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| Foxx Report |
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Each year families across the country face difficult decisions about where they can afford to send their children to college and what institution is the best fit for them. Students must wade through massive and often conflicting amounts of information in order to make an informed choice. Taking time to fully understand the available data can be an aggravating task that may get put off and ultimately ignored, often with disastrous consequences.
On Monday the House passed my legislation to help students gain access to the facts they need to make an informed decision about where to pursue higher education. H.R. 3178, the Strengthening Transparency in Higher Education Act, will begin to streamline the overwhelming maze of information currently provided to students and families at the federal level. It’s crucial that we continue to increase transparency in the country’s higher education system. This legislation is a positive step forward in that effort.
Protecting Rights of Conscience
Congress has an extensive history of providing bipartisan conscience protections consistent with the nation’s founding principles and Constitution. The Weldon amendment is a longstanding protection in appropriations law that provides that states and localities receiving federal funds may not discriminate against a health care entity on the basis that they do not “… provide, pay for, provide coverage of, or refer for abortions.”
However, states such as California and New York have recently mandated that all insurance plans under their authority, including those offered by churches and religious organizations, must include coverage for elective abortion, and the Office of Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has refused to enforce the Weldon amendment. This is unacceptable.
On Wednesday I voted in favor of legislation that protects rights of conscience for health care providers who choose not to participate in elective abortion. S. 304, the Conscience Protection Act, reaffirms the protections found in the Weldon amendment and makes clear that federal, state and local governments, including subsidiary agencies, cannot discriminate against health care providers who choose not to provide abortions. Additionally the legislation allows discriminated individuals and entities to obtain necessary legal relief.
Holding Iran Accountable
The Obama administration has systematically failed to hold Iran accountable for its illegal, dangerous and repressive behavior despite assurances to the contrary by numerous officials in testimony before Congress. This week the House approved several pieces of legislation to counter Iran’s continued illicit behavior.
H.R. 5631, the Iran Accountability Act of 2016, forces the administration to take real steps toward stopping Iran from its illegal development of its ballistic missile program, its support for international terrorism and its record of human rights abuses against its own population. H.R. 4992, the United States Financial System Protection Act of 2016, prohibits the administration from allowing the U.S. dollar to be used to facilitate trade transactions with Iran and upholds Iran’s designation as a “primary money laundering concern.”
In April the Obama administration agreed to purchase 32 metric tons of heavy water from Iran. While this relatively rare chemical is not radioactive, heavy water is essential to the production of weapons-grade plutonium and has long been tightly controlled due to its use as coolant in heavy water nuclear reactors. H.R. 5119, the No Heavy Water (2H2O) from Iran Act, prohibits U.S. purchases of heavy water from Iran, preventing the money of hardworking American taxpayers from subsidizing this rogue regime.
GMO Labeling
On Thursday the House approved legislation to create a national standard for labeling genetically modified foods. It provides flexibility to food manufacturers by giving them a variety of options to meet disclosure requirements and requires USDA to conduct a study to identify potential roadblocks consumers may encounter when trying to access the disclosure information. This bill represents a bipartisan effort to prevent a complicated patchwork of state laws and regulations for labeling food products sold throughout the country that inevitably would lead to increased prices, confusion and more than a few frustrated consumers.
What’s Coming Up
During the month of August, I look forward to traveling around North Carolina’s 5th District and hearing from you. Your input is critical to my service, and I always appreciate learning more about your opinions and concerns.
Sincerely,
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