My Letter to Congress: H.R.875 Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009

I am writing as your constituent in the 1st Congressional district of Tennessee. I am writing as your constituent in the 1st Congressional district of Tennessee. I oppose H.R.875 - Food Safety Modernization Act of 2009, and am tracking it using OpenCongress.org, the free public resource website for government transparency and accountability.

Sincerely,
Michael Wyatt

Thank you for taking the time to email me to share your thoughts and
concerns, which help inform and guide me in Congress.

I want you to know that we read each and every e-mail that is sent to us
in order to best understand the views of East Tennesseeans. I meet with
my staff regularly to discuss the issues raised in correspondence like
yours and will be back in touch soon with a more complete response.

Thank you again for your email. I hope you will continue to share your
thoughts with me.

-----Original Message-----
From: formageddon+59356@opencongress.org
Sent: 11/21/2011 2:18:32 PM
To: "TN01PRIMA"
Cc:
Subject: IMA MAIL ON WEBJUD

SCCMAIL
Mr.
Michael

Wyatt

3113 North Clear Fork Road

Sevierville
TN
37862
7905
865-428-0820
WEBJUD
formageddon+59356@opencongress.org

I am writing as your constituent in the 1st Congressional district of
Tennessee. I am writing as your constituent in the 1st Congressional
district of Tennessee. I oppose H.R.875 - Food Safety Modernization Act
of 2009, and am tracking it using OpenCongress.org, the free public
resource website for government transparency and accountability.

Sincerely,
Michael Wyatt

Last week the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction announced its failure to reach an agreement on how to reduce spending. Now, even though the supercommittee was unable to find common ground, spending will still be cut by $1.2 trillion, under the terms of the Budget Control Act.

The opportunity we missed was an opportunity to reform our mandatory programs. Instead, $1.2 trillion of cuts will still be enacted starting in 2013, and they will be significant. In order to ensure that detrimental cuts do not happen on the backs of hardworking taxpayers or by jeopardizing our national defense, Congress needs to re-examine every program scheduled to receive spending cuts. I will work hard to protect needed funds for our national defense.

This week Congress addressed the National Labor Relations Board’s (NLRB) latest attempt to strip workers’ right to a fair union election. As chair of the Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions subcommittee for Education and the Workforce, I am pleased the House took up action on H.R. 3094, the Workforce Democracy and Fairness Act, because it’s time to bring some accountability to the NLRB and its activist agenda. The legislation would guarantee workers receive all the facts from both employers and unions and have the ability to make a fully informed decision, rather than participate in a rushed election.

It is clear the NLRB is seeking to make it dramatically easier to unionize businesses. Instead of encouraging employers to expand operations and hire new workers, the NLRB would cause chaos in the workforce by dividing employees and raising an employer’s labor costs. H.R. 3094 will promote labor peace instead of the way the NLRB is going about it, which is only encouraging misinformation and workplace dissatisfaction.

Growing up in a union household, I understand the need for transparency and fairness in union organization efforts. For me, there is no right more precious for any American than the right to a secret ballot. It’s how the president of the United States, members of Congress, and even union leaders are elected. I strongly believe in preserving the individual worker’s right to vote by secret ballot on whether to form a union, and their right to not be rushed before voting.

There is no doubt that Congress has many challenges before it in the upcoming month; however, I see this as an opportunity to do the right thing for the American people. This includes addressing the Medicare physician payment formula so our seniors do not face an access to care crisis. We have a responsibility to ensure physicians don’t take a 30 percent pay cut.

Over the next several weeks I will continue to work with my colleagues in Congress to offer solutions and cut duplicative and wasteful programs that are out-of-date and adding to the deficit.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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As we near the year’s end, we continue to see procrastination on behalf of the Senate majority. To date, the Senate has failed to pass a budget and refuses to even consider 27 jobs bills that were passed in the House. Now more than ever, hardworking American taxpayers need leadership, and that means leaders who will follow through on creating jobs and growing the economy.

Republicans are continuing to pass legislation that promotes job growth. House Committees are working hard to pass measures to ensure that businesses can hire again. At week’s end, the House will have sent 27 jobs bills to the Senate with not one being considered. It’s time to stop playing politics and start working together to lay the groundwork for future economic growth.

If we want an economic recovery, Congress needs to pass legislation that will eliminate wasteful spending, lower the deficit and repeal regulations that are stifling job growth. That is why I voted for the Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny Act, or REINS Act – which proposes commonsense, pro-growth policies to give small businesses and entrepreneurs renewed confidence in our economy and to remove Washington as the roadblock to job creation. Specifically, the bill will rein in runaway federal regulations by requiring congressional approval for any federal regulation with an economic impact of $100 million or more.

Since failing to pass their flawed cap-and-trade legislation, the administration has been using the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to implement new harmful regulations and energy taxes without congressional approval. That is why the House will consider the Farm Dust Regulation Prevention Act (H.R. 1633), which removes the threat of excessive farm dust regulations that threaten American farmers, ranchers, and small business job creators. These burdensome regulations will ultimately kill jobs, stop economic growth and raise the cost of energy, food and transportation.

From the rising costs families and businesses are facing because of the new health care law, to Congress’ failure to fix the Medicare’s payment formulas, legislation needs to pass that addresses these important issues. Instead of cutting $500 billion from Medicare for a new entitlement program, we should have used those funds to ensure Medicare patients have the best access to care. Without a fix, there will be cuts in reimbursements to their physicians, which is likely to reduce their access to care.

