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It’s been 15 years since the course of our country’s history changed, and in an unprovoked attack that sought to bring America to its knees, the world was reminded that ours is a nation of heroes. On Sunday we honored the memory of the thousands of innocent Americans who died on Sept. 11, 2001, we grieved with those who still ache for their loved ones and we thanked the men and women who chose to answer our country’s call to defend liberty and pursue peace.
We also continued to let the adversaries of liberty know that champions of freedom will not be stopped. We will not waiver, we will not cede strength and we will stand firm. We will remain eternally vigilant.
Increasing Accountability at the VA
As I travel North Carolina’s 5th District, I hear a similar refrain. No matter where I go, constituents tell me horror stories of their experiences with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Veterans are frustrated with the lack of service they’re receiving. They’re angry because they can’t get an appointment or a phone call returned. And they’re outraged, as I am, that the Obama administration has done little to solve the multitude of problems that have been revealed.
This week Congress continued its efforts to enact major reform legislation. On Thursday the House passed the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act, which strengthens whistleblower protections, reforms the disability benefits appeals process at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and provides additional authority to the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to reprimand and remove employees for performance or misconduct.
Strengthening Career and Technical Education
The Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act has provided federal support to state and local career and technical education programs for more than 30 years. This week the House passed H.R. 5587, the Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act, which updates the law to reflect today’s economic needs and the challenges that students and workers currently face.
The legislation empowers state and local community leaders through increased flexibility and by reducing burdensome state and local requirements. It also improves alignment with in-demand jobs by supporting innovative learning opportunities, building better partnerships and encouraging stronger engagement with employers.
Educational success is about more than just a degree. It’s about preparing students for a satisfying life and teaching them the quantifiable skills that employers need in their employees. This legislation will help students reach those goals.
Repealing Obamacare Tax on Those with High Medical Costs
The IRS currently allows Americans with high health care costs to deduct certain out-of-pocket expenses from their taxes. Before the so-called Affordable Care Act, individuals could deduct out-of-pocket medical costs that exceeded 7.5 percent of their Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). Under Obamacare, the threshold is set to increase to 10 percent of a person’s AGI in 2017 – effectively lowering how much can be deducted at the end of the year and increasing how much Americans with expensive medical bills will pay in taxes. This week the House passed H.R. 3590, the Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act, which repeals this Obamacare tax hike and reinstates the previous allowable deduction level.
Preventing Detainee Releases at Guantanamo Bay
It is a travesty that President Obama has been releasing detainees from Guantanamo Bay in order to fulfill a campaign promise, particularly when there are serious legitimate concerns that they may return to the battlefield. On Thursday the House approved legislation to prohibit the transfer of any individual detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. I will continue to strongly oppose the president’s actions and work to ensure our military remains strong in the face of the many threats we confront.
Ransom Payment to Iran
In January, President Obama announced that the United States and Iran had agreed to a prisoner exchange. Iran would release several innocent American hostages in exchange for the United States granting clemency to and releasing seven Iranians serving sentences or awaiting trial for serious crimes—such as aiding Iran’s illegal weapons programs.
In that same speech, the President announced that the United States would pay Iran $1.7 billion to settle a dispute over an aborted arms sale that had dragged on since the radicals that rule Iran seized power in 1979. The White House rejected concerns that this settlement amounted to a ransom for the release of the American hostages and refused to answer questions from Congress.
Yet the United States secretly paid Iran—the world’s leading state sponsor of terror—the first part of this settlement—$400 million in cash—just as the hostages were released. This broke a longstanding U.S. policy not to release prisoners or pay ransom in exchange for the return of Americans held hostage abroad. Not surprisingly, Iran has since taken several more Americans hostage and continues to fund terrorist groups that threaten U.S. interests and destabilize the Middle East. This month the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold hearings to understand the consequences of the Obama administration’s ransom payment and advance legislation to make sure this cannot happen again.
What’s Coming Up
Next week the House will consider the Require Evaluation before Implementing Executive Wishlists (REVIEW) Act to prevent agencies from forcing businesses to needlessly spend resources meeting costly regulations that are subsequently thrown out by the courts. The House will also consider the Iranian Leadership Asset Transparency Act to provide additional information on the assets under the control of Iran’s leaders. Legislation funding the federal government into the new fiscal year starting October 1 may also be considered.
Sincerely,
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