The Week Just Past: Restore Trust through Action!

The IRS audits and NSA surveillance and national anxieties

Committee Work: Defense Appropriations Bill Approved

Rodney Honored with Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award

This Week’s Salutes: Pine Brook Volunteer Fire Department, Morris County Mental Health Association 

The Week Just Past: Restore Trust through Action!

“Over the past few weeks, the media have carried story after story that have had the effect of eroding the people’s trust in their government.

“Americans should not really have to worry whether their government is going to hold their political beliefs against them – as it seems the IRS was doing – or whether their government is telling them the truth. So I think it is imperative for all of us here in Washington to work together to restore our trust in government, and that includes the President and members of his Administration.

“Along these lines, the House will continue to conduct serious, focused investigations into potential wrongdoing into all of the revelations in recent weeks.

“More importantly, however, we have a responsibility to remain focused on the issue of job growth and the economic issues that American families face every day – escalating household costs, too-high taxes, etc. One of the first ways to address people’s economic worries – and the economy as a whole – is to make sure that our education system is functioning and accessible.

“The House has started its work on this important issue and recently passed the Smarter Solutions for Students Act. This is a bill that would reduce many interest rates for college students and their families immediately and will prevent them from doubling on July 1. This is very similar to the proposal the President unveiled last year with very minor differences. As the deadline approaches, now is not the time for playing politics. Let’s govern and protect these students as they work to begin their own careers.

“This is a first step toward restoring some modicum of trust in our government.”

Rodney Frelinghuysen

Recommended Reading: Daniel Henniger, writing in the Thursday Wall Street Journal, “The Sum of All Fears, The IRS audits and NSA surveillance flow into the same national anxieties.”

Committee Work: Defense Appropriations Bill Approved

The House Appropriations Committee this week approved the Defense Appropriations bill for the fiscal year beginning in October. The measure includes funding for critical national security needs and provides essential funding for health and quality of life programs for the men and women of the Armed Forces and their families.  It also funds operations at military facilities like Picatinny Arsenal, a DOD Center of Excellence and major employer in northern New Jersey.

“In a very challenging budget environment, this bill makes the hard choices to keep our nation safe and constantly prepared for whatever threats we may face,” said Rodney, the Vice-Chairman of the Defense Subcommittee. It provides funding to advance our missions abroad, to prepare and equip our troops, and to support their families.”

The bill will be debated by the full House of Representatives later this month.

Rodney Honored with Navy’s Distinguished Public Service Award

Rodney this week was bestowed the United States Navy’s highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Award.  Secretary of the Navy, Raymond Mabus, made the presentation in a ceremony in his Washington office on Thursday.

“As an Army draftee many years ago, it never crossed my mind that the United States Navy would see fit to honor my service,” Rodney said.  “But I am truly honored to receive the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.  Supporting our sailors and Marines —past and present—has been, and will remain, a priority for me.”

The citation from Secretary Mabus states: “Congressman Frelinghuysen’s long and selfless service to the Nation’s Sailors and Marines ensured they were provided the resources necessary to support and defend the Nation’s interests around the globe. His courageous leadership...greatly contributed to the quality of the United States’ naval forces, continued support for quality of life for the men and women of the Department of the Navy and made certain the Navy-Marine Corps team was the most lethal in history. Congressman Frelinghuysen’s tireless advocacy for the Navy’s shipbuilding programs ensured the highest levels of readiness for our combat forces. With grateful appreciation for years of service to the Nation...the Honorable Rodney Frelinghuysen is awarded the Department of the Navy Distinguished Public Service Award.”

The Navy Distinguished Public Service Award, established in 1951, is an award presented by the U.S. Secretary of the Navy to civilians for “specific courageous or heroic acts or exceptionally outstanding service of substantial and long-term benefit to the Navy, Marine Corps, or Department of the Navy as a whole.”

Rodney serves as Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, Vice-Chairman of the Subcommittee on Defense and with the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.  He has served on the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors since 2008.

This Week’s Salutes

Congratulations to the Pine Brook Volunteer Fire Department which is celebrating its 100^th Anniversary on Saturday!

Thanks for all their good work to the Mental Health Association of Morris County which is holding its 60^th Anniversary next Thursday!

Follow Rodney on Twitter: @USRepRodney

And Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rfrelinghuysen