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Dear Friend,
Once again, Congress has manufactured a phony government shutdown crisis, only to push the funding fight into Obama's lame-duck session of Congress. Every time Congress does this, the spending package is left in the hands of politicians who are no longer accountable for their actions. The American people deserve better than this irresponsible way of legislating, and I will continue to fight for fiscal sanity and accountability in Congress.
In The News
I wrote an op-ed in TheBlaze about why Congress should say "no" to Obama's lame-duck spending bill.
I spoke to Breitbart about the importance of following regular order, and why the budget process in Congress is broken.
Overriding President Obama's Veto
On Wednesday, Congress voted to override President Obama's veto for the first time during his presidency. Both the House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to pass the bipartisan Justice Against Sponsors of Terrorism Act which will allow the families of 9/11 victims to seek justice against foreign governments and/or officials who have sponsored or supported terrorist activities in the United States. This is long overdue, and I am proud to have supported this legislation.
Ending Ransom Payments
The House recently passed H.R. 5931, the Prohibiting Future Ransom Payments to Iran Act, which would declare that it is the policy of the U.S. government not to pay ransom or release prisoners for the purpose of securing the release of U.S. citizens taken hostage abroad.
This administration has admitted that it leveraged a payment to Iran as a way to free Americans who were held as prisoners in Iran. This action tells governments and terrorist organizations around the world that the U.S. is willing to fund their efforts in order to free hostages. This legislation will make it clear that this is not how the U.S. will conduct itself in the face of terror.
Over 800 Wrongfully Granted Citizenship
The DHS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report detailing the Department of Homeland Security wrongfully granted citizenship to at least 858 immigrants with deportation orders. In fact, DHS OIG says few of these individuals were ever investigated before obtaining citizenship. This is more incompetence at the Department of Homeland Security and shows why we need to revisit our immigration policies immediately.
Supporting Veterans
The House passed H.R. 5392, the No Veterans Crisis Line Call Should Go Unanswered Act, which would require the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that each telephone call, text message, and other communication are answered in a timely manner by an individual. Veterans have sacrificed everything to keep our country safe, and we should provide them with quality of health care that they deserve.
****Be sure to read my next newsletter which will include a video of me in support of veterans****
Protecting Your Identity
I led a bipartisan letter to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services demanding an update on the implementation of the Social Security Number Removal Initiative. Congress acted to remove Social Security Numbers from Medicare cards in order to prevent identity theft, and it is imperative that this removal initiative moves ahead quickly and efficiently.
Protecting the American Economy
The House recently passed H.R. 3438, the REVIEW Act, which would postpone the implementation of any rule that would cost the economy more than $1 billion ("high impact" rule). The Office of Management and Budget estimates that in recent years at least five new regulations have been enacted every year that have each cost the American economy $1 billion or more.
The executive branch should not be writing rules and regulations that impact American businesses and families, especially when those regulations produce significant economic burdens without congressional approval. This legislation will protect the American economy from bureaucratic regulations in Washington, D.C
UVA in Washington, D.C.
Congressman Brat talking policy and legislative strategy with UVA students who are working towards their master's degrees in public policy.
Contact Me
I am always interested in hearing your thoughts. If you have any comments, questions, or concerns, you can contact me directly by clicking here or by calling my office at (202) 225-2815.
You can also follow me on Twitter, Facebook, or YouTube for updates on my work in Congress.
Thank you,
Congressman Dave Brat
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Washington DC Office
330 Cannon HOB
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-2815
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Glen Allen Office
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