View From the Capitol - Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler's Newsletter for the Week of December 1-5, 2014

Good Day,

Congress passed important legislation this week to help keep our country secure. The House came together in a bipartisan effort to pass the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) – the 53rd consecutive year that Congress has approved such critical legislation. The NDAA gives our brave troops the resources needed to combat the national security threats we face and it provides the necessary tools to our troops even though we face a scarcity of funds under sequestration. I am glad that soldiers and airmen at Fort Leonard Wood and Whiteman Air Force Base will be provided with the resources needed to perform the tasks required of them as part of our national security missions.

I am pleased that under this legislation we were able to keep the Apaches with the National Guard and secure additional funding for the E/A-18 “Growlers." Additionally, I fought hard to ensure the A-10 would be spared from retirement. The men and women defending our national security deserve the nation’s best close air support aircraft, and the A-10 is simply unmatched in that category.  As you may know, Whiteman Air Force Base is home to the 442nd Fighter Wing, a decorated A-10 unit; and the Missouri National Guard’s 1-135th Attack Flash Reconnaissance Battalion operates the Apache helicopters. They recently returned home after serving heroically in Afghanistan, so admirably protecting the efforts of our troops on the ground. Saving the A-10 from divestment, keeping the Apaches in the National Guard, and preserving production of the Growler electronic warfare aircraft were a major part of my efforts this year and I am thankful we were able to prevail for our men and women in uniform.

Immigration was an issue discussed this week as the House voted to stop President Obama’s executive actions regarding illegal immigrants. There is no doubt America needs to secure its borders – first and foremost – and we need to make adjustments to our current immigration system, but the President does not have the authority to bypass Congress to get his way. This measure would reaffirm the separation of powers under the Constitution. There is work to be done and Congress will address immigration in the new year. The simple fact is we are a nation of laws, and Congress – not the President – writes the laws all Americans must live under. The House will be taking further action to rein in this presidential overreach and give the power on this important issue back to the people, where it belongs.

On another matter, the House took important action to grow our workforce and spur our economy by voting to extend protections for American taxpayers. These extensions affect one in six taxpayers, providing tax credits for research and development, for renewable energy operations that produce electricity, as well as for food banks. Higher education students will be happy to hear that the package includes a tax credit – up to $4,000 - for them as well. According to the Internal Revenue Service, this higher education credit was used in the filing of 2.1 million tax returns for 2012. In addition, tax credits were extended for biodiesel and other alternative energy projects. Missouri’s Fourth District is home to three biodiesel plants, producing home-grown fuel and spurring the local economy. This credit will help them continue reducing our dependence on foreign oil, while providing a local market for area farmers.

Of particular interest is a section of the tax code (Section 179) that allows a taxpayer to expense all or part of the cost of certain qualifying property, under a limit, by deducting it in the year the property is placed into service. Claiming an immediate deduction by expensing property rather than depreciating it over a longer period of time frees up capital for small businesses and farmers who might otherwise not have the funds to hire workers, purchase new equipment, or otherwise expand operations. This is a common sense idea for both job creators and consumers.

There are many other deductions in this package that are notable for many Americans. The research and development credit, for example, would generally allow taxpayers a 20 percent credit on research expenses, encouraging investment in R&D. These are just a few of the provisions in this package.  For a section-by-section summary of the package, visit the Committee on Rules’ website at http://1.usa.gov/1CNfm0H.

On still another issue, the United States reached a milestone that no one should be proud to acknowledge. According to the U.S. Treasury Department, America’s national debt has surpassed the $18,000,000,000 mark – that is $18 TRILLION!! - rising by $7.4 trillion since January of 2009! The House has worked hard to slow the rate of increase and put our country on the road to a balanced budget, but more must be done. I look forward to the new session of Congress beginning in January and a Republican-controlled Senate working with the House to get America’s financial situation in order.

Finally, Christmas is just weeks away and the lights are illuminated on the Capitol Christmas tree. I strolled past the magnificent tree this week and snapped a photo of this beautiful sight.

The tree at the Capitol has been an American tradition since 1964 and reminds visitors that Christmas, this most special time of year, is rapidly approaching, with the promise of peace and good will to all men.

Have a great week.

Vicky