{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "is_view": false, "human_description_en": "where party = \"Republican\", state = \"MI\" and year = 2014 sorted by date descending", "rows": [["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398120", "Forbes: Huizenga's Subcommittee Appointment Shows Hope For Fed Reform", "2014-12-26", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Earlier this week, Forbes published a piece detailing why it is important for the Federal Reserve to adopt a rule to determine how it will make decisions regarding monetary policy.\u00a0 Congressman Huizenga has been an advocate for the Federal Reserve to adopt\u00a0such a rule and\u00a0has introduced legislation to increase transparency and accountability\u00a0at \"The Fed.\"\u00a0In January, Congressman Huizenga will chair the subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade that has direct jurisdiction over how the Federal Reserve operates and conducts business. Below are highlights from the Forbes piece - the full piece if available by clicking on the link below.A Case For A Monetary RuleThe Federal Reserve has long been the world\u2019s most powerful central bank and has become even more so since the 2008 financial crisis. The Fed chairman not only has wide discretion over the course of monetary policy but also over financial regulation. ... In an uncertain world, rules are necessary to limit power and bring about order. The institutional and property rights structure comprise the rules of the game. To be effective, rules must be enforced and widely accepted. This is as true for rules of the road and sports as it is for monetary rules. ...The Fed has a dual mandate to promote price stability and full employment, but there is no monetary rule. Monetary policy depends on forecasting the real economy\u2014and the Fed\u2019s forecasting record is dismal. Not one of the Fed\u2019s large staff of top university PhD economists forecast the Great Recession. The Fed chairman did not predict the subprime crisis or the Great Recession, and the Fed\u2019s army of sophisticated models didn\u2019t predict it either.\nActual data is always backward looking, no one knows the future. Yet, Fed Chairwoman Janet Yellen and her Federal Open Market Committee base their decisions about the course of monetary policy\u2014that is, their stance on the benchmark federal funds rate\u2014on guesses about the path of the economy. ...\n\u00a0\nGiven the Fed\u2019s poor history, now is the appropriate time to have a national debate on the issue of rules versus discretion in the conduct of monetary policy, to consider the limits of monetary policy, and to explore alternatives to the current regime. That is why it is essential to reintroduce the \u201cFederal Reserve Accountability and Transparency Act\u201d (H.R. 5018) in the new Congress and for Jeb Hensarling (R-TX), chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, to continue his \u201cFederal Reserve Centennial Oversight Project.\u201d\u00a0\nWith Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-MI) heading the Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade in January, there is an opportunity to have a meaningful discussion on the role of the Fed, its powers as delegated by Congress, and the case for a rules-based approach to monetary policy.Read the full article from Forbes.com HERE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/jackson-post-office-honor-fallen-police-officer-james-bonneau", "Jackson Post Office to Honor Fallen Police Officer James Bonneau", "2014-12-18", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C. President Obama signed into law a bill to rename the U.S. Post Office in downtown Jackson as the \"Officer James Bonneau Memorial Post Office.\" Officer James Bonneau was killed in 2010 while on duty as he and a fellow public safety officer followed up on a domestic disturbance complaint. The legislation introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg, H.R. 3534, passed the House on July 14, 2014 and received final Congressional approval in the Senate on December 8.\n\"Over four years have passed since Officer Bonneau gave his life in service to the Jackson community. With the naming of the Jackson Post Office, we erect a permanent memorial and establish a tangible reminder of his heroic actions and all of those who put their lives on the line to protect the public. Officer Bonneau was described by those closest to him as loyal, genuine, and good-hearted. The naming of the Officer Bonneau Memorial Post Office is a small step to remember his ultimate sacrifice and to affirm that we will never forget what he lived for - duty over self,\"said Rep. Walberg.\n\"Our family would like to thank Representative Tim Walberg for his hard work and the dedicatedspirit he has shown us and the City of Jackson throughout the introduction and passage of this bill. We are so grateful that Jim's sacrifice will continue to be remembered by the citizens of Jackson in the years ahead. As great an honor as this is, our wish is that the eventleading up to this could be altered,\"added Amy and Marc Bonneau, the parents of James Bonneau.\nBackground:\nOfficer Bonneau graduated from Eastern Michigan University with a degree in Criminal Justice. He graduated from Lansing Community College's Mid-Michigan Police Academy at the top of his class academically before joining the Jackson Police Department. In 2011, Rep. Walberg and Senator Debbie Stabenow posthumously awarded Officer Bonneau the Law Enforcement Congressional Badge of Bravery. Officer Bonneau's parents, Amy and Marc, accepted the award on behalf of their son.