Recently in Washington

Last week the House passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act.  This legislation creates a $30 billion fund for the Secretary of Treasury to make loans to banks with less than $10 billion in assets.  While the stated purpose of the bill is to provide funding for banks to loan to small businesses, it does not require that banks receiving funding through the program do so.  Because of these concerns and his concerns about the significant lack of oversight built into the program, Congressman Simpson voted against this bill.

Simpson Endorses “A Pledge to America”
House Republicans Pledge New Governing Agenda to Focus on Creating Jobs, Cutting Spending, Reforming Congress
Congressman Mike Simpson enthusiastically endorses the House Republicans ‘Pledge to America.’ This new governing agenda addresses their top priorities – including creating jobs, cutting spending, and changing the way Congress works.

“Our nation is at a historical crossroad. Americans have been engaged and vocal about the direction in which they think our country should be heading, and this Pledge addresses their concerns,” said Simpson. “Our country needs certainty in order to overcome the challenges we are facing. Businesses need to know that they won’t face increased taxes and regulatory burdens. Families need to know their jobs are secure and our economy is strong. Citizens need to know that Congress is working on behalf of the American people. Our Pledge addresses these priorities.”

The Pledge is the culmination of a months-long engagement with the American people in which House Republicans sought their ideas and priorities for Congress. The agenda offers concrete solutions that can be implemented immediately to tackle the issues that are most important to the nation, including job creation, spending restraint, national security, health care, and reform of Congress itself.

“Across America, the people see a government in Washington that isn’t listening, doesn’t get it, and doesn’t care.  Today, that begins to change,” House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said when the pledge was revealed. “This new governing agenda, built by listening to the people, offers plans to create jobs, cut spending, and put power where it belongs: in the hands of the people. 'A Pledge to America' offers a new way forward that hasn’t been tried in Washington: an approach focused on cutting spending instead of accelerating spending, and eliminating uncertainty for the private-sector innovators and entrepreneurs who create jobs.”

‘A Pledge to America’ can be downloaded in PDF format at http://pledge.gop.gov. This new governing agenda is comprised of five specific policy plans:

• Creating Jobs. “A Pledge to America” reflects Americans’ demand for immediate action on policies that will end uncertainty for small businesses and help our economy get back to creating jobs.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to create jobs, end economic uncertainty, and make America competitive – including stopping all tax hikes, reining in red tape, and repealing ObamaCare’s ‘1099 mandate’ that puts severe burdens on small businesses.

• Cutting Spending. “A Pledge to America” embodies Americans’ rejection of the now-thoroughly discredited notion that we can simply tax, spend, and borrow our way to prosperity.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to cut spending and reduce the size of government – including cutting government spending to pre-‘stimulus,’ pre-bailout levels, imposing a hard cap on future discretionary spending, and ending TARP once and for all.

• Reforming Congress. “A Pledge to America” acknowledges that we cannot get our arms around the issues of the day when we have a government that refuses to listen to the people and ignores their priorities.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to reform Congress and restore trust – including implementing ‘read the bill’ reform, allowing for more open and fair debate, and requiring that every bill contain a citation of constitutional authority.

• Repealing and Replacing the Job-Killing Health Care Law.  “A Pledge to America” recognizes that the American people continue to squarely oppose the government takeover of health care, with its higher costs, higher taxes, job-killing mandates, and Medicare cuts to pay for a massive new entitlement.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to repeal and replace the job-killing health care law with common-sense reforms focused on lowering costs and protecting American jobs.

• A Strong National Defense. “A Pledge to America” reinforces Congress’s responsibility to help provide for a strong national defense and fashion a coherent strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat.  This new governing agenda contains a plan to keep our nation secure at home and abroad – including passing clean troop funding bills, keeping terrorists off American soil, and fully funding missile defense.

Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Protect Firearms on Public Lands
Legislation Extends 2nd Amendment to Forest Service and BLM Land
Congressman Mike Simpson has signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 5523, the Firearms Freedom on Federal Lands Act, introduced by Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT).  The bill extends second amendment rights to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, ensuring the permanency of hunting and gun rights on our federal lands.

