While the President was busy saying “no” to Keystone, House Republicans were busy advancing solutions that will grow our economy, expand domestic energy production, and create equal opportunity in education. This week we focused on solutions that will empower all students from the ground up. Watch and read below for this week’s points of view!
Rep. Sean Duffy (R-WI)
“The House Acted To Completely Fund DHS”
CNN Espanol, Directo USA
“I voted to fund the Department of Homeland Security… What I don’t understand is why Democrats are standing in the way of a vote in the Senate.”
Rep. Marlin Stutzman (R-IN)
“The President’s Missed Opportunity On Keystone”
Bloomberg News, Street Smart with Trish Regan
Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT)
“This Is A Slap In the Face To Israel”
Fox News, On the Record With Greta Van Susteren
Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
“Pipeline Veto Purely Political”
USA Today
“Keystone is a no-brainer in every way, but the White House says the president will veto this jobs bill. Americans deserve to know why, and what a veto would mean.
“Since 2009, liberal extremists have used the project as an environmental litmus test for the president. And he has repeatedly aimed to please, moving deadlines until after elections and stalling the project to near-death. The snag in their plan was, Keystone just kept on clearing hurdles, including every environmental test, leaving behind all the excuses for delay. A veto now would be the ultimate sop to these extremists at the expense of the greater good.
“This shouldn’t be a difficult decision. It shouldn’t be about politics, that’s for sure. The day after the election, we pledged to return Washington’s focus to the people’s concerns. We made Keystone a top priority precisely because it is a good starting point for both parties to come work together and make progress on the economy.
“The allure of appeasing environmental extremists may be too powerful for the president to ignore. But the president is sadly mistaken if he thinks vetoing this bill will end this fight. Far from it. We are just getting started.”
House Conference Vice Chair Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)
“Time To Boost – Not Tax – College-Saving Plans”
CNBC
“Unfortunately, a larger than average percentage of children in the United States has less education than their parents. This is a startling statistic as Americans look to compete for jobs in a competitive global economy… As a nation, we cannot afford to continue to fall behind other countries and expect our children to have the bright future we all dream they achieve.
“Studies have demonstrated how the existence of any sort of college savings account substantially increases the chances of a child attending college. As little as $500 in a savings plan sees children three times as likely to enroll, and four times as likely to graduate from college. Therefore, a sensible solution must be making saving for higher education more attainable for any American.
“529 college savings plans are an essential tool for today’s parents working tirelessly so their children can get a higher education… Essentially, if they are easier to use, more people will use them. This legislation would modernize these accounts by making computers a covered expense, which we all know is a necessary item for any 21st century college student.
“If we intend to help America climb back to the top of the ladder for college graduates across the globe, 529 college savings plans are the perfect vehicle to ensure that future generations receive the education they need to contend for the jobs they deserve.”
House Committee on Energy and Commerce Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI) and Rep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)
“Embracing America’s Energy Opportunity By Building The ‘Architecture Of Abundance’”
The Hill
“As a global energy leader, we hold the power to fuel an American manufacturing renaissance, improve the standard of living for millions of families, and rewrite geopolitical rules to favor America’s global standing and diminish the influence of dangerous regimes. But it’s up to Congress and the administration to seize this opportunity.
“This Congress, working across the aisle and with our counterparts across the Capitol, the committee will advance a comprehensive energy package designed to build what we call the Architecture of Abundance. Our efforts will focus on four key policy areas: modern infrastructure, a 21st Century energy workforce, energy diplomacy, and efficiency and accountability.
“We are incredibly fortunate to be in control of our energy destiny, and it’s time to change the course of America’s policy. Instead of outdated laws that hold on to an era of energy scarcity, we need a comprehensive energy policy that matches today’s era of abundance.”
Rep. Lou Barletta (R-PA)
“Protect Security, Preserve U.S. Jobs”
USA Today
“The Constitution contains no provision for any president to act unilaterally when he cannot find agreement in the legislature. The president cannot claim that Congress did not do what he wanted, and therefore act on his own outside the law.
“The House of Representatives has passed numerous immigration bills and believes that securing the border, protecting the interior and preserving American jobs must come before addressing those who have broken our laws to be present in this country.
“The United States has immigration laws for two basic reasons: to protect national security and to preserve American jobs. President Obama’s unlawful executive actions violate both of those principles.”
Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL)
“Working Together To Grow Jobs”
Belleville News Democrat
“As a newly-elected member of Congress, I have had a lot to learn about House procedure, my committee assignments, the federal budget and how national issues impact Southern Illinois. But one thing I’ve known all along is what my constituents expect of me: hard work and a willingness to cut through the partisan bickering to grow American jobs.