\nThe legislation will rename the United States Postal Facility located at 113 West Michigan Ave. in Jackson, Michigan.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398118", "WZZM: Huizenga talks cutting IRS Budget, Immigration at West Coast Chamber", "2014-12-16", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Following the \"Breakfast with Bill\" Legislative Update to the West Coast Chamber, Congressman Huizenga spoke to WZZM about the latest bipartisan agreement, cutting the IRS budget and\u00a0President Obama's executive overreach.\u00a0 Watch WZZM's coverage of the event and interview with Congressman Huizenga by \nclicking on the picture below\n.\nRep. Huizenga talks budget deal, issues\n\n    \n        \n            \n        \n    \nHOLLAND, Mich. (WZZM) - U.S. Congressman Bill Huizenga (R) had a full plate of issues to address in Holland this morning, including the recently passed budget.\nIt was part of a \"Breakfast with Bill\" event, sponsored by the West Coast Chamber of Commerce.\nHuizenga says both Democrats and Republicans wanted to avoid another government shut down. He voted in favor of the $1.1 trillion spending package, but says there's still more that needs to be done.\u00a0Those issues include the Keystone Pipeline and President Obama's executive order on immigration reform.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398117", "Op-ed: Why I Voted To Prevent A Government Shutdown", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Why I Voted To Prevent A Government Shutdown\r\nBy Rep. Bill Huizenga  \r\n\u00a0  \r\nThere has been a lot of misinformation being spread about the latest bipartisan government funding bill that passed the House on Thursday night, and I wanted to take a few minutes to explain why I ultimately supported the bill.\r\nThe funding bill known officially as, the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act for FY 2015, passed the House of Representatives 219-206. This bill fully funds the federal government, except the Department of Homeland Security, through the end of September.\u00a0 The Department of Homeland Security is funded until the end of February.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nThe reason there are two different timetables for funding the federal government is we know the Senate, as it currently stands, will not consider holding the President accountable for his announced executive actions.\u00a0 This bill keeps the government running while setting up a direct challenge to President Obama\u2019s executive actions on immigration, after Republicans take control of the Senate and expand our majority in the House.\r\nSome opponents of the bill claim that it funds the President's proposed unconstitutional executive actions; however, this bill does not fund illegal activity - it funds the law as written. If the President's executive action is implemented on February 18, 2015, as is currently planned, he will be misusing funds that were intended for a legal purpose.\u00a0 It is also important to note that I supported the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act. This bill prohibits the President from exempting or deferring from removal individuals who under the immigration laws are not legally present in the United States. This legislation passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 232-191.\u00a0 \r\nThe debate over the President\u2019s executive action is far from over.\u00a0 A Republican-led Congress has a better chance of holding the President accountable for his power grab than the Republican-led House of Representatives acting alone.\r\nIn terms of funding, this bipartisan bill remains consistent with the budget negotiated by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray, spends less than the most conservative budget put forward by Republicans when we regained the House majority in 2011, and returns discretionary spending to levels lower than when President Obama first took office. The drivers of the nation\u2019s spending and debt come from programs that are on \u201cauto pilot,\u201d such as ObamaCare, Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security, and other mandatory spending programs.\u00a0 This bill does not address mandatory spending and is precisely why a serious discussion must be had about reforming our nation\u2019s entitlement programs. \r\nBy passing this bipartisan agreement on Thursday, the House was able to make conservative changes and updates to how, where, and when hard earned taxpayer dollars are spent. This includes provisions like the amendment I offered earlier this year to the Financial Services appropriations bill that slashes the IRS budget by $346 million. We were also able to cut $60 million in funding for the overreaching Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and block regulations that would hurt small businesses and destroy jobs in West Michigan and other communities across the nation.\r\nIn a divided government, compromise is necessary and no side gets everything it wants.\u00a0 Do I want to cut more spending \u2013 definitely!\u00a0 Do I want to see the President held accountable for his continued disregard for our constitution \u2013 absolutely! The reality of the situation is the House by itself cannot govern the country.\u00a0 Americans from across the nation have made their voices heard and elected a Republican-led Senate.