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MIXED SIGNALS— The latest jobs report was released last week.  There was some good news: 115,000 jobs were created for the month of April, leading to a slight drop in the national unemployment rate, now at 8.1 percent.  Any job growth is a positive sign, but there is a second leading indicator that is far less reassuring: labor force participation registered at 63.6 percent, its lowest since the 1980s.

FUZZY MATH— The decline in labor force participation means that some 522,000 Americans simply gave up looking for work over the same month the economy added 115,000 new jobs.  The official unemployment rate reported each month treats this group of Americans as if they don’t exist.  An alternative measurement calculated by the Bureau of Labor and Statistics—the U-5 statistic—does factor in a good number of these individuals, so I introduced legislation, H.R. 4128, to require the federal government cite the U-5 figure as its official unemployment rate.  Read my latest commentary, The Real Unemployment Rate, published in the Washington Times.

THE BUDGET PROCESS IS JUST BEGINNING and over the next several months, the House will be considering a group of annual spending bills to fund the operations of the federal government through the 2013 Fiscal Year.  House Republicans are looking to keep up momentum for spending cuts and serious budget reforms.  The first of twelve annual spending bills to reach the House floor this week, the Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2013, cut federal spending by $1.6 billion from the previous year.         

WARNING— The release of the Medicare and Social Security Trustee’s annual report underscores just how important certain budget reforms are to the future of the country.  In particular, the Trustees reported that the Medicare Trust Fund will be exhausted by 2024.  The budget resolution passed by the House, which will guide the House’s budget work over the coming months, takes important steps to protect Medicare for current beneficiaries and soon-to-be retirees, and preserve the program for future generations.

ABOLISH THE MEDICAL DEVICE TAX— Writing in the Washington Post this week, columnist George Will offers a compelling argument against the Medical Device Tax created under the President’s health care law (read the column here).  On the same topic, I joined Congressman Brian Bilbray in introducing legislation to eliminate the medical device tax.  In case you missed it, check out a previous column of mine in the San Diego Union Tribune, coauthored with Congressman Bilbray—A Tax on Technology in a High-Tech Town.

NATIONAL DEFENSE LISTENING SESSION SCHEDULED for May 22.  I'm hosting a listening session for the purpose of collecting regional input on the automatic defense budget cuts, required over the next ten years through sequestration, and the impact these cuts will have on the entire region.  The event is scheduled for 6:30 PM, at a location soon to be determined, and the event is open to anyone interested in attending.  There will be a moderated open mic for attendees to share stories, voice opinions and ask questions.  To confirm the location of this event in the coming days, please call my El Cajon office at 619-448-5201.

A PROVISION ALLOWING MILITARY FAMILIES TO REFINANCE HOME MORTGAGES was included in the House version of the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).  I offered this provision—which was also introduced as a bipartisan stand-alone measure—after I was informed by a constituent of the inability of certain military families to refinance their mortgages.  The NDAA passed the House Armed Services Committee on Thursday by a vote of 55-5 and will soon make its way to the House floor for further consideration.

NDAA AMENDMENT RUNDOWN—I successfully offered several amendments during committee consideration of the NDAA.  My amendments included:

1. A requirement that the military service chiefs provide a list of budget priorities excluded from the President’s budget proposal to Congress.  The service chiefs have provided such a list every year since 1995.  This is the first year since then that an unfunded priority list—allowing Congress to better assess risk and efficiency—was not submitted.
2. A restriction that the Secretary of Defense cannot transfer or release detainees from the prison facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, sooner than 90 after notification is first provided to Congress that includes a best assessment for recidivism.  The amendment is based on reports that the Administration is proposing to release five high-value prisoners to promote negotiations with the Taliban.
   
3. A prohibition on the removal of any Air Force personnel and aircraft during the Fiscal Year.  This is a direct response to a proposal to cut 5,100 National Guardsmen and 900 reservists, along with various aircraft.  The cost associated with the amendment is fully offset, meaning there is no additional cost to taxpayers.

TRICARE COST INCREASES PUSHED BACK— The President proposed dramatic increases to TRICARE pharmacy co-pays and annual enrollment fees for veterans.  The House version of the NDAA includes a modest increase in TRICARE co-pays in 2013 and a cap on pharmacy co-pays beginning in 2014 that would prohibit cost-shares from rising above annual retiree cost-of-living-adjustments.  The cost is offset by a 5-year pilot program that requires TRICARE For Life recipients to obtain refills of maintenance drugs through the mail-order program.

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