-- Randy's Roundup --

A Weekly Newsletter from Congressman Randy Neugebauer

August 13, 2012

Dyess Wins Award for Energy Efficiency

The Department of Energy presented a Federal Energy Management Program award to Dyess Air Force Base recently.  For more than 30 years, the Department of Energy has given these awards to recognize Federal organizations and individuals for outstanding efforts to conserve energy and water resources.  Dyess’ efforts to improve energy efficiency helped them save taxpayers $1.8 million.  The team also entered into a demand reduction agreement with the local utility company for the base to use generators when possible to reduce the load on the Texas power grid.  Eric Watson, the resource efficiency manager at Dyess says, “It makes you feel like you have done your part in being a good steward to taxpayers, the base and the local community."

I congratulate the Dyess energy team and the entire base for their efforts to improve energy efficiency and save taxpayer dollars.

This Week in Lubbock, Howard, Fisher, and Taylor Counties

This week I’ll be traveling throughout the 19th District of Texas. On Friday, I visited Sudan in Lamb County to present certificates to athletes and students who had won state competitions this year, including the state champion girls’ basketball team. I also had the chance to speak with Muleshoe business leaders in Bailey County. Today in Lubbock, I met with two of my advisory groups to discuss policy issues and how I can better represent the people of West Texas and the Big Country.

Tomorrow I will travel to Fisher County, where I’ll meet with business owners from Roby and Rotan and have lunch with the Big Country Electric Cooperative.  On Wednesday, you can find me in Abilene, where I’ll discuss education with the Abilene and Wylie school board trustees before attending the grand opening ceremony of the new Myra P. Martinez elementary school. On Thursday I’ll join law enforcement officials in Big Spring to pay tribute to fallen officer Troy M. Hogue at the dedication of their new law enforcement center. I’ll finish off the week back in Lubbock, where I’ll meet with more constituents. I hope to see you while I’m traveling through the 19th District.

Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 Signed into Law

This week, the President signed the Sequestration Transparency Act into law.  This bill was introduced by my fellow Texas Congressman Jeb Hensarling, and it requires the President to submit a report to Congress explaining how the administration plans to make the spending cuts required by the Budget Control Act.

The Budget Control Act was passed last year, and in conjunction with raising the debt limit, it also required Congress to produce significant budget cuts through what was known as the Super Committee.  The Budget Control Act also put a backstop in place if the Super Committee failed to make those cuts, which it did.  Under a process called sequestration, $1.2 trillion in what is known as mandatory government spending will automatically be cut over the next 10 years starting in January of 2013. Roughly half of the cuts will come from defense spending with the remainder from other government programs.

The automatic across-the-board defense cuts could be devastating to our national security, which would amount to $55 billion in 2013 alone.   So I’ve worked with other House Republicans to pass legislation that achieves the necessary savings by making more targeted, common-sense reforms.  However, the Democrats in the Senate and the White House have shown little interest in working with us. 

Action Item:

Today I was in Lubbock and received input from my agricultural advisory group.  We discussed upcoming policy, such as the 2012 Farm Bill process, and the effects this legislation will have on West Texas farmers and ranchers. I will also meet with my Abilene agricultural advisory group on Wednesday. I always enjoy getting perspective from people in the 19th District who work in West Texas agriculture. I rely heavily on their opinions and advice when I vote on their behalf in Washington.