2013 April/May Newsletter
INDEX
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Breaking News
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Ongoing Efforts
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Promoting a Healthy Economy
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Preventing Default without Raising the Debt Ceiling
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Reducing Flight Delays Act
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Jobs and Energy Independence
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Renewable hydropower
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Keystone Pipeline XL
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Rep. Hall receives the George E. Haddaway Award for Achievement in Aviation from Frontiers of Flight Museum
To learn more about the award,
CLICK HERE
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Repealing “Obamacare”
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Committee Activities
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Energy and Commerce
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Science, Space, and Technology
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Looking Ahead
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Debt limit
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Funding the government for fiscal year 2014
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Department of Defense reauthorization
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FARRM Bill reauthorization
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Reducing energy costs
BREAKING NEWS
Tornados Sweep Oklahoma
A series of deadly tornados swept through towns just outside of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma on Monday evening, killing 24 people including several children. The families and communities impacted by these tornados remain in my thoughts and prayers. If you would like to assist the victims of this tragedy, I encourage you to visit the Red Cross website (CLICK HERE).
Oversight of Obama Administration
Internal Revenue Service Targets Conservative Non-Profits
On Friday, May 10, Lois Lerner, the Director of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) division that oversees tax-exempt groups, admitted the IRS has been targeting conservative-leaning political organizations. The fact that the IRS – which should be non-partisan – has abused its power and bullied American taxpayers based on political beliefs is intolerable. All Americans – whether Democrat or Republican, liberal or conservative – have the Constitutional right to their own beliefs and the freedom to peacefully express those beliefs without being penalized or harassed. To learn more about this issue and actions I have taken to address this political targeting, CLICK HERE.
More Benghazi Attack Details Surface
House Republicans continue to pursue the full truth about the terrorist attack on the consulate in Benghazi, Libya which took place on the anniversary of 9-11 this past September. Whistleblowers Mark Thompson, Gregory Hicks, and Eric Nordstrom gave valuable testimony on May 8 that established the most detailed timeline of events to date. Testimony also suggested talking points were altered and, in many cases, created from whole cloth in the hours and days after the terrorist attack. House Republicans will continue to dig for the truth despite a lack of cooperation from the Administration. To learn more about this issue and the legislation I support to create a select committee for further investigation, CLICK HERE.
ONGOING EFFORTS
Promoting a Healthy Economy
Preventing Default without Raising the Debt Ceiling
On May 9, the House passed H.R. 807, The Full Faith and Credit Act. The bill gives Americans the assurance that the U.S. government will not default on the national debt and Social Security beneficiaries will receive payments in full and on time. While Congress and the President work to pass appropriations bills in the next few months, I remain committed to reining in the government’s serious spending problem, reducing the debt, and balancing the budget. To learn more about this bill, CLICK HERE.
Reducing Flight Delays Act
H.R. 1765, The Reducing Flight Delays Act, which passed the House on April 26 and became public law on May 1, is a victory for the American people in the fight to reduce federal spending while preserving vital services. Republicans have stood firm against the White House’s and Democrat-controlled Senate’s threats that sequester cuts would only be replaced with tax increases, and when the Administration used flight delays to make the sequester as painful as possible, the American people spoke out. To learn more about this bill, CLICK HERE. To learn more about Air Traffic Control Tower Funding, CLICK HERE.
Jobs and Energy Independence
Americans need jobs and more affordable energy, and I continue to fight for legislation that boosts these priorities.
On April 10, I was pleased to vote in favor of H.R. 678, The Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act, which would create new American jobs and increase America’s energy independence by expanding production of clean, renewable hydropower – one of the cheapest and cleanest forms of electricity. To learn more about this bill, CLICK HERE.
On May 22, the House passed H.R. 3, The Northern Route Approval Act, which would bypass the Administration’s continued stalling of the Keystone XL Pipeline by removing the need for the Presidential Permit. The application for the Keystone Pipeline was submitted over 1,700 days ago, and the American people are tired of waiting on the President to act. We need these jobs now. The Keystone Pipeline construction would directly create 20,000 much-needed jobs, provide a minimum $7 billion boost to our economy, and, when fully constructed, bring nearly one million barrels of Canadian crude oil to U.S. refineries per day. This greater access to energy would also mean more affordable gas prices at the pump. To learn more about this bill, CLICK HERE.
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Rep. Hall tours a reclaimed coal site along with staff from Luminant
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Repealing “Obamacare”
Americans deserve responsible health care reform, which is why I support a full repeal of “Obamacare” and continue to work to defund as much of this bad law as possible. On May 16th, I voted with the House to pass H.R. 45, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health-care related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This bill marks House Republicans’ 37th vote to fully or partially repeal or defund ‘Obamacare.’ To learn more, CLICK HERE.
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Rep. Hall, General Thomas Stafford, and the staff at Dr. AJ Hashmi’s Heart Clinic
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Committee Activities
Energy and Commerce
On May 16, the Energy and Power Subcommittee and Environment and Economy Subcommittee held a joint hearing to review the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget for fiscal year 2014. I have many concerns with the current Administration’s expansive and costly regulations, as well as the lack of transparency in regard to these regulations. To learn more about this joint Subcommittee hearing, CLICK HERE.
The Energy and Commerce Committee also continues to pursue efforts to provide Americans with better healthcare. To read about the Committee’s efforts to track the effects of Obamacare, CLICK HERE. To read about the Committee’s efforts to sustain and protect Medicare, CLICK HERE.
Science, Space, and Technology
On April 11, the Full Committee held a markup on two bills: H.R. 875, to provide for a comprehensive assessment of the scientific and technical research on the implications of the use of mid-level ethanol blends, and for other purposes, and H.R. 1422, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013, of which I am an original co-sponsor. To learn more about this markup, CLICK HERE.
On April 17, the Full Committee held a hearing to review the President’s budget request for science, space, and technology agencies in fiscal year 2014. Committee Republicans are focused on common-sense budget solutions to maintain America’s leadership and global competitive edge while keeping in mind the need to rein in federal spending. To learn more about this hearing, CLICK HERE.
LOOKING AHEAD
House Republicans will be busy on your behalf as we move into the summer months. The debt ceiling is expected to be reached sometime over the summer, and House Republicans have already taken proactive steps on this issue (see above under “Promoting a Healthy Economy or CLICK HERE).
As we begin the appropriations process to fund the government for fiscal year 2014, I will continue to work for responsible spending. The Department of Defense Reauthorization and the FARRM Bill Reauthorization will be very important for the 4th District. (Learn more about these issues by clicking on the following links: Supporting Our Troops, FARRM Bill.)
House Republicans will also continue to work to lower energy costs. My roles on the Energy and Commerce Committee and the Science, Space, and Technology Committee will provide opportunities for me to weigh in on this issue.
I hope you found this newsletter helpful and informative as I continue to work on behalf of 4th District constituents for real solutions that promote a healthy economy, create an environment for job creation, and make our government more efficient and accountable.
Your views and concerns guide my efforts, and I look forward to hearing from you so that I may serve you to the best of my ability.
Sincerely,
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