Capitol Hill Updates

  • House of Representatives’ Schedule – 3/11/13
    THE US HOUSE LEADER'S WEEKLY SCHEDULE WEEK OF MARCH 11TH MONDAY, MARCH 11TH On Monday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. in pro forma session. No votes are expected. TUESDAY, MARCH 12TH On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 pm. Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules: 1) H.R. 749 - Eliminate Privacy Notice Confusion Act (Sponsored by Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer / Financial Services Committee)2) H.R. 1035 - To require a study of voluntary community-based flood insurance...
  • Speaker Boehner Statement on the February 2013 Unemployment Report
    WASHINGTON, DC – House Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) released the following statement regarding the Department of Labor’s unemployment report for February 2013: “Any job creation is positive news, but the fact is unemployment in America is still way above the levels the Obama White House projected when the trillion-dollar stimulus spending bill was enacted, and the federal government's ongoing spending binge has resulted in a debt that exceeds the size of our entire economy. As 180 economists said in a statement this week, our spending-driven deficit threatens our economy, and...
  • Latest Federal Reserve Report Acknowledges Health Care Law Slows Hiring and Consumer Spending, Increases Costs
    Employers Across Country Point to Health Care Law as Reason for Planned Layoffs, Hesitancy to Hire New Employees WASHINGTON, DC – The Federal Reserve yesterday released a report confirming that uncertainty and increased costs caused by the health care law are leading employers to lay off workers and slowing new job creation. The “Beige Book” – which summarizes economic conditions from twelve regions across the country, including Boston, New York, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco — provides insight into employers’ thoughts on how the health care law’s increased regulations are...
  • Congressman Price Responds to February Jobs Report
    Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) responded to the release of the February 2013 jobs report by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, saying: “Our nation faces many impediments to economic growth, opportunity and job creation. At the top of the list are a complicated and inefficient tax system, growing regulatory oppression from Washington, and a looming debt crisis. Widespread unemployment and a stagnant economy are consequences of the out-of-control spending in Washington, which is why next week, House Republicans will step forward with a responsible plan to...
  • ALERT: White House Cancels Public Tours; U.S. Capitol Remains Open to Public
    This week, the Obama administration announced that all public tours of the White House will be canceled beginning this Saturday, March 9th, due to federal spending cuts known as the sequester. For so many families, a visit to our nation’s capital is an once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. With a virtually endless list of national monuments, memorials, art galleries, museums, and federal buildings – all free of charge and open to the public year round – it is an experience unlike any other. I was disappointed to learn of the White House’s decision because I do believe that it is so important...
  • Cut This Not That! AG Holder's Private Jet vs "Let(ting) Criminals Go"
    IN CASE YOU MISSED IT #CutThisNotThat Email tells feds to make sequester as painful as promised “This email confirms what many Americans have suspected: The Obama administration is doing everything they can to make sure their worst predictions come true and to maximize the pain of the Sequester cuts for political gain,” said Rep. Tim Griffin, Arkansas Republican. Feds keep hiring with sequesters in place: 400 jobs posted on first day back At a time when nearly all of those agencies are contemplating furloughs, the help-wanted ads raised questions about how agencies should decide...
  • Attorney General Should Answer Senator Paul’s Question
    “In reviewing Mr. Brennan’s nomination Senator Paul has asked a series of questions of the executive branch. Senator Paul has a right to ask questions of the administration, and the administration has a responsibility to answer in keeping with the rules established for oversight of intelligence activities and for protecting sensitive information.  The specific question, however, is not an intelligence related question, but a straightforward legal one:  ‘Does the President have the authority to order the use of lethal force against a United States citizen who is not a...
  • U.S. Sen. Cruz: Restore Growth First – Defund Obamacare
    WASHINGTON, DC -- U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) on Wednesday released the following statement regarding his Continuing Resolution amendment to delay funding of Obamacare: For the last four years, our economy has grown at just 0.8% per year. As a result of this anemic growth, 23 million Americans are struggling to find work, and millions more are being denied a fair opportunity to achieve the American dream. Economic growth these past four years has been a small fraction of historic levels: since World War II, our economy has averaged 3.3% growth each year. Until economic growth returns,...
  • U.S. Capitol to Continue Welcoming Visitors for Public Tours
    In a letter to his constituents, House Speaker John Boehner announced that the United States Capitol Building will continue welcoming visitors for public tours. Boehner’s letter was sent to Ohioans whose White House tours were cancelled by the Obama administration. In it he encourages families visiting Washington to schedule a visit of the Capitol Building instead. You can schedule a tour at VisitTheCapitol.gov. And read Boehner’s full letter below: The White House announced today that White House tours are being canceled effective Saturday, March 9, 2013 until further notice due to...
  • Congressman Tom Price Statement on Passage of Continuing Resolution
    Washington, D.C. ­– Congressman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) issued the following statement after the House of Representatives passed legislation to fund the government through the remainder of the fiscal year. “Today’s legislation is part of an overall strategy to restore fiscal sanity in Washington, get our economy going, and adopting a budget that will balance in ten years so that more jobs will be created and dreams realized.  This specific bill will be the largest real reduction in spending since WWII – getting us back to pre-Pelosi levels of discretionary spending.  It...