e-News 9/16/16

• Demanding Accountability at the VA
• Halting Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors
• Obamacare Options Dwindle in New Jersey
• Increase in Healthcare Deductibles
• Guardian of Small Business
• Syria Ceasefire: “Either Way, Putin Wins”
• House votes to prohibit the transfer of any Gitmo detainees
• The “Speaks for Itself” Column
• Salute: Thank you to Nutley resident Julio Balde – Super Scout

 

Demanding Accountability at the VA

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) provides a wide range of valuable services to 22 million American veterans, but a rash of preventable veteran deaths, infectious disease outbreaks and benefit delays has put the organization under justifiable scrutiny.

Despite the fact that multiple VA Inspector General reports have linked many VA patient care problems to widespread mismanagement within VA facilities and General Accountability Office (GAO) findings that VA bonus pay has no clear link to performance, the department has consistently defended its celebration of executives who presided over these events, while giving them glowing performance reviews and cash bonuses of up to $63,000.

These and other issues at the VA are well-documented.  Yet, despite repeated promises, President Obama’s Administration has yet to propose a comprehensive plan of action to fix the management and leadership problems.  

So the House, once again, is acting to demand accountability. 

This week, the House passed H.R. 5620, the VA Accountability First and Appeals Modernization Act of 2016, which would institute necessary reforms at the VA by providing the Secretary increased flexibility to remove a VA employee for performance or misconduct.  H.R. 5620 also strengthens whistleblower protections.  Under the bill, the Secretary may restrict bonus awards for supervisors who retaliate against whistleblowers.

The bill would also improve accountability provisions from the “Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014” for VA Senior Executive Service (SES) employees, and would authorize the Secretary to reduce the pensions of SES employees who are convicted of a felony that influenced their job.  

H.R. 5620 would further strengthen accountability at VA by allowing the Secretary to recoup any bonuses or relocation expenses given to VA employees when the Secretary deems it necessary.

To read the text of the bill, click here. 

In addition, the House this week passed additional veterans-related reform legislation:

H.R. 3471, the Veterans Mobility Safety Act, as amended, would direct the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to develop a comprehensive policy regarding quality standards for providers who dispense modification services to veterans under the Automobile Adaptive Equipment Program. The bill would also authorize VA to hire and prescribe qualifications for hiring hearing aid specialists.

Halting Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors

Many of New Jersey’s seniors and families work hard to make ends meet and provide for themselves. That is precisely why I voted this week in favor of a bill (H.R. 3590, the Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act) to repeal one of the many Obamacare tax increases.

Under Obamacare, millions of Americans have seen their premiums sky rocket, their out of pocket costs soar, and have felt the burden of higher taxes. One of the nearly twenty tax hikes in the President's healthcare law includes increasing the income threshold from 7.5% to 10% to determine eligibility for the tax deduction for medical care expenses.  This tax increase hike would impact families already struggling to keep up with their rising healthcare costs.

This week, the House passed a common sense solution that permanently lowers the income threshold for taxpayers, regardless of age, back to 7.5%, right back down to where it was before.

As we continue to fight to reform and improve our healthcare system, I believe this bill will bolster our efforts to create a more sustainable, affordable healthcare system without unnecessary costs and onerous tax hikes."

For more information on H.R. 3590, Halt Tax Increases on the Middle Class and Seniors Act, click here. 

Obamacare Options Dwindle in New Jersey

The options for New Jersey consumers who buy health coverage through the Affordable Care Act will shrink to just two next year, from five in 2016.  This prospect was the result of the State of New Jersey’s takeover of Health Republic Insurance, a “start-up” established through President Obama’s signature health law, because of the plan’s “hazardous financial condition.”

United Healthcare and Oscar Health Insurance announced earlier this year they will pull out of New Jersey’s individual health market in 2017, and Aetna withdrew its plans to join the market.

This is just more evidence that Obamacare is a slow motion disaster for New Jersey families and the taxpayers.  I look forward to voting to replace it with a system that will deliver quality care at reasonable cost for patients and providers.

Recommended Reading: “Study Notes increase in deductibles for employer-provided health coverage.”  Read Carolyn Johnson’s story in the Thursday Washington Post here.

Guardian of Small Business

As the nation’s small businesses serve as the backbone of our economy, I was honored to receive the Guardian of Small Business award this week from the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). Too often I hear from New Jersey’s small businessmen and women that they are hamstrung by excessive government red tape and burdened by high taxes.  I will continue to fight in Congress to get government off the back of thousands of small business owners to allow them to sell their products or services, build their businesses and create jobs.

Syria Ceasefire: “Either Way, Putin Wins”

Early reports indicate that a cease fire in Syria, negotiated between Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov and Secretary of State Kerry seems to be holding.  And while the embattled Syrian people are receiving a welcome respite from violence, the editors at the Washington Postbelieve that Russian President Vladimir Putin is the winner in Syria. Read their editorial, “Either Way, Putin Wins” here.

House votes to prohibit the transfer of any Gitmo detainees

Since 2009, the Obama Administration has transferred, repatriated or resettled 177 persons from the detention facility at Naval Base, Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Only 61 detainees remain at “Gitmo” but these are the hardest of the hard cases – committed jihadist terrorists. 

In recent months, the Administration has accelerated its efforts to release detainees, sending them to other countries that cannot control them. 

In fact, the Washington Post reported earlier this year that about a dozen former prisoners who were released from Guantanamo Bay killed six Americans and attacked American and coalition forces in Afghanistan alone!

Today, it is illegal for the Administration to transfer Gitmo detainees to American soil. These restrictions were first passed under a Democrat-controlled Congress in 2009, and they’ve been renewed annually ever since with bipartisan support.

However, there’s nothing to stop the president from rushing through transfers of detainees to various other countries. In fact, the administration has already cleared 20 of the remaining 61 detainees at Gitmo for release.

Why is this so dangerous?

Late last year, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) reported that 30 percent of former Guantanamo detainees are confirmed or suspected of reengaging in terrorism. In short, we’re talking about releasing some of the world’s most dangerous terrorists back onto the battlefield to kill our own.

I voted this week to prohibit the transfer of any detainee, period.  The measure I supported, H.R. 5355, introduced by Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN) would prevent Obama from releasing any more detainees from Guantanamo Bay until Congress passes a defense policy bill or until January 21, 2017 — whichever comes sooner.

The specifics of Congresswoman Walorski’s bill echo a provision that the House voted to include in their version of the annual National Defense Authorization bill in June.  

Simply put, these measures are designed to protect the American people, generally, and our men and women in uniform, specifically.

Read H.R. 5355 here.

The “Speaks for Itself” Column

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post: “For Years, fightin’ Harry Reid has laid out the blueprint for bile”

Salute: Thank you to Nutley resident Julio Balde who was honored recently by the Nutley Board of Commissioners for his more than 74 years of service to the Boy Scouts of America.  The 95-year Balde became a scout at 15 and continued as a dedicated leader until earlier this year. Over the years, Julio taught more than 1,000 scouts survival skills and the importance of civic engagement. In recognition of his dedication to scouting, he received the Silver Beaver Award in 1962 - the highest award bestowed on a scout leader. Thank you, Julio!