Newsletter: September Legislative Preview
Statement
September Legislative Preview
The House will continue its work to pass legislation to improve the lives of Americans, strengthen the economy, and create long-term bipartisan solutions to the issues facing our country. I will continue working on H.R. 1575, the Kelsey Smith Act and H.R. 1852, the Email Privacy Act, important bills I introduced earlier this year.
In September, Congress must also act on legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import (Ex-Im) Bank, which expires September 30, and pass appropriations bills to fund federal agencies. Congress is expected to pass a bill known as a continuing resolution (CR), which will fund the government until the House and Senate can agree on appropriations bills. The House as passed a majority of the funding bills for the upcoming fiscal, however the Senate has yet to act on any of the passed legislation.
A recent Gallup poll revealed Americans have very little confidence in the current economy. The House has sent more than 40 jobs bills to the Senate. It's clear the bills will remain stuck in the Senate, but the House isn't giving up the fight to help build a stronger economy with more jobs for Americans. The House is introducing a single jobs package that will bring together already passed bipartisan jobs bills into one comprehensive piece of legislation. Below are a few of the bills that will be included in the package, all of which I support. You can read more about each bill by clicking on the bill title.
H.R. 899: the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, which equips Congress and the public with tools to determine the true costs of regulations.
H.R. 2804: the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency (ALERRT) Act, which promotes jobs, better wages, and economic growth through regulatory reform.
H.R. 367: Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, which ensures that Congress votes on all new major rules before they can be enforced.
H.R. 3474: the Hire More Heroes Act, incentivizes businesses to hire veterans by excluding them from Obamacare's employer mandate threshold.
H.R. 3086: the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, which protects internet access for all Americans and fosters growth in the digital economy.
H.R. 4438: the American Research and Competitiveness Act, which makes the R&D Tax Credit permanent, paving the way for increased innovation and investment in the U.S.
H.R. 4457: the America's Small Business Tax Relief Act, which makes section 179 expensing permanent ensuring that our small businesses have the certainty they need to grow their businesses and create jobs.
Other notable pieces of legislation that are slated to come to the House floor this month are H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act, and H.Res. 644, the condemning and disapproving of the Obama administration's failure to comply with the lawful statutory requirement to notify Congress before releasing individuals detained at United States Naval Station, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and expressing national security concerns over the release of five Taliban leaders and the repercussions of negotiating with terrorists. Read more about each bill by clicking on the bill title.
In addition, there are more than 350 bills the House has passed that are currently sitting on Harry Reid's desk waiting for Senate action. More than 50 percent of those bill passed the House unanimously, and 70 percent of the more 350 bills passed with two-thirds of the House's support. Nearly every bill awaiting action in the Senate was passed with bipartisan support.
KU Hospital Transplant Center and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS)
Earlier this summer you may have read the article in the Kansas City Star (see image below) highlighting potential changes to the organ transplant network, including changes that would negatively impact patients in Kansas. I am also concerned by the devastating reality that we are not doing enough to increase the national donor pool. While I am proud that folks in the Midwest, especially in Kansas, understand the importance of saving lives through these programs, unfortunately national donation rates cannot keep pace with patients in need. I am meeting with the KU Hospital Transplant Center and the United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) to discuss how the proposed changes will impact our region, and how we can work to improve patient outcomes.
The solution to organ shortage on the east coast isn't shipping them out of the Midwest, where 82 percent of regions patients are identified as eligible organ donors, but increasing the east coast's donor rate from its current 55 percent.
I recently visited the Center for Transplantation at The University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kansas to tour the facility and learn more about the nationally recognized Center for Transplantation. This center at The University of Kansas Hospital provides leading-edge treatments and interventions for patients and their families as they navigate their transplant journey.
Combating Terrorism
The United States can no longer sit back and passively monitor the violence taking place in the Middle East. I am gravely concerned about the increasing instability in Iraq and Syria as the terrorist group the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) grows stronger by the day, posing a huge threat to our nation's safety.
