Getting Your Feedback, Protecting Our Sovereignty, and Religious Freedom in Obamacare

Events in West Texas: Getting Your Feedback

I’m in Texas for the week, and I’m hoping to meet with you and get your feedback on how to fix Washington.  Last week, I met with members of the Plains Cotton Growers to discuss recent progress on the Farm Bill and to get an update on how the cotton harvest is proceeding in West Texas.  The Farm Bill Conference Committee had a productive meeting last week, during which we discussed our priorities for the final bill.  I explained how important crop insurance is to cotton growers and other West Texas producers, who are being asked to grow more food and fiber than ever before.   Today, I visited Palmer Elementary School and Scott Labs in Lubbock.  I’ll be in Denver City tomorrow morning to meet with Yoakum County business leaders and members of the Chamber of Commerce.  I’ll have lunch in Seminole at the Lions Club, and then travel to Brownfield to meet with local residents. 

On Wednesday, you can find me in Lubbock at the Volunteer Center of Lubbock’s 17th Annual Cornucopia Luncheon.  We’ll be honoring people who’ve made an exceptional commitment to volunteerism and community service.  On Friday, I’m looking forward to attending a Purple Heart Banquet held in conjunction with Texas Tech’s Lone Survivor game to honor our veterans.  Hundreds of Purple Heart recipients will be in Lubbock to attend the game as participants pay tribute to our nation's veterans and the active duty personnel of the United States Military.

If you can’t meet me at one of these events and you’d like to share your opinions with me, feel free to send me an email or call my office at 806-763-1611.

Protecting Our Sovereignty

More than 200 years ago, our founding fathers had a vision of a free, independent nation.  They fought hard to make that vision a reality.  It troubles me when I see this Administration taking actions that could undermine that hard-fought independence.  That’s why this month I’ve signed onto two letters to President Obama and the Senate urging them to oppose two overbearing United Nations treaties.  We don’t need international agreements that weaken our laws and tell us how to govern. 

First, I signed a letter opposing the U.N. Arms Trade Treaty.  It would give broad authority to the U.N. to dictate our gun ownership laws, which is contrary to the rights guaranteed to us by the Second Amendment.  I’m committed to preventing funding for any implementation of this treaty.

I also asked the Senate to reject the U.N. Convention of Rights on Persons with Disabilities.   It limits the rights of parents, and doesn’t protect Americans with disabilities from abuse.  Even worse, it claims that abortion is a right.  I feel strongly that we must protect our unborn children and fight for their right to life. 

I’ll keep you posted on both of these issues.  The U.S. must not sign onto treaties that undermine our national sovereignty.  Although the U.S. Constitution does not grant the House of Representatives the power to vote on international treaties, as your Congressman, I’ll do everything in my power to fight for America’s right to self-govern.

Action Item: Religious Freedom Under Obamacare

Did you know that through the new Obamacare exchanges, you might unknowingly subsidize abortions? Plans on the exchanges do not disclose whether they cover abortion, and if you select a plan that does, you will pay at least $1 into a fund to pay for all enrollees’ abortions on demand.  That’s unacceptable.  So I’m cosponsoring H.R. 3279, the Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act, to require that all plans disclose whether or not they include abortion coverage. If an Obamacare exchange plan includes abortion, the plan must also disclose the amount of the abortion surcharge. I’ll continue fighting for transparency in these plans so that you do not have to unwillingly pay for someone’s elective abortion.