“This bill is essentially a preemptive strike at any attempt to ban hunting on federal lands,” said Simpson. “We have to be proactive to protect our rights, and I hope Democrats and Republicans in Congress can act to do so.”

While the Forest Service and the BLM do not currently restrict firearms, there has been concern amongst Members of Congress that the administration may move to do so.  Members point to recent climate change regulations issued by the Department of the Interior and a leaked secret document revealing administration plans to recommend 13 million acres of land to be designated as new National Monuments.  Last year, Congress voted to prevent the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges from banning firearms; this bill extends those same rights to all federal lands.

H.R. 5523 prevents any presidential executive order or regulation from banning or restricting firearms and keeps the authority with state governments.

Simpson is the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees both the Forest Service and the BLM.

Simpson Opposes Efforts to Ban Lead in Fishing Tackle
Congressman Mike Simpson last week joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson opposing efforts to ban the use of lead in fishing products.  The letter, signed by 77 Members of Congress, accompanies a letter from leading hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations pointing out that there is no scientific basis to warrant a ban on traditional fishing equipment.

“There is simply no data to support a ban on traditional fishing tackle and no reason for the EPA to restrict people’s ability to take advantage of the great fishing opportunities in Idaho and elsewhere in the country,” said Simpson.  “At a time when more Americans are taking advantage of the recreational activities that are close to home, we should be encouraging them to reconnect with the outdoors, not making it more cost prohibitive.” 

The letter points out that there are 60 million recreational anglers in America, contributing $125 billion to the economy each year.  Simpson is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA.

Committee Update:

On Thursday at 2:00 p.m., the House Budget Committee will hold a hearing entitled, “Defense Department Budget Initiatives.”

House Legislative Business This Week

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2010
On Monday,  no votes are expected in the House.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2010
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:30 a.m. for morning hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. No votes are expected in the House.

