Miller Newsletter

Statement

IRS Targeting

On Saturday, May 11, press reports began to emerge revealing that the IRS had been engaging in political targeting of conservative groups since 2010. Starting in March 2010, the IRS started targeting conservatives for special treatment, and, in fact the IRS did not grant tax-exempt status to any Tea Party-affiliated groups for the 27 months that followed. Yet, as USA Today reported last week, during this same time period, the IRS approved dozens of applications from similar liberal and progressive groups.

The mere fact that the IRS would employ these tactics is entirely unacceptable. But, just as troubling, IRS officials repeatedly covered up these activities in letters and testimony to Congress. Back in June 2011, Members of Congress began hearing from their constituents that the IRS was seeking information on donors of conservative leaning organizations and suggesting that those organizations, and their donors, might be subject to the gift tax. The House Ways and Means Committee, which has jurisdiction over all tax matters, immediately began investigating the matter.

News reports indicate that senior IRS officials became aware of the targeting in June 2011, yet the IRS issued six separate responses to the Ways and Means Committee's investigation without mentioning the targeting had, in fact, occurred. IRS officials also explicitly denied that any targeting had occurred at a March 2012 Ways and Means Committee hearing. During testimony, then-IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman told Congress, in response to questions on potential targeting, "What's been happening has been the normal back-and-forth that happens with the IRS…there is absolutely no targeting." Additionally, I, along with more than 60 of my colleagues in the House, sent a letter to the IRS on this issue in April of 2012 (click here to view this letter). In response to this letter the IRS flippantly brushed aside our concerns.

Regardless of political affiliation, however, the fact that the IRS would target political groups of any ideology is an absolute abuse of power and it cannot be tolerated. The IRS has apologized for their actions, but apologies are not sufficient. Law-abiding American taxpayers were harassed and mistreated by the IRS simply for their political views. Last week I, along with more than 80 of my colleagues, sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Jack Lew calling for the Treasury Department to answer many questions and concerns raised in this case (click here to view this letter), and I will continue to work with my colleagues in the House to ensure that all those responsible are held fully accountable for their actions.

AP Phone Records

For two months, the Justice Department covertly obtained phone records of reporters and editors for The Associated Press. According to the Justice Department's own protocol and legal obligations, they must obtain a subpoena signed by the Attorney General in order to access these records. But, in testimony before the House Judiciary Committee, Attorney General Eric Holder indicated that he recused himself in this particular case.

The Justice Department's troubling behavior seems to be yet another example of misconduct by the Administration. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are guaranteed to all American citizens in our Constitution, and they must be upheld and protected. The Justice Department must fully explain to Congress and the American people why they sought these records, and, if any violations of the law occurred, then the responsible parties must face the appropriate legal consequences.

Secretary Sebelius

Recently, media reports have emerged indicating that the Secretary of Health and Human Services, Kathleen Sebelius, had asked health industry officials to make large financial donations to help with the effort to implement Obamacare following repeated efforts by Congress to deny her agency's request for additional funds. In response, HHS officials have claimed that a special section in the Public Health Service Act allows Secretary Sebelius to encourage others to support nonprofit groups working to provide health information and conduct other public-health activities. I am not satisfied with this answer and recently joined several colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary Sebelius asking her to clarify the situation and provide answers to several questions.

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Veterans Corner

Homes for Heroes Act

I think every American would agree that no one who has risked their his or her life to defend our freedom should come home and end up homeless. Yet, according to 2012 VA estimates, more than 60,000 veterans are currently living on the streets. The number of homeless veterans is as staggering as it is unacceptable. To help address this situation Congress passed the Homes for Heroes Act of 2013 last week. I was glad to support this bill, which would create a Special Assistant for Veterans Affairs in the Office of the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). This new position, which would be created by eliminating an existing position within HUD, would help HUD and VA work with Veterans Service Organizations and other nonprofit groups to get homeless veterans off the streets and into stable and permanent housing. This effort will not solve the problem alone, but I believe it is a step in the right direction.

VA Claims Backlog Roundtable

On Friday, I led a bipartisan roundtable event which brought together lawmakers from both the House and Senate, Veterans Service Organizations, VA officials, and private industry leaders to discuss evidence-based solutions to break the claims backlog and provide veterans access to their earned benefits within a reasonable timeframe.

