April 2014 in Review
Ongoing Efforts
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Rep. Hall visits with constituents at Celina's annual Cajun Fest
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Looking Ahead
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Education Efforts
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Fighting Amnesty and “ObamaCare”
ONGOING EFFORTS
Reining in Spending, Taxes
As a fiscal conservative and longtime supporter of the Balanced Budget Amendment, I believe the federal government should be good stewards of taxpayers’ dollars and that Americans have a right to know how their tax dollars are spent. Unfortunately, under this Administration we have seen a dramatic increase in federal spending accompanied by an unprecedented lack of transparency. This Administration’s spending habits are, without a doubt, unsustainable and hurt American families that are struggling to pay bills and find jobs.
In April I was pleased to vote for a budget that balances in four years, as well as two bills that work to reduce the national debt and promote budget transparency within the federal government. All of these efforts would, in turn, create opportunity for job growth.
I will continue to fight for a balanced budget without raising taxes in order to boost job creation and economic growth, improve the lives of all Americans, and ensure our children and grandchildren inherit a prosperous America.
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Rep. Hall and Rep. Michele Bachmann visit at the American Conservative Union Awards Ceremony before they are both honored as "top conservatives" for consistently supporting issues of concern to grassroots conservatives. LEARN MORE HERE.
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Balancing the Budget
Washington has a responsibility to the American people to balance the budget and live within its means – just like American families do every year. The Republican Study Committee (RSC) budget, which I supported on April 10, does just that – it balances the federal budget in four years and reins in Washington’s huge deficits. I am also pleased that this budget fully repeals “ObamaCare.”
More specifically, the RSC budget would:
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Bring the budget into balance without raising taxes;
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Repeal “ObamaCare” and replace it with the patient-centered American Health Care Reform Act;
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Strengthen Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security to ensure these important programs are preserved for future generations;
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Reform the tax code to make it more fair and simple;
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Reduce deficit spending;
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Restore Defense spending cuts under the President’s “sequester;” and
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Return to principles of welfare reform.
Promoting Budget Transparency
In order to rein in spending and promote budget transparency within the federal government, in April I also voted on H.R. 1871, The Baseline Reform Act, and H.R. 1872, The Budget and Accounting Transparency Act. These bills adopt the same budget standards as the private sector and force Washington to disclose all spending. This in turn will create a pro-jobs, pro-growth environment that Americans need.
The Baseline Reform Act removes the automatic inflationary adjustment to discretionary spending. By removing the automatic increase for inflation, the bill saves taxpayers an initial $1.2 trillion over ten years.
The Budget and Accounting Transparency Act increases transparency by ensuring the full cost of federal credit programs is included in the President’s annual budget. In addition to the budget accounting reform, this bill requires agencies to make public all documents they prepare in support of requests for taxpayer dollars.
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Rep. Hall and Senator Rand Paul celebrate Tax Freedom Day
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Reforming the Tax Code to Promote Fairness
Every tax season families and small businesses must navigate America’s flawed tax system. With Tax Day in April, we are mindful not only of the need to reduce spending but of the need for tax reform in order to strengthen our economy.
In the past decade alone, over 4,400 changes have been added to the tax code.It is no wonder 90% of us – including former IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman – are either forced to hire a professional or purchase commercial software in order to complete our taxes on time.
American families and small businesses deserve a simpler and fairer tax code. That is why I am an original cosponsor of the Fair Tax Act (H.R. 25) and the Death Tax Repeal Act (H.R. 147). I am also proud to cosponsor the Flat Tax Act (H.R. 1040) and the Tax Code Termination Act (H.R. 352). To learn more about my efforts on tax reform, CLICK HERE.
Promoting Jobs, Repealing “ObamaCare”
From the beginning, Republicans predicted “ObamaCare” would have negative impacts on American workers and job creators. These predictions are coming true, and lower-income Americans are being hit the hardest – 2.6 million workers with a median income of under $30,000 are at risk of losing jobs or hours.
“ObamaCare’s” employer mandate is one of the biggest obstacles threatening job creation. Even one of this bad health care law’s biggest supporters – Teamsters’ President James Hoffa – stated that the 30-hour rule will “destroy the foundation of the 40-hour work week that is the backbone of the American middle class.”