Last, but certainly not least, last week we remembered the Pearl Harbor attacks that happened 70 years ago. I commend those who so bravely serve our country, and mourn with those who lost loved ones during the horrible attack. I honor our service members for their love of country, patriotism and their willingness to serve. Please also pray for those who are on the front lines who are fighting to protect our freedom.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website,www.roe.house.gov.
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According to the National Conference of State Legislators’ most recent immigration report, all fifty state legislatures introduced some sort of legislation in 2011 to address the growing problem of illegal immigration. At a time of economic uncertainty, we cannot continue to ignore the growing problems with illegal immigration because it is expensive and it’s straining our nation’s financial resources. The federal government must take steps toward enacting comprehensive immigration reform. These reforms must include: securing our borders, addressing illegal immigrants already living in America, and reforming the process of becoming a legal immigrant.

Illegal immigration is a big problem for taxpayers and our national security. In 2010, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) deported more than 392,000 illegal aliens, a record for overall deportation. According to the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), illegal immigration costs the United States over $113 billion. FAIR also estimates that there are roughly 82,000 illegal immigrants in the state of Tennessee alone, costing the state $283 million dollars. This is unacceptable.

I strongly support completing a border fence and employing more agents to secure our nation. As a member of the Immigration Reform Caucus, I have cosponsored a number of immigration reform bills, including H.R. 2000, the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act. The SAVE Act offers a 3-part plan to drastically reduce illegal immigration which includes a strict emphasis on border security, the verification of an employee’s legal status, and increased enforcement of existing laws. H.R. 2000 would hire 6,000 additional new Border Patrol Agents and 1,150 new ICE agents. In addition, it provides the tools necessary to ensure the INS agents can successfully protect our borders, including additional vehicles, better infrastructure, new facilities, lighting units, weapons, and armor.. The SAVE Act also expands the E-Verify and makes it available for use by every employer over a four year period. This will benefit employers because they will be able to efficiently check whether or not their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States.

In order to strengthen the E-Verify system, I have also cosponsored H.R. 2885, the Legal Workforce Act. This legislation aims to improve the E-Verify system and makes it mandatory for all U.S. employers. Over 250,000 American employers currently use E-Verify. A Rasmussen poll earlier this year stated 82 percent of voters think businesses should be required to use E-Verify. With national unemployment rates remaining well over eight percent, we must ensure jobs that are created are going to Americans.

Last August, I joined 74 of my colleagues in the Immigration Reform Caucus in writing President Obama opposing his decision to no longer actively seek to deport illegal immigrants who don’t have a criminal record. While I support legal immigration, I do not think we should reward those who illegally reside in America, and I reject efforts to provide amnesty to these individuals.

We must also reform the process of becoming a legal American citizen. I believe an important part of becoming a legal citizen in America should require that applicants who are seeking naturalization be required to read and understand the English language. I am a cosponsor of the English Language Unity Act, which would declare English as the official language of the United States.

I am adamantly opposed to providing federal benefits to illegal aliens. During these tough economic times, it is imperative we cut spending and address illegal immigration to help address our deficit. Cutting benefits for illegal aliens is a strong step in the right direction. I look forward to working with my colleagues in Congress to address the important issue of immigration reform.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website,www.roe.house.gov.

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My number one focus for the New Year remains on job creation. At the end of last year, I was pleased the Senate finally agreed to accept a House Republican proposal to move forward on the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline is an instant job generator and will create energy security in America.

The pipeline, supported by both employers and unions, will create manufacturing and construction jobs, while increasing energy security across the country. TransCanada estimates that 20,000 well-paying jobs will be created in 2012 should this project move forward. In addition, the project will provide an estimated $5.2 billion in tax revenue to the Keystone XL corridor states. Construction of the pipeline will also act as an economic engine in the private sector by generating additional private sector investment in food, lodging, fuel, vehicles, equipment, construction and services.

Unfortunately, the president has been blocking the pipeline project because of some objections from environmentalists. In doing this, the president is blocking the creation of thousands of jobs in this country. I believe it is important to find common ground because passing this provision is too important to ignore. After waiting more than three years for this pipeline while the country faces prolonged unemployment, the president’s inaction on a project that can quickly create jobs is nonsensical. With the recently-enacted legislation, the president must now approve the project unless he believes it is not in our national interest – and why wouldn’t it be in our national interest to add thousands of jobs and increase our energy security?

Furthermore, if we want to keep jobs here in America and prevent them from moving overseas, we need to rein in a number of regulations that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is trying to implement, including its Boiler MACT regulations. The Boiler MACT regulations could cost the manufacturing sector over $14 billion in capital, plus billions more in annual operating costs. Most importantly, it could cost 267,000 jobs across America, over 8,400 of which are in Tennessee.

By moving forward on bipartisan energy proposals that approve the Keystone pipeline project and repeal the harmful Boiler MACT regulation, we can create thousands of new jobs, prevent the elimination of thousands more and remove burdens hindering growth. It is my hope that when Congress comes back into session that the Senate passes the House-approved legislation that puts America on the path to energy independence and security.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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The national debt continues to rise to ever more dangerous levels and has now reached over $15 trillion – officially surpassing the size of our economy at 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). The unsustainable amount of government debt is so high that it is straining economic growth. We must get serious about enacting spending cuts that put us on a sustainable fiscal path.

Instead of reining in spending, the president has asked Congress to raise the debt ceiling again. That is why this week the House of Representatives will vote on a resolution to disapprove of the administration’s request for an increase in the nation’s debt ceiling – another “sign of leadership failure,” in the president’s own words. This vote is in response to the administration’s reckless spending binge that has driven America’s economy down a disastrous fiscal path and hurt job creation at a critical time for middle-class families and small businesses.

