Congresswoman Renee Ellmers: Bringing Accountability to the VA


Photo of the Week

This week, I joined my fellow North Carolinians in the House in co-hosting the 20th Annual NC Business & Economic Development Summit.  In the photo above I am introducing House Conference Chair Cathy McMorris Rodgers. 

 

Weekly Update
Capitol Hill is an extremely busy place to be this month! This week alone, we have passed several important bills in the House including one repealing an Obamacare tax hike on seniors and the middle class, legislation prohibiting the transfer of Guantánamo Bay detainees through the end of President Obama’s term and a bill to make the VA more accountable.

We are working in the House to ensure veterans get the care that they have earned. The VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016, which passed the House this week, strengthens whistleblower protections, reforms the Department’s disability benefits appeals process, and makes it easier to fire those who are not doing their jobs. 

On the Energy & Commerce Committee, we continued our record of success advancing several committee bills. To date, over 100 bipartisan Energy & Commerce bills and provisions have cleared the House in the 114th Congress. CLICK HERE to see a full listing.

Earlier this week, I spoke to North Carolina small business owners at the 20th Annual NC Business & Economic Development Summit and to a group of oncology nurses with the Oncology Nursing Society.  I also met with a group of constituents who were in Washington for the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Leadership Summit and Advocacy Day. Please scroll down to see photos from these events and more!

 

 

Guardian of Small Business Award

I was honored to receive the NFIB Guardian of Small Business Award for the 114th Congress. As a former small business owner, I understand how government policies and regulations can help affect the success, and sometimes determine the survival, of our small businesses. 22 percent of small business owners cite government red tape as the single most important problem they face – second only to taxes. Helping reduce regulatory burdens on small businesses so they can grow and prosper continues to be one of my top priorities.

 

In Washington this week


 
Shown in photos above: I had a good discussion with NC02 constituents (and others from NC) who were in Washington as part of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network Leadership Summit and Advocacy Day. We talked about the importance of funding for cancer research and prevention programs, and specifically the 21st Century Cures legislation.

Pictured above: I enjoyed speaking to a group of oncology nurses and accepting an award from the Oncology Nursing Society for the work I’ve done in support of the profession.

Above: I joined my fellow NC Members of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce to talk to attendees of the NC Business & Economic Development Summit about some of the legislation we have worked on in the committee to ease the red tape that so many small business owners face on a daily basis.

 

In the District
This week, a representative from my office attended the Wake County Agribusiness Council tour of BASF Research Farm in Holly Springs.  Below are a few photos from the tour. You tell from the pictures that it was a beautiful day in the Second District!