\u00a0 Together we can get Washington working for not only West Michigan, but for families across the country. \u00a0This op-ed appeared in the Holland Sentinel", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398396", "Upton announces Vicksburg appointment to U.S. Naval Academy", "2014-12-15", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, announced today that Gabrielle Perrin, of Vicksburg, Mich., has been accepted to attend the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. Upton recommended Gabrielle for selection to the prestigious service academy last week and has personally congratulated her on the appointment.\u00a0 Gabrielle is a senior at Vicksburg High School and also attends the Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center.\u00a0 \u201cIt is my great pleasure to announce Gabrielle\u2019s appointment to the Naval Academy. This is the earliest appointment received by one of our local students in recent memory,\u201d Upton said. \u201cI spoke to Gabrielle last week and she was very excited with the appointment and opportunity to serve her country. It takes years of putting in the hard work to come this far. Gabrielle has excelled in the classroom and on the cross-country course, setting a good example for her peers. I have no doubt that great things are in store for this fine young woman.\u00a0 \u201cI encourage all local students who are interested in military service to contact my office.\u201d\u00a0 Upton nominates students to military service academies from Michigan\u2019s Sixth District who have excelled in school and are interviewed by members of his Academy Advisory Board, which is made up of community leaders. The individual academies make the final decision on military appointments. Upton nominated Gabrielle and 16 other Southwest Michigan students to the United States service academies last week. Students interested in attending a service academy are encouraged to contact Upton\u2019s St. Joseph/Benton Harbor District Office for further information at (269) 982-1986.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398395", "Upton nominates local youth to United States service academies", "2014-12-12", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The 17 service academy nominees for the 2015-2016 academic year have excelled academically as well as athletically at their respective schools and have gone through an extensive selection process, according to members of the advisory board for Congress Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who met with the students. \u201cOne of my greatest pleasures as a Member of Congress is being able to nominate such talented students to our nation\u2019s prestigious military service academies,\u201d said Upton. \u201cThese young men and women follow in the tradition of some of America\u2019s finest leaders and brightest minds. Each member of this group has undergone a rigorous selection process to get to where they are today. They represent the best that Southwest Michigan has to offer. We are so proud of their accomplishments and desire to serve their country.\u201d  The selection process included an interview with Upton\u2019s Academy Advisory Board, which is comprised of local community leaders.\u00a0 Upon approval by the board, the students\u2019 names were given to Upton, who then officially nominated the students to the military academies.\u00a0 The individual academies will make the final decisions on military appointments. All applicants to military academies must be nominated by a Member of Congress, the President, or the Vice President. \u201cI encourage all area students aspiring to follow in the path of these students to contact my constituent service office in St. Joseph/Benton Harbor to learn more about the academies and nomination process,\u201d said Upton. Students interested in attending a service academy are encouraged to contact Upton\u2019s St. Joseph/Benton Harbor District Office for further information: (269) 982-1986. They may also learn more about the academies by visiting Upton\u2019s website at /constituentservices/serviceacademynominations.htm.\u00a0 Upton has nominated the following students for the class of 2019: United States Military Academy\nMatthew Robinson, Dorr, Hopkins High School  \nTyler Zortman, Augusta, Sutton Park School United States Naval Academy\nZoe Vlachos, Kalamazoo, Portage Northern HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nSawyer Hess, Gobles, Otsego High School  \nKaylie Butt, Portage, Portage Northern HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nGabrielle Perrin, Vicksburg, Vicksburg HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nPeter Sinkovitz, Richland, Homeschool  \nNoah Pollack, Kalamazoo, Portage Central High School  \nAaron Sayles, Kalamazoo, Mattawan High School  \nGyumin Lee, Sturgis, Seoul American High School  \nGunner Harrison, Stevensville, Marion Military Institute United States Air Force Academy\nDaniel Christensen, Augusta, Gull Lake High School  \nBenjamin Lenning, Schoolcraft, Schoolcraft HS/Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center  \nHunter Simino, Portage, Portage Central High School  \nNathaniel Wadas, Grand Junction, South Haven High School  \nEllen Miota, Coloma, Grace Christian School United States Merchant Marine Academy\nKelsey Ramirez, Stevensville, Lakeshore High School", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398116", "Huizenga Votes To Keep The Government Open, Slash IRS Budget", "2014-12-11", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Huizenga Votes To Keep The Government Open, Slash IRS Budget \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        December 11, 2014\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Tonight, Congressman Huizenga (MI-02) released the following statement after voting to keep the government open, slash the IRS Budget, and enact conservative reforms.