Under President Obama’s watch, the government has accumulated the three largest annual budget deficits in our nation’s history. Over $4.6 trillion has been added to the national debt since Obama took office, which is the most rapid increase of any president. Additionally, there was a 25 percent increase in non-discretionary spending by the president when Democrats controlled both the House and Senate. According to the U.S. Census, every American’s share of the national debt stands at $48,699.

Economists continue to warn that our nation’s economic growth is constrained. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Director Douglas Elmendorf has said that the growing debt puts us at risk for a “sudden fiscal crisis.” CNBC’s John Carney recently chimed in about the deficit officially surpassing 100 percent of GDP saying that it “has serious implications for economic theory.” He goes on to say that “public-sector debt in the U.S. grew from 58 percent of GDP in 2000 to 97 percent in 2010. That almost certainly puts us beyond the threshold where our debt is restraining economic growth.”

With the upcoming budget that is due on February 6, the president has another opportunity to offer a serious, credible plan that lays out how we are going to get this country’s fiscal house in order. Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue.

I came to Congress to get our nation back on track and that includes making the tough decisions that will put us on a path to prosperity. We must end our annual budget deficits and lower the debt if we want to see sustainable economic growth. Even the president admits that if we fail to do this, it could lead to a double dip recession. Now is the time to enact spending cuts because our national security is at risk if we do not lower the deficit.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Tuesday, President Obama delivered his State of the Union address to the joint session of Congress and to the nation. Three years and three trillion-dollar deficits later, it is clear that hardworking Tennessee taxpayers deserve better answers, better solutions and a better result.

To date, the president’s record tells its own story. In his first speech to a joint session of Congress in 2009, the president promised to “cut the deficit in half” by the end of his first term. However, the reality is that under President Obama’s watch, the government has accumulated the three largest annual budget deficits in our nation’s history. Over $4.6 trillion has been added to the national debt since the president took office, which is the most rapid increase of any president. Additionally, there was a 25 percent increase in non-discretionary spending by the president when Democrats controlled both the House and Senate. We must get serious about enacting spending cuts that put us on a sustainable fiscal path.

Additionally, the president claimed that one of his top accomplishments is the overhaul of the health care system; however, since passage of the Affordable Care Act, this nation’s health care system has weakened tremendously as costs have continued to skyrocket. As a compilation of Gallup surveys from 2011 recently released reveals, "more American adults lacked health insurance coverage last year than in any year since Gallup and Healthways started tracking it in 2008." Specifically, when the daily survey results were averaged across the entire year, more than 17 percent of those polled said they were uninsured in 2011, up from 14.8 percent in 2008. The president’s health bill also contains an unconstitutional mandate to purchase coverage Americans can’t afford.

In the Senate we have seen a failure of leadership and a failure to legislate. It has been 1,000 days since the Democratic-led Senate has produced a budget. So why isn’t the president encouraging his colleagues to pass a much needed fiscal blueprint that would give this country stability and certainty?

This country’s economic growth is constrained because of the outrageous levels of spending by this president. The national debt is rising and has now reached over $15 trillion – officially surpassing the size of our economy at 100 percent of gross domestic product (GDP). Another budget is due. This country cannot afford another year without a budget and without certainty just because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid thinks it would be “foolish to do a budget at this point.” The American people deserve fiscally responsible leadership and common sense solutions to get our country’s fiscal house in order. Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue.

A better answer for the future of our nation would be to pass a budget that cuts spending and provides economic certainty. A better solution to get our nation back on track would be to create jobs by loosening credit, leveling the playing field by enforcing trade rules and creating new opportunities for American exports, and by moving forward with energy initiatives like the Keystone XL pipeline. A better result would produce legislation that affirmatively answers the questions I ask myself before considering any legislation: Is it constitutional? Does it shrink the size of government? Does it expand liberty? Does it protect this nation? Every time I cast my vote, I make sure the answer to all those questions is a resounding YES.

The president has another opportunity to rein in spending and work with his Democratic colleagues to pass a budget that is 1,000 days overdue. It is my hope that his words and his promises align with his actions because the American people deserve the truth and a better future.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website,www.roe.house.gov.

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This week, the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) released a report that shows the deficit will exceed $1 trillion for the fourth consecutive fiscal year. With another budget due soon, the president and Congress need a viable long-term plan to restore our national security and lift the massive burden of debt this nation is currently facing. This debt burden is ultimately our greatest barrier to creating jobs because it threatens to slow economic growth.

We must slow spending and cut the deficit at a thoughtful, yet aggressive, rate. With the Senate’s failure to produce or pass a budget for over 1,000 days, this government continues to run on autopilot without a fiscal plan – an unsustainable and expensive way to keep the government running. It is simply not a viable solution for the future. The Senate, led by Harry Reid, has a responsibility to the American people to make the tough choices and pass a budget that enacts real, sustainable spending cuts because the health of our economy is on the line. We cannot afford another failure by the Senate to legislate.

The CBO also projected the jobless rate would rise to 8.9 percent by the end of 2012, and to 9.2 percent in 2013. This means business as usual will keep Americans out of work well into the future. It is yet another reminder that our rising deficit directly affects this nation’s jobless rate. If we want to get folks back to work, we must simultaneously work on lowering the deficit.

Reforms must come with an agenda focused on restoring economic growth and creating jobs. Ultimately, I believe Congress needs accountability, and that is why I support passage of a Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment. The amendment failed in the House last year, but it is the most important tool Congress can have to ensure future prosperity. It would mandate future Congresses to balance the budget, except in the case of wars or military conflict.

A rising deficit and unemployment rate would be devastating for an already weak economy. Our number one focus in Congress must remain on job creation, and that means we must get wasteful Washington spending under control, reduce unnecessary and burdensome regulations, revamp the tax code to encourage economic growth and work towards a more energy independent America by passing good policies like the Keystone XL pipeline.

