Last week began with an important event to help our veterans find jobs in the Fayetteville area. On Monday, my office hosted our second annual “Recruit-a-Vet” job fair and we were thrilled to have over 300 veterans, members of the military, and military spouses participate. As our economy slowly recovers, those looking for employment need all the help they can get and I was honored to be able to provide this opportunity to the men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country.
This was an extremely busy week in the House as we continued to work on the issues that affect individuals, families and businesses in the second district. Recently, an Apex small business owner said the following about the current regulatory environment: “Some of them are possibly good requirements, but they’re just overboard with them. They’re not thinking of the cost on small business people.”
To help relieve some of these burdens, I was proud to vote this week for the REINS (Regulations from the Executive in Need of Scrutiny) Act – which will stop excessive regulation and government abuse. The REINS Act would require an up or down vote in Congress on any major legislation with a cost of $100 million or more.
Also this week, I voted for H.R. 2009 — the “Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare” Act. Below you will find a link to view my floor speech in favor of this bill to prevent the IRS from implementing or enforcing Obamacare.
Finally, there is good news this week for America’s college students. H.R. 1911 – the student loan reform bill, has been sent to the president’s desk. As a result, college students can plan for their futures knowing their finances will not be subject to partisan politics. The House first passed student loan reform in May as part of our plan to create and support jobs.
You will find these updates and more on my work in the House Energy and Commerce Committee in this week’s newsletter. Thank you for your interest regarding the issues that affect you and your community. For more information about my work in Washington and the second district, please visit Ellmers.house.gov and my social media sites. I hope you will share this information with your friends by forwarding this email and using the social media tools in the right sidebar.
Over 300 Turn Out for Recruit-A-Vet Job Fair
This week, my office hosted our second annual ‘Recruit-a-Vet’ job fair for military veterans at the Crown Center in Fayetteville. We had over three hundred veterans, current members of the military and military spouses turn out to meet with local employers, ask questions, receive guidance, and interview for full-time employment.
Participating employers this year included the American Red Cross, Campbell University, Lowe’s, Rick Hendrick Toyota, Employment Security Commission, Harnett Health System, Moen, Inc., Saab Barracuda, LLC, Sunbelt, and the VA Medical Center.
We all have a duty to help our veterans make this transition and offer our support to the brave men and women who have sacrificed so much on behalf of our freedom. I was honored to host this event and look forward to our third annual event next year.
Photos from this year’s Recruit-A-Vet job fair can be found in albums on my Flickr and Facebook pages.
Obamacare “Pulse Check”
In the Energy and Commerce Committee this week we heard more testimony about how Obamacare is being implemented. Even though we have heard from hundreds of employers, and seen daily accounts of its negative impact, Obamacare is already harming businesses. CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner testified that she has only heard of “isolated incidents” relating to the harm caused by Obamacare’s employer mandate.
This is shocking considering the administration’s recent decision to delay this mandate for a full year. To learn more about the hearing and read Ms. Tavenner’s testimony, click here.
Stop the IRS
Recently, a senior technical advisor to former IRS Director of Tax-Exempt Organizations, Lois Lerner, stated that in some circumstances it would be appropriate for the IRS to ask an organization seeking exempt status to describe the content of their prayers.
This is shocking considering that the IRS would be a primary enforcer of Obamacare and allowing its implementation would give the IRS even more control over Americans’ personal lives. This is something Americans do not want. That’s why I stood with the American people this week and voted for H.R. 2009 – the Keep the IRS Off Your Healthcare Act. Click here or on the image below to see my speech in favor of H.R. 2009.
Quality Care for America’s Seniors
The House Energy and Commerce Committee voted 51-0 to advance H.R. 2810 – the “Medicare Patient Access and Quality Improvement Act” which would repeal the broken sustainable growth rate formula (SGR) and replace it with a system that promotes the highest quality of care for America’s seniors.
Click here or on the image below to see my comments from the hearing on the SGR.
Snapshots
This week, NYLC scholars James Sugg, Christopher Bower and Richard St. Arnold visited my Washington office.
A special thanks to this year’s summer interns Joanne, Blair and Harrison (pictured above) who joined my Washington office, and to Aaron Burgin and Roman Bogdanov who joined our district offices. They were a tremendous help to our operation.
If you are interested in an internship with my office, visit this page of my website for information: http://ellmers.house.gov/