District Survey

Actions taken: Cosponsored H.R. 803, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, sponsored by Rep. Virginia Fox. This legislation streamlines federal workforce programs and consolidates requirements making it easier for the unemployed to get training and support services they need by creating one-stop shops for job seekers. This legislation has been signed in to law.

Supported H.R. 2642, the 2014 Agriculture Act. The Farm Bill eliminated or consolidated over 100 existing federal programs, and cut $24 billion in spending. This legislation has been signed in to law.

Actions taken: Cosponsored H.J.Res 1, the Balanced Budget Amendment, sponsored by Rep. Bob Goodlatte (VA-6). This legislation amends the constitution to require that Congress pass a balanced budget each year.

Actions taken: Supported H.R. 2642, the 2014 Agriculture Act. The Farm Bill eliminated or consolidated over 100 existing federal programs, and cut $24 billion in spending. This legislation has been signed in to law.

Supported the Path to Prosperity- As a member of the Budget Committee, Congresswoman Hartzler is committed to pursuing a lean budget that puts our country on a track to economic prosperity. 

• The FY ’15 Budget cut spending by $5.1 trillion over ten years and balanced the budget within 10 years. The Path to Prosperity includes ground breaking reforms of Medicare and Medicaid, the two huge cost drivers to our national debt. Additionally, the Path to Prosperity plan creates state block grant programs to tackle the ever-increasing Medicaid autopilot-spending problem. 
• The Path to Prosperity also contained several job-creating initiatives such as reducing the corporate tax rate and removing onerous regulations, so American businesses will stay here rather than going abroad.  This budget calls for fundamental tax reform that closes loopholes to expand the base. However, the Ways and Means Committee will ultimately decide how tax reform will work. This budget advances a framework for pro-growth tax reform; it has a goal of achieving a top individual rate of 25%. Additionally, we consolidate the current seven individual income tax brackets into two brackets: 10% and 25%. We also reduce the corporate tax rate to 25%.
• Additionally, it repealed President Obama’s job-destroying government takeover of healthcare.

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Actions taken: Supported H.R. 3393, the Student and Family Tax Simplification Act, sponsored by Rep. Diane Black (TN-6). This legislation consolidates four higher education tax benefits – the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC); the Hope Scholarship Credit (HSC); the Lifetime Learning Credit (LLC); and the tuition deduction – into one permanent, reformed AOTC.  The new, permanent AOTC (as under the current-law AOTC, which is scheduled to expire at the end of 2017) provides a 100-percent tax credit for the first $2,000 of certain higher education expenses and a 25-percent tax credit for the next $2,000 of such expenses (for a maximum credit up to $2,500).  Eligible expenses include tuition, fees, and course materials.  The credit is available for the first four years of higher education, and the first $1,500 of the credit is refundable.  The new AOTC phases out at a Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) threshold between $160,000 to $180,000 for joint filers and $80,000 to $90,000 for other filers.  The credit and phase-out amounts will be indexed for inflation starting in 2018. This legislation has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 4718, which makes bonus depreciation permanent law, sponsored by Rep. Patrick Tiberi (OH-12). This legislation makes 50% bonus depreciation permanent; expands qualifying property to include qualified retail improvement property; adjusts deduction for automobiles for inflation; increases the amount of AMT credits allowed in lieu of bonus depreciation; and permits a tree or vine bearing fruit or nuts to be eligible for bonus depreciation when planted or grafted, rather than when placed in service. This bill has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 4719, the America Gives More Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Reed (NY-23). A package of five bills to foster charitable giving (H.R. 4719, H.R. 2807, H.R. 4619, H.R. 3134, and H.R. 4691).  The bill makes the expanded charitable deduction for contributions of food inventory, tax-free distributions from IRAs for charitable purposes, and the deduction for contributions of conservation easements permanent.  Additionally, it will allow individual taxpayers to deduct charitable contributions made before April 15 (for calendar year taxpayers) for the tax year covered by the return and reduces the excise tax rate on net investment income to 1 percent. This legislation has passed the House.

Supported the Path to Prosperity which cuts spending by $5.1 trillion over 10 years and balances the budget in 10 years. 

