View from the Capitol - Congresswoman Hartzler's Weekly Newsletter for the Week of June 1, 2015

Statement

Dear Friend,

Last Sunday marked the one year anniversary of President Obama's unilateral decision to transfer five senior Taliban terrorists from Guantanamo to Qatar. It also marked the end of the one-year agreement with Qatar to house them and restrict them from rejoining the fight. I am pleased the Qatari government decided, at the last minute, to extend the travel ban on the five. Had the ban been lifted, American lives would have been endangered.. As Americans, we always want our troops, such as Sergeant Bergdahl, to return home safe and sound, but that does not mean this transfer was wise, well-executed, or legal.

Since the transfer took place, the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, which I chair, has been investigating the swap. We want to know how this deal came about and why the President and his advisors felt they could ignore a law designed to provide the people's representatives advance warning of such transfers. Our investigation has been hampered by the White House and the State Department, which have refused to allow DOD to turn over material critical to the investigation. I spoke with Fox News' Shannon Bream about the investigation and the answers we are trying to find:

Continuing our proactive efforts to work on regular order, this week Congress passed two more appropriations bills, bringing the total passed to five. These two bills, the Commerce, Justice, and Science Appropriations Act and the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Act, continue to use the power of the purse to hold the Obama administration accountable while following our balanced budget to make sure taxpayer dollars are responsibly spent.

Similarly, I introduced H.R. 2606 - the Roads, Not Roses Act - a common sense bill aimed at spending your tax dollars wisely. It is no secret our highways and bridges are in an increasing state of disrepair. A cracked support beam on an I-70 bridge near Boonville recently caused a lane to be closed for a few days, the Gasconade River Bridge on I-44 on Hazelgreen has been closed indefinitely, and the roads that deliver numerous Missourians to work, school, or home continue to crumble.

As Congress continues to work towards a sustainable Highway Trust Fund, now is not the time to spend valuable taxpayer dollars on unnecessary "beautification" projects. I appreciate roadside landscaping, but given today's limited highway dollars, these initiatives are best left to volunteer organizations such as the popular "Adopt-a-Highway" program. My bill will free funds from extraneous projects such as landscaping and beautification initiatives, allowing them to go where they are needed -- upgrading and improving our national infrastructure.

As the House begins its busy push through June preparing to debate and pass legislation aimed at balancing our budget, preserving our freedom from foreign threats, promoting opportunity and a growing economy through free trade, and protecting people from Washington overreach, I was glad to visit with groups from Missouri's Fourth who came to our nation's Capital to share their ideas and expertise on issues facing our district.

Members of the Future Farmers of America from Tipton stopped by this week. These students come to D.C. each year to see the legislative process first hand, meet with their elected representatives, and take in the rich history of D.C. I always enjoy this time of year when the halls of Congress are flooded with a sea of future farmers, proudly sporting their blue and yellow FFA jackets. It is great to see so many interested in making sure our agricultural industries remain strong and successful.

Jared Wareham, from the Missouri Youth Cattlemen, also came to D.C. to discuss issues facing the beef industry in Missouri. As a member of the Agriculture Committee and a producer myself, I appreciate the insight the Cattlemen provide as we craft policy that affects the farmers, ranchers, and consumers across the country.

Sincerely,

Vicky Hartzler
Member of Congress

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