The Week Just Passed:

Opening Hearing of House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Features Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Dredging of the Port of NJ-NY Nearing Completion

Law Professor on “The President’s Power Grab”

“The Irony of Obamacare: Making Inequality Worse”

Veterans Fair in Wayne Next Saturday, March 22nd

Veterans – Have You Earned a Pension You’re Not Getting?

April 15^th is coming…eFile Your Taxes for Free

Saluting all Irish-Americans as St. Patrick’s Day Approaches

Opening Hearing of House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee Features Secretary of Defense and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Yesterday I convened the first hearing of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee since I was named chairman late last year.  The Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, appeared before the subcommittee to testify about the President Fiscal year 2015 Defense budget.

I have serious concerns about the President’s proposed defense budget and the message it is sending to the rest of the world.  His budget raises more question than it answers, particularly about how the United States will be able defend itself and its interests around the world if the budget the President proposed is enacted as presented to Congress.

As George Washington said more than 200 years ago, “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” 

My opening statement at the hearing can be found here.  

Dredging of the Port of NJ-NY Nearing Completion

Earlier this week I was pleased to be able to show my colleague, Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho, the progress being made in dredging the Port of New Jersey and New York.  Congressman Simpson is the new chair of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, which I chaired until I was named chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee late last year.

The Port is one of the region’s major economic engines, responsible for more than 280,000 jobs and nearly $11.6 billion in personal income and more than $37.1 billion in business income to the states of New Jersey and New York.    More information about my inspection tour of the harbor and bout the Port and its importance to New Jersey can be found here.

Law Professor on “The President’s Power Grab”

Jonathan Turley, a professor of law at the George Washington University, wrote a powerful opinion piece earlier this week calling into question President Obama’s repeated use of what he claims his is executive authority to delay portions of the Affordable Care Act, as well as other federal laws.  What’s especially surprising is that the criticism is coming from Professor Turley, who has been described by Politicoas a “liberal law professor.”

“The Irony of Obamacare: Making Inequality Worse”

In another example of “man bites dog,”  Unite Here,” which describes itself as an organization that, “represents workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, and airport industries” issued a report recently that finds that the Affordable Care Act (ACA) is increasing inequality.  Their report states that the ACA “threatens the middle class with higher premiums, loss of hours, and a shift to part-time work and less comprehensive coverage.”

It seems the more people learn about this law, the less they like it.

Veterans Fair in Wayne Next Saturday, March 22^nd

The Veterans Fair I am sponsoring in Wayne is now just a week away.  And as we get closer to the date, more and more companies and organizations are signing up to participate.

The Veterans Fair is being held on Saturday, March 22 from 10 am to 2 pm.  It will take place at the Wayne Police Athletic League (PAL) Building, 1 PAL Street, Wayne, NJ.  There is no cost to attend or participate.

As our men and women in uniform complete their military service, many of them need help finding jobs and identifying the many resources available to them as they transition back to civilian life.  This Veterans Fair provides ‘one stop shopping’ for veterans services.

Representatives from federal, state, and county veterans offices will be present to assist veterans in identifying services available to them and to help them apply for any for which they may be eligible.  Numerous non-profit veterans organizations are also sending representatives, as are area employers that are committed to hiring veterans.

I urge all veterans -- whether they were discharged last week or many years ago – to attend this event.  A wide range of services are in place to ensure that our veterans receive whatever assistance they need at any stage of their lives.  This Veterans Fair brings together many of those resources in one place, so that the men and women who served, along with their families, can more readily access get the assistance they have earned and are entitled to.

I want to thank Wayne Mayor Christopher Vergano and the Wayne Township Council, along with the federal department of Veterans Affairs, the Passaic County Veterans Services office, the NJ Fallen Soldiers Foundation, and numerous other veterans and veterans support organizations for sponsoring this important event with me.

Veterans – Have You Earned a Pension You’re Not Getting?

The March 2014 issue of the VFW Magazine has a helpful article about a veterans benefit that many veterans who may qualify are not aware of: a VA Pension.  Not every veteran is eligible for this benefit, but it is estimated that there may be thousands who are who have not applied.

According to the article, to claim a VA pension, “You have to have a permanent and total non-service connected disability or be age 65 and meet certain financial standards…. You must also have served 90 days before September 8, 1980, with at least one of those days during a time of war and meet certain low income and net worth requirements.”

For more information about the VA pension program and eligibility standards, contact the VA Pensions Hotline at 1-877-294-6380.

April 15^th is coming…eFile Your Taxes for Free

The Internal Revenue Service has recently announced a program that allows most taxpayers to electronically file their tax returns for free. 

Tax returns that are filed electronically are processed faster than those submitted by mail.  That’s especially useful for people expecting a refund.  Filing electronically means you will receive your refund quicker than you would if you file a paper return.

For more information about IRS Free File visit: IRS.gov/freefile.

Saluting all Irish-Americans as St. Patrick’s Day Approaches

This coming Monday Irish-Americans – whether by birth or “honorary” – will mark the annual wearing of the green, St. Patrick’s Day.  I was pleased to participate in Nutley’s parade earlier this month and am looking forward to marching in tomorrow’s parade in Morristown and West Orange’s parade on Sunday.

Irish-Americans have been an important part of the fabric of the life of our country since the earliest days of the Republic.  I salute their many contributions to our country over  its history. 

Information about the parade in Morristown can be found here and further details about the parade in West Orange can be found here.

If you’re in the area, I hope to see you along the parade route!