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Steve Southerland (FL-2). This legislation prohibits the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers from enforcing a proposed rule that would redefine “waters of the United States” under the Clean Water Act (CWA), expanding the EPA’s jurisdiction into state and local waters. The bill requires the agencies to consult with state and local officials to formulate a regulatory proposal to define the scope of waters covered under the CWA. This bill has passed the House.

Cosponsored H.R. 367, the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, sponsored by Representative Todd Young (IN-9). This legislation ensures that Congress votes on all new major rules before they can be enforced. This bill has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 4315, the Endangered Species Transparency & Reasonableness Act, sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA-4). This legislation requires federal agencies to disclose data used to make decisions on listing animals under the Endangered Species Act. This bill has passed the House.

Cosponsored HR 935, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act, sponsored by Rep. Bob Gibbs (OH-7). This legislation eliminates duplicative pesticide permitting requirements for farmers. This bill has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 2641, the Responsibly and Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10).  This bill establishes a more streamlined and transparent Federal permitting process for construction projects by setting an 18-month maximum for an Environmental Assessment and a 36-month maximum for an Environmental Impact Statement. This legislation has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 899, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, sponsored by Representative Virginia Foxx (NC-5). This bill equips Congress and the public with tools to determine the true costs of regulations. This legislation has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 2804, the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency (ALERRT) Act, sponsored by Representative George Holding (NC-13). This legislation promotes jobs, better wages, and economic growth through regulatory reform. This bill has passed the House.

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, sponsored by Rep. Lee Terry (NE-2). This legislation Waives the requirement that they Keystone XL pipeline project receive a Presidential permit, thereby approving the pipeline’s construction.  The pipeline’s route shall include the Nebraska reroute evaluated in the Final Evaluation Report issued by the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality in January 2013 and approved by the Nebraska governor. This bill has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 1900, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo (KS-4). This bill streamlines natural gas permitting requirements. This legislation has passed the House.

Cosponsored H.R. 3826, the Electricity Security and Affordability Act, sponsored by Rep. Ed Whitfield (KY-1). This bill requires that any greenhouse gas standards set by EPA for new coal-fired plants can be achieved by commercial power plants and ensures that any proposed new greenhouse gas regulations for existing plants would be subject to congressional oversight. This legislation has passed the House.

Supported H.R. 4899, the Lowering Gasoline Prices to Fuel an America That Works Act, sponsored by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA-4). This bill increases offshore production by requiring the Administration to move forward with new offshore energy production in areas containing the most oil and natural gas resources. This legislation has passed the House.

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 45, the PPACA repeal bill, sponsored by Rep. Michele Bachmann (MN-6). This legislation fully repeals the Affordable Care Act. This bill has passed the House.

Cosponsored H.R. 582, the Healthcare Tax Relief and Mandate Repeal Act, sponsored by Rep. Michael Turner (OH-10). This bill repeals the individual and employer mandate.

Cosponsored H.R. 3121, the American Health Care Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (TN-1). This legislation is the RSC Obamacare replacement bill. It fully repeals Obamacare, and replaces it with patient-centric, free-market solutions. This legislation spurs competition to lower health care costs by allowing Americans to purchase health insurance across state lines and enabling small businesses to pool together and get the same buying power as large corporations.  Reforms medical malpractice laws in a commonsense way that limits trial lawyer fees and non-economic damages while maintaining strong protections for patients.  Provides tax reform that allows families and individuals to deduct health care costs, just like companies, leveling the playing field and providing all Americans with a standard deduction for health insurance. Expands access to Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), increasing the amount of pre-tax dollars individuals can deposit into portable savings accounts to be used for health care expenses. Safeguards individuals with pre-existing conditions from being discriminated against purchasing health insurance by bolstering state-based high risk pools and extending HIPAA guaranteed availability protections.  Protects the unborn by ensuring no federal funding of abortions. 

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 351, the Protecting Seniors’ Access to Medicare Act of 2013, sponsored by Rep. Phil Roe (TN-1). This legislation repeals the Independent Payment Advisory Board, a part of Obamacare that would impact seniors’ access to Medicare and quality healthcare.

