Vicky Hartzler2-2016

Defending your Liberties

Much of my attention this past week was focused on countering the Administration’s new guidance forcing schools to acknowledge the gender a student chooses as opposed to their biological sex. As Co-Chair of the House Values Action Team, I sent this letter to Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster urging him to bring legal action against what I see as extreme overreach by the federal government.  While I am working hard here in DC to stop this intrusion on local control, I believe it is incumbent on the Attorney General to defend the rights of Missourians against this intrusion by federal agencies that do not have the authority to interpret federal law. The Washington Times ran an article on my letter and you may view it on the web at http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/jun/8/hartzler-calls-missouri-join-obama-lawsuit/. I will keep you informed on the reaction from the Attorney General and future developments.  Our children’s privacy and safety is at stake.

A Better Way to Fight Poverty

House Speaker Paul Ryan recently unveiled the House Republican plan to reduce poverty and expand opportunity for our nation’s poor. This plan, entitled “A Better Way”, lays out the goals that will translate into legislation to address our nation’s most pressing needs by building upon our founding principles of liberty, free enterprise and consent of the governed. Rather than sitting back and watching Washington continue to ineffectively spend billions of taxpayer dollars to fight poverty, this new plan focuses on the individual empowering every American to succeed by:

–  Rewarding work

– Tailoring benefits to people’s needs

– Improving skills and education

– Planning and saving for the future

– Demanding results and accountability

This plan recognizes that we cannot continue decades of failed policy and programs and expect new results. I applaud Speaker Ryan and my colleagues in the House for their efforts and countless hours of work to put this plan together and I encourage you to visit the “Better Way” website at www.better.gop to learn more about our exciting plans. It is imperative that we lead and get our country back on the right track. Our “Better Way” initiatives are providing the real solutions our nation needs. Please let me know your thoughts about the plan and any suggestions for what you’d like to see included in our plan.

What’s Happening in Congress

I was happy to support legislation to push back on implementation of the EPA’s regulations and guidance for states to implement the agency’s onerous ozone regulations. These standards are confusing, contradictory, and impossible to achieve yet the EPA continues to demand compliance and threatens huge fines.  This bill, the Ozone Standards Implementation Act, recognizes the challenging situation states are now in and inserts more state flexibility for meeting air quality standards while also delaying full implementation. MO-4 counties will benefit from this new flexibility and I was happy to support it.

The House additionally considered legislation to more closely address the concerns of consumers over our nation’s energy prices. Our actions include a resolution that recognizes and opposes the detrimental effects a carbon tax would have on the U.S. economy and another resolution that sends a clear message to the President that Congress opposes his proposed new $10.25 per barrel excise tax on oil. His new tax would result in an increase in gas prices of $.25 a gallon!  Such taxes would have devastating impacts on American families and businesses. I was pleased to join my colleagues in the House in supporting both of these resolutions to protect consumers from crippling new energy taxes and take a stand for the American consumer.

I am always glad to welcome MO-4 residents to Washington and to make arrangements for our staff to provide visitors with a tour of their Capitol building. Seeing friends from MO-4 is a highlight of my week. I’d love to see you if you come out. Feel free to contact our office to set up tours. We’re here to assist and serve you!

Lastly, I want to remind you of our upcoming Veterans Resource Fair at Hickman High School in Columbia. Veterans will be provided with information on education and career opportunities as well as services available through the VA. Veterans organizations will also be on hand to assist veterans.

Veterans Resource Fair

The event is scheduled for Saturday, June 18 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon in the main lobby of Hickman High School, 1104 North Providence Road, in Columbia. I encourage all veterans and their families to attend this event to connect with others and learn more about the benefits they have earned.  I look forward to seeing you there.

Have a great week,

Vicky