Randy's Roundup - My Rating from the NRA, How Texas can Help Reform Food Stamps, Bills to Stop Government Abuse, and a Committee Vote on My Windstorm Research Bill

Statement

"A" Rating from NRA

As your Representative, I've taken an oath to uphold the Constitution. That means the whole Constitution -- including the Second Amendment, which guarantees all citizens the right to bear arms. Some politicians in Washington like to pick and choose which parts they agree and disagree with, ignoring their least favorite sections. But that's not what our Founders intended, and that's not how this country should operate. I'm always working to protect your Constitutional right to bear arms. That's why I am proud to have recently received an "A" rating from the National Rifle Association (NRA) for my votes to uphold our Second Amendment rights. It's an important issue for me because like many of you, I'm a proud gun owner. It's also a simple issue -- it's right there in the Constitution. I'll continue to uphold the entire Constitution and keep supporting your rights here in Washington.

Reforming Food Stamps

One of the reforms included in the Farm Bill was a pilot program to help individuals on food stamps find employment. It combines work requirements and employment training to create opportunities that help participants find work that allows them to move off food stamps. I think this is a great program because it changes the focus of food stamps from sustenance to success.

Participation in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) exploded during the recession, but as our economy has improved, the food stamp rolls remain at record levels. That's because too often, government programs like this end up fostering dependence. Even when they don't create dependence, they're not actively working to improve opportunities for American families. This pilot program ensures we are helping our neighbors in need--not just through nutrition assistance, but also by giving them a helping hand up so they can become self-sufficient again.

Last week, I sent a letter to the Texas Workforce Commission, requesting that Texas apply to be one of the states that run this pilot program. Texas is already a national leader in creating jobs and reducing unemployment, and taking part in this program will allow the state to expand our efforts to get SNAP recipients back to work. You can read the full text of the letter here, and see the other Members that joined me in this effort. We'd all be proud if our home state could lead the effort to reform nutrition assistance in America.

Stop Government Abuse Week

This week, the House will vote on a series of bills that will help rein in government abuse and stop President Obama from exceeding his executive authority. We're designating it Stop Government Abuse Week, and our focus will be on good-government bills that hold Washington accountable to the American people. The bills we're voting on this week cover a wide range of issues--from private property rights to bringing transparency to regulations. You can see the full list here. One of the bills I'm especially focused on is H.R. 3865, which stops the IRS from legalizing targeting of conservative groups. The fact is, organizations should be treated fairly regardless of their political beliefs. The "STOP Targeting of Political Beliefs by the IRS Act" ensures that this Administration will not be allowed to discriminate against groups based on their politics.

Action Item: A Committee Vote on My Windstorm Research Bill

This week, the House Committee on Science is planning to hold a vote on my bill to reauthorize the National Windstorm Impact Reduction Program (NWIRP). I first introduced NWIRP in 2004 to promote research that helps save lives, reduce injuries, and lessen damage from windstorms. This reauthorization would make the program more efficient, focusing our resources on the research and pre-storm planning that allow us to save lives, homes, and taxpayer dollars. Not only does this benefit communities that are hard-hit by tornadoes, hurricanes, and other storms, but it also makes better use of taxpayer dollars. I'm looking forward to getting this passed out of the Science Committee and bringing it to the full House for a vote.

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