Friday, March 4, 2016 WEBSITE | FORWARD TO A FRIEND | SHARE ON:
 
Foxx Report
 
This week the Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt case. At issue is a Texas law that orders abortion clinics to meet the standards of ambulatory surgical centers where outpatient operations are performed and requires doctors performing abortions to hold admitting privileges at a nearby hospital.

This case is about upholding commonsense health and safety regulations, and I joined 173 members of Congress in filing an amicus brief in support of the Texas law. These types of regulations are necessary and urgent to avoid facilities like abortionist Kermit Gosnell’s "house of horrors."

As long as the tragedy of elective abortion is legal in this country, there must be oversight, and there must be rigorous scrutiny – regardless of whether popular culture, special interests or the government considers the turf politically sacrosanct. The Supreme Court should recognize that states have full freedom to prioritize women’s health and safety over the bottom line of those who facilitate abortions.

Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers

On Wednesday the House passed bipartisan legislation that improves the integrity of Medicaid. H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Access to Quality Medicaid Providers Act, ensures that providers terminated from Medicare or a state Medicaid program for reasons of fraud, integrity or quality are terminated from all other state Medicaid programs. The bill also helps increase access beyond the emergency room by providing beneficiaries under fee-for-service or primary care case management programs with a directory of physicians participating in the program.

Stopping the Obama Administration from Implementing Harmful Regulations

On Thursday the House passed legislation to delay new EPA rules that set national emissions standards for air pollutants for the brick and clay products industries. The industry employs about 7,000 people at more than 70 brick plants across the country, and industry-wide annual compliance costs may be as much as $100 million per year. For many small, family-owned operations, that’s millions of dollars spent with no return on investment.

Federal agencies frequently place burdensome regulations on American employers, and these new emission standards are no exception. H.R. 4557, the Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns Act of 2016, prevents an out-of-touch administration from implementing these damaging rules until all judicial reviews are completed.

5th District Congressional Art Competition

Do you know any talented high school artists living in North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District? Encourage them to submit entries for the 2016 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.

As in years past, the online community will decide this year’s winner. Following the submission deadline, a photo of each student’s artwork will be 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. Online voting will begin on Wednesday, April 20, at noon and will end on Tuesday, May 3, at noon.

The deadline for entries is Friday, April 15, at 5 p.m. Visit my website to view guidelines for entering the competition.

Carolinians in the Capitol

This week I met with a variety of individuals and organizations from North Carolina, including AIDSWatch, Iredell-Statesville Schools, Neurology Associates in Hickory and Wake Forest Baptist Health.


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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