Newsletter: House Votes on DHS Funding, FCC Votes on Regulating the Internet, Netanyahu to Address Joint Session of Congress

Statement

Fully Funding DHS and Enforcing All Federal Immigration Laws

I believe we must fully fund the enforcement of all of the immigration laws of our country. Unfortunately, the President has taken a different path and has shut down the government's ability to carry out the immigration laws on the books. It's time for Congress to stand up for the American people and the Constitution. No President is above the law. I could not support either of the short-term funding resolutions offered on Friday by House Leadership because neither of the proposals ensured that our immigration laws will actually be enforced.

FCC Votes to Approve Government Regulation of Internet

One of the FCC commissioners has referred to it as "a solution that won't work to a problem that doesn't exist."

On Thursday, I spoke on the House floor about the troubling vote by the FCC to approve its new proposal to bring big government of the 1930's to control today's internet by designating Internet Service Providers as regulated utilities.

I know of no industry that has become more vibrant, more free, and led to more innovation after a government takeover. Allowing the FCC to designate the internet a regulated utility will increase taxes and allow government to decide pricing, cost, content or anything else.

Netanyahu to Address Joint Session of Congress

Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to address a joint session of the United States Congress. I look forward to welcoming Prime Minister Netanyahu to America and am interested in what has to say regarding the state of US-Israel relations and how we can further aid one of our most important allies as many of its neighbors threaten its security every day.

The speech comes as the Obama Administration stands poised to secure an agreement that would allow Iran to continue assert the right to enrich uranium, spin thousands of centrifuges, and grow its intercontinental ballistic missile program. Furthermore, the agreement would give unprecedented sanctions relief that would allow Iran to re-enter the international community as, what President Obama himself has suggested, "a very succesful regional power." Even though it professes that "no deal is better than a bad deal," the Administration is set to accept a bad deal.

Rather than criticize and push back against Prime Minister Netanyahu's efforts to shed light on how profoundly misguided such an agreement would be, I would urge the Administration to work with our closest ally in the Middle East to come up with a better solution regarding Iran. Sanctions should not only be allowed to continue, but also should be ramped up to ensure that Iran does not have the resources to achieve their goal of nuclear proliferation. No deal should be accepted that allows the Iranian regime to continue to push forward with their nuclear program while they continue to threaten Israel, and by proxy the United States, with such fiery rhetoric.

House Passes Bill to Make College More Affordable by Modernizing 529 Plans

Last week, the House passed HR 529 with my support. This bill, introduced by fellow Kansan, Congresswoman Lynn Jenkins, takes important steps to expand, strengthen, and modernize 529 college savings accounts. It empowers students to use their 529 savings to purchase computers, reflecting the modern reality that a computer is necessary for today's college student. It also removes unnecessary rules that increase paperwork and impose costs on plan administrators.

If President Obama is serious about helping more Americans attend higher education, he should support this bipartisan plan instead of his failed idea to raise taxes on hardworking families already taking advantage of these important savings tools.

Financial Services Subcommittee Hearing

During last week's Oversight Hearing on the Internal Revenue Service, I questioned IRS officials on the overall toxic culture at the agency and suggested that we need sweeping reforms, such as implementing the Fair Tax, to eliminate the agency's influence in our daily lives.

I also asked about the IRS' assertion that Americans do not have an expectation of privacy in their email communications. I believe Americans disagree with this frankly astonishing assertion, and that we do have an expectation of privacy in our digital communications, which is why I've introduced HR 699 - the Email Privacy Act.

Friend of Farm Bureau Award

I was honored to receive the Kansas Farm Bureau's "Friend of Farm Bureau Award" for the 113th Congress for my work as the Vice Chairman of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture. I look forward to continuing to work on behalf of Kansas farmers and ranchers in the subcommittee again this Congress.

Agriculture Subcommittee Hearing

At the FY 2016 Budget Hearing for USDA's Food Safety and Inspection Service, I questioned FSIS Administrator Al Almanza about initiatives his agency has set up to protect Kansans and they food they eat. We also discussed ways to save taxpayer funds by streamlining efforts to modernize food safety procedures that protect our friends and families back at home.

Johnson County Commissioners

It was great to get a visit in my Washington DC office from Johnson County Manager Zacharias and Commissioner Klika. We discussed the county's legislative priorities for the 114th Congress, such as the impact regulations and other unfunded mandates have on residents of Johnson County.

Groundbreaking for New Sanctuary at Church of the Resurrection

This was a special week for our community and the members of the United Methodist Church of the Resurrection in Leawood. Following services I was honored to join Rev. Adam Hamilton in the groundbreaking ceremony for a new permanent sanctuary at the main campus.

As members of the congregation, my family and I look forward to worshipping in the new hall upon its completion.

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