Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Making Life Work


Over the weekend,  I attended the reopening of the Chatham County Historic Courthouse. This article in the Sanford Herald has information about the courthouse and the ceremony.

On Monday, I was in Fayetteville, participating in the Fort Bragg Literacy Celebration at Devers Elementary School. Later that day, I visited with the students of Douglas Byrd High School where I was hosted by NC Assistant Principal of the Year, Yolanda Epps.

This week in Washington, my work on the Energy & Commerce Committee included hearings in three subcommittees. Below you will find an overview of these hearings, links to additional information, and my latest op-ed, “Making Life Work,” which appeared in the Huffington Post on Tuesday.

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Making Life Work

We are a nation of doers. For over two centuries, Americans have grown up in a society that rewards hard work, protects innovation, and allows its citizens to constantly break new barriers. The key element to this success rests on freedom and the ability of individuals to strive toward achieving their dreams and making their children’s futures better than their own. But as our nation continues to evolve and our duties blend together, our labor laws must adapt as well.

Today, smartphones, tablets, and the internet have allowed people to conduct business from anywhere at any time. But as we continue to progress, many families find it harder to balance the ever-increasing demands of their work with their desire to care for and be with their family…

The Working Families Flexibility Act is merely a tool to provide workers with new alternatives to make their lives better and give them the power to determine the work schedules that will most benefit their hectic lives.

Click here to read the full op ed at The Huffington Post.

This Week On Energy and Commerce

The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee of the Energy and Commerce Committee held two hearings this week.  On Wednesday, the subcommittee heard testimony regarding the implementation of Obamacare and today we heard from witnesses on the question, “does HIPAA help or hinder patient care and public safety?

Also this week, I participated in the Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology hearing on “The Lifeline Fund: Money Well Spent?” and the Subcommittee on Health hearing on “Securing Our Nation’s Prescription Drug Supply Chain.”

Keeping Promises

House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH), Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers (R-KY), and House Administration Committee Chairman Candice Miller (R-MI) announced this week that after three years under Republican leadership, the House of Representatives is on track to save taxpayers more than $400 million in House operations by the end of the fiscal year. The largest share of the cuts come from House committees, leadership offices, and individual lawmakers’ MRAs. House officers, including the Clerk, Sergeant at Arms, and CAO, are also doing more with less.

This infographic compares the spending trajectory of the previous Democratic majority through FY 2010 with the savings enacted under Republican leadership.

This article from USA Today provides additional information about specific ways the House has cut spending.

Snapshots from the District


Participating in the Reading is Fundamental program at the Fort Bragg Literacy Celebration in Fayetteville.

With ROTC students at Douglas Byrd High School in Fayetteville.

With Partnership for Children of Cumberland County