Tag Archives: Congress

Keeping our Promises to Veterans Act of 2015 moves to Subcommittee on Health

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300tom-emmerWASHINGTON — The Keeping our Promises to Veterans Act of 2015, H.R. 1532, was introduced by Tom Emmer [R-MN-6] on March 23 and has moved through the House Committee on Veteran’s Affairs to the Subcommittee on Health yesterday. The bill would expand the ability of veterans to get access under the Veterans Access, Choice and Accountability Act passed last year.

The Veterans Access Act (38 U.S.C. 1701, PDF) allows veterans to seek outside VA assistance if they live a certain distance from a VA facility. The act did not account for those who might not have or have difficulty in transportation.

This brief bill would reduce the 40-mile radius requirement to 20-miles and require access to the closest medical facility that could treat the need of the veteran. The bill reduces the wait time goal from 30-days to 15. It also requires VA to set up prompt payment system to non-VA facilities which provide care to veterans.

H.R. 1603 submitted by Andy Barr [R-KY-6] would improve treatment for victims of military sexual assault under the Veterans Access Act.

Another bill in Congress, H.R. 1302 would require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to ensure that VA Form 9 appeals are resolved within one year of submission. The bill was introduced by Ohio Representative Robert Latta [R-OH-5].

Representative Ron Kind [D-WI-3] has submitted H.R. 1628, the Veterans Pain Management Improvement Act which would require VA facilities to set up a Pain Management Board for veteran victims of chronic pain whether out- or in-patient.

The board would provide treatment recommendations for patients with complex clinical pain who are being treated at a medical facility of the Department located in the Veterans Integrated Service Network covered by the Board.

The membership in the board would require a certan number of medical pain specialists, clinical patients or the family members of clinical patients.

Saving America’s Pollinators Act to ban neonicotinoids

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Beautiful flowers attract bees, butterflies and other insects.

Is CCD the result of neonicotinoids?

WASHINGTON — Representative John Conyers Jr. [D-MI-13] introduced a bill which should have Monsanto lobbyists working overtime. H.R. 1284, titled Saving America’s Pollinators Act, would ban neonicotinoids—A strain of pesticides said to be the cause of colony collapse disorder (CCD).

CCD is the decline of honeybee colonies which may be the result of neonicotinoids. It is tempting to use the famed Einstein quote about bees, but it is uncertain that he ever related bees to the decline and fall of man.

The “Findings” of the Congress in the bill says that

Scientists have linked the use of a certain class of systemic insecticides, known as neonicotinoids, to the rapid decline of pollinators and to the deterioration of pollinator health.

A 2014 Forbes article apparently disagrees that there is a problem in a September 9, 2014 article. It contends that even if all of the honeybees were killed off, there are other pollinating insects—including other bees. In addition, some plants, such as corn, are pollinated by the air.

The text of the bill, however, claims:

Native pollinators, such as bumble bees, have also suffered alarming population declines. There are currently more than 40 pollinator species federally-listed as threatened or endangered, and most recently, the iconic monarch butterfly has declined by 90 percent.

Europe banned the pesticide in 2013 drawing the ire of a Forbes opinion piece. reported in an article that:

Neonicotinoids are extremely effective. Applied to the soil, sprayed on the crop or used as a seed treatment, they are taken up in the plant, discouraging pests from wrecking havoc on crops.

This, of course, begs the question that if these pesticides are drawn into the plant, are consumers eating the pesticides, as well. They obviously cannot be “washed off.” That issue is beyond the scope of this article.

While Forbes contends that it is no big deal if a few honeybees give their lives to save a few acres of crops (assuming that we are not ingesting the pesticide), the bill claims:

A recent national survey sponsored by the Federal Government indicates that United States beekeepers experienced a 45.2 percent annual mortality rate with their hives during the period beginning in April 2012 and ending in March 2013. During the winter of 2013–2014, two-thirds of beekeepers experienced loss rates greater than the established acceptable winter mortality rate.

If true, beekeepers probably do not agree with Forbes.

The bill, however, would not be permanent. The bill allows:

Not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency shall suspend the registration of imidacloprid, clothianidin, thiamethoxam, dinotafuran, and any other members of the nitro group of neonicotinoid insecticides to the extent such insecticide is registered, conditionally or otherwise, under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (7 U.S.C. 136 et seq.) …

until the EPA determines whether or not these insecticides are actually causing harm to pollinators in general and honeybees specific.

While other bees, and even wasps, do produce honey, none do on the scale necessary to provide a food source. Their honey is also different and not as nutritious as that of the honeybee.

It seems that farmers and beekeepers are finding themselves in the situation of ranchers and sheep herders in the days of yore.