Suspensions (63 Bills):
1) H.Res. 1630 - Expressing support for National POW/MIA Recognition Day (Sponsored by Rep. Lipinski / Armed Services Committee)
2) H.Con.Res. 319 - Recognizing the anniversary of the tragic shootings that occurred at Fort Hood, Texas (Sponsored by Rep. Carter / Armed Services Committee)
3) H.Res. 1605 - Recognizing the service of the medical and air crews (Sponsored by Rep. Thompson (CA) / Armed Services Committee)
4) H.R. 5993 - SAVINGS Act (Sponsored by Rep. Halvorson / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
5) H.R. 5360 - Blinded Veterans Adaptive Housing Improvement Act (Sponsored by Rep. Herseth Sandlin / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
6) H.R. 6132 - Veterans Benefits and Economic Welfare Improvement Act (Sponsored by Rep. Filner / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
7) H.R. 3685 - To require the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to hyperlink to the VetSuccess Internet website (Sponsored by Rep. Stearns / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
8) H.R. 3787 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to deem certain service in the reserve components as active service for purposes of laws administered by the Secretary of Veterans Affairs (Sponsored by Rep. Walz / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
9) H.R. 5630 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for qualifications for vocational rehabilitation counselors and vocational rehabilitation employment coordinators employed by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Sponsored by Rep. Boozman / Veterans' Affairs Committee)
10) H.R. 5458 - Christopher Bryski Student Loan Protection Act (Sponsored by Rep. Adler / Financial Services Committee)
11) H.R. 3421 - Medical Debt Relief Act (Sponsored by Rep. Kilroy / Financial Services Committee)
12) H.R. __ - To amend the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 to include certain construction and land development loans in the definition of small business lending (Sponsored by Rep. Miller (NC) / Financial Services Committee)
13) H.R. 6058 - Wounded Warrior and Military Survivor Housing Assistance Act (Sponsored by Rep. Paulsen / Financial Services Committee)
14) H.Res. 1631 - Calling for the protection of religious sites and artifacts from and in Turkish-occupied areas of northern Cyprus (Sponsored by Rep. Bilirakis / Foreign Affairs Committee)
15) H.Res. 1326 - Calling on the Government of Japan to immediately address the growing problem of abduction (Sponsored by Rep. Moran (VA) / Foreign Affairs Committee)
16) H.Res. 1588 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives on the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in Sudan (Sponsored by Rep. Capuano / Foreign Affairs Committee)
17) H.Res. __ - Honoring the lives of the brave and selfless aid workers, doctors, and nurses who died in the tragic attack of August 5, 2010, in northern Afghanistan (Sponsored by Rep. Pitts / Foreign Affairs Committee)
18) S. 3304 - Equal Access to 21st Century Communications Act (Sponsored by Sen. Pryor / Energy and Commerce Committee)
19) S. 3828 - Making technical corrections in the Twenty-First Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (Sponsored by Sen. Pryor / Energy and Commerce Committee)
20) H.R. 758 - Pediatric Research Consortia Establishment Act (Sponsored by Rep. DeGette / Energy and Commerce Committee)
21) H.R. 2999 - Veterinary Public Health Workforce and Education Act (Sponsored by Rep. Baldwin / Energy and Commerce Committee)
22) H.R. 2941 - To reauthorize and enhance Johanna's Law (Sponsored by Rep. DeLauro / Energy and Commerce Committee)
23) H.R. 5354 - GEDI Act (Sponsored by Rep. Engel / Energy and Commerce Committee)
24) H.R. 2818 - Methamphetamine Education, Treatment, and Hope Act (Sponsored by Rep. McNerney / Energy and Commerce Committee)
25) H.Res. 1485 - Expressing support for designation of September 2010 as "National Prostate Cancer Awareness Month" (Sponsored by Rep. Neugebauer / Energy and Commerce Committee)
26) H.R. 6012 - To direct the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review uptake and utilization of diabetes screening benefits (Sponsored by Rep. Space / Energy and Commerce Committee)
27) H.R. 1362 - National MS and Parkinson's Disease Registries Act (Sponsored by Rep. Van Hollen / Energy and Commerce Committee)
28) H.R. 6081 - Stem Cell Therapeutic and Research Reauthorization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Young (FL) / Energy and Commerce Committee)
29) H.R. 6160 - Rare Earths and Critical Materials Revitalization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Dahlkemper / Science and Technology Committee)
30) H.Res. 1639 - Recognizing the contributions of the National Waterways Conference on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (Sponsored by Rep. Hare / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
31) H.R. 3960 - Residential and Commuter Toll Fairness Act (Sponsored by Rep. McMahon / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
32) H.R. 5591 - The "Ray Daves Air Traffic Control Tower" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. McMorris Rodgers / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
33) H.R. 4387 - The "Winston E. Arnow Federal Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Miller (FL) / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
34) H.R. 4714 - National Transportation Safety Board Reauthorization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Oberstar / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
35) H.R. 3427 - State Ethics Law Protection Act (Sponsored by Rep. Quigley / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
36) H.R. 6008 - CLEAN Act (Sponsored by Rep. Schauer / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
37) H.R. 6016 - Audit the BP Fund Act (Sponsored by Rep. Brady (TX) / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)
38) H.R. 6200 - WIPA and PABSS Extension Act (Sponsored by Rep. Pomeroy / Ways and Means Committee)
39) H.R. 4337 - Regulated Investment Company Modernization Act (Sponsored by Rep. Rangel / Ways and Means Committee)
40) Senate Amendment to H.R. 3980 - Redundancy Elimination and Enhanced Performance for Preparedness Grants Act (Sponsored by Rep. Cuellar / Homeland Security Committee)
41) H.Con.Res. __ - Recognizing sickle cell disease awareness month (Sponsored by Rep. Fudge / Education and Labor Committee)
42) H.Res. 1637 - Supporting the goals of National Domestic Violence Awareness Month (Sponsored by Rep. Poe / Education and Labor Committee)
43) H.Res. 1645 - Expressing support for National School Psychology Week (Sponsored by Rep. Loebsack / Education and Labor Committee)
44) H.R. 4072 - AMERICA Works Act (Sponsored by Rep. Minnick / Education and Labor Committee)
45) H.R. 2853 - All-American Flag Act (Sponsored by Rep. Braley / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
46) H.R. 4602 - The "Emil Bolas Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Boccieri / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
47) H.R. 5606 - The "James M. 'Jimmy' Stewart Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Critz / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
48) H.R. 5605 - The "George C. Marshall Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Critz / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
49) H.R. 6026 - Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act (Sponsored by Rep. Driehaus / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
50) H.R. 6014 - The "M.R. 'Bucky' Walters Post Office" Designation Act (Sponsored by Rep. Boozman / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
51) H.Res. 1442 - Supporting United States Military History Month (Sponsored by Rep. Duncan / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
52) H.Res. 1546 - Congratulating the Washington Stealth (Sponsored by Rep. Inslee / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
53) H.Res. 1479 - Supporting the United States Paralympics (Sponsored by Rep. Lance / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
54) H.R. 6118 - The "Dorothy I. Height Post Office Building" Designation Act (Sponsored by Del. Norton / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
55) H.Res. 1617 - Supporting the goals and purpose of Gold Star Mothers Day (Sponsored by Rep. Roskam / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
56) H.Res. 1603 - Expressing support for National Craniofacial Acceptance Month (Sponsored by Rep. Ross / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
57) H.R. 3243 - To amend section 5542 of title 5, United States Code, to provide that any hours worked by Federal firefighters under a qualified trade-of-time arrangement shall be excluded for purposes of determinations relating to overtime pay (Sponsored by Rep. Sarbanes / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
58) H.Res. 1646 - Recognizing the commitment and efforts made by the Library of Congress (Sponsored by Rep. Lungren / House Administration Committee)
59) H.R. 512 - Federal Election Integrity Act (Sponsored by Rep. Davis (CA) / House Administration Committee)
60) H.Res. 1378 - Condemning the theft from the Mojave National Preserve of the national Mojave Cross memorial (Sponsored by Rep. Lewis (CA) / Natural Resources Committee)
61) H.Res. 1636 - Celebrating the 75th anniversary of the Hoover Dam (Sponsored by Rep. Napolitano / Natural Resources Committee)
62) H.R. 6198 - To amend title 11 of the United States Code to make technical corrections; and for related purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Conyers / Judiciary Committee)
63) H.R. 5932 - Organized Retail Theft Investigation and Prosecution Act (Sponsored by Rep. Scott (VA) / Judiciary Committee)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 2010, AND THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010
On Wednesday the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business with votes occurring as early as 10:00 a.m.

