In the News

In the News

Getting Results for the People of California

In The News
Aug 9, 2016

Most Effective

As your Representative in Congress, Congressman Darrell Issa has been hard at work, getting results on the issues that matter most to you. A national leader with extensive bipartisan accomplishments, Congressman Issa has worked with members of Congress from both parties to pass legislation that is making government more accountable, reducing taxes, creating jobs, protecting our veterans, and ensuring America remains safe and secure.

Below is a list of some of the results Congressman Issa has delivered in Washington, D.C.

Leading Effectively

Congressman Issa has been recognized as "one of the most effective members of Congress" for being particularly "skilled at overcoming gridlock" in order to get things done.

Serving Our Veterans

  • Secured Funding For Marine Family Housing at Pendleton – Congressman Issa fought for and secured funding for over 900 new family housing units on Camp Pendleton Marine Corps Base. [i]
  • Helped Equip Service Members For Jobs in High-Demand Fields – Working with Mira Costa College, Congressman Issa delivered funding to support Mira Costa College’s program to transition veteran corpsmen and medics into the California nursing sector, a measure that would create opportunities for post-military service employment. [ii]
  • Supported Military Family Caregivers – Congressman Issa introduced bipartisan legislation to expand annual leave for family members caring for wounded service members from 12 to 26 weeks under the Family and Medical Leave Act. Language providing this expansion was approved in 2007 and signed into law in 2008. [iii]

Creating Jobs

  • Made it Easier for Companies to Grow And Hire New Workers – Having spent his career creating jobs in the private sector, Congressman Issa was proud have been one of the thought-leaders shaping the JOBS Act, which was signed into law with bipartisan support. The bill makes it easier for companies, especially start-ups, to raise capital they need to expand, grow and hire new employees. [iv]
  • Introduced Legislation to Keep Jobs In America – Together with Congressman Scott Peters and all 5 San Diego-area members of Congress, Darrell Issa introduced the Protect and Grow American Jobs Act which will close loopholes used to outsource good-paying jobs to companies overseas.
  • Supported the Sharing Economy -- Pairing with Democratic colleague Rep. Eric Swalwell, Congressman Issa created the Congressional Sharing Economy Caucus to educate and promote the sharing economy on Capitol Hill, which holds incredible potential to create jobs and opportunity for millions of Americans. [v]
  • Reformed Lawsuits – Lengthy and complicated patent lawsuits slow the legal justice system and burden job creators. Congressman Issa’s Patent Pilot legislation established a test system to speed up review in U.S. district courts. Reviews of the reforms show the law has been successful in helping these cases move more expeditiously through the court system. [vi]

Opening Government

  • Updated the Freedom of Information Act -- Congressman Issa worked for more than three years with Congressman Elijah Cummings (D-MD) and his Senate colleagues to pass the most comprehensive reform to the Freedom of Information Act in more than 50 years. The bill, which has now become law, will help ensure citizens know what their government is doing behind closed doors. The new law increases the amount of information made available to the public and makes all disclosed government information available in a single, searchable online portal.  [vii]
  • Increased Accountability in the Federal Government– While chairing the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Congressman Issa conducted rigorous oversight of waste, fraud, and abuse within the federal government, which exposed numerous scandals and led to reforms of how tax dollars are spent.

Reducing Spending

  • Made Government Spending Transparent -- With bipartisan support, Congressman Issa passed the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (DATA). The DATA Act transforms the way the public can access government spending information, making it easier, simpler, and more transparent. It requires the government to publish all information about its spending in an open, searchable format. [viii]
  • Cut Waste in Government –  To cut back on waste in government IT contracts, Congressman Issa introduced the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act. Many of these provisions became law under the NDAA that year. The reforms he championed streamlined government technology purchases to help cut back on waste, increase efficiency, and reduce the $40 billion the government spends every year maintaining outdated or duplicative technology. [ix]
  • Eliminated Unnecessary Government Reports – Congressman Issa passed the Government Reports Elimination Act which eliminates a list of certain outdated or unnecessary reports federal bureaucrats are required to produce, often at great taxpayer expense. The bill saves taxpayer dollars and streamlines government by getting rid of this requirement. [x]
  • Initiated Phased Federal Employee Retirement – Congressman Issa introduced bipartisan legislation to save hundreds of millions in taxpayer funds through phased-in federal employee retirement. Phased retirement language became law in July 2012. [xi]
  • Using Uber and Airbnb To Save Taxpayer Dollars -- Congressman Issa's Sharing Economy Caucus has been able to save taxpayer dollars through common-sense reforms like authorizing government workers to using sharing economy services like Uber and Lyft instead of more expensive traditional taxi cabs. [v]