“When I joined my House Republican colleagues in voting to build the Keystone XL pipeline, I was happy to see 28 Democrats joined us – despite strong opposition from President Obama. We’ve passed bipartisan legislation to provide much-needed tax relief to our job creators and rein in crushing regulations on small businesses. And Republicans and Democrats came together to make it easier for local businesses to help fight hunger in our most vulnerable communities.
“Our state and our nation face many challenges, at home and abroad. But I believe our best days are ahead if we roll up our sleeves and work together. So how do we get started? Let’s have a conversation.”
Rep. Kevin Brady (R-TX)
“Could Millions Of Americans Be Freed From Obamacare?”
The Montgomery County Courier
“If the court rules against the IRS in June, though, it offers Republicans in Congress and statehouses across America the best opportunity in years to effectively repeal a key foundation of the ACA and offer patients in 37 states the option of affordable, patient-driven, free market health care.
“Families and workers could have more affordable choices without the hidden costs of the ACA. Local businesses would not face crippling mandates that discourage hiring and drive up costs. Small businesses would be able to join together and buy health care across state lines to make it more affordable.
“I’ve always believed there was a better solution than ObamaCare. Our GOP goal to dismantle, delay and defund the ACA until Americans can be free of this law will be dramatically accelerated if the court rules correctly and Republicans quickly step in with a free market alternative.”
Rep. Doug Collins (R-GA)
“Downplaying Attacks On Christians”
Washington Times
“We cannot as Americans turn a blind eye to what is going on or accept measures designed to punish practicing Christians as a way to identify with others.
“The recent murders in France and Denmark may be harbingers of things to come unless we begin to face reality. Dismissing a concerted attack on our values and faith cannot be dismissed as the result of the random acts of a few thugs in the way our own president described the killing of Jews in France. Doing so ignores what’s going on before our very eyes.”
Rep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC)
“Mr. President, Say Yes To Energy”
Roll Call
“We are the world’s largest oil and gas producer, and consumers are seeing the benefits of this energy renaissance at the pump with lower fuel and heating prices. This boom in energy production is largely a result of state policies and private sector innovation; not, as the president would have you think, a direct result of his actions. The potential for economic growth and job creation is immense if we adopt a federal energy policy that expands access to energy exploration.
“The House of Representatives has continuously voted to promote American energy independence — only to find this administration standing in the way… If we are to reach energy independence, we have to start by enacting policies that enhance energy production from all sources and reduce regulatory hurdles.
“If America is going to continue as the world’s energy superpower, we must take advantage of our energy resources and move forward.”
Rep. Richard Hanna (R-NY)
“Tax Season Stumbles Show Need For IRS Reform”
Press & Sun-Bulletin
“The fact is that the IRS has more than enough resources to efficiently process returns and provide assistance to those in need. It should focus on its core mission of collecting taxes and stop wasting time and resources on inappropriate activities and targeting certain political groups.
“What is true and self-evident to individual and small business taxpayers is that the federal tax code is entirely too long, complex, and riddled with special interest loopholes. In fact, it’s more than 70,000 pages long. That leads to the average taxpayer spending 13 hours gathering receipts, reading rules and filling out all the forms needed to file their taxes.
“What’s needed now is for Republicans and Democrats to come together and seriously reform our tax system so that it’s shorter, simpler and fairer for everyone.”
Rep. Randy Neugebauer (R-TX)
“Overregulation Harmed America’s Financial Sector”
Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
“Today, we are slowly climbing toward recovery, but too many of our fellow Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet. We must do better.
“In the midst of the financial crisis, the Democrat-controlled Congress did not do the responsible thing. Instead of comprehensively studying the crisis, Democrats in Washington threw a blanket over the financial sector in the form of the Dodd-Frank Act.
“When I look at these trends, I think about those folks barely making ends meet. I worry regulations, often advertised as consumer protections, are actually choices coming from regulators in Washington that will limit the choices and opportunity of those on Main Street. Consumer protection is important in the financial marketplace, but we must ensure product choice, credit availability and cost of credit are considered before rushing to regulate.”
Rep. John Shimkus (R-IL)
“From Health Care To Energy: Majority Of Americans Pay More, Get Less Under Obama”
Roll Call
“Under Obamacare, the cost of ‘reform’ was passed along, in the form of bigger deductibles and higher copays, to the majority of Americans who had insurance policies they liked and could afford. Likewise, it’s the majority of Americans who now power their homes with affordable and reliable electricity from coal who will pay the price of the EPA’s impossible carbon standards.
“Let’s look at who gets less. Under the health care law, the majority of Americans have found their coverage networks shrink, offering less of a choice among doctors and hospitals. Under the Clean Power Plan, the majority of Americans could get less reliable electricity and not just less, but no credit at all for existing, zero-emission sources.
“Despite all the president’s rhetoric about middle-class economics, the reality is that the majority of middle-class families pay more and get less as a result of his policies. Republicans warned this would be the case under Obamacare. Will the president listen as we warn the same will be true of his environmental crusade?”