tax reform, secure our borders, make the serious reforms needed to bring transparency and accountability to federal agencies, and reduce spending to balance our budget, the President decided to, once again, take a go-it-alone approach.The President’s refusal to work with Congress to do the people’s work was highlighted before the speech even began when Dan Pfeiffer, a senior White House advisor, said “We will not be limited by what will pass this Congress because that would be a very boring two years.” Leaving aside the most important, and blaringly obvious, fact that only Congress has the authority to pass laws, it is astounding that, less than a month into the new Congress, the White House has already written off the will of the strong majority of Americans who voted in the midterm elections.
The fact is that in the first few weeks of the 114th Congress, both the Senate and House have shown that we are serious about legislating and passing pro-growth bills to help hard-working Americans and small businesses. Thus far, the House has passed bills to make it easier to hire veterans (H.R. 22); protect American workers from Obamacare and restore the 40-hour work week (H.R. 30); and reduce the regulatory red-tape that is keeping small businesses from accessing capital (H.R. 37). We have also passed a bipartisan bill (H.R. 3) to approve the Keystone XL pipeline, and the Senate is considering amendments and is expected to approve Keystone XL shortly.
And these are just the jobs bills that have been passed by the House thus far. We have also passed legislation to support our veterans by ensuring VA’s mental health and suicide prevention efforts receive crucial independent, third party oversight, while creating a greater accounting of available services and fostering an enhanced community approach to delivering veterans suicide prevention and mental health care treatment (H.R. 203); stopping the President’s executive amnesty (H.R. 240); and protecting the sanctity of life and the rights of the unborn (H.R. 7).
With his State of the Union address, President Obama would have us believe that all is well here at home and abroad. But, the reality is that median household income is down almost $2,000 since the President took office, while the cost of health care and other essentials is just rising. And the President said very little in his speech about the many serious foreign policy challenges that we continue to face, refusing to even accept the fact that we are still fighting a global war against terrorism and radical Islamists. And while the President gave a nod to the service and sacrifice of our heroes, he failed to mention the VA scandal or the steps that still must be taken to bring transparency and accountability to ensure that VA lives up to its commitment to our veterans. In the wake of the department’s massive wait time scandal, his VA has not fired a single executive for medical care wait time manipulation, and his Department of Justice has not prosecuted a single VA employee in connection with the schemes. Unless the President addresses these problems head on, many in the veterans community will be left wondering.
Unfortunately, rather than address these critical issues, President Obama’s laundry list of agenda items focused on the failed policies of the past. Americans have said they want a secure border, more jobs, better wages and lower health care and education costs. In short, they want a government that works for them. To truly right this economy, we need to cut government spending, we have to shrink the size of the federal government, and we have to stop the federal intrusion and overreach that hurts hardworking Americans. We need to move towards a balanced budget, and this government needs to stop mortgaging the future of our children and grandchildren. If the President was really serious about turning around this country, then he would be working with Congress to find solutions to our problems, not threatening to veto bills, as he has already done with five separate bills already this year.
Towards the end of his address, President Obama said “Imagine if we did something different.” Well, Mr. President, it is hard for the American people to imagine something different when all they hear and see from this Administration is more of the same.
Washington Update
March for Life
Last Thursday, Americans from all walks of life and all corners of the country joined together in unison to march for a cause greater than themselves—protecting the rights of the unborn. The March for Life, which began as a small demonstration in 1974 on the first anniversary of the Supreme Court decisions in Roe v Wade and Doe v Bolton, is an annual event that brings together tens of thousands of individuals each year to Washington, D.C. to celebrate the sanctity of life. This year’s theme—“Every Life is a Gift”—reminds us that all life is truly precious. The March for Life is a strong signal that millions of Americans are united and committed to protecting the life and rights of the unborn. As a staunch pro-life conservative, I strongly support this commitment.
House Passes H.R. 7 – No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2015
The spirit of the March for Life flowed through the Halls of Congress when, on the day of the March, the House passed a crucial piece of legislation that protects the life of the unborn. H.R.7, which passed with bipartisan support, would prohibit any federal funds from being used to pay for abortions except in the case of rape, incest, or if the life of the mother is in danger. The bill would also prohibit the use of Obamacare's cost-sharing subsidies and the small business tax credits for the purchase of health insurance that includes abortion coverage, and would require health plans to disclose information regarding abortion coverage in each plan. Abortion is not a Republican issue, and it is not a Democrat issue. It is a human issue, and I look forward to the opportunity to continue to lend my support to efforts in the 114th Congress that guarantee the protection of life and promote traditional family values.
House Passes H.R. 161 – Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act
Thanks to abundant natural resources, coupled with investments and advancements in energy technology, the United States is the world’s leading producer of natural gas, which, in addition to its use as an energy source, is used to manufacture everything from common household products, like paper and garbage bags, to life saving medicines. American natural gas helps to lower the cost of energy at home, putting more money back in the pockets of hard-working American families and small businesses, while also helping to promote economic growth and job creation across virtually all sectors of our economy.
Unfortunately, the overly bureaucratic and inefficient federal permitting process is causing significant delays in pipeline construction, meaning that many regions of the country cannot easily get the natural gas that they need. Without firm timelines for the consideration of pipeline requests, delays are all too common. In fact, according to independent analysis, the permitting process for natural gas pipelines has slowed down in recent years, with delays in permitting increasing by 28 percent.
To help reform the federal permitting process and ensure that pipelines can be constructed to transport natural gas throughout the country, the House passed H.R.161, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act last week. This bill would modernize the permitting process for pipeline construction by instituting firm timelines for review of applications. Specifically, this bill would require the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to approve or deny a pipeline application within 12 months. After completing the FERC review, any other relevant federal agencies would have to either approve or deny the final application within 90 days of the competed FERC process.
H.R.161 is a commonsense measure that would help standardize the construction of natural gas pipelines so that all parts of our Nation can enjoy the lower costs that come with increased domestic natural gas production. This bill is one of the many pro-growth energy bills passed by the House in the last Congress that the Harry Reid-led Senate refused to bring up for consideration. I look forward to working with the new Republican Senate to pass this and other important pro-growth bills in the 114th Congress.
Meeting with Gulf Oyster and Seafood Industry
A group from throughout the Gulf Coast representing the Gulf Seafood Institute stopped by my office last week to discuss important Gulf fisheries management issues, including oysters and red snapper. We are blessed in Northwest Florida to have world-class fishing and unparalleled natural beauty right in our backyard. I always appreciate having the opportunity to hear from Gulf Coast residents, and I remain committed to working with stakeholders, state and local officials, and my colleagues in Congress to ensure that current and future generations have access to the many resources that the Gulf has to offer.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Washington Update