Boehner’s revenge: Payback has begun for members who opposed speaker

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johnboehner0107new-300x175The House conservatives who mounted a very public, but doomed-to-fail bid to oust House speaker John Boehner are already paying the price.

After overcoming dissenters in his own party, Boehner won the speakership for a third term on Tuesday and lost little time exacting revenge. By Tuesday evening two Florida Republicans who had opposed him – Reps. Daniel Webster and Richard Nugent — had lost their seats on the powerful House Rules Committee.

And the roiling is going to continue for some time, according to Politico.

Read more at BizPac Review

Congress does not authorize free cars for welfare recipients

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Fart-in-a-Smart-carA “news” report from Empire News from August of this year seems to be making the rounds and into some alternative web sites. The story concerns Congress approving free automobiles for welfare recipients along the lines of the fraud-plagued Obamaphone system.

The only problem is that Empire News is a satirical web site.

While it is probably the only thing they have not done, the fact remains that Congress has not authorized free motor vehicles to welfare recipients. The article and the accompanying e-mail scam are false. This administration is not friendly toward American citizens owning cars and guns. Or even having gasoline to operate the ones they own.

Even lamestream media would pick up an accomplishment such as this and twisted it into a “good” thing such as they did with the Unaffordable Health Care act.

In fact one “prominent” inappropriately named Arizona newspaper reported that health care rates are likely to go up this year. Due to “competition,” however, they are not likely to rise that much. The fact is that Obamadoesntcare has doubled, and even tripled in some cases, the premiums people have had to pay. It is actually the case of the blood and turnip analogy.

Here are some tips for those who might be taken in by satirical articles. Find the source of the original article. Web sites such as National Report and Empire News are the Internet equivalent of the political cartoon run by people who cannot draw. Check for a disclaimer. It might not be posted on their front page, but will be found in their about page or some where else on the web site.

The upside of this article is that we found a way to use the funny Smart car graphic circulating the Internet.

Steve Stockman of Texas introduces bill to address border crisis

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House Photo

House Photo

WASHINGTON D.C. – A bill was introduced by Texas House Republican Steve Stockman on July 31 to address the border crisis. It includes dealing with MS-13 gang members who brag to Border Patrol agents about the murders they committed in Central America.

According to the Stockman House web site, the bill would, “…would end the current border crisis by building a full double fence along the US/Mexican border, deploying additional law enforcement to the border, detaining gang members, punishing countries that refuse to accept repatriated illegals and banning welfare benefits for amnestied illegals.”

The text and information about the bill—which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary and other committees—is not yet posted on the Thomas.gov web site. H.R. 5316 is entitled The SECURITY Act (Safely Exacting Cautious Useful Rules for Immigration This Year).

The nine sections of the bill provide for several things including prohibiting criminal gang members from receiving asylum, National Guard deployment and fencing and punishing countries refusing to repatriate refugees. The President of Guatemala is attempting to extort $2 billion to stop the flow of illegal aliens.

The measures of the bill are:

Section 2. Metrics
• Establishes metrics to evaluate the security of the border by defining operational control.
• Penalizes the budget of the DHS Undersecretary for Management for failure to achieve operational control.

Section 3. Fencing
• Requires completion of double-layered fencing along the entire Southern border.
• Requires initial plan and periodic progress reports on status of construction.
• Penalizes the DHS Secretary’s budget for failure to submit plan and progress reports.

Section 4. Border Patrol
• Requires House and Senate Committees to be notified if there are closures of Border Patrol stations and the reasons for the closure and plans for redistribution of personnel.

Section 5. National Guard
• Deploys additional members of the National Guard to support Border Patrol.
• Provides federal assistance for state border control activities.

Section 6. Detention
• Allows detention of dangerous criminal aliens beyond 6 months.

Section 7. Gangs
• Prohibits foreign criminal gang members from receiving asylee or refugee status.

Section 8. Judges
• Requires the Attorney General to submit annual requests to Congress for immigration judges.

Section 9. Facilities
• Requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to submit annual requests to Congress for detention facilities.

Section 10. Incentives
• Closes the additional child tax credit loophole.
• Prohibits an alien deemed to have lawful presence via executive order or policy directive from being defined as a qualified alien for purposes of public benefits.

Stockman complains that the border invasion of illegal aliens began as a result of Obama’s push for a DREAM act amnesty for illegal aliens. The problem is that the DREAM act is only supposed to apply to illegals already in America who grew up here and have no ties to foreign countries.

The gang members are a big problem.

“Gang members with face tattoos openly tell Border Patrol agents about the murders they committed in Central America. Immigration laws prevent agents from detaining these bragging killers,” said Stockman. “Under Obama’s amnesty scheme these killer gang members are set loose in the United States to later get amnesty. Obama doesn’t care. The SECURITY Act puts a stop to that by detaining gang members and stopping Obama’s plan to give them amnesty.”