On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business with votes possible.

H.R. 847 - James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Maloney / Energy and Commerce Committee)

H.R. 2378 - Currency Reform for Fair Trade Act (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Ryan (OH) / Ways and Means Committee)

Senate Amendment to H.R. 3081 - Making Further Continuing Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2011 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Obey / Appropriations Committee)

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2010
On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.

In the News

Simpson, House Republicans asking for ‘clean’ spending plan
By Brad Iverson-Long
September 15th, 2010

Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson signed onto a letter with other Republicans urging Democrats to not include any new programs in a potential stop-gap spending plan Congress could pass before the end of the month.

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., will likely pass a continuing resolution (CR) to avoid a government shutdown, because a comprehensive federal budget has yet to be passed.  Simpson and other Republicans on the House Committee on Appropriations don’t want that CR to include new programs not yet approved by Congress.

“At a time of extreme spending and political fatigue, it is simply unacceptable to use a must-pass CR as a legislative vehicle for more wasteful federal spending or completing an array of unfinished political business before the election,” Republicans said in the letter signed by Simpson.

The Republicans’ letter to Rep. David Obey, D-Wis., says the CR could include billions in spending that they find objectionable.  That includes carrying over as much as $10 billion in unused federal stimulus money, a potential $5.5 billion bailout of the U.S. Postal Service, funding Pell Grants for college students for next year, and $1.9 billion for new Race to the Top grants for public schools.

“Decisions on increases for programs should be decided through the regular process where such increases can be weighed against reductions in other programs,” the letter said.

The CR would need to be passed as a joint resolution by both the House and Senate before the federal government starts its next fiscal year on Oct. 1.