Hardworking Tennessee taxpayers want relief, but do not want to see Congress put future generations further in debt to pay for current policies. We can and we must pay for these policies by eliminating wasteful Washington spending.

A better answer for the future of our nation would be to pass a budget that cuts spending and provides economic certainty. Tennesseans deserve fiscally responsible leadership and common sense solutions to get our country’s fiscal house in order. Congress, along with the president, needs to come to an agreement that leads to stabilization and declines the ratios of federal government debt to GDP and debt to revenue.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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The slight drop in unemployment in the recent job report was welcome news that shows a positive gain in our economy. However, the economy is still in a fragile state, so Congress must continue to move forward with reforms that put this country on a path to ensure long-term economic success.

That is why the House passed HR 3581, the Budget and Accounting Transparency Act, a bill that would increase transparency in federal budgeting by providing a more honest accounting of how certain costs are calculated and a clearer picture of the government’s total budget. Preliminary non-partisan estimates show that current accounting understates the cost by some $55 billion a year, because it does not account for market risk. The bill fixes this shortcoming by requiring market risk to be explicitly included, which brings federal budgeting in line with what’s long been standard practice in the private sector for valuing similar financial commitments.

Additionally, H.R. 3581 would bring Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on budget to recognize the budgetary impact of these housing-related government-sponsored enterprises. Since the financial crisis these enterprises have become the explicit financial responsibility of the federal government and these reforms would ensure that the budgetary implications of that fact are reflected in the federal budget.

Next week, President Obama is expected to introduce his budget plan for fiscal year 2013, which starts Oct. 1. It is expected to mirror the budget he proposed last September. However, the president’s budget failed to actually address the fiscal problems facing this nation, including entitlement reform. The president’s budget proposal does not offer solutions to address these unsustainable spending, deficit and debt levels. In fact, the president’s budget was so bad that the Senate rejected it by a vote of 97-0. Until we see real leadership in addressing our debt crisis, we won’t reach any agreement because he is the one who will approve any bill passed by the House and the Senate.

To lower the deficit, instead of cutting duplicative, wasteful and bloated government programs, the president plans to end tax cuts for hardworking Americans. This is further evidence that the president is handing the bill over to the American people rather than fixing what is broken in the federal government. Washington doesn’t have a taxing problem, it has a spending problem, and we must reform the way business is done in Washington.

Congress needs to pass reforms that are focused on creating jobs and strengthening our economy. A viable solution for the future of America would be to pass a budget that rewards hardworking taxpayers and provides economic certainty so our small business can thrive.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.


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My focus in Congress continues to be on creating jobs and growing our economy. Ultimately, doing this starts with creating an education system that gives Americans the tools they need to get jobs in the global economy.

Improving our nation’s education system is critical to securing a successful future for our children and grandchildren. Last week, the House Education and the Workforce Committee, of which I am a member, began considering changes to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law for the first time in over a decade. H.R. 3989, the Student Success Act, and H.R. 3990, the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act, will raise the standard in public education, return crucial decision-making authority to the states, and ensure that the unique needs of every student are being met.

Since NCLB was signed into law 10 years ago, Tennessee and its educators have done their best to provide a quality education to all students. While NCLB addressed some shortcomings in the education system, it opened up a whole new set of problems that simply haven’t been addressed. On February 9, 2012, Tennessee was granted a waiver providing greater state and local flexibility from standards within NCLB. While this waiver will help Tennessee’s education system in the short-term, I am concerned that – rather than working with Congress to fix the problems in our education system permanently – the administration is trying to have states pass their agenda through the backdoor.

That is why I am proud to be a cosponsor of the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act. These bills enable true education reform by giving states more flexibility to meet local needs and providing accountability needed for successful outcomes. There is also an assurance that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely because funding is used to strengthen programs that are already successfully working in school districts around the country. These bills offer long-term solutions for our education system that will help pave the path of our children’s future

I believe education reform should be driven at the state and local level, not by bureaucrats in Washington. Our teachers in East Tennessee know best how to meet the needs of their students. I believe both the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act help empower more local decision-making. These bills consolidate more than 70 programs to make sure that states and school districts have the maximum flexibility to use federal funds as they see fit towards local priorities.

This legislation will also eliminate the seriously flawed accountability measure of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), which requires states to set annual goals for students across the board. Currently, if AYP goals aren’t met, the law requires federally mandated interventions. According to the Center on Education Policy, almost half of all public schools in the U.S. failed to meet the goals set by AYP in 2011. Eliminating this flawed standard will give teachers more time to spend with their students, rather than dealing with more mandates issued by the federal government.

Additionally, the Student Success Act and the Encouraging Innovation and Effective Teachers Act require states to determine their own teacher and school accountability systems with a set of parameters to ensure no school system falls behind. Under this legislation, each state will have the chance to develop their own improvement plans for schools that fail to make satisfactory progress.

While speaking with educators throughout the First District, they are concerned the Highly Qualified Teacher Requirement does not take into account the unique needs and challenges of smaller, more rural school systems. That is why I am pleased this legislation also eliminates the Highly Qualified Teacher Requirement established in NCLB. Again, we have the ability to make teacher evaluations in Tennessee that account for the unique needs of each school district.

The public school system in the United States is second to none, but it is no secret we still have work to do. I strongly believe we can get our education system back on track while returning control to those who best know education- teachers and school administrators. My colleagues on both sides of the aisle agree that this is an issue of national importance. I will continue working to ensure schools in the First District of Tennessee have the freedom and flexibility they need to successfully and effectively educate our children.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email, or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Do you support changing or eliminating No Child Left Behind by returning control over education dollars to states and local governments?

