Congressman
Henry E. Brown, Jr.

BROWN VOWS TO PROVIDE HELP TO ALL VETERANS SEEKING IT

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 30, 2009, 01:39 PM)

During this week’s Veteran’s Subcommittee on Health, Ranking Republican, Congressman Henry E. Brown Jr. (R-SC) made the following statement on Veteran mental healthcare:

“Thank you Mr. Chairman.  I appreciate your holding this hearing today.

Mental health is a critical component of a person’s well-being.  And, essential to the mission of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to care for those who have borne the battle is to effectively intervene and care for the invisible wounds of war. 

The psychological toll of war is not always apparent and sadly has not always received the attention it should.  However, I think we can all agree that the VA has come a long way, especially in the past few years, to improve mental health services and encourage veterans in need of care to get help. 

Even though significant progress has been made, there is no doubt that we must still do more.  As we continue to hear about veterans facing barriers and service gaps.  We must ensure that if a veteran seeks help, that veteran gets the right care at the right time.    

In the past decade, we have made a substantial investment in VA mental health, increasing funding by eighty-one percent, from $2.1 billion in fiscal year 2001 to no less than $3.8 billion in fiscal year 2009.  That is why it was very disturbing when the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported in November of 2006 that the VA had not allocated all the available funding for the mental health initiative.  It is our responsibility to see that funding we provide is spent as intended – to support a complete array of mental health prevention, early intervention and rehabilitation programs for our nation’s veterans. 

I look forward to hearing from our witness and this opportunity to take a good look at where we stand in taking care of the mental health needs of our veterans.
With that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.”  

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

BROWN APPLAUDS ARNOLD PALMER FOR HIS SERVICE TO THE FIRST DISTRICT AND THE NATION

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 28, 2009, 04:12 PM)

I was honored to cosponsor legislation, which passed the house today, awarding a gold medal on behalf of Congress to Arnold Palmer in recognition of his service to the nation in promoting excellence and good sportsmanship in golf.

Mr. Palmer has made a significant impact on the nationally known golfing and tourism industries of the First District of South Carolina. He is credited with designing two of our coast’s premier golf courses, Myrtle Beach National and River Town Country Club, just north of Charleston in Mount Pleasant, both of which I have had had the privilege to play.

In addition to his contributions to the golf courses of my district, I applaud him for upholding the sport of golf as a gentleman’s game as it instills the essential value of good sportsmanship in players of all ages.

Posted in Values | View Full Posting

Controlled Burning and How it Effected the Horry County Fire

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 28, 2009, 04:08 PM)

One of the largest fires in state history burned through nearly 20,000 acres and destroyed or damaged more than 150 homes in Horry Country from last Wednesday to Sunday. However, had you visited that same spans of land just 20 years ago much of it was covered by pine plantations owned by timber and paper companies. These companies would maintain the land by regularly conducting controlled burns to rid the forests of the very same underbrush that fueled that massive fire on the edge of Myrtle Beach last week.

Many of the destroyed or damaged homes were built in forestlands that have not been burned with a controlled fire for years and the only effective way to prevent build-up of underbrush and debris in these vast woods is through controlled burns. Fueling the problem is some of the vegetation that grows in the underbrush — wax myrtle and holly. Both have waxy leaves that provide volatile, hot-burning fuel, kind of like gasoline.

I make this point, because I myself, am a patron of the forests and to preserve and maintain my own lands and the surrounding Francis Marion National Forest, I conduct controlled burns periodically on my property in Berkeley County. I do this to prevent wildfires that may uncontrollably burn any area that has not been cleared properly by controlled burning. This was exactly one of the factors that fueled the fire in North Myrtle Beach. Had that land been control burned, thousands of needless acres and millions of dollars of property may have been spared. More simply put, you must have good fires to prevent the bad fires. Hopefully, we can all learn from the devastation of this fire and become better stewards of the land in the future.

Read more from a Post & Courier & Sun News articles on the importance of controlled burning.

Posted in Environment and Wildlife, Horry County | View Full Posting

BROWN CHAMPIONS AGAINST CHILD ABUSE

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 28, 2009, 10:50 AM)

“As a constant advocate against child abuse in all forms, I was proud to cosponsor legislation, which passed yesterday by voice vote, supporting the observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. With one in four girls and one in six boys being sexually abused before their 18th birthday, it is going to take all of us stepping up to protect them. In the words from a refrigerator magnet I have at home, ‘one hundred years from now, it will not matter what my bank account was, the type of house I lived in, or the kind of car I drove, but the world may be different because I was important in the life of a child.’”

Earlier this month, Darkness to Light, the leading organization working to reduce and identify child sexual abuse in the US, awarded Congressman Brown with the Inaugural Congressional Voice of Courage Award for his efforts in bringing the issue of child sexual abuse to the forefront.

Posted in Values | View Full Posting

President's Budget Winners & Losers

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 20, 2009, 12:04 PM)

A Detailed Analysis of President Obama's Budget Prepared by U.S. House Committee Republicans

Posted in Economy, Taxes | View Full Posting

Point of Reference -- Obama's $100 MILLION Budget Cut Challenge

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 20, 2009, 11:57 AM)

According to reports, President Obama will hold a cabinet meeting today in which he will order the departments to identify a total of $100 MILLION in budget cuts over the next 3 months. Note that – according to CBO – under Obama’s budget, the Federal Government will spend  more than $4 TRILLION this year alone (FY 2009).   

