E-Newsletter - The McKinley Capitol Report: 11/7/2014
Statement
Honoring Our Veterans
This upcoming Tuesday, November 11th, is Veterans Day. Originally, called Armistice Day to recognize the official end of World War I on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918, President Dwight D. Eisenhower changed its name to Veterans Day as a way to honor American veterans of all wars.
West Virginia is home to a significant number of men and women who have served in our Armed Forces and sacrificed so much so that we may enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness here at home. As a proud West Virginian, I know firsthand that the patriotism and sense of duty of our citizens is unquestionable and I want to take this opportunity to thank every veteran for their service. If not for the sacrifices of the men and women who have fought our battles, our nation would not exist.
Continuing the People's Work
As we put the election season behind us, I am excited for Congress to get back to work. The agenda for the newly elected Congress is a promising one as was laid out in The Wall Street Journal by Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) and future Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) on November 6, 2014. On Tuesday, the American people entrusted us to right the ship and turn this country back around.
President Ronald Reagan empowered America in the 1980's when he said, "the American Dream lives As long as that dream lives, as long as we continue to defend it, America has a future, and all mankind has reason to hope." Reagan's optimism and unifying message uplifted Americans at a time when the unemployment rate was at a record high and millions of Americans were losing hope. Today, we are facing a similar reality. The reality is America is not broken, but Washington is. This is why people showed up at the polls on Tuesday and showed that America is a democracy. The American people showed that their politicians need to pay attention to what the people are asking for.
We will work together in a bipartisan fashion to stop American jobs from being driven overseas, prevent the continually rising healthcare costs, work to stop the global threat of terrorism, fix our broken education system, and reduce our out of control debt. I am eager to get to work serving you and making sure your concerns are heard and not forgotten.
Supporting Energy Jobs in West Virginia
On Wednesday November 5, 2014, I authored an opinion piece that ran in the Charleston Daily Mail entitled: Encourage Natural Gas Markets Here and Abroad.
America has vast natural gas deposits trapped in shale formations. Both labor unions and businesses agree that exporting LNG will create jobs and be an economic driving force. In fact, over 1 million construction workers are currently unemployed and with the exportation of LNG, we will drive production and support millions of jobs in the construction and manufacturing industries.
Additionally, West Virginia's very own National Energy Technology Laboratory, the Department of Energy's leader in fossil fuel research and development, released a report stating that LNG exports to Europe and Asia would significantly reduce global greenhouse gas emissions worldwide.
In Congress, I voted for H.R. 6, the Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act, which would:
Place a 30 day deadline on DOE to issue a final decision on applications to export LNG following the conclusion of the NEPA environmental review of the LNG facilities;
Provide for expedited judicial review by the United States Court of Appeals for the circuit in which the export facility will be located; and
Require public disclosure of export destinations as a condition of approval of authorization to export LNG.
In the coming Congress, I look forward to promoting our natural gas industry and creating jobs in West Virginia. For more information on LNG exports: http://energycommerce.house.gov/lngexports
West Virginia Football
The West Virginia Mountaineers have had a successful 2014 campaign, and their record sits at 6-3 after an extremely close loss last week to TCU. This weekend, the team looks to bounce back with a game against Texas on Saturday at 3:30pm. Be sure to tune in to watch the Mountaineers! They are ranked 24th in the nation.
In Huntington, the Marshall University football team is having an incredible year, as their record now stands at a perfect 8-0. They have four games remaining, with a decent shot at perfection. They are the 23rd ranked team in the country.
Constituent Meetings
So far this year I have had more than 230 meetings across the district. Next week Congress will return to Washington to start planning for next year.
If you are ever in the Washington D.C. office please drop in and say hello. If you want an appointment just give my office a call at 202-225-4172, or submit a request on my website at www.mckinley.house.gov.
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