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Foxx Report
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This week we mourn the loss of Howard Coble, a dedicated public servant and a champion for his constituents in North Carolina’s 6th District for 30 years. Howard was the essence of what it means to be a southern gentleman: someone who simply exuded kindness, charm and compassion.
He was a man of integrity and principle, a representative who stood for what is right and who fought on behalf of what makes America great. He will be missed, but his legacy of service and devotion to North Carolina will continue to be the standard that current and future leaders follow.
Providing for the Common Defense of the United States
This week the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which maintains the nation’s defense readiness and ensures the continued success of our military personnel by providing them with the best equipment, skills development and compensation.
Providing for the common defense of the United States of America is the federal government’s primary responsibility, and this legislation delivers the resources that our service men and women need to do their jobs.
Highway Bill
This week I voted against a six-year surface transportation package costing more than $325 billion that includes language to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank. As I shared when voting against stand-alone legislation reauthorizing the bank last week, I believe the bank conflicts with core conservative principles on the free market and unfairly allows the government to pick winners and losers while requiring taxpayers to bear the risks of private companies’ activities.
This legislation also does not address the growing gap between the Highway Trust Fund’s revenues and expenses, instead relying on a $45 billion transfer from the General Fund that is offset with gimmicks. It is the wrong way to proceed as we need a long-term solution that reevaluates the federal government’s transportation priorities and makes aggressive reforms on federal regulations and mandates. It’s past time to correct the federal government’s role in transportation programs and give states more control.
While I did not support the overall package, I did co-sponsor and vote for an amendment by Rep. Steve King that would repeal Davis-Bacon Act requirements that can add as much as 20 percent to the cost of transportation projects. For several Congresses, I have sponsored the Highway Trust Fund Reform Act, which would repeal those requirements, allowing federally funded highway and infrastructure projects to be more cost efficient and stretching federal dollars further to enable additional development of our nation's critical infrastructure.
Recognizing America’s Veterans and Military Families
Next week this nation will celebrate Veterans Day where we rightly pay tribute to the members of our military past and present and honor them with the respect and gratitude they deserve. Liberty is bought and paid for by the incomprehensible generosity of these patriots.
We also honor the commitment and sacrifices of our military families by celebrating Military Family Month in November. Through deployments, separations and moves across the country and overseas, these families inspire us as they endure the extended absence of their loved ones with grace, strength and devotion.
America is the land of the free because we are the home of the brave. I thank our veterans for seeing the value of freedom and rising to America’s defense with unfailing strength. And I thank our military families for standing with our service members, supporting that great bravery and sharing in the sacrifice.
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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