Posts of type: Need To Know
Need To Know - Reaffirming Religious Rights
A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision unanimously upheld the long-honored “ministerial exemption” that allows churches to make employment decisions without government interference. Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church and School v. EEOC originated when a teacher at a Lutheran school was fired for failing to comply with the church’s beliefs. This case is widely believed to be one of the most important religious liberty cases of the decade.
Need To Know - Water Resources
A provision included in Congress’s year-end funding package will help ensure that safe and affordable public drinking water is available in small and rural communities.
Need To Know - Disabilities Internship
The Congressional Internship Program for Individuals with Intellectual Disabilities is the first of its kind. Originally launched as a pilot program in conjunction with George Mason University’s Mason LIFE program and the Committee on House Administration, this formal internship provides these students with the exciting educational and enrichment opportunities typically afforded to congressional interns in Washington, D.C.
Need To Know - Funding Finale
In an eleventh hour finale, lawmakers sealed an agreement to fund 10 Cabinet agencies through September 30, 2012, at levels lower than the previous year in an effort to trim government debt. The bill eliminates 42 government programs and rolls back non-defense spending to approximately 2008 levels. All other domestic agencies were funded in a separate November package.
Need To Know - REINS, Farm Dust
According to the Small Business Administration, federal regulations cost our economy $1.75 trillion per year. These proposals are part of a larger regulatory relief agenda being promoted by House Republicans to provide small businesses, farmers and ranchers with certainty.
Need To Know - Pearl Harbor
This attack represented the starting point of U.S. military involvement in World War II. While our enemies intended for this attack to be crippling, it only strengthened our resolve. On December 7, 1941, America – the sleeping giant – awoke and proceeded to defeat our enemies in the European and Pacific theaters.
Need To Know - Presidential Campaigns, EAC
H.R. 3463 combines a proposal Rep. Tom Cole (R–Okla.) crafted to terminate the Presidential Election Campaign Fund (PECF) and a plan I authored to eliminate the Election Assistance Commission (EAC). Dissolving these federal programs saves taxpayers $480 million over five years and immediately decreases the federal deficit by $199 million, according to nonpartisan congressional scorekeepers.
Need To Know - Balanced Budget
Congress missed an opportunity to reform the budget today when the U.S. House of Representatives did not reach a two-thirds majority vote to pass a Balanced Budget Amendment. As a part of the “Budget Control Act of 2011,” the House and Senate were required to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution between October 1, 2011, and December 31, 2011.
Need To Know - Jobs
Yesterday I was honored to speak with local elected officials, business leaders and economic developers from Mississippi and Alabama at a summit hosted by the Montgomery Institute. This event was held at Mississippi State University’s Riley Center in Meridian, Miss., and focused on advancing economic development projects in the West Alabama – East Mississippi (WAEM) Region.
Need To Know - Forgotten 15
Last night I held a telephone town hall conference call to speak with Mississippians about my ideas to create jobs, drive down spending and shrink the size of the federal government. During this call we discussed a number of job creating proposals that the U.S. House of Representatives has passed as part of our pro-growth agenda that creates jobs without expanding the federal government’s role. Below I have included a list of 15 House-passed bipartisan jobs bills that are stalled and awaiting action in the U.S. Senate.