Newsletter - A Productive Week in Congress

Statement

We've reached the end of a very productive week in Congress. This week, the House passed -- with my support -- two bills that will have a very positive impact on two of the most important areas of our lives: the quality of our health care and the quality of our children's education.

On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 2668, the Fairness for American Families Act, which would delay the mandate requiring individuals to purchase health insurance -- one of the most controversial and destructive parts of Obamacare -- for one year. Given the President's recent decision to delay the employer health care mandate for one year, our bill would ensure that families are treated the same way as businesses under the law.

Obamacare is already responsible for rising health insurance premiums, higher taxes, and a smaller work force, and should the individual mandate take effect, it will fundamentally change the relationship between the individual and the government in an unprecedented way. For the first time in history, the federal government will be able to tax you for something you don't do, as opposed to something you do.

That's why we need to repeal Obamacare and replace it with common-sense, market-based solutions that lower costs and expand access. This bill is an important step in minimizing the damage of Obamacare, but our goal will continue to be full repeal as soon as possible -- for the sake of our economy, for the sake of our health care, and for the sake of our Constitution.

On Friday, the House passed another landmark bill, The Student Success Act, which will empower parents, teachers, and local communities to fix our broken education system.

I was proud to vote for this bill because it will restore federalist principles by eliminating the one-size-fits-all federal mandates established by No Child Left Behind. By granting states and local school districts autonomy when it comes to using federal resources, theStudent Success Act will encourage innovation in our schools and greater achievement among our students.

The Student Success Act - which replaces No Child Left Behind - eliminates the "Adequate Yearly Progress" (AYP) metric, replacing it with state-determined accountability systems; repeals the antiquated "Highly Qualified Teacher" requirements, replacing it with new directives that allow states and school districts to develop their own teacher development requirements; eliminates the Secretary of Education's ability to coerce states to adopt the Common Core or other common standards or assessments; and promotes the expansion of charter and magnet schools. To learn more about the bill, click here.

When it comes to education and health care, as with so many other issues, the federal government is doing more harm than good, preventing the people who are closest to the problem -- whether they're doctors or patients, teachers or parents -- from actually solving it. I will continue to advance legislative solutions that shrink the power of Washington, and transfer that power back to where it belongs -- to you, and to the American people.

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