Keeping America Safe

  • Passed Legislation Fighting Terrorism and Securing the Homeland – In the 114th Congress, Congressman Issa has voted for 11 bills that were signed into law to improve homeland security and counterterrorism efforts. Highlights include the Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act, signed into law on May 22, 2015, which provided for congressional review and oversight of agreements relating to Iran’s nuclear program, as well as the USA Freedom Act, signed into law on June 2, 2015, which reformed current law to require the production of information gathering forms for foreign intelligence, counterterrorism, and criminal purposes.
  • Authorizing Use of Force and Requiring a Plan to Beat ISIS - On September 8, 2014, Congressman Issa introduced H.J. Res. 123, to authorize the use of military force against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). This resolution authorized the President to use military force within a set period of time (until January 31, 2015) and required the President to conduct a safe withdrawal and end to any operations cited under the resolution. It further required the President to submit a plan to Congress, including a strategic plan for U.S. military action against ISIL, an engagement plan for how U.S. forces will work with an international coalition to address ISIL threats, and an assessment of ISIL’s continued threat to U.S. security and threat to U.S. citizens in the region. 
  • Stopping Hackers -- Recognizing the growing threat of cyberattacks from hackers and our enemies abroad, Congressman Issa passed the “Federal Information Security Amendments (FISA) Act of 2014 which updates the Federal Government's cybersecurity practices to better protect the United States against digital attacks. [xiv]

Helping Retirees 

  • Maintained Senior's Access to Medicare – Congressman Issa and Democratic Congressman Sam Farr of Northern California worked together to reform an outdated Medicare formula that unfairly penalized doctors serving certain California communities, including San Diego County. Issa’s reforms will allow San Diego health care providers to continue treating our seniors. [xii]
  • Helped Americans Better Save For Retirement -- With bipartisan support, Congressman Issa passed into law the “Smart Savings Act” to better prepare many federal government employees for retirement without additional taxpayer funds. It increases the returns on federal employees retirement savings by changing the default enrollment option to an age-appropriate target-date fund. [xiii] 

Encouraging Technology and Innovation

  • Formed the Sharing Economy Caucus -- Pairing with Democratic colleague Rep. Eric Swalwell, Congressman Issa created the Congressional Sharing Economy Caucus to educate and promote the sharing economy on Capitol Hill. In a short time, the Caucus has seen results in the updating of government policies that will save taxpayer dollars through sharing economy use. [xv]
  • Defended an Open Internet – Congressman Issa led the opposition to a harmful proposal to give the government sweeping new powers to control the Internet. Working in collaboration with various stakeholders, a bill to restrict internet freedom was defeated in favor of internet openness. [xvi] In response, Issa introduced the OPEN Act as an important alternative to keep the Internet free from government overreach. [xvii]

Supporting Women

  • Helped Pass Violence Against Women Protections – Congressman Issa was crucial to the passage of the Violence Against Women’s Act (VAWA) Reauthorization of 2013. With the Congressman’s help, the bill included provisions to address the unique criminal justice needs for acts perpetrated on Native American women. VAWA provides tools and resources not only for law enforcement and reforming the judicial system, but also the victims of sexual and violent crimes. [xviii]
  • Improved Gynecologic Cancer Awareness – Congressman Issa worked with Democratic and Republican members of the House and Senate to pass “Johanna’s Law” which created a program to educate patients and healthcare providers to increase detection of deadly gynecologic cancer earlier in order to save lives. [xix]
  • Justice for Sexual Assault Survivors – Working with our neighboring Congresswoman Rep. Mimi Walters, Congressman Issa sponsored the Survivor's Bill of Rights Act which will ensure survivors of sexual assault are granted access necessary medical forensic exams while strengthening federal evidence standards so that crucial evidence can't be destroyed before the statute of limitations for a case has run out.
  • Fighting Human Trafficking – Congressman Darrell Issa is an original co-sponsor of the Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act. Over 17,000 people are trafficked each year just in the United States alone. The Human Trafficking Prevention, Intervention, and Recovery Act helps helps law enforcement agencies adopt the best practices possible to fight and prevent this crime.

Providing Drought Relief

  • Delivered Recycled Water Solutions to Southern California – Working with local community leaders, Congressman Issa delivered federal support for a recycled water distribution and wastewater treatment and reclamation facility. [xx]

Preserving Native American Lands

  • Preserving Cultural Land in Southern California –Congressman Issa’s legislation, the “Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act” was signed into law, returning culturally and historically significant land to the Pechanga Band. [xxi]

[i] $200 million for MILCON projects on Camp Pendleton.  In December 2003, work began to construct 962 new family housing units and close down the most outdated units in the Wire Mountain area.