\r\n\u201cThis bipartisan agreement remains consistent with the budget negotiated by Rep. Paul Ryan and Sen. Patty Murray. Additionally, this legislation spends less than the most conservative budget put forward by Republicans when we regained the House majority in 2011.\r\n \u201cI am also pleased to see the House win the debate to hold the IRS accountable for targeting Americans for their political beliefs.  While the IRS Budget reduction is not as much as the $788 million cut I authored and the House adopted during the appropriations process, this $346 million cut sends a message to bureaucrats in Washington that they are on notice.\u201d\r\n  \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398392", "Upton supports bipartisan breast cancer education, prevention bill", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "While most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years of age or older, approximately 11 percent of all new cases of breast cancer in the United States are found in women 45 and younger. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives today urging immediate passage of H.R. 5185, legislation to reauthorize the Young Women\u2019s Breast Health Education and Awareness Requires Learning Young (EARLY) of 2009. Introduced by breast cancer survivor Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., and Energy and Commerce Committee member Rep. Renee Ellmers, R-N.C., the bipartisan legislation renews programs related to young women\u2019s breast health and breast cancer, including public education, research activities, and outreach and support for young women diagnosed with breast cancer. \u201cWhile diagnosis and treatment are difficult for women of any age, young survivors often find it even more challenging,\u201d said Upton in his floor remarks. \u201cThe prevention, treatment, and ultimately curing of diseases requires an all-hands-on-deck effort to not only educate, but also innovate on new cures and treatments. Early this year, the Energy and Commerce Committee embarked on the 21st Century Cures initiative with the goal of finding cures and treatments for the thousands without one \u2013 including this terrible disease. Sadly, we have all been touched in some manner by cancer or some other disease \u2013 whether it\u2019s a personal diagnosis or a courageous fight by a loved one. We have been encouraged and humbled by the support we have seen for this initiative, but also understand that there is a great deal of work ahead. We look forward to meeting that challenge and this bill helps us.\u201d H.R. 5185 passed the House by voice vote and now awaits action in the U.S. Senate. This spring, Upton partnered with Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., in launching the bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative, which seeks to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of treatments and cures for patients facing life-threatening illnesses like breast cancer. Over the past year, Upton and his committee have gathered input from stakeholders \u2013 patients, health professionals, researchers, and manufacturers \u2013 to determine how to best improve the cures process. Upton and DeGette intend to unveil discussion draft legislation in January 2015.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398394", "Upton pays tribute to retiring friend, colleague Rep. John Dingell on House floor", "2014-12-09", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \r\n            \r\n            \r\n              \r\n                \r\n                  \r\n                    \r\n                      \r\n                        \r\n\r\n\t\r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n\r\n  \r\n    Upton pays tribute to retiring friend, colleague Rep. John Dingell on House floor\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        WASHINGTON, DC,\r\n        December 9, 2014 | \r\n      Lynn Turner / Nick Culp\r\n      (269-385-0039 / 202-225-3761) \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n      \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, spoke on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives this evening in recognition of his Michigan colleague Rep. John D. Dingell, D-Dearborn, who will be retiring at the close of the 113th Congress after nearly 60 years of congressional service. Dingell, who was first elected in 1955, is the longest-serving member of the House and has the longest uninterrupted congressional tenure in U.S. history. Last year, Upton named the main Energy and Commerce Committee hearing room in 2123 Rayburn House Office Building in honor of Dingell, who served as its chairman from 1981 to 1994 and again from 2007 to 2008.\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398498", "Walberg Legislation to Help New Veterans Passes House", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-legislation-help-new-veterans-passes-house", "Walberg Legislation to Help New Veterans Passes House", "2014-12-04", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, the House passed the National Defense Authorization Act to provide funding, pay, and authorities for the Armed Forces in 2015. The legislation passed on a bipartisan vote of 300-119 and includes a number of important provisions to provide for our nation's defense and military personnel, including language offered by Rep. Walberg and Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) to assist new veterans as they transition back into civilian life.