Throughout Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation New Dawn, various groups of insurgents struggled for power and control in Iraq. Recently the activity of these groups has flared, and in the early weeks of June 2014 there were several deadly attacks committed by al-Qaida splinter cells which have come to be known as ISIS. Instability throughout the region, including the conflict in Syria has led to deterioration in an already war-torn area. Terrorists and jihadists of ISIS are thought to be radicals with goals of conquering land, governments, and cities in the Middle East. They consider America as their primary enemy, and have flaunted their merciless killing of American citizens including the recent beheadings of American journalists James Foley and Steven Sotloff.
In early August 2014 President Obama authorized American Generals to carry out air strikes in Iraq against ISIS in an attempt to support our American diplomats and troops stationed in Erbil or Baghdad as well as to provide tactical cover to our allies of the Yazidi sect and the fighters counter to ISIS known as the Kurdish peshmerga.
The world turns to the United States for leadership, but leading from behind is not leading. A new foreign policy strategy is needed for not only Iraq, but the entire Middle East. The men and women of our armed service spent the past decade serving our country and fighting for our freedoms. But the Administration's failing foreign policy is making the world a more dangerous place and undoing the progress we made.
The actions of ISIS cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. A political solution and sovereign enforcement from Iraqi governments as developed in that solution is the best pathway to stability.
This week the President is to lay out a strategy to combat this global threat. I and other members of both parties look forward to a serious and important debate on this critical issue.
"Service Above Self" Overland Park Rotary Club
I was truly honored to visit with Retired Staff Sergeant Shilo Harris recently. Shilo is a wounded warrior with an inspirational story, who spoke at the Overland Park Rotary Club. It was a privilege to meet Shilo and hear about his recovery and outreach to our wounded heroes.
Remembering Dr. Fred Bosilevac
We celebrated the life of Dr. Fred Bosilevac. I had the privilege of getting to know Dr. Fred through Congressional Forum, a monthly forum organized by the KCK Chamber of Commerce that has been going strong for forty-six years.
As former President of Congressional Forum, Dr. Fred worked closely with several Members of Congress like myself who have represented the 3rd Congressional District. Congresswoman Jan Meyers and Congressman Dennis Moore also attended the celebration of his life in Roeland Park. I've enjoyed visiting with Dr. Fred regularly at Congressional Forum and I'm pretty sure he had close to perfect attendance.
Dr. Fred was the son of immigrants, grew up on Strawberry Hill attending Wyandotte High School and was recruited by Phog Allen to play basketball at the University of Kansas. He was an avid Jayhawk fan and proud that he took a class as a freshman taught by Dr. James Naismith. And like many in the Greatest Generation, he served our country during WWII in the U.S. Army.
It was a honor to know and learn from Dr. Fred. Brooke and I extend our condolences to the entire Bosilevac family, and may Dr. Fred rest in peace.
Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs
During the district work period, I met with the 3rd District Veterans Advisory Committee at VFW Post #846 in Overland Park to listen to their concerns. Veterans across the 3rd District and Kansas voiced their support for a special Congressional Committee dedicated to investigating unresolved POW/MIA cases and issues, and finding better solutions in searching for unaccounted for or missing service members.
I am proud to cosponsor House Resolution 231: Establishing a Select Committee on POW and MIA Affairs. Under this legislation, a new committee would be established to fully investigate unresolved matters relating to any United States personnel unaccounted for from the Vietnam era, the Korean conflict, World War II, Cold War Missions, Persian Gulf War, Operation Iraqi Freedom, or Operation Enduring Freedom, including MIAs and POWs missing and captured.
It is my hope the House will pass this bipartisan legislation and establish a select committee to help solve outstanding POW/MIA cases, hold hearings to increase accountability, and bring home missing and fallen service members.
9/11 -- Honoring and Remembering the Fallen
Thursday, September 11 marks the 13th anniversary of the horrific acts of terrorism on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, as well as the heroism on Flight 93 in Pennsylvania. Thursday also marks two years since the attack on the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi that resulted in the deaths of four Americans, including Christopher Stevens, the U.S. Ambassador to Libya. This week, as a nation united and indivisible, we will observe and honor the family and friends we've lost in these unfathomable attacks. While Thursday will be a day of mourning, we must also celebrate the determination of our nation, which rose from the rubble to rebuild not just buildings, but our American spirit.
Source