* Somewhat support
* Strongly support
* Somewhat oppose
* Strongly oppose
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Last week, the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee marked up H.R. 452, the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act, legislation I introduced to repeal the dangerous rationing board created by the Affordable Care Act – the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB).

This week, the House Ways and Means Committee is holding a hearing to examine the impact IPAB will have on the Medicare program. There is bipartisan concern about this board and how it could harm Medicare. It is important for these committees to shine light on the dangers posed to seniors by the IPAB.

The IPAB will consist of a group of fifteen unelected bureaucrats who will decide what constitutes “necessary care,” and who will create a “one size fits all” solution when it comes to medical care. As a physician, I can tell you firsthand how troubling this mindset can be. In medicine, every case is unique and must be treated that way.

IPAB has two significant structural problems—it is both unaccountable and unworkable. The board is empowered to make recommendations regarding Medicare without any input from the Congress. Don’t just take my word for it – President Obama’s former Budget Director Peter Orszag has called IPAB the “single biggest yielding of power to an independent entity since the creation of the Federal Reserve.”

The IPAB is duplicitous for many reasons: it shifts health care decision-making power away from the patient; it will operate without transparency or accountability, bypassing all Congressional oversight; and it places the focus on slashing Medicare costs, rather than on improving the quality of care. If Congress fails to change IPAB’s recommendations, they go into effect automatically, and it’s important to note that Congress can only change where, but not how much, to cut.

Even after the IPAB makes its recommendations, the hands of the legislature are still tied. The proposal would be considered under “fast-track” procedures and, without a three-fifths vote of the Senate, Congress can only modify the type of cuts, not their size. And if Congress fails to act on the board’s recommendations, they automatically go into effect. This isn’t government by the people; it is instead government by the bureaucrats.

While it seems there is little that our two parties can agree on in the current environment, both sides have acknowledged that the IPAB is a terrible idea. That’s why my bill to repeal the IPAB—the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act—has more than 231 bipartisan cosponsors. The American Medical Association has endorsed my legislation, as did a broad coalition of more than 270 health care-related organizations.

Regardless of political party, our common goal should be to protect and preserve Medicare, not expand the scope and amount of the cuts the IPAB is tasked with, as President Obama has proposed in his budget. We need to focus on repealing this board before it affects the care of our seniors. I urge a bipartisan repeal of the IPAB.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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The price at the pump has soared to $3.79 a gallon nationally, and more than $4 in many areas. Fears of another economic slowdown are prevalent because of high gas prices. Hardworking families in Tennessee and across the country are struggling to pay rising costs. Congress needs to pass common sense energy policies that move us in the direction of lower gas prices and energy independence.

If we want to create jobs in America and move our country toward energy security, Congress should pass energy policies such as the Keystone XL pipeline. The pipeline, supported by both employers and unions, will create manufacturing and construction jobs, while increasing energy security across the country. TransCanada estimates that 20,000 well-paying jobs will be created in 2012 should this project move forward. In addition, the project will provide an estimated $5.2 billion in tax revenue to the Keystone XL corridor states. Construction of the pipeline will also act as an economic engine in the private sector by generating additional private sector investment in food, lodging, fuel, vehicles, equipment, construction and services.

Unfortunately, the president has been blocking the pipeline project because of some objections from environmentalists. In doing this, the president is blocking the creation of thousands of jobs in this country. I believe it is important to find common ground because passing this provision is too important to ignore. After waiting more than three years for this pipeline while the country faces prolonged unemployment, the president’s inaction on a project that can quickly create jobs is nonsensical.

As a member of the House Energy Action Team (HEAT), I am focused on promoting energy policies that will make America more secure and reduce our dependence on foreign sources of oil. HEAT members are working to make sure Congress enacts long-term energy policies that over time will lower the price at the pump.

In an effort to solve the energy crisis in America, I am also a member of the Republican Study Committee (RSC) Energy Working Group. The RSC introduced and the House passed H.R. 1777, the Consumer Relief for Pain at the Pump Act. H.R. 1777 will increase the supply of North American energy and lessen regulatory burdens, mandates, and prohibitions that unnecessarily increase the price of gasoline. Even though the legislation passed in the House, the Senate failed to take action on H.R 1777.

We need an “all-of-the-above” energy policy to ease the pain at the pump. That is why I teamed up with my colleagues for these energy initiatives, and it’s why I am voting for legislation to lower energy costs. This is what will put us on the path to energy independence.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Do you support efforts to pay for upgrading our nation’s transportation infrastructure with revenue raised from expanding domestic energy development?

* Somewhat support
* Strongly support
* Somewhat oppose
* Strongly oppose
* Other

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While each month shows a little more progress than the one before, February’s report stated the national unemployment rate is still 8.3 percent. With 12.8 million Americans unemployed, it’s clear Congress still has a lot of work to do. According to a recent World Bank study, the United States dropped two ranks, from eleventh to thirteenth, in the “starting a business” category, which gauges how easy or difficult it is for businesses to get up and running. For true economic recovery to take root, the U.S. has to be competitive in the global market. American businesses should be incentivized to succeed, and we must do away with regulations that will drive jobs overseas.

I am working hard to ensure not only that job creators have the stability to expand their businesses and hire new workers, but also that entrepreneurs have the capital and confidence to take on the risk of starting a new business.

That is why I was pleased to support the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) Act, a bipartisan proposal that increases small businesses’ access to capital and removes burdensome regulations. By passing legislation like the JOBS Act, we can make it easier for entrepreneurs and businesses to invest, expand, and create jobs. The bill passed the House and will now be considered in the Senate.

