I hope you and your family are enjoying a safe and happy holiday season.
In the House this week, we passed H.R. 2019, the Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act, which eliminates the Presidential Election Campaign Fund and redirects funding to the Pediatric Research Initiative. I am a proud cosponsor of this act, which will help expedite important breakthroughs in cancer, autism and other rare diseases. This bill is fully-funded and will not cost taxpayers anything.
Recently, PolitiFact named Obama’s political pitch, “If you like your health plan, you can keep it,” as the “Lie of the Year.” The “Lie of the Year” is awarded after approximately 4 million cancelation letters were sent to Americans across the country—many of which were unfortunately received by constituents like you.
This week, I had the opportunity to question HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius during the House Energy & Commerce Committee Hearing. I asked Secretary Sebelius about one of Obama’s many broken promises— specifically the promise where Obama stated over and over, “If you like your doctor, you can keep your doctor.” You can find links to the video where I question Secretary Sebelius, and you can also hear an interview I gave following the committee hearing below.
During this holiday season, I ask that you keep in mind the many heroes serving in our armed forces. Many of these service members are unable to be with their families during this special time of year. While these families are always in need of our prayers and support, prayers are especially needed during the holidays. I hope that you will take a few moments to reflect upon their service and sacrifice to our great country.
On Thursday, some members of my district staff joined local veterans groups, Gold Star Wives and others, in a grand “send-off” for the families traveling from Fayetteville to Dallas on the Snowball Express. Below, you will find photos and more information about the annual trip, which is now in its eighth year.
Additionally, this week the House of Representatives voted on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. This two-year budget agreement provides certainty and stability to businesses and families across our country and, most importantly, prevents another government shutdown in January. The Bipartisan Budget Act puts financial spending back in the hands of Congress, as required in the Constitution and prevents the president from continuing his reckless and arbitrary spending. My full statement can be found below in the newsletter.
Please contact my office with any concerns or questions you have – we are here to serve you!
Ellmers Statement on the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013
“Last night, I voted for an important first step in producing a sound budget that will fund the government over the next two years and restore economic certainty to our country over time. This budget restores the ability for Congress to control the purse strings. By operating without a budget for the past several years, the government has been funded through continuing resolutions, allowing the White House to direct funding to all sorts of unnecessary programs. Democrats will now be held to task and forced to show where their true priorities lie when they vote to allocate your money to ineffective and wasteful programs. Instead of governing from crisis to crisis, we can now focus on changing the way Washington functions and promote conservative policies that will have the greatest impact over many years, rather than holding the American economy hostage every few months.”
“As I have said all along, I came to Washington to shut down Obamacare, not the federal government. That was the only other alternative in last night’s vote. We now have the ability to continue pressing the Obama administration to answer for their systematic failures and broken promises to the American people. This is where the American people are facing an immediate danger, and I will not deviate from my focus on this issue until this law is repealed and the Obama administration is held accountable for their actions.”
Why did the president tell us we could keep our doctors?
On Wednesday, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius returned to the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee hearing to answer questions about Obamacare and the problems that continue to plague the law’s implementation. I asked Secretary Sebelius about the president’s promise that “if you like your doctor you can keep your doctor.” Click here or on the image above to see Secretary Sebelius respond to my questions.
I appeared on “America’s News HQ” on Fox News Channel following the Committee Hearing to talk about Obamacare and Sebelius’ testimony.
Click here or on the image above to watch the interview.
“Stop talking and start doing”
In one of her last interviews, Gabriella Miller said, “Stop talking, start doing. We need action.” This week, the House passed the bipartisan Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act in a 295-103 vote.
I released the following statement after passage of the Kids First Act, which I was proud to co-sponsor:
This afternoon, we passed a major piece of legislation that will have a real and immediate impact on children across the country. Cancer is a devastating disease, but when it affects children, our worst horrors become a reality. This bill will provide vital funding for the National Institute of Health (NIH) to conduct targeted and coordinated pediatric medical research. This research has the real promise of expediting important breakthroughs in cancer, autism and other rare disease research while also providing new techniques that could benefit the lives of children across the country. I’m proud to support this bill and will continue to fight to make it a reality.
For more information on this bill, and the young lady who inspired it, watch this video as reported by CNN.
Snapshots from the District
— The Snowball Express
This week, some members of my district staff assisted in the festive “send off” of the Snowball Express at the Fayetteville Regional Airport. American Airlines offers the Snowball Express trips free of charge to children who have lost a parent in active military duty. The trip this year is to Dallas and includes a visit to the Fort Worth Zoo, a talent show and many other activities.
More information about the Snowball Express can be found in this Fayetteville Observer article.
A member of my staff speaks to a family while they are waiting to board the Snowball Express.
Veterans lined up to give kids on the Snowball Express a big send off.
Click here for more photos from the event.