In the 113th Congress, Rep. Marsha Blackburn (TN-7) has introduced a series of bills aimed at cutting spending, eliminating waste, and reducing the size of government.
Health Care:
Health care costs continue to rise and have become unsustainable for the American government and the American family. Congressman Blackburn believes that patient based reform that uses market forces to give consumers leverage is the best way to bring down cost, improve quality, and expand access to health care.
HR 2809: To Delay Obamacare One Year. This legislation would delay all provisions of the Affordable Care Act taking effect on January 1, 2014 or later by one year from the date of enactment. Additionally, this bill will delay all Obamacare taxes by one year.
HR 762: The Health Care Choice Act will allow Americans to buy insurance policies across state lines. The bill would allow insurance companies to compete for your business, offering plans with the benefits you want at a price you can afford.
Spending:
As she has in every Congress in which she has served, Congressman Blackburn is offering her colleagues a choice of spending reduction bills. Blackburn agrees with Speaker Boehner that federal funding levels should immediately return to 2008 levels. She hopes that one of these bills will be adopted thereafter to re-set federal spending baselines and accrue compounding savings.
To make 15% across the board spending cuts in non-defense (including Homeland Security and Veterans Affairs) discretionary spending for 2011 and 2012.
Good Government:
Too often, in a rush to address the hot issue of the day, Congress fails to consider ideas that just make good common sense, save the tax payer money, or holds Washington accountable. Congressman Blackburn has filed two bills with that purpose in mind.
The Savings for Seniors Act would finally force Congress to do something about Social Security and stop spending Social Security money for non-Social Security programs until action is taken to protect our seniors. This act would establish in the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund a Social Security Surplus Protection Account to hold the Social Security surplus and prevent this money from being spent on anything other than Social Security benefits.
The SMART SALE Act will require companies that receive federal funding from the Department of Energy for innovative research to report if they are being acquired by a non-allied foreign nation, and require the Secretary of Energy to report to Congress about whether the acquisition represents a threat to the United States. This legislation also requires the development of a repayment plan for any grants or loans issued to the company by the Department of Energy.
Protecting Online Innovators from FCC Overreach: Congressman Blackburn has been leading the fight against the Obama Administration’s net neutrality regulations since they were first proposed in 2010 by Former Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Julius Genachowski. Despite being struck down by a Federal Appeals Court in January of 2014, FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler announced that the FCC would begin the process of rewriting the agency's net neutrality rules. In response to this announcement from Chairman Wheeler, Congressman Blackburn has reintroduced legislation she first authored in the 112th Congress to block the FCC's efforts to implement new net neutrality rules.
The Internet Freedom Act would block the FCC's Net Neutrality rules from 2010 by stating they shall have no force or effect and would prohibit the FCC from reissuing new Net Neutrality rules.
Pro-Life:
Throughout her career, Congressman Blackburn has been a passionate supporter of the right to life. She believes every life is precious and that we must work to build a culture that respects the right to life. Congressman Blackburn believes the use of taxpayer money to fund big abortion businesses like Planned Parenthood is both morally indefensible and fiscally irresponsible, which is why she introduced the first pro-life bill of the 113th Congress.
The Title X Abortion Provider Prohibition Act would stop the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) from providing federal family planning assistance under Title X to abortion businesses until they certify they won't provide and refer for abortions. The reintroduction of this legislation in the 113th Congress is similar to legislation former Congressman Mike Pence introduced in the 112th Congress (H.R. 217).
National Women's History Museum: Congressman Blackburn has teamed up with Representative Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) in a bipartisan effort in support of establishing a national museum dedicated to highlighting the stories of important women in American History.
HR 863
This legislation would establish a Congressional commission to report recommendations to the President and Congress concerning a National Women’s History Museum in Washington, DC on or near the National Mall. The commission for the museum would be privately funded by the nonprofit National Women's History Museum, Inc. (NWHM). Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Barbara Mikulski (D-MD) have introduced a companion measure in the Senate, S. 398.