Cosponsored H.R. 805, the Quality Improvement Organization Program Restoration Act, sponsored by Rep. Tom Price (GA-6). This act preserves the state-based nature of Medicare, retains accountability to Congress, and saves $500 million.

Under the Path to Prosperity, seniors are allowed to choose between traditional Medicare and a private plan that would be partially paid for by the government. This would be similar to the way in which employers currently offer insurance to employees in the private sector. This proposal would provide a selection of guaranteed issue health care plans for future seniors (those under age 55 currently) to choose from. This idea would interject competition into the system and achieve the goals of saving Medicare, providing quality health care for seniors, and lowering costs to the government.

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 425, which prohibits funds from being used to enforce the “Provisional Unlawful Presence Waivers of Inadmissibility for Certain Immediate Relatives” rule published by Department of Homeland Security, Sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6). This bill would prevent the administration from circumventing Congress and making their own rules on how to deal with the current undocumented population in the U.S.

Cosponsored H.R. 830, the Secure America with Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act, sponsored by Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6). This legislation is a three-pronged approach to combating illegal immigration. It would increase the number of Border Patrol and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, which would secure our border and help expedite the removal of illegal aliens. Additionally, it would mandate that all employers use the E-Verify program.

Cosponsored H.R. 2398, the National Security and Federal Lands Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-1). This legislation would allow Border Patrol agents to be granted immediate access to federal lands along the border, allowing them to more effectively do their job.

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 7, the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act of 2014, sponsored by Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4). This simple piece of legislation would establish a government-wide prohibition on abortion funding. H.R. 7 would make policies which rely on regular re-approval, such as the Hyde amendment, permanent law. The House has passed this bill.

Actions taken:

Sponsored H.R. 2541, the Police Officers Protecting Children Act. This bill allows certain qualified law enforcement officers the ability to protect children within a school zone.

Cosponsored H.Con.Res 23, which disapproves of the U.S. signing the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty, sponsored by Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3). This legislation expresses the sense of Congress that the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty is inherently flawed and infringes on the Constitutional rights of U.S. citizens.

Cosponsored H.R. 2408, which prohibits the Department of Justice from tracking and cataloguing multiple gun sales, sponsored by Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-6). This legislation prevents the DOJ from illegally tracking the sale of firearms to law-abiding citizens.

Cosponsored H.R. 3590, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement Act, sponsored by Rep. Robert Latta (OH-5). This legislation protects the rights of American sportsmen. It ensures that public lands remain open for hunting and other sporting purposes. This bill has passed the House.

Cosponsored H.R. 2959, the National Right-to-Carry Reciprocity Act of 2013, sponsored by Rep. Rich Nugent (FL-11). This legislation ensures that an individual with a concealed carry permit could carry in any state that also allows concealed carry. H.R. 2959 eliminates the complicated web of reciprocity agreements. It does not create any sort of database of concealed carry permit holders.

Actions taken:

Cosponsored H.R. 367, the REINS Act, sponsored by Rep. Todd Young (IN-9). This bill would increase accountability in the federal regulatory process by requiring that Congress approve all new major regulations.

Supported H.Res. 676, Providing for authority to initiate litigation for actions by the President or other executive branch officials inconsistent with their duties under the Constitution of the United States. This legislation passed the House on July 30th, 2014 and now awaits Senate action. On February 10, 2014, President Obama unilaterally acted to delay the employer mandate for employers with 50-99 employees until 2016. Under the regulations issued, only employers with more than 100 full-time workers will be subject to fines in 2015 unless they offer coverage. This move follows President Obama’s decision last July to delay the penalties associated with the employer mandate from 2014 to 2015.  Although this delay may be welcome news to employers, who face enormous burdens as a result of the mandate, the unilateral decision to delay implementation of a major provision in the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is a serious breach of the President’s constitutional duty to ensure that the laws are faithfully executed. The House passed this bill July 30, 2014.

The House has passed several pieces of legislation to address the many problems within Obamacare, including H.R. 2667, the Authority for Mandate Delay Act, that would allow Americans to keep their existing healthcare plans. But President Obama refuses to work with Congress.