The JOBS Act would make raising capital easier by easing several Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) registration requirements, which is a burdensome, complex process. The JOBS Act would make it easier to raise capital from a large pool of investors by increasing the threshold below which companies are exempt from SEC registration. The legislation also raises the shareholder registration requirement threshold from 500 shareholders to 1,000 shareholders, allowing entrepreneurs to pool together without having to be considered a public company.

I will continue to support legislation like the JOBS Act that will help create an environment in which job creation is possible and get Americans back to work. I was pleased to see the president support these bills and I encourage him to do the same with the 27 other jobs bills that await action in the Senate.

We have a responsibility to create a pro-growth business environment in this country, and we should take this as an opportunity to work together. I strongly believe we can continue to come together in a bipartisan way to get our country back on track. Last week was a good example of how putting politics aside can benefit the American people.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Do you support giving future seniors – those currently under the age of 55 – more options for health insurance in addition to Medicare?

* Somewhat support
* Strongly support
* Somewhat oppose
* Strongly oppose
* Other

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The demand for Medicare services is expanding at a very high rate, making future costs unaffordable, and putting our health care security at risk. As a physician and a lawmaker, I believe our common goal should be to save, protect and preserve Medicare.

Instead of dramatically cutting Medicare dollars, which will lead to decreased quality and access to care, we should be looking at ways to save the program and improve the quality of care we are providing our seniors.

That is why I introduced the Medicare Decisions Accountability Act – legislation that will protect Medicare from harmful cuts by repealing one of the most dangerous aspects created by the Affordable Care Act – the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB). The IPAB directly inserts the government into seniors’ health care decision-making process, and it will limit access to care. Made up of 15 unelected and unaccountable bureaucrats appointed by the president, the IPAB is tasked with meeting a budget and making cuts to Medicare.

Today, the U.S. House of Representatives will take a very important vote on my legislation to repeal the IPAB. We must act to save Medicare from bankruptcy, but we must do it in the right way. IPAB is not the answer to saving Medicare. In fact, the IPAB will further harm care to seniors by limiting what treatment doctors are allowed to give their patients. This will result in seniors being denied access to the medical care they need, and it will also put the government in between patients and their doctor.

Chairman Ryan’s budget blueprint – The Path to Prosperity, introduced this week – also recognizes the threat IPAB proposes to Medicare; therefore, his budget eliminates the board. The budget notes that the president’s health care law empowers bureaucrats at the expense of patients and providers, setting up an unelected board tasked with cutting Medicare through formulaic rationing. Alternatively, the president’s budget proposes doubling down and strengthening the IPAB to ration even more care.

IPAB is not the only contrast between the two budgets. In President Obama’s budget, he is proposing $1.5 trillion in new taxes, raising tax rates across the board on small business owners and entrepreneurs. We will not be able to create jobs if the government is acting as a roadblock to the job creators.

In The Path to Prosperity, Chairman Ryan spurs economic growth with bold tax reform – eliminating complexity for individuals and families and boosting competitiveness for American job creators. For example, it simplifies the tax code by consolidating the current six individual income tax brackets into just two brackets of 10 percent and 25 percent. Additionally, Ryan’s budget reduces the corporate tax rate of 35 percent, which will soon be the highest rate in the developed world, to a much more competitive 25 percent. His budget also rejects raising taxes on hard-working Americans.

These important points remain clear: the government must work to protect Medicare and seniors access to care, and the government must live within its means while keeping taxes low. We cannot allow the IPAB to go into effect because it will harm care to our seniors. We cannot continue to borrow 40 cents on every dollar because this is not sustainable and it puts our national security at risk. We must pass solutions that reward hardworking taxpayers.

Congress needs to repeal the IPAB and they need to pass a budget. To date, the Senate has not passed a budget in three years. Yet they continue to spend with no accountability whatsoever. Unless the government acts, Medicare and Social Security remain threatened for current seniors and will not be there for younger families and future generations.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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This week, the Supreme Court takes up challenges to Obama's health-care law that was adopted in 2010, including whether or not the mandate for individuals to purchase health insurance is constitutional.

Do you agree with the individual mandate or do you believe it is unconstitutional?


* I believe the individual mandate in the health care law is unconstitutional.
* I think the individual mandate in the law should stand.
* Other

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Last week, the Supreme Court held a historic hearing on the president’s health care law, specifically about the law’s constitutionality. My philosophy is simple: I do not believe the government should in any way insert itself into the health care decision-making process. The physician, the patient, and their family should make health care decisions.

Since the president’s health care bill became law two years ago, the American people see its failure to address the cost crisis in our health care system and have a better understanding of its long-lasting negative impact. Included in the president’s health care law are job-crushing mandates that are only burdening small businesses and families.

Most importantly, this debate is about the law’s constitutionality. Twenty-six states are challenging the law's legality in the Supreme Court. It is very concerning that the federal government is requiring individuals to purchase health care insurance. The Supreme Court’s decision regarding the law’s constitutionality will affect every American.

Through the individual mandate, the federal government is literally forcing all Americans to buy health insurance. If the federal government can require individuals to buy a health care plan, what else can they require individuals to buy? Even worse, the health care law gives the federal government the right to decide what is “acceptable” coverage for individuals. Those who do not meet these standards will be penalized. I do not see how such a requirement can be held constitutional.

Last Wednesday, I sat in on the Supreme Court hearing, which specifically focused on the constitutionality of another provision expanding the federal-state Medicaid program. It was fascinating listening to questions by Supreme Court justices during the proceeding.

Ultimately, by late June, the Supreme Court will decide if government can force individuals to buy a private product or be penalized for not doing so. The question remains: Can the government be allowed to force people to buy health insurance? I hope the answer from the court is NO.