• That works out to $7.6 million in spending-- per minute.
• It will take about 13 minutes for the Federal Government to spend $100 million. 
• During this 90 day review, the Federal Government will spend nearly $1 trillion ($987.3 billion). 

• $100 million is .002% of total spending.
• $100 million is .02% of omnibus spending.
• $100 million is .01% of total stimulus cost.

Posted in Economy | View Full Posting

DHS Accusations “Unacceptable”

Posted by: Henry E. Brown Jr. (April 20, 2009, 11:31 AM)

It is offensive and unacceptable that the Department of Homeland Security has characterized the men and women returning home from defending our country as potential terrorists. These veterans should be welcomed home with open arms, not subjected to unfair treatment that could lead to discrimination. Unfortunately, the Obama Administration has, now, not only questioned the character and patriotism of returning veterans, but has also suggested that they should pay for care that the VA has a responsibility to provide.  These attacks, on the men and women who have risked their lives to protect our citizens and the liberty we cherish, must stop.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

New: House Republican's Economic Solutions Center

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 16, 2009, 02:33 PM)

The Office of the Republican Whip presents the House Republican's Economic Solutions Center
This online tool focuses on real life answers to the following everyday questions common during these trying economic times:

• How will I keep my job?
• How should we use tax payer money?
• How will I grow my savings?
• How will I keep my house?

Posted in Economy | View Full Posting

Words from Washington: Supporting the Fair Tax

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 15, 2009, 01:08 PM)

Tax Day, April 15th, has historically been a dreaded date for many, but even more so today, as Americans are facing some of the most trying economic times in years. We are reminded on this day, that most things in life are taxed, and this trend only seems to be increasing with the recent passage of the 2010 budget, as it could bring the largest tax increase in U.S. history.

Our current economic crisis will not be solved through tax increases or massive government spending. Instead, we must reform the broken tax code by offering Americans progressive alternatives like the Fair Tax. As the only member of the South Carolina Delegation to support the Fair Tax Act, I continue to stand firmly behind this legislation as it would actually simplify our tax system by repealing the current income tax, abolishing the Internal Revenue Service and enacting a national sales tax.

Read more of my thoughts on The Sun News Opinion Blog.

Posted in In the News, Taxes | View Full Posting

The Employee Free Choice Act Could Kill Businesses

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 14, 2009, 01:48 PM)

Everyday you hear from countless associations about their opposition to the Employee Free Choice Act, but this take, from an actual member of the Associated Builders & Contractors, Inc, really puts into perspective how bad this bill will actually be for America’s employers. Read his blog post on the detrimental impact passage of the Employee Free Choice Act will have on his concrete construction firm.

Posted in Labor | View Full Posting

Veterans Upward Bound Program is Hard at Work in the First District

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 08, 2009, 05:26 PM)

With over half a million veterans living in South Carolina, I have been a strong advocate for our nation’s heroes since coming to Congress. Currently I have the honor to serve as the Ranking Republican Member on the Veterans Affairs Subcommittee on Health, and have continued to work diligently to ensure that the all veterans are able to easily access adequate health care.

In addition to my work to improve the VA health care system, I prioritize the overall quality of life for veterans, including their ability to resume their civilian lives either in a job or in furthering their education after their service to our country.

In 2007, when the Department of Education was looking cut the Upward Bound Veterans Program, a service designed to help eligible U.S. military veterans refresh their academic skills so that they can successfully complete a secondary degree of their choosing,  I, along with several of my colleagues in the House, cosponsored legislation that would improve the program for the future.

Read the article highlighting the Upward Bound Program’s efforts at work in the First District and learn more information on my efforts for our nation’s veterans and the specifics of the Upward Bound Program.

Posted in Veterans | View Full Posting

Brown Applauds Payment Increase for Military Survivors

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 06, 2009, 10:47 AM)

As the Ranking Republican Member of the Veterans Affairs’ Subcommittee on Health, I was extremely pleased to be able to offer my support for provisions of the Federal Reform Act that will decrease the burden placed on military survivors by the ‘widow’s tax.’

Read more of my comments on this essential veteran's legislation.

As a continuous and ardent supporter of all veterans, I have worked hard to draft and sponsor legislation to enhance the lives of our nation’s heroes and their families. Read my remarks on this legislation from this week’s the Veterans’ Affairs Committee Meeting. Learn more about the my efforts for all veterans.
   

Posted in Taxes, Veterans | View Full Posting

Budget Passes House and Senate with NO GOP Votes

Posted by: Brown Staff (April 03, 2009, 10:52 AM)

Last night the President's Budget passed the House and Senate with NO Republican votes in either chamber.
Read about my support of the alternative GOP budget plans that offered reasonable solutions for middle class families, focused directly on creating jobs, tax relief and empowering small businesses to survive and grow.

Posted in Defense, Economy, Energy, Environment and Wildlife, Health Care, Homeland Security, Retirement, Taxes | View Full Posting