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For seven long years, families and small businesses have suffered the devastating consequences of Obamacare. Costs are skyrocketing, choices are diminishing, small businesses are struggling and jobs are being destroyed. That’s what the American people have been forced to live with, and that’s why Republicans promised to provide a better way.
On Thursday the House passed H.R. 1628, the American Health Care Act, which represents an important moment for our country and a central part of our broader effort to deliver health care relief for working families. The House has already passed reforms that will empower small businesses to band together to offer working families greater access to affordable health coverage. These are the kind of smart, responsible health care solutions that the American people need, and we are determined to deliver. We are on a rescue mission, and this week’s vote is an important step in repealing a failed law and delivering free-market, patient-centered solutions.
Empowering More Americans to Balance Work, Life and Family
On Tuesday the House passed H.R. 1180, the Working Families Flexibility Act of 2017, which reforms outdated federal labor rules and extends workplace flexibility to more Americans. This legislation allows private-sector employers to offer employees eligible for overtime pay a choice between paid time off and cash wages. The bill includes strong protections to ensure the decision to choose comp time is voluntary.
This bill is about freedom, flexibility and fairness for America’s workers. Government employees have long been able to choose what’s best for themselves and their families. There’s no reason outdated federal rules should deny private-sector workers the same freedom and flexibility. I want to thank Representative Martha Roby for leading the effort to eliminate this unfair double standard. The Working Families Flexibility Act will provide strong protections for workers and empower more Americans to better balance work, life and family.
Strengthening Career and Technical Education
This week members of the House Committee on Education and the Workforce introduced bipartisan legislation to strengthen and improve career and technical education (CTE). The Strengthening Career and Technical Education for the 21st Century Act reauthorizes the Carl D. Perkins Career and Technical Education Act and will help more students gain the knowledge and skills they need to compete for in-demand jobs.
Strengthening career and technical education continues to be a leading priority for our committee and we came close last year to enacting these reforms. This issue is important to students, families and taxpayers, and that is why I am hopeful we will get the job done this year. I look forward to advancing this important bipartisan proposal in the coming weeks.
Reviewing the FAFSA Data Breach
During a House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform hearing on Wednesday, I questioned officials of the Department of Education and the Internal Revenue Service on the security breach that has led to the suspension of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) Data Retrieval Tool and expressed concern over the lack of accountability for the federal government’s failure to protect the private information of students and parents. Click here to watch the video.
North Korea Sanctions Bill
This week the House passed H.R. 1644, the Korean Interdiction and Modernization of Sanction Act, which strengthens sanctions targeting North Korea’s Kim Jong Un regime. The legislation expands sanctions to deter North Korea’s nuclear weapons program and targets those overseas who employ North Korean slave labor. It also cracks down on North Korean shipping and use of international ports as well as requires the administration to determine whether North Korea is a state sponsor of terrorism.
5th District Congressional Art Competition
Voting for the 2017 Congressional Art Competition, which is a nationwide high school visual art competition to recognize talented young artists and promote the valuable role meaningful art plays in our society, has begun and will end on Monday, May 8, at noon.
As in years past, the community will decide this year’s winner. A photo of each student’s artwork has been posted on my Facebook page. The piece that receives the highest number of “likes” will win, and the artist will have the opportunity to travel to the U.S. Capitol for the installation of his or her work. Two runners-up also will be selected, and their artwork will be on display in one of my district offices.
What’s Coming Up?
Next week the House will hold a district work week. I look forward to traveling around North Carolina’s 5th District and hearing from you.
Sincerely,
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