\n\"All our brave men and women in uniform deserve a steady job when they leave military service, but unfortunately many young veterans are now returning home only to face a jobless rate considerably higher than the national average. I'm particularly pleased today's legislation included a commonsense proposal championed by Sen. Toomey and me which will increase veterans resources as they transition to civilian life,\" said Rep Walberg after the vote.\nBackground:  \nIn November 2013, Rep. Walberg introduced H.R. 3493, the Servicemembers Transition Improvement Act, which would help facilitate the transition of members of the Armed Forces to civilian life by requiring the Department of Defense to share specified information on separating servicemembers with State veterans agencies in electronic format. H.R. 3493 is a companion bill to legislation introduced by Sen. Pat Toomey (R-PA) and received eleven bipartisan cosponsors.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398387", "Upton grills Takata over defective airbags linked to five deaths, millions of recalls", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today grilled Japanese automotive parts manufacturer Takata Corp. concerning its defective airbags, which have been linked to five deaths and resulted in more than 16 million vehicle recalls worldwide. Testifying before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing, and Trade, Takata was joined by witnesses from Toyota, Honda, BMW, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHSTA). Upton expressed his outrage over the Takata\u2019s inept response and the across-the-board failures of industry and federal regulators to keep American drivers safe. \u201cWhat should I say to the mom in Michigan who asks me if she and her family are safe behind the wheel?\u201d challenged Upton. \u201cFamilies across the country expect the safety devices in their vehicles to work; they expect them to provide lifesaving protection they can count on in the event of an accident. They expect problems from earlier models to be reported and fixed, and they expect to be able to get a defect repaired when they find out about it. But sadly, I can\u2019t give those assurances right now.\u201d Immediately before this morning\u2019s hearing, Reuters reported that in 2003 Takata conducted an investigation into an airbag failure in a BMW vehicle, but \u201cconcluded the problem was an anomaly.\u201d This revelation follows other recent reports that Takata was testing its product for potential defects in 2004 \u2013 more than a year before the company initially claimed it learned of the airbag defects \u2013 reportedly at a Takata laboratory in Armada, Mich., and at a test facility in Auburn Hills, Mich. Upton also called into question the failure of Honda to comply with the Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act, which requires manufacturers to report the information needed to help NHTSA quickly identify vehicle defects and remove those affected vehicles from the road. Upton authored the bipartisan TREAD Act in 2000 after spearheading an extensive investigation into the fatal Ford-Firestone tire malfunctions. On November 24, 2014, Honda announced that it had failed to report over 1,700 incidents since 2003 that were required to be reported under the TREAD Act\u2019s Early Warning Reporting requirements. This spring, Upton\u2019s committee launched an investigation into General Motors\u2019 and NHTSA\u2019s response to consumer complaints related to stalling, airbag non-deployment, and ignition switch problems linked to 31 crashes and 13 deaths, including two teenagers from Upton\u2019s own district. \u201cCars are safer today, but not because a company hires lawyers and consultants to avoid reporting safety incidents,\u201d continued Upton today. \u201cCompanies need to know that there isn't anything safe about shorting safety. We need more automakers to make safety a priority and institute safety incentives. In the case of GM, they acknowledged their safety failure, their CEO volunteered to testify, and they hired a new safety officer to implement company-wide culture changes. I\u2019d like to see that same level of urgency, that same admission of mistakes, and that same commitment to do better today.\u201d Watch Upton\u2019s opening remarks HERE Watch Upton\u2019s questioning with Takata and Honda HERE Learn more about today\u2019s hearing HERE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398388", "Upton supports creation of tax-free savings accounts for Michiganders with disabilities", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "More than 2 million Michigan adults have some form of a disability and that number is projected to increase by the year 2030, reports the Michigan Department of Community Health. We want to help give those families the opportunity to save for their future and long-term expenses, said U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, a supporter of the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).  Upton joined his House colleagues this evening in passing bipartisan legislation \u2013 H.R. 647, the Achieving a Better Life Experience (ABLE) Act of 2014 \u2013 to create tax-free savings accounts (ABLE accounts) for individuals with disabilities to cover qualified expenses such as education, housing, and transportation. Upton is a cosponsor of the ABLE Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives by a vote of 404 to 17 and now awaits action in the U.S. Senate. \u201cThe ABLE Act empowers millions of Americans with disabilities, enabling them to save for their own future needs without jeopardizing the benefits and services they vitally depend upon,\u201d said Upton. \u201cThrough access to tax-free savings accounts, we can help our most vulnerable maintain their health, independence, and quality of life.\u201d