The House of Representatives has already taken action to repeal the president’s health care law, and I have introduced a resolution that expresses the sense of Congress that the individual mandate is unconstitutional to support the states’ challenge. It is time for Washington to side with the American people by joining that effort. We will continue to do the work we were sent here to do until the threat of the health care law is removed once and for all.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the fiscal year 2013 budget, “The Path to Prosperity”. Our nation is facing a debt crisis, and passage of this blueprint will help restore jobs and put our country back on a fiscally sustainable path. Hard-working taxpayers deserve better than empty promises from a broken government, and “The Path to Prosperity” budget offers a tangible way forward.

After years of spending money beyond its means, the U.S. government is broke. If nothing is done to address our nation’s debt crisis the prosperity of every American is threatened. The unsustainable amount of government debt is so high that it is straining economic growth. Since 2009, federal spending has increased by nearly 30 percent in three years and has increased the debt by nearly 50 percent.

Washington simply cannot afford to keep funding failed and duplicative programs at these bloated levels and still hope to pass on the American dream to future generations.

In President Obama’s speech when he addressed the House Republican budget, he specifically attacked the Medicare portion of the legislation, claiming that “the only reason the government will save any money is because we have shifted it to seniors. They will bear more of the costs themselves. It is a bad idea. It will ultimately end Medicare as we know it.” However, his accusations are completely untrue. In fact, according to the Medicare Trustees the program is going broke. Failure to take action and save these programs poses the greatest threat to the health and retirement security of America’s seniors. Personalized Medicare helps solve a problem that affects everyone—the problem of relentlessly rising health care costs in America.

Furthermore, the president’s plan for Medicare is to implement the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), which puts our seniors’ care at high risk. The IPAB not only fails to save the program from bankruptcy, but its job will be to cut funding for senior care. It does nothing to address the high cost of health care. The IPAB will further harm care to seniors by limiting what treatment doctors are allowed to give their patients. This will result in seniors being denied access to the medical care they need, and it will also put the government in between patients and their doctor.

In order to address the unsustainable debt crisis this nation is facing, it is important that Congress pass a budget that will restore economic growth, create jobs and enact enforceable and meaningful cuts, in order to preserve our future. That is why I supported “The Path to Prosperity.” This budget cuts spending in a meaningful way, lowers tax rates while simplifying the tax code, puts patients back at the center of health care decision-making, and spurs energy production at a time of near-record gas prices.

We must come together in a bipartisan way to enact the changes needed to restore America’s prosperity, instead of resorting to misleading attacks. The American people want us to come together and solve the problems we are facing as a nation.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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As we approach the tax filing deadline on April 17, we see how much the government and taxation have grown in America. There is no question we need to lower taxes for all hardworking Americans, from our job creators to our friends and neighbors who have fallen on hard times. Excessive regulation and taxes are a deterrent to business expansion and income.

The president’s solution to economic recovery is the opposite. In his budget he is proposing $1.5 trillion in new taxes. His plan would raise tax rates across the board on small business owners and entrepreneurs. Job growth will be stifled if the government is acting as a roadblock to the job creators.

One example of the crushing new tax burden that the Obama Administration is trying to implement is the president’s health care law. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office has warned that the IRS will need up to $10 billion to implement the law over the next decade. Recent reports indicate that the administration is shifting one-half billion dollars to the IRS already to implement the health care law. This expansion of the IRS’ power and reach into hardworking taxpayers’ daily lives has hit a new high and will now include a verification system that you have acceptable health care coverage, penalizing you if you don’t and increasing audits.

We need to put a stop to the government’s reach through the broken tax system. In “The Path to Prosperity”, House Republicans spur economic growth with bold tax reform – eliminating complexity for individuals and families and boosting competitiveness for American job creators. For example, it simplifies the tax code by consolidating the current six individual income tax brackets into just two brackets of 10 percent and 25 percent. Additionally, the budget reduces the corporate tax rate of 35 percent, which will soon be the highest rate in the developed world, to a much more competitive 25 percent. This budget also rejects raising taxes on hard-working Americans.

When I first came to Congress, I voted for legislation that will extend tax cuts for all Americans. Hardworking taxpayers should not face a tax increase in a weak economic climate. However, I believe we should go a step further and make these tax cuts permanent.

There is no shortage of good ideas for tax reform. For instance, we could use Tennessee as a model for tax reform, which is why I am a cosponsor of H.R. 25, the FairTax. The FairTax isn't just about taxes; it is about freedom, jobs, smaller government and the economy. It is about returning power to the people and finally finding a way to ensure America's economic growth. It is about reining in the IRS and stripping the federal government of the opportunity to dig deeper and deeper in the American people's personal pocketbooks.

We need to put a stop to the outrageous government spending that has turned into outrageous government taxing. Washington doesn’t have a taxing problem, it has a spending problem, and raising taxes without fixing the real problem will only continue to burden families and job creators. Congress needs to fix the broken tax system and allow our workers and families to keep more of what they earn and save - while giving entrepreneurs and small businesses incentives to grow. These are the best ways to stimulate the economy.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Last Tuesday marked Tax Day and, coincidentally, Tax Freedom Day - meaning that it has taken from January 1 until now for Americans to earn enough money to pay this year’s federal, state, and local tax bill — 29.2% of all our income. We need to put a stop to the government’s overreach into hardworking taxpayers’ wallets.

One way we can stop the government tax overreach is by fixing the broken tax system. I support simplifying our tax code and closing loopholes that amount to spending in the tax code. However, let me be clear – I do not think this government has a taxing problem – it has a spending problem.