In addition to my efforts to fully repeal “ObamaCare,” on April 3rd I voted in support of H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act to repeal the 30-hour definition of “full-time employment” under “ObamaCare.” The Save American Workers Act restores the traditional 40-hour definition in order to combat the negative effects of “ObamaCare’s” employer mandate and also drastically reduces “ObamaCare” taxes on job creators by $63.4 billion, which in turn translates into an increase of $75 billion in cash wages for American workers at a time when they need it most.
I am proud to be an original co-sponsor of this pro-jobs bill and that it has the support of Rockwall Area Chamber of Commerce and other 4th District businesses. In order to help Americans have more personal security and better lives, we need to encourage an environment where job creators have the certainty they need to hire new workers. That is one of the many reasons why a full repeal of “ObamaCare” is necessary.
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Rep. Hall visits Mt. Vernon’s East Texas Medical Center with Dr. Jean Latortue and wife Marie Latortue
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Supporting our Troops and Veterans
As a war veteran who represents the 4th District’s over 60,000 veterans and their families, I am a longtime supporter of our servicemen, both past and present. I believe it is imperative that we provide these brave individuals and their families with the care and support they need, deserve, and have earned through their sacrifices on behalf of our great Nation. In April I was proud to support the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Reauthorization for fiscal year 2015. This bill ensures our veterans have quality medical care, including mental health care, suicide prevention, traumatic brain injury treatment, and rural health initiatives. The reauthorization would also support important job and training programs as well as homeless veterans programs. Of particular importance to the 4th District, the House’s reauthorization addresses the disability claims processing backlog at the Veterans Affairs offices through efforts for digital scanning of health records and centralized mail.
I thank our troops and veterans for their service to all Americans, and I will continue to support our servicemen and women through responsible funding.
District News
Combating Drought in the 4th District
While Texas is no stranger to droughts, the past two years have been especially dry, and 4th District constituents have been hit hard. Subsequently, the Department of Agriculture used the Drought Monitor – a product of the National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS) program I introduced and that was signed into law in March – to designate eight counties within the District as natural disaster areas due to recent drought. The eight counties designated on April 2nd are Fannin, Lamar, Collin, Delta, Grayson, Hunt, Red River, and Rockwall counties. This timely designation is an important step towards recovery in the midst of drought. It will allow local farmers to be eligible for much-needed assistance from the Farm Service Agency (FSA), including emergency loans. I am pleased the NIDIS program continues to be effective in providing accurate drought information and that 4th District constituents will personally benefit from NIDIS.
In April the House also passed legislation I introduced to help provide safe, clean drinking water to the 4th District – the North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act. Water is our most vital resource and one of our primary needs. In the State of Texas and the 4th District, our lakes have been infested with zebra mussels. Wherever zebra mussels are found, quagga mussels are more than likely to be found as well. The North Texas Invasive Species Barrier Act expands the exemption from the Zebra Mussel Barrier Act (which I introduced) to include all aquatic invasive species and plants, and enables the North Texas Municipal Water District to do their job. It does not encourage extra pumping that would harm Lake Texoma’s current low water levels. Such action will better serve more than 1.5 million North Texans in a manner that provides safe water and much-needed jobs.
I may not be able to make it rain, but I can legislate. I will continue my efforts on behalf of the 4th District during this difficult drought season and will help our local officials and farmers better prepare for and alleviate the impact of drought.
Red River Army Depot Secures AMPV Bid Contract
Red River Army Depot is a vital part of the Bowie County Community that supports over 4,500 jobs and contributes to the local economy. In defense of Bowie County, last month I sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel requesting he honor an ongoing competitive procurement plan to provide the Army with Armored Multi-Purpose Vehicles (AMPV) that would be serviced at Red River. I am pleased to announce that one month later, on April 4, the Department of Defense announced its decision to move forward with the Army’s competitive procurement.
The Army’s decision to honor the approved competitive procurement plan and allow the competition to proceed without delay is good news not only for Bowie County and the men and women who work at Red River, but our troops who need these vehicles without delay. No current vehicles meet the survivability, mobility, and reliability upgrades outlined in the Army’s competitive bid. Our troops put their lives on the line daily, and they deserve to have a vehicle that meets 100% of their needs. These vehicles cannot be delayed a year or more by rehashing the multi-year bidding process.
