e-News 1/9/15

• The New Congress
• Saving American Jobs
• Hiring Heroes, Helping Small Businesses
• Obamacare, Tax Season and the IRS
• “Je Suis Charlie”
• “Where are Cuba’s Political Prisoners?”
• Salute: A Final Personal Thank You to Berardino DiGiacomantonio

 

The New Congress

Tuesday afternoon, I was honored once again to raise my right hand and swear to uphold the Constitution of the United States.  With this simple, yet profound act, I began another term as a member of Congress.

I am honored and humbled to serve the people of New Jersey’s 11^thCongressional District.  Once again, I pledge to continue to give my dedicated and tireless best to this important job.

Of course, this is not the first Congress to be seated during challenging times.  However, the tasks and responsibilities before us today are truly daunting and must be met.

Despite news of an improving economy, families and businesses are still stressed and strained.  From my travels around my congressional district, I know many do not yet feel that we are in the midst of any recovery. Household budgets are stretched thin and people worry about rebuilding their investments, protecting jobs and assuring their children’s future.

At the same time, new threats to our national security, our interests and our allies have emerged across the globe – from Russia, North Korea, Iran and groups like ISIL and al Qaeda.

Lest anyone forget, we have thousands of courageous men and women in uniform – all volunteers – engaged with the enemy in Afghanistan and Iraq.  My visit on Monday to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda confirmed that.

Once again, we find our nation at a crossroads.  Recognizing that we must change course, the American people chose to elect a Republican Majority in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. We understand our enhanced responsibility to govern effectively and are looking forward to getting right to work on the people’s priorities. 

Saving American Jobs

Obamacare has been a disaster for many New Jersey businesses and employees. Tucked inside its 2,000+ pages is a provision that reduces the definition of full-time employment to pressure more companies to participate in the new law.  As a result, many employers have been forced to reduce hours for part-time employees and shift some full-time timers to part-time work. Of course, this damaging action hurts struggling families, single parents and young Americans who need to work.

As the one of the first legislative actions of the new Congress, the House this week passed H.R. 30, the Save Americans’ Jobs Act. The bill repeals the 30-hour definition of ‘full-time employment’ in the Affordable Care Act and restores the traditional 40-hour definition.  

Repealing this provision and restoring the traditional understanding of a forty-hour work is necessary to protect their paychecks.  By making this one of the first votes of the new Congress, the House of Representatives is making clear our desire to provide relief from the most egregious unintended consequences of this law.

Read H.R. 30 here.

Hiring Heroes, Helping Small Businesses

And, speaking of Obamacare, the House took additional action by passing the “Hire More Heroes Act.”   

This legislation exempts veterans who are already receiving health care through DOD or the VA from being counted toward the number of employees required by the employer mandate under Obamacare. This will incentivize small businesses to hire more veterans.

The men and women of our Armed Forces make countless sacrifices every day to protect our freedom and security.  We owe it to them to do everything in our power to ensure they have the opportunity to earn a good living and care for their families when their military service has ended.  

By exempting veterans who already have health coverage through the DOD or the VA from the employer mandate in the President’s health care law, we’re making it easier for small businesses to hire and, at the same time, helping more veterans find work. 

Read the “Hire More Heroes Act” here.

Obamacare, Tax Season and the IRS

Tax season looms.  This year many filers will find the process even more tedious than in the past because they will be asked to declare whether they comply with the Affordable Care Act's "individual mandate." Obamacare allows the IRS to levy a fine on many uninsured individuals.

Learn more from this CNBC piece.

“Je Suis Charlie”

In the aftermath of this week’s terrorist attack in France, theWashington Post offered a response.  Read “Charlie Hebdo stands solidly for free expression. The West must do no less” here.

Where are Cuba’s Political Prisoners?

I recommend Mary O’Grady’s column in Monday’s Wall Street Journal.  Read it here.

Salute: A final personal thank you to Berardino DiGiacomantonio of Raritan, Somerset County, who passed away this week at the age of 101.  At great personal risk, Berardino and his wife, Letizia, helped U.S. soldiers evade capture by Nazi soldiers in Italy during World War II.  Read more about their story of generosity and courage here.