Recently in Washington

Simpson: No Special Deal for Congress on Obamacare

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is a cosponsor of legislation to prevent Members of Congress from receiving special treatment under Obamacare by receiving a subsidy for their health insurance plan.

Congress is required to be moved to the health insurance exchange once the law comes into effect, and recently the Obama Administration ruled that Members of Congress and staff would receive a federal subsidy for their insurance.

“This is about ensuring Congress does not get any special treatment,” Congressman Simpson said. “Obamacare is seriously flawed and needs full repeal, but it is unfair for the administration to now pick and choose who must pay the full costs under the law and who gets a break.”

Congressman Simpson has signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 3076, the James Madison Congressional Accountability Act, which blocks a subsidy for the President, Vice President, executive branch, and all of Congress and staff in purchasing health plans.  He also supports H.R. 3071, the No Special Treatment for Congress Act, which would ensure no funds are used to implement the President’s ruling. He has also cosponsored H.R. 3067, the No Obamacare Subsidies for Members of Congress Act, would prohibit a government subsidy for the purchase of health plans by Members of Congress only.

“As I have always said, I will strongly oppose any effort to give special treatment to Members of Congress unless every American is exempt from the law through full repeal,” Simpson added.  “The American people are strongly opposed to Obamacare, but if they must live under the law, so must Members of Congress.”

Simpson’s Wildfire Funding Provision Included in House Continuing Resolution

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson has included critical wildfire suppression funding for the Forest Service and Department of Interior in the short-term continuing resolution.  The CR, which would extend government funding at sequestration levels through mid-December, provides $600 million to the Forest Service and $36 million to the Department of the Interior to restore wildfire suppression accounts that have been depleted during the devastating 2013 fire season.  Simpson chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, which oversees the budget for public lands agencies like the Forest Service and the BLM.

The funding in the CR helps to address what is referred to as “fire borrowing.”  When budgeted fire suppression funding is depleted, agencies are forced to take money from other non-fire accounts in order to continue fighting fires. 

“One of the biggest problems with fire borrowing is that it perpetuates the cycle of catastrophic wildfires in forests that are not being adequately managed,” said Simpson.  “Siphoning money away from resource management accounts during a bad fire year means that those forests will be more susceptible to devastating fires in the future—and when almost every year is a bad fire year, land managers’ hands are tied.  Restoring this funding will help ensure that fire fighters can continue to put out fires without jeopardizing the important work of hazardous fuels removal, resource restoration, and timber harvests that we need to do in order to return our forests to health.”

Simpson added, “I cannot say enough good things about the men and women who have been on the front lines of these fires.  They managed to save homes during the Beaver Creek fire that I would have thought couldn’t be saved.  All summer they have worked tirelessly to save Idaho lands and communities, and I’m pleased that Congress recognized this by including the resources to manage and put out fires in the CR.”

Simpson’s Statement on EPA’s New Rule on Non-Navigable Waters

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson, Chairman of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and Environment, issued the following statement on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule last week which would establish federal regulatory jurisdiction over non-navigable streams, wetlands and other water resources.  Currently, non-navigable waters are regulated by the states.

“Like many people who have watched this issue carefully, I’m very concerned about this proposed rule.  Most farmers and ranchers I talk to are scared to death about the possibility that the Environmental Protection Agency would be able to regulate their irrigation ditches, drainage ponds, and even groundwater, and I understand why,” said Simpson.  “In the West, water is critical to our way of life.  Allowing the federal government to claim jurisdiction over state waters would have a devastating impact on rural communities throughout our state and the food supply throughout our nation.  For that reason and others, I have included language in the FY14 House Interior Appropriations bill that will prevent any attempt by the EPA to claim additional jurisdiction over state waters and increase its already excessive authority over Western farmers, families, and businesses.” 

Simpson Votes to Ensure Domestic Mineral Supply

Bill would reduce permitting delays for exploration and production of critical minerals in U.S.
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson voted last week for legislation to streamline domestic mineral exploration and production, ensuring the availability of domestic minerals and mineral materials that are essential for national security, technological innovation, and economic growth.  H.R. 761, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, would streamline the permitting process for mineral exploration and development project. 

“Permitting delays are a huge problem in this country.  It takes longer to permit a hard rock mine on federal land here than in any of the other 25 mineral producing countries, and we are increasingly dependent on other countries to produce minerals that we need for national security and other critical purposes,” said Simpson.  “H.R. 761 takes a number of steps to eliminate unnecessary and duplicative steps in the permitting process so that we are no longer subject to the legal and political whims of other nations for strategic minerals.  I’m pleased the House has taken up this important legislation.”

Simpson, who chairs the House Interior and Environment Appropriations Subcommittee, is a cosponsor of H.R. 761, which passed the House last week by a vote of 246-178.

Floor Schedule

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 23RD
On Monday, the House will meet at 11:00 a.m. in pro forma session. No votes are expected.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 24TH
On Tuesday, the House will not be in session.

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:

1) H.R. 1961 - To amend title 46, United States Code, to extend the exemption from the fire-retardant materials construction requirement for vessels operating within the Boundary Line (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Chabot / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

2) H.R. 3095 - To ensure that any new or revised requirement providing for the screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders is adopted pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Rep. Larry Bucshon / Transportation and Infrastructure Committee)

3) H.R. 2600 - To amend the Interstate Land Sales Full Disclosure Act to clarify how the Act applies to condominiums (Sponsored by Rep. Carolyn Maloney / Financial Services Committee)

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

H.R. 687 - Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2013 (Structured Rule)
(Sponsored by Rep. Paul Gosar / Natural Resources Committee)

The rule provides for one hour of general debate and makes in order the following amendments:

Rep. Raul Grijalva Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Ben Ray Lujan Amendment (10 minutes of debate)
Rep. Grace Napolitano Amendment (10 minutes of debate)

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27TH, AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Members are advised that a weekend session is possible.

Potential legislation related to the debt ceiling

Further action on H.J.Res. 59 - Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014
(Sponsored by Harold Rogers / Appropriations Committee)