I am proud of the workers at Red River and for the important work they do every day to protect our servicemen and women. I am honored to support them in their efforts to see this important program move forward, which is why I am now sending a letter to the Chairman and Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Committee to ensure the Army is able to proceed with its ongoing competitive solicitation for this program.
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Rep. Hall visits Denison’s Visionary Industrial Insulation, Inc.
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Committee Activities
Energy and Commerce Committee
In April the Energy and Commerce Committee continued its efforts to promote responsible energy use by encouraging energy efficiency and increasing exports to allies. Both actions work to boost the economy, promote job creation, and lower energy costs for Americans.
To encourage energy efficiency, the Committee passed the Energy Savings Through Public-Private Partnerships Act (H.R. 2689) and the Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act (H.R. 4092). H.R. 2689 encourages private sector investment to upgrade the energy and water efficiency of federal facilities. H.R. 4092 helps our nation’s schools reduce energy costs and save taxpayers money by establishing an online resource at the Department of Energy to publish information about available federal programs that can be used to save energy and costs.
By increasing exports of our domestic energy resources, Americans would benefit from economic growth and subsequent job creation. Increased exports to America’s allies would also weaken Russia’s stronghold on natural gas exports, thereby strengthening our Nation’s national security. With this in mind, the Committee passed H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act. This bill expedites the export of U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to our allies by granting without delay all pending LNG export applications published in the Federal Register as of March 6, 2014.
In April I also wrote an Opinion Piece for the Washington Times discussing the need for comprehensive domestic energy solutions – particularly in regards to hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” – in order for America to achieve energy independence. I touted Texas’ leadership on this issue and encouraged the Obama Administration to look to our Great State’s successful efforts. To read my op-ed, “Texas: ‘Fracking’ Role Model for U.S.,” CLICK HERE.
Science, Space, and Technology Committee
Our space program has contributed as much or more than any civilian government program to securing America’s technological and economic leadership in the world. NASA technologies have benefitted U.S. industry, improved our quality of life, and created jobs. Spin-off technologies include CAT scans, firefighting equipment, water purification, and artificial hearts – just to name a few.
The space program also continues to be a key motivator for students to enter science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) related fields of education. Americans will reap the benefits from a fully active and comprehensive space program strategy, which is why I was pleased to support the Committee’s NASA reauthorization for fiscal year 2015. I am particularly pleased this bill reauthorizes a program I have long supported – the Space Grant College and Fellowship program. This program supports a national network of State-based groups and provides flexibility to the States with the objective of enhancing America’s STEM education and workforce. To enhance the program’s effectiveness, the bill calls for an independent review, along with recommendations for improvements, if needed.
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Rep. Hall visits Reno's volunteer fire department with Mayor Buddy Heuberger |
Congressional Silver Mouse Award
On April 28th my congressional website was named one of the best websites on Capitol Hill and given a 113th Congress Silver Mouse Award by the Congressional Management Foundation (CMF), a nonpartisan, nonprofit entity that works to improve communications between citizens and Congress and enhance operations in Capitol Hill offices.
At a time when so few people have faith in the government, it is our responsibility to provide constituents the best possible accountability through social media such as websites, Facebook, and Twitter. I hope constituents find my website a reliable and current resource, and I look forward to continually improving constituent outreach.
My award-winning website includes:
LOOKING AHEAD
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Rep. Hall speaks at Mt. Vernon High School’s “Leaders of Tomorrow” class
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In May, the House will consider H.R. 10, the Success and Opportunity through Quality Charter Schools Act. This bill promotes state efforts to develop and expand charter schools, and it enhances the sharing of best practices between charters and traditional public schools.
Some House Members have made statements regarding efforts to offer some form of amnesty to undocumented immigrants sometime this summer, accompanied by statements expressing sentiment that “ObamaCare” is here to stay. To 4th District constituents, I want to say that I oppose any form of amnesty and believe the “ObamaCare” fight will not be over until a full and permanent repeal is reached.
I hope you found this newsletter helpful and informative, and I thank you for taking the time to read it.
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. Let us all continue to work together to provide a better and brighter future for our families by promoting conservative values our country needs.
Sincerely,
Ralph M. Hall
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