E-Newsletter: October 6, 2013

Statement

Government Shutdown Update

This week we faced the reality of a government shutdown, as the Senate rejected every solution put forth by the House without a single constructive counterproposal. The House voted four times to protect the American people from both a shutdown and an unworkable law. We sent over multiple compromises, each one rejected by Harry Reid. The Senate's refusal, by a party-line vote, to even go to conference with the House at this crucial time is the definition of unreasonable.

The House bill blocked Obamacare subsidies for Members of Congress and special interests. By delaying the individual mandate, the bill granted the same reprieve to the American people that President Obama has already given to big business and insurance companies. It is not fair for Congress and political appointees to get a special deal. With his repeated rejection of the House's proposals, it is clear that Harry Reid disagrees.

While the shutdown is in effect, my Hendersonville and DC offices remain open to serve the constituents of the 11th District. Please feel free to contact these offices with questions or concerns. Our other offices will be closed, and we have suspended all non-essential travel and expenses. For the duration of the shutdown, I have also requested to have my pay withheld.

This week, my House colleagues and I moved forward on funding key parts of the federal government to minimize the shutdown's impacts until we are able to get the government fully reopened for the American people. These bills did not include any language about Obamacare, and we felt that all Members of Congress, as well as the American people, could support them. Here is a list of the legislation passed by the House this week:

H.R. 3230 - Pay Our Guard and Reserve Act: Provides funding for the pay and allowances of military personnel in the National Guard and reserves.

H.R. 3223 - Federal Employee Retroactive Pay Fairness Act: Provides for the compensation of federal employees furloughed due to the lapse in appropriations once the shutdown ends.

H.J.Res.70 - Open Our National Parks and Museums Act: Provides immediate funding for the National Park Service and other related operations.

H.J.Res.71 - Provide Local Funding for the District of Columbia Act: Provides for the availability of local funds to continue operations in the District of Columbia.

H.J.Res.72 - Honoring our Promise to America's Veterans Act: Provides immediate funding of the Department of Veterans Affairs.

H.J.Res.73 - Research for Lifesaving Cures Act: Provides immediate funding for the National Institutes of Health.

H.J.Res.75 - Nutrition Assistance for Low-Income Women and Children Act: Provides immediate funding for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for the Women, Infants and Children program.

H.J.Res.85 - National Emergency and Disaster Recovery Act: Provides immediate funding for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

H.Con.Res.58 - Expresses the sense of Congress regarding the need for the continued availability of religious services to members of the Armed Forces and their families during a lapse in appropriations.

Source