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June 9, 2016
Speeches
The House is expected to take up the “PROMESA” bill today, with serious implications to every taxpayer in the country.
Issues:
May 31, 2016
Speeches
In 431 BC, the people of Athens gathered just as we gather today – and for the same purpose – to honor their fallen. It was the first year of the Peloponnesian War. Pericles – the father of Athenian Democracy – spoke that day. According to Thucydides, most of his oration was about Athens, in sentiments we would find familiar as Americans.
Issues:
May 25, 2016
Speeches
This amendment simply exempts from this act the debt issued by Puerto Rico that was backed by its constitutional pledge of full faith and credit and taxing power. Of the commonwealth’s $72 billion of outstanding bonds, this would exempt roughly $18 billion of constitutionally protected debt...
May 24, 2016
Speeches
My central concern with this legislation continues to be that it potentially undermines the reliability of the constitutional full faith and credit guarantees of the states. These guarantees allow states to borrow at extremely low interest rates because debt repayment has first claim on revenues...
May 24, 2016
Vote Notes on Legislation
This is a well-intentioned bill that accomplishes the opposite of what it is designed to do. Its purpose is to expedite and standardize the evaluation of toxic chemicals. Instead, it grants sweeping new powers to the EPA...
Issues:
May 24, 2016
Speeches
Today, the Subcommittee on Federal Lands meets to consider four bills that seek either to improve visitor amenities or protect grounds of significance to the history of our exceptional republic...
Issues:
May 19, 2016
Vote Notes on Legislation
National defense is the federal government’s most fundamental responsibility, but this is not an excuse for waste and mismanagement within the defense establishment. I especially object to provisions that prohibit BRAC review of obsolete or dysfunctional military bases...
May 18, 2016
Press Release
I propose to bring mandatory spending under the same congressional control that we currently exercise over discretionary spending. FIRST: The budget committee, in consultation with committees of jurisdiction, would set overall spending levels for mandatory programs and offer suggestions of how to achieve those levels, as is currently done. SECOND: Once the budget is enacted, the committees of jurisdiction would prepare statutory changes in mandatory programs to meet the targets set in the budget, just as they do for reconciliation...
Issues:
May 18, 2016
Press Release
I propose to restore the House ban on unauthorized spending through a conference rule that includes the following provisions: FIRST: To direct all authorizing committees to identify any expired or soon to expire programs within their jurisdictions and to adopt a timetable for adopting legislation reauthorizing them. SECOND: To direct the authorizing committees in this process:
Issues:
May 12, 2016
Speeches
And here’s a song we’ve heard before: despite the high fire risk, BLM is not performing adequate fire prevention activities, particularly mechanical treatments, in the area because it is managed as a WSA. In addition, the location of the WSA hampers firefighting tactics, leaving local firefighters with no maneuvering room to protect life and property in the event of catastrophic wildfire.