For years, we have seen government bureaucrats under both Republican and Democrat administrations fail to address the backlog. It is now time to solicit the help of the private sector to work toward a solution. Last Friday's roundtable was a step in this direction. By putting private industry leaders in claims processing and product tracking in the same room with Veterans Benefits Administration and VSO officials, we hope to establish a revised evidence-based process that will allow VA to break its claims backlog once and for all.

Washington Update

Obamacare Repeal

Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Committee released a report on the looming premium rate increases expected to hit the American people next year when Obamacare goes into full effect. Obamacare's proponents told the American people that the massive federal takeover of health care would decrease their premiums and cover nearly every American. Yet, as the Energy and Commerce report indicates, next year premiums are expected to increase, on average, by 96 percent for individuals purchasing new plans on the individual market and by 73 percent for those keeping the insurance they currently have. Meanwhile, a CBO report indicates that even when Obamacare is fully implemented 30 million people, nearly half of the total number of uninsured Americans, will still be left without insurance.

I remain fully committed to repealing Obamacare, and last Thursday I was glad to vote in favor of H.R. 45, to repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. This commonsense bill, which I also cosponsored, is an additional effort to fully repeal Obamacare and protect the American people from massive premium increases.

My vote on H.R. 45 was the 37th time I have voted in the House to repeal the President's government takeover of our health care system. While many of our efforts to repeal and defund Obamacare have been ignored by the Senate, seven House-passed bills to repeal or defund 8 different provisions of this monstrosity have been signed into law by the President himself. To see a full list of these bills click here.

Since taking control of the House of Representatives in 2010, Republicans have spent approximately 15 percent of our floor time debating or voting on legislation to repeal Obamacare. When you take into account the fact that Obamacare impacts about 15 percent of our economy, I think it makes sense to spend at least 15 percent of our time in Washington fighting to repeal it.

H.R. 1062

Last week the House also passed legislation to reduce the regulatory burden on our nation's businesses. H.R. 1062, the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act of 2013 would require the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) to ensure that the benefits of any rulemaking outweigh the costs. Additionally, the bill would require that both new and existing regulations are accessible, consistent, written in plain language, and easy to understand. I was glad to vote in favor of this bill, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to reduce excessive regulation.

National Police Week

In 1962, President Kennedy signed a proclamation declaring the week of May 15th as National Police Week. Each year tens of thousands of law enforcement officers from around the country come to Washington to commemorate National Police Week.

To help honor the commitment and service of our nation's law enforcement officers, the House passed H.R. 180, the National Blue Alert Act of 2013. This bill would direct the Attorney General to create a national Blue Alert communications network to issue "Blue Alerts" throughout the nation relating to the serious injury or death of a law enforcement officer in the line of duty to help authorities quickly apprehend violent criminals responsible for the death or serious injury of a law enforcement officer. I was glad to support this bill, and I thank all the brave law enforcement officers who protect and serve our communities each and every day.

Heritage Foundation Congressional Sentinel

I was pleased last week to accept the Heritage Foundation's Congressional Sentinel designation. Sentinel status is given to lawmakers who score 90 percent or higher on Heritage Action's Scorecard, which measures Congressional votes and legislative activity to gauge our lawmakers willingness to fight for conservative policies based on the principles of free enterprise, limited government, individual freedom, traditional American values, and a strong national defense. Twenty-nine House and Senate Members, including three from Florida, achieved this important designation, and I am proud to represent the conservative values of Florida's First Congressional District in Congress.

Constituent Voice

I recently had the opportunity to meet with Ronald and Patti Gauvin from Navarre in my Washington Office. The Gauvin's were in town for the National Brain Tumor Society's Head to the Hill event. Ronald was diagnosed with a brain tumor more than 20 years ago, but thanks to his loving wife, Patti, the Gauvin's remain as committed to each other as the day they got married. Their story is truly inspirational and we are proud to have them as part of our community. Click here to visit the National Brain Tumor Society's website and learn how you can support this important cause.

In the District

I would like to recognize and congratulate Mr. Randy Joyce for receiving the Air Force Association's Teacher of the Year Award. Mr. Joyce teaches Aerospace and Aviation Science, a program in the Community High Okaloosa Institutes of Career Education (CHOICE) Aviation Institute, at Shoal River Middle School in Crestview, Florida. Thank you for your many years of service to the Northwest Florida community and for educating our Nation's youth. This is a wonderful achievement that is undoubtedly the product of your dedication and passion for teaching and promoting the study of aviation.

As always, I welcome your comments. To share your thoughts on legislation, votes or issues, please visit http://jeffmiller.house.gov/ to send an e-mail or call any of my offices.

Thanks,
Jeff

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