[ii] $238,000 for Mira Costa College to design and implement assessment and instructional programs aimed specifically at transitioning veteran corpsmen and medics into the California nursing sector.

[iii] Rep. Issa introduced the Military Family and Medical Leave Act (H.R. 3391) with Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV) in August 2007.  Language approving this expansion was incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act (Section 585 of H.R. 4986, 110th Congress) which was signed into law on January 28, 2009 (Public Law 110-181).

[iv] With Rep. Issa’s support, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups bill (H.R. 3606, 112th Congress) was signed into law on April 5, 2012.

[v] On May 12, 2015, Rep. Issa and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) launched the Congressional Caucus on the Sharing Economy.

[vi] Congressman Issa introduced a bill to establish a pilot program in certain U.S. district courts to encourage enhancement of expertise in patent cases among district judges (H.R. 5418, 109th Congress).  The bill passed the House of Representatives on September 28, 2006.

[vii] Rep. Issa and Rep. Cummings introduced the FOIA Oversight and Implementation Act (H.R. 653, 114th Congress) in February 2015. H.R. 653 passed the House in January 2016 and the Senate companion (S. 337, 114th Congress) was signed into law on June 30, 2016 (Public Law 114-185).

[viii] Rep. Issa introduced the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 2061, 113th Congress) with Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) in 2013.  H.R. 2061 passed the House in November 2013 and the Senate companion bill (S. 994, 113th Congress), introduced by Sens. Mark Warner (D-VA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) was signed into law May 9, 2014 (Public Law 113-101).

[ix] Rep. Issa introduced the Federal Information Technology Acquisition Reform Act (H.R. 1232, 113th Congress) with Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-VA) in March 2013 and it passed the House of Representatives in February 2014.  A similar bill was introduced in the Senate. Compromise language was negotiated and included in the FY 2015 NDAA signed into law on December 19, 2014.

[x] Rep. Issa introduced the Government Reports Elimination Act (H.R. 4194, 113th Congress), which passed the House in April 2014 and was signed into law on November 26, 2014 (Public Law 113-188).

[xi] Rep. Issa introduced the Federal Employee Phased Retirement Act (H.R. 4363, 112th Congress).  Phased retirement language was signed into law as part of H.R. 4348 on July 6, 2012 (Public Law 112-141).

[xii] The California GPCI fix was included as part of the passage of H.R. 4302, the Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014.   The bill was signed into law on April 1, 2014 (Public Law 113-93) and the rate increases for San Diego doctors will begin in 2017 and be phased in until full implementation in 2022.

[xiii] Rep. Issa introduced the Smart Saving Act (H.R. 4193, 113th Congress) passed the House of Representatives on July 14, 2014.  Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Rob Portman (R-OH) introduced similar legislation. The Smart Savings Act was signed into law on December 18, 2014 (Public Law 113-118).

[xiv] Rep. Issa introduced the Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2013, (H.R. 1163, 113th Congress) in March 2013. Issa’s bill passed the House unanimously on April 16, 2013.  A companion bill by Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE) (S. 2521, 113th Congress) was signed into law December 18, 2014 (Public Law 113-283).

[xv] On May 12, 2015, Rep. Issa and Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) launched the Congressional Caucus on the Sharing Economy.

[xvi] Rep. Lamar Smith (R-TX) introduced H.R. 3261, the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA), in 2011. The House and Senate both dropped pursuit of SOPA and its Senate companion legislation following strong opposition by Issa and others, including the shutdown of major websites like Google and Wikipedia in protest of the bill.

[xvii] Rep. Issa introduced the Online Protection and Enforcement of Digital Trade (OPEN) Act in January 2012 (H.R. 3782, 112th Congress).

[xviii] Rep. Issa’s amendment (reflected in Sec. 904 of Public Law 113-4) provided provisions of extra protection for Indian Country by allowing tribal courts to appropriately adjudicated domestic violence crimes committed in Indian Country if at least one party was a Native American.  This maintains tribal sovereignty and alleviates the back-log of cases at the District Court level.

[xix] Congressman Issa introduced the Gynecologic Cancer Education and Awareness Act (H.R. 1245, 109th Congress) in 2005. The bill was signed into law on January 12, 2007 (Public Law 109-475).

[xx] The Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians Land Transfer Act was signed in Law October 10, 2008 (Public 110-383).  Nearly 1,200 acres of land in the Counties of Riverside and San Diego were transferred to the Pechanga Band of Luiseno Mission Indians.

[xxi] Rep. Issa introduced the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District Wastewater and Recycled Water Facilities Act of 2009 (H.R. 76, 111th Congress).  The language was signed into law as part of the Omnibus Lands bill on March 30, 2009 (Public Law 111-11).

 

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