Congresswoman Virginia Foxx

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June 17th "Government Accountability" Telephone Town Hall Meeting

Monday, June 17th Congresswoman Foxx will host a telephone town hall for constituents of North Carolina’s 5th Congressional District on the topic of government accountability and oversight.

“The recent admission that the IRS had been targeting specific groups of Americans with harsher scrutiny based upon political beliefs is chilling and an affront to our free society,” Congresswoman Foxx stated. “The American people should not have to question whether their government is unfairly targeting them because of their opinions. Congress is committed to delivering answers to the public and consequences to the IRS on behalf of the American people. On June 17th, I look forward to updating 5th District residents on the status of oversight investigations in the House of Representatives and hearing their concerns about government transparency and the financial health and well-being of this country.”

Those wishing to take part in the one hour town hall discussion may dial in on June 17th at 5:30 p.m. using the phone number 1-855-312-2107. 5th District Residents may also RSVP to receive an event reminder by visiting www.Foxx.House.gov/townhall.

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Keystone XL Pipeline = Job Generator

Congresswoman Foxx is a cosponsor of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act that will green-light construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. When the House of Representatives passed the measure and sent it to the United States Senate with bipartisan support, Congresswoman Foxx said the following:  

“The Keystone Pipeline and the 40,000 jobs it’s expected to create have been waiting for President Obama’s approval for the better part of five years. The Northern Route Approval Act will ensure that those senseless delays end immediately. Americans need these jobs.

“The American people have coalesced behind the Keystone XL Pipeline because it will spur job creation, help us on our way to energy independence and increase access to affordable North American oil. There is a reason Democrats, Republicans and organized labor are counted among its supporters." Read more.

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ObamaCare Repeal

Real health care reform will lead to more affordable health care costs for families. But since ObamaCare passed, health care premiums are getting more expensive and small businesses are citing uncertainty about the law as a reason why they're not hiring additional workers. Now is not the time to defend ObamaCare's failures, so Congresswoman Foxx voted to repeal the legislation so America can start fresh on affordable, patient-centered health care reform. Here are her thoughts on repealing ObamaCare:

“ObamaCare’s proponents promised it would lower health care costs, expand insurance coverage and certainly not raise taxes. But even prior to its full implementation, President Obama’s health care overhaul has proved a hindrance, not a help, to health care access and economic recovery. ObamaCare hinges on twenty-one tax increases, many of which hit the middle class, and goes so far as to empower the IRS as its primary enforcer. That is a problem.

“Family health care premiums are more expensive today than they were in 2008 and those costs are set to rise further. Republicans in the House of Representatives will not stand by and let this train wreck happen, nor tolerate the defense of such epic failure. In previous repeal efforts we have been successful in eliminating or defunding seven of ObamaCare’s troubling provisions and we will not rest until the remainder of this legislation is wiped from public law.

“Improving the cost and quality of health care is among our country’s greatest challenges, and it is one that must be met by Congress, the states and the American people working together. If we are serious about affordable care, removing barriers to job creation and sparing North Carolinians the weight of massive new taxes, ObamaCare must go.” Read more.

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Working to End the VA Backlog

Our veterans have been subject to unacceptable delays in benefits and service from the Veterans Administration. The backlog at the VA is serious and requires intervention from the highest level – the White House. On May 28, 2013 Congresswoman Virginia Foxx signed a letter to President Obama urging him to take direct action with his Secretary of Veterans Affairs to end the backlog. Every VA resource must be directed toward ensuring veterans are treated properly and are receiving the benefits they’ve earned in service to the United States. 

To provide additional oversight and accountability from the House of Representatives, Congresswoman Foxx voted Tuesday on H.R. 2216, Veterans Affairs financial appropriations legislation that includes a 10% increase in overall funding for the VA and almost $300 million specifically to address claims backlogs. Of the $300 million, $136 million is directed to pay for creating electronic copies of the health and benefits files that have been piling up in VA Regional Offices such as Winston-Salem’s. $155 million will be spent on the continued implementation of a new paperless claims processing system, the Veterans Benefits Management System. Additionally, the legislation Congresswoman Foxx supported prohibits the VA from spending any money on performance bonuses for senior executives and requires the VA to submit monthly reports to Congress detailing its progress toward overcoming the backlog. 

Congresswoman Foxx is committed to seeing the backlog issue resolved for the sake of veterans and taxpayers. 

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Snapshots from the 5th 

Congresswoman Foxx with the graduates of North Hills Christian School in Salisbury. Congresswoman Foxx spoke to the students about higher education and community service. Shelby Birkedal of Lewisville and her family join Congresswoman Foxx in Clemmons for the presentation of Shelby's Congressional Silver Medal.