“These illegals say they are coming because Obama promised them welfare benefits. The invasion stops once Congress passes this bill, which cuts off welfare benefits to these illegals even if Obama issues an Executive Order giving them amnesty,” said Stockman.

(Corrected 10:05 AM)

Dems cry ‘obstructionists’ while House passed over 350 bills that sit on Harry Reid’s desk

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stuck-in-senateThe U.S. House of Representatives has passed 356 bills that are languishing in the Senate, U.S. Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. said Friday.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has ignored the legislation, even though much of it passed the House with key support from Democrats The Blaze reported.

“We are calling on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to get off his self-constructed throne, roll up his sleeves and get back to work.” Blackburn said in a post she co-wrote Thursday with U.S. Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., for HerBlog. “Real lives, a real economy, and a true American recovery hang in the balance.”

Read more at BIZPAC Review

ACLJ: Decision to Hold Former IRS Official Lois Lerner in Contempt of Congress “Justified”

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Lois LernerWASHINGTON D.C. – The American Center for Law and Justice (ACLJ), which represents 41 organizations in a federal lawsuit challenging the IRS, said today’s decision by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to hold former IRS official Lois Lerner in contempt of Congress is “justified” for failing to cooperate with Congressional investigators to provide information regarding her role in the unlawful targeting of conservative and tea party groups.

“The decision to hold Lois Lerner in contempt comes 11 months to the day since she revealed this unlawful scheme with a question she planted at an ABA meeting,” said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ. “From the very beginning, she has ignored a Congressional subpoena – refused to answer questions on two occasions by pleading the Fifth Amendment. We believe – as many others do – that she waived her constitutional right to remain silent because she invoked it after she publicly proclaimed her innocence. Lerner has misled the American people and Congress from the very start. Contempt is justified and the appropriate sanction in this case.”

The House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform today voted to hold Lerner in contempt of Congress. The measure now goes before the full House for consideration.

Today’s action comes just one day after the House Committee on Ways and Means voted to send a letter to the Attorney General saying Lerner should be prosecuted for her actions in the unlawful targeting scheme.

The contempt vote comes as the ACLJ has heard from more than 70,000 people in just several days calling on Congress to hold Lerner in contempt.

The ACLJ federal lawsuit, which also names Lois Lerner as a defendant, is progressing. The ACLJ represents 41 organizations in 22 states. Of the 41 groups, 24 organizations received tax-exempt status after lengthy delays, 11 are still pending, 5 withdrew applications because of frustration with the IRS process, and 1 had their file closed by the IRS after refusing to answer the unconstitutional requests for more information.

See Also: New Emails Show Lois Lerner Was in Contact With DOJ About Prosecuting Tax Exempt Groups

Montana Congressional candidate shoots down a drone.

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matt-rosendale4MONTANA – Congressional candidate Matt Rosendale shoots down a drone in his campaign ad. Just to prove a point.

Whether or not it garners him any votes, it certainly might resonate in the western States on the heels of the Bundy Ranch incident in Nevada. The incident brought out militia members from around the country alongside citizens and legislators from various States. The rock band Madison Rising appeared to perform at the site.

The action caused a Legislative Summit on the Transfer of Public Lands in Salt Lake City which included at least nine western States.

Drones have been a sore point since they have been appearing as part of the surveillance network and was used to kill an American citizen overseas.

Wikiprotest may have had an effect

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By Glen Davis

In an interesting protest against the SOPA and PIPA bills in Congress, the English version of Wikipedia went dark at midnight today. Some report being able to access the online encyclopedia through certain smartphones according to CNN.

The protest is over concerns that these bill would allow the United States to take down domains for virtually any excuse. Proponents say the bills are necessary to protect intellectual property available on the Internet. Thefts and piracy do present a problem, but industry estimates of the dollar loss could be inflated.

Read more at the Williams TEA Party Blog

Sunday Sermon

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I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the facts.—Will Rogers

While walking down the street one day a Corrupt Senator (that may be redundant) was tragically hit by a car and died.

His soul arrives in heaven and is met by St. Peter at the entrance.

“Welcome to heaven,” says St.. Peter. “Before you settle in, it seems there is a problem. We seldom see a high official around these parts, you see, so we’re not sure what to do with you.”

“No problem, just let me in,” says the Senator.

“Well, I’d like to, but I have orders from the higher ups. What we’ll do is have you spend one day in hell and one in heaven. Then you can choose where to spend eternity.”

“Really?, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in heaven,” says the Senator.

“I’m sorry, but we have our rules.”
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