Picture of the Week:
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| Thursday afternoon, I joined Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA) to launch the bipartisan Grid Innovation Caucus. This caucus is an important way to explore new energy opportunities for companies and encourage advanced research and development. With more than 60 companies working in the smart grid sector in North Carolina, this caucus is critical to creating additional jobs for our communitities back home. |
This week I had the opportunity to provide much needed relief to our doctors and hospitals across the nation. I recently introduced legislation called The Flex-IT Act of 2014, which allows our health care providers flexibility to meet standards imposed on them by the Department of Health and Human Services regarding health IT mandates. Unfortunately for our doctors, the online portal for logging information is down and the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) is still planning to penalize doctors and hospitals if they do not meet the October 1 deadline. However, the Flex-IT Act would give healthcare providers additional time and greater flexibility to meet standards. I hope you will check out articles written on my legislation in Politico and Forbes.
Also this week, I joined my colleague Congressman Jerry McNerney (D-CA) to launch a new Grid Innovation Caucus. This bipartisan caucus is incredibly important in North Carolina, as the Triangle is known for having the second-largest smart grid sector in the nation. In forming this caucus, we can explore new ways to modernize outdated utility grids to improve the reliability, resiliency and efficiency of energy distribution. Pictures from the press conference can be found below, and take a look at this article from News 14 Carolina to learn more.
In the House this week we passed H.R. 24, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act, to audit the Federal Reserve. We also passed two major jobs bills — H.R. 2, the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs & More American Jobs Act and H.R. 4, the Jobs for America Act. Now it is time for the Senate to pass this legislation to give taxpayers the transparency and accountability they deserve and the opportunities they so desperately need.
It has been a busy two weeks weeks in Washington, but I am so looking forward to returning home and seeing friends and businesses around the district. As always, please be sure to visit my website to see the ways we can assist you. We are always here to help you!
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Launching the Grid Innovation Caucus
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| My colleague Rep. McNerney and I hosted a press conference to announce the formation of the Grid Innovation Caucus. Joining us for the press conference were several representatives from leading power, energy, and smart grid sectors. |
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| Rep. McNerney and I were able to take questions from the crowd on the goals of the caucus and our plans to expand energy reliability and resiliency. |
Small Business Award
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| It was an honor to receive the National Federation of Independent Business “Guardian of Small Business Award.” It cannot be overstated how important our small businesses are to a healthy and thriving economy. |
Meeting with Challenge Printing
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| I really enjoyed meeting with second district business, Challenge Printing, in my Washington office. I toured this facility in Sanford back in February. |
Auditing the Federal Reserve
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| This week the House passed H.R. 24, the Federal Reserve Transparency Act to audit the Federal Reserve. It’s time for the Senate to act on this bill to give taxpayers the transparency and accountability they deserve. |