I believe we should make tax cuts permanent for all Americans. Since coming to Congress, I voted to extend tax cuts, and I joined a number of my colleagues in Congress on several occasions asking that Washington refrain from raising taxes. I will continue to work with them to try to achieve tax reform that will permanently lower rates on individuals and spur economic growth.

In “The Path to Prosperity”, House Republicans spur economic growth with bold tax reform – eliminating complexity for individuals and families and boosting competitiveness for American job creators. The blueprint simplifies the tax code by consolidating the current six individual income tax brackets into just two brackets of 10 percent and 25 percent. This budget also rejects raising taxes on hard-working Americans.

While balancing the federal budget with reduced spending, we must lower corporate and individual tax rates to promote greater savings and investment. Both the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts need to be extended permanently. “The Path to Prosperity” reduces the corporate tax rate of 35 percent, which will soon be the highest rate in the developed world, to a much more competitive 25 percent.

Last week I will voted in support of the Small Business Tax Cut Act, which is legislation that will directly help small businesses create jobs. The Small Business Tax Cut Act will allow small businesses with fewer than 500 employees to take a tax deduction equal to 20% of their active business income, irrespective of how the small business is organized. Our 20% small business tax cut goes straight to the bottom line so small business owners can retain more capital, invest in their businesses and create more jobs.

To help lower the tax burden, I have cosponsored H.R. 470, The Economic Recovery and Middle Class Tax Relief Act, which contain a number of common-sense tax changes that will promote economic growth and overturn decades of misguided policy. Allowing our workers and families to keep more of what they earn and save – while giving entrepreneurs and small businesses incentives to grow – are the best ways to stimulate the economy. Tax cuts, along with incentives such as tax credits for capital investment, are a vital step toward jump-starting our economy.

Instead of raising taxes, Congress needs to cut spending by eliminating duplicative, wasteful and bloated government programs. However, the president's budget recommends ending tax cuts for hardworking Americans. President Obama and Congressional Democrats have pursued higher taxes at every turn under the pretense that raising taxes is fair and everyone should “pay their fair share.” Nothing could be further from the truth, and the so-called Buffett Rule that failed in the Senate earlier this week is the latest job-killing tax hike that will only feed even more reckless spending. The real truth is not that families and job creators are taxed too little, it is that Washington is spending too much.

There is nothing fair about the federal government taking between 30 and 40 percent of your income, especially on top of all the other taxes you pay – like sales taxes, gas taxes, and state and local taxes. Tax Day is a timely reminder that instead of increasing taxes, we should reform the tax code and pass legislation that will help small businesses to grow and let individuals and families keep more of what they earn.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.

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Do you support making changes to Social Security for future beneficiaries to ensure the program will continue to be available for them?

* Somewhat support
* Strongly support
* Somewhat oppose
* Strongly oppose
* Other

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Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court justices heard arguments regarding Arizona’s immigration law. The way I see it, Arizona is simply trying to enforce our basic immigration laws that make it illegal to be in our country without a visa or proper citizenship. With nearly 12 million illegal immigrants in this country, it is clear that our system is broken and the federal government needs to enact and enforce strict immigration laws in order to protect the citizens of our country. The problem with illegal immigration has gone on too long, and the Arizona law is an attempt from states to address a problem that the federal government has not.

The law would allow state and local law enforcement in Arizona to enforce federal immigration statutes, but it has been struck down at the district and appeals court levels. The hearing is a product of the administration filing a legal challenge against the new Arizona immigration law, originally claiming it is unjust because it will lead to “racial profiling”. However, the Justice Department, under the current administration, is now arguing the law violates the Constitution’s supremacy clause, which states that the Constitution, federal laws and treaties supersede state laws.

I personally see the supremacy clause line of attack as questionable since it would seem that Arizona is simply trying to enforce our basic immigration laws, which make it illegal to be in our country without a visa or proper citizenship. The Arizona law, known as SB 1070, requires police officers to verify the legal status of people if the officer is suspicious that the person is in the United States illegally. The bill makes it a state crime to be in the country without authorization.

According to Reuters, several U.S. Supreme Court justices in the hearing voiced support for Arizona's effort to crack down on illegal immigration, appearing to reject Obama administration arguments that the federal government has sole responsibility for dealing with people who illegally enter the United States.

As a member of the bipartisan Immigration Reform Caucus, I have cosponsored a number of immigration reform bills, including H.R. 2000, the Secure America through Verification and Enforcement (SAVE) Act.

The SAVE Act offers a three-part plan to drastically reduce illegal immigration, which includes a strict emphasis on border security, the verification of an employee’s legal status, and increased enforcement of existing laws. H.R. 2000 would hire 6,000 additional new Border Patrol agents and 1,150 new ICE agents. In addition, it provides the tools necessary to ensure the INS agents can successfully protect our borders, including additional vehicles, better infrastructure, new facilities, lighting units, weapons, and armor.

The SAVE Act also expands E-Verify and makes it available for use by every employer over a four-year period. This will benefit employers because they will be able to efficiently check whether or not their employees are legally authorized to work in the United States. If the federal government would do their job and pass legislation such as the SAVE Act, Arizona would not have a need to enforce SB 1070, and they would not be on trial for the law today.

Illegal immigration is a serious threat to our national security, one that is very expensive and a burden to hardworking taxpayers. Furthermore, there is a national debate over what to do with the 12 million illegal immigrants in the country. Something needs to be done to solve this problem. The federal government needs a comprehensive solution to the problem of illegal immigration that starts with securing our borders.

Please feel free to contact my office if we can be of assistance to you or your family. You can contact my office by mail, email or phone. Our contact information can be found on our website, www.roe.house.gov.


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