Newsletter: KSD Commencement, Providing ID Cards for Veterans, Repealing COOL

Statement

Kansas School for the Deaf Commencement Address

As the Co-Chair of the Congressional Deaf Caucus and a board member of Gallaudet University, I pride myself on being a champion for the deaf community. So it was an honor to be invited to give the commencement address for the 2015 graduating class from the Kansas School for the Deaf in Olathe last week. I wish I could have attended the ceremony in person, but votes in Washington unfortunately kept me in DC.

Special thanks to our district office intern Renate Rose for the invitation and Steve Phan of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services at the US Captiol for signing the speech.

Congratulations, graduates!

Providing ID Cards to Veterans

On Monday, with my support, the House of Representatives passed HR 91 - the Veterans ID Card Act. I was an original cosponsor of this important legislation, which directs the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to provide an ID card to any honorably discharged veteran.

Right now, many veterans are unable to document their service without carrying around their official military service records. The problem is these forms contain sensitive personal information including social security numbers and service history, which leaves veterans at a higher, unnecessary risk for identity theft.

Country of Origin Labeling Repeal

Last week, the World Trade Organization (WTO) again ruled United States country-of-origin labeling (COOL) requirements for meat are non-compliant with international trade obligations, which could lead to billions of dollars in economic retaliation by Canada and Mexico. The ruling stated that COOL unfairly discriminates against Canadian and Mexican livestock producers by requiring labels of muscle cuts of meat to state where the meat-producing animal was born, raised, and slaughtered.

COOL provides no tangible benefit to American consumers while presenting Kansas farmers, ranchers, and small business owners with a host of legal and economic problems. The U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), which enforces COOL, has repeatedly stated that, "the COOL program is neither a food safety or traceability program, but rather a consumer information program." According to AMS, the first year-incremental costs for growers, producers, processors, wholesalers, and retailers are $2.6 billion.

I commend Chairman Mike Conaway (R-TX) and the rest of the House Agriculture Committee for acting swiftly in response to last week's World Trade Organization ruling by voting to repeal COOL. The tariffs Canada and Mexico are threatening to impose after this ruling would deal a huge blow to the Kansas economy, on top of the already added costs imposed by these unnecessary requirements.

I urge my colleagues in the House to follow the Agriculture Committee's lead and take action quickly to ensure this needed fix becomes law as soon as possible.

Legislative Branch Appropriations

On Wednesday, with my support, the House of Representatives passed the 2016 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill. This bill represents a zero percent increase in spending from last year and continues the pay freeze for Members of Congress in existence since Republicans took control of the House in 2010.

It provides $3.34 billion for House Member offices, the support agencies of Congress, security, services for visitors, and Capitol operations and maintenance. It spends $172 million less than the President's Budget Request.

$1.18 billion for the U.S. House of Representatives

$369 million for the Capitol Police

$21 million more than 2015 level and $9.9 million less than the President's Budget Request

$47.3 million for the Congressional Budget Office

$495.9 million for the Architect of the Capitol

$10.1 million less than the 2015 level and $81.1 million less than the President's Budget Request

$591.4 million for the Library of Congress

$33.1 million less than the President's Budget Request

$110.2 million for the Government Publishing Office

$9.8 million less than both the 2015 level and the President's Budget Request

$522 million for the Government Accountability Office

$31.1 million less than the President's Budget Request

$1 million for Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund

$4.7 million less than the 2015 level and $7 million less than the President's Budget Request

The money allocated in this bill allows Member offices to provide the best and most efficient service to their constituents.

Kansas Association of CPAs

It was great to meet with the Kansas Society of CPAs in my DC office this afternoon to discuss the increasing complexity of the tax code and the need for comprehensive reform. Special thanks to Amber Goering for organizing the meeting.

Source