This Week in Washington – Sunday, July 31, 2010
This week, I sent a letter to President Barack Obama in support of Governor Jay Nixon's request for a Federal disaster declaration for the state of Missouri. The request is in response to recent severe weather and flooding across the state.
People in Northwest Missouri have seen once again the damage Mother Nature can do. Our local emergency workers and first responders did an excellent job of making sure a bad situation did not become even worse.
However, with levees still in danger of failing, roads still closed and the possibility of more bad weather this summer, we can use all the help we can get. I've toured many of the affected areas, and I am confident a Federal disaster declaration will put even more resources in place to help clean up and prepare for future weather events.
Governor Nixon requested Federal assistance for the following counties in Northwest Missouri: Andrew, Atchison, Buchanan, Caldwell, Carroll, Chariton, Clark, Clinton, Daviess, DeKalb, Gentry, Grundy, Harrison, Holt, Howard, Jackson, Jackson, Livingston, Mercer, Nodaway, Putnam, Schuyler, Sullivan, and Worth Counties.
This Week
On Wednesday, the House passed the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for fiscal year 2011. This bill supplied funding for military construction – both in the U.S. and overseas – and for the Department of Veterans Affairs. Funding was held to slightly below the amount approved for fiscal year 2010. I remain a strong advocate for our nation's veterans. The have served honorable and deserve our full support. I am proud to have voted to assist our veterans.
On Thursday, the House passed the fiscal year 2011 Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) appropriations bill. While this bill represented a marginal decrease from last year, it's important to note that the fiscal year 2010 THUD appropriations bill increased spending by $13 billion or 23 percent over fiscal year 2009. This bill would lock-in the current level of record breaking spending from fiscal year 2010 at a time when our nation faces an unprecedented $1.47 trillion deficit and $13 trillion national debt. In addition, agencies receiving funding from the Transportation and Housing and Urban Development appropriation already received an additional $61.8 billion in emergency spending last year, primarily from the "stimulus." Therefore, I could not support this piece of legislation.
On Friday, the House passed the CLEAR Act. It includes far-reaching reforms and federalization of energy production in the U.S. Included in this bill is a new $22 billion tax on American energy and over $30 billion in new federal spending. It represents the latest installment in Washington's campaign to increase the price of American energy and kill good-paying U.S. jobs in the energy sector. I believe we need to investigate the cause of the oil spill in the Gulf so we do not repeat past mistakes. However, I am concerned this bill imposes a de facto drilling moratorium at a time when America need lower energy prices and the Gulf states need jobs. Some estimate this bill will eliminate as many as 300,000 jobs by imposing unlimited liability caps for offshore energy producers. In order to gain energy independence, I believe we need an "all-of-the-above" approach. Eliminating energy production in the Gulf does not help us reach the goal. If anything, it moves us further away from it.
Also on Friday, the House passed Offshore Oil and Gas Worker Whistleblower Protection Act of 2010 on a bi-partisan vote and with my support. The bill would prohibit employers from discriminating against any employee engaged in offshore energy operations if that individual reports suspected safety violations to federal or state officials, testifies before Congress or refuses to perform their job because of safety violations. If we are serious about preventing another major oil spill, we need to protect the people who may have first hand knowledge that a company is in violation of safety regulations or that a spill is imminent.
The House will not be in session next week. Have a nice weekend!
Sincerely,
