Welcome to the 113th Congress: It’s Time To Do the Right Thing

Thursday marked the beginning of the 113th Congress, and I am honored to be given the opportunity to represent the Second District of Kansas in the 113th Congress. I take this job very seriously, and will continue to make serving my constituents in Eastern Kansas my top priority.

Today we start fresh. There is a lot of work to do, and real progress can only be made when Democrats and Republicans work together. In my new post as the Vice Chair of the House Republican Conference, I am committed to help reduce gridlock in Washington, and help lead the team that will finally start digging America out of this fiscal mess.

Our autopilot spending is eating our country's fiscal health alive. Unbalanced plans that do nothing to address this core problem only delay progress and invite even worse consequences to unfold. Whether it is the fiscal cliff or the debt ceiling, we must acknowledge President Obama’s failure to present a credible plan to rein in the debt is hurting the economy. Our credit rating was already downgraded, not due to timing, but due to the absence of any real commitment to control the drivers of our spending problem: Medicare and Social Security.

It is time to do the right thing; America can no longer afford to wait on Congress to act. We have a tax code to fix, a budget to balance, and folks who need to get back to work. It is time to return our country to its proper place: a country where people across the world come to build a better future for themselves and their families and a country where our children have the promise of a better future unencumbered by debt.

I am committed to work toward a bipartisan solution to start fixing our problems, but we must stop hashing out bad deals at the eleventh hour. In order for Congress to get things done, we need to work together in a timely fashion, and allow the normal, legislative process to work.

Topeka Open Office Hours on Monday, January 7

On Monday, January 7, I will host "Open Office Hours" at my Topeka office at 9:00 a.m. Open office hours are 5-10 minute private meetings, where folks have the opportunity to speak with me directly about the issues and concerns that matter most to them. Meetings are open to any Second District resident on a first come, first served, basis. Congressional staff will be on hand before and after to handle any additional casework requests. To make a reservation, please contactLauren Hoover in my Washington office at 202-225-6601. To learn more about my work in both in the Second District and Washington, please visit my website.

Congressional Pay

On Tuesday I voted to stop President Obama's salary increases for members of Congress. Last week President Obama signed an executive order to end the pay freeze for members of Congress, federal workers, and Vice President Joe Biden. Giving members of Congress a raise is a senseless and inappropriate act during a time when so many folks are struggling in this weak economy. According to the Congressional Budget Office, total compensation for federal employees is already 16 percent higher than their private-sector counterparts, and during a pay freeze, federal employees may still receive promotions and corresponding pay increases. I continue to support several measures to reduce or limit Congressional pay. In addition to voting to block this increase, I am also a cosponsor of legislation that would reduce pay for members of Congress by 10 percent.

DHS signs land transfer for NBAF site

This week the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) signed a land transfer agreement with the state of Kansas for the National Bio and Agro-Defense Facility (NBAF) site in Manhattan, Kansas. DHS selected the Kansas State University site in 2009, and this land transfer is a strong step forward allowing construction on the central utility plant to begin early this year. According to a January 2012 economic impact report, the NBAF will create approximately 326 permanent jobs and support another 757 jobs during construction. During its first 20 years of operation, it is estimated to have a $3.5 billion economic impact on the state of Kansas.

The NBAF is essential to our national security, and I have worked hard to secure Congressional commitment to make this site a reality. The state-of-the-art research facility will allow the United States to continue critical research accelerating our ability to protect ourselves, our food supply and our economy from biological threats and devastating diseases. It will also solidify our nation as an international leader in animal health research.

The state of Kansas has committed $105 million dollars of matching state funds and $35 million dollars of research funding for transitioning the NBAF mission to Manhattan. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has invested more than $125 million into site preparation, engineering, design, and site specific risk-assessments, and I will continue to pursue federal funding for the project.