The Week Just Passed:

Hearings on Defense Budget Kick into High Gear

Russian Threat to Ukraine Continues to Grow

Former SecDef Bob Gates Defines the Threat of Russian Adventurism

Yet Another Obamacare Delay

Obamacare is Hurting Families – Including Anthony’s

Multiple Success Stories At Wayne Veterans Fair; More Than 150 Veterans Seek Help

Saluting the Greater Morristown YMCA, Homeless Solutions, and the Foundation of Denville

Hearings on Defense Budget Kick into High Gear

This past week I chaired four open hearings of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, where we examined in detail the specifics of the President’s proposed budget for the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marines.  It’s an increasingly dangerous world and I am very concerned that the proposed budget does not adequately reflect a strategy for meeting the increased risks around the world that will result from the downsizing of our military.

We heard from Secretaries and Chiefs of the Navy (Secretary Ray Mabus and Admiral Jonathan Greenert), Air Force (Secretary Deborah Lee James and General Mark Welsh), and Army (Secretary John McHugh and General Raymond Odierno), as well as the Commandant of the Marine Corps, General James Amos, the commanders of the United States Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, and the United States Forces In Korea, General Curtis “Mike” Scaparotti.

Their candid assessments of the challenges our Nation faces made clear the importance of the work of our subcommittee. 

Russian Threat to Ukraine Continues to Grow

The Russian threat to the sovereignty and freedom of Ukraine continues to grow.  Although President Obama and our European allies have taken some meaningful actions to get President Putin’s attention, the House of Representatives yesterday passed additional legislation in support of Ukraine. 

HR 4278, a bill to “support the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” passed with overwhelming bipartisan support.  I was proud to cast my vote for this bill on the floor of the House.

Earlier in the week, I wrote directly to President Obama, urging him to “designate Ukraine as a ‘Major Non NATO Ally’ (MNNA).” This designation would send an unmistakable message to Russia that the United States and our NATO allies stand with the Ukrainian people.  Designation as a MNNA would help the Ukrainians to obtain various military equipment and supplies needed to defend themselves from Russian aggression.  Earlier this week the Wall Street Journaldetailed the efforts underway in Ukraine to rebuild its military.  

As I wrote to the President, “It has been said that the West won the Cold War ‘without firing a shot.’  History must not record that we lost this confrontation without lifting a finger.”

Former SecDef Bob Gates Defines the Threat of Russian Adventurism

Bob Gates has one of the most distinguished records of service of anyone in public life.  Former head of the CIA and Secretary of Defense under President Bush and President Obama, his perspective on national security issues is valued on both sides of the aisle.

This essay from Tuesday’s Wall Street Journal, in which Gates explains the strategic threat Russia’s aggression poses to peace and freedom, far beyond Ukraine, is well worth a read. 

Yet Another Obamacare Delay

On Wednesday, the White House announced yet another delay in its implementation of the Affordable Car Act.  To date, the Administration has delayed its own law more than 30 times.  This story fromPolitico provides, what it calls, “A brief history of Obamacare delays.”

Obamacare is Hurting Families – Including Anthony’s

Obamacare is not working for real families.  I recently learned of a constituent from Essex County who is among the many people who are being harmed by Obamacare .  His name is Anthony, and he and his wife have six children.

Anthony works hard – for the same company for 15 years.  His employer, a small local business, has provided him and his family with health insurance for years – with the employer paying most of the cost.  Until last week.

Last week, the cost of his employer-provided group insurance jumped by more than 300 percent – from about $10,500 a year to nearly $32,000 a year.  His company simply cannot absorb the cost of this increase – and neither can Anthony.

So what is Anthony to do?  He is not eligible for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act; he would have to pay the entire cost – nearly half his annual salary – out of his own pocket.

Anthony’s story is not unique.  The Star-Ledger recently reported that, “[T]he Affordable Care Act has clogged the system for nearly all types of health insurance in New Jersey, causing frustration and delays for consumers, [according to] agents, and policyholders….Lingering backlogs have left thousands in limbo, unsure of whether they’re covered and unable to reach anyone to find out.”

So even now, nearly six months after the “exchanges” opened for the first time – and more than four years to the day after it was signed into law – this massive government takeover of our health care system continues to take a huge toll on our patience and pocketbooks.

Multiple Success Stories At Wayne Veterans Fair; More Than 150 Veterans Seek Help

More than 150 veterans and family members attended the Veterans Fair held on Saturday, March 22, at the Wayne PAL.  Thirty-five different veteran service organizations and prime employers participated, offering on-the-spot assistance to veterans and their families, as well as employment opportunities.

We owe an immeasurable debt to all those who have served our country in the armed forces. Helping them transition back to civilian life, or finding the help they need even years after their service concluded, is just one way we can honor them.

Among the success stories is that of young, recently discharged Marine who was looking for work.  He received five job offers at the Veterans Fair.  Another attendee, a Navy veteran who served during Vietnam and is suffering from ALS – Lou Gehrig‘s disease, also received much needed “on the spot” assistance from the VA.  A third person who was able to get the help he sought was the brother of a Vietnam vet who had recently passed away.  Within just a few minutes, this vet’s brother was given the information he needed to make sure his brother received the burial he had earned by serving his country.

I want to salute all those who made this Veterans Fair a success.  They include: Assemblyman Scott Rumana, Wayne Mayor Chris Vergano and the Wayne Township Council, and the Wayne PAL, for donating the use of their facility.

I also salute the following organizations and companies that demonstrated their commitment to our nation’s veterans through their participation in our Veterans Fair: Adecco Staffing, Buddy’s Small Lots, Catholic Families & Community Services, Combat Paper NJ, Community Hope, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Global Energy Efficiency, Inc., Goodwill Industries, HomeBridge Financial Services, ITT-Exelis, Kearfott Corporation, Marine Corps League, Marotta Controls, Neighbors-Helping-Neighbors (Wayne), NJ Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, NJ Fallen Soldiers Foundation, NJ Transit, NYU Langone Medical Center, Passaic County Veterans Services, Prudential, PSE&G, Re/MAX Village Square Realtors, Stevens Institute of Technology, Traveling Made Easy, VA Caregivers, VA Community Outreach, VA Homeless Services, VA Suicide Prevention; VA Vets Center, VA Vocational Rehabilitation, Verizon, Vets Chat & Chew: A Program for Women Vets (Kean University), Volunteer Lawyers for Justice, William Paterson Small Business Development Center, Wounded Warriors

Saluting the Greater Morristown YMCA, Homeless Solutions, and the Foundation of Denville

The people of the 11^th Congressional District benefit immensely from the countless number of organizations that make our communities better places in which to live.  Thousands of volunteers and benefactors give generously of their time and money to ensure that their communities’ needs are met.

Three of these organizations have achieved important milestones.

The Greater Morristown YMCA is marking 140 years of service to the greater Morristown area.  Its many social, recreational, and educational offerings made it a valued part of the community since its founding.morriscenterymca.org

Homeless Solutions, Inc. is celebrating its 30^th Anniversary.  Its mission is “to offer shelter, services, and supportive housing to homeless and low-income people,” and they do an outstanding job in the Morris County area. www.homelesssolutions.org

The Foundation of Denville is marking its fifth anniversary.  The Foundation’s mission is “to recognize, promote and support educational excellence in the Denville public schools.”  The children in Denville’s public schools have benefitted from a wide variety of creative learning experiences, funded by its grants.  www.foundationofdenville.com

I salute these three organizations, and everyone involved in their success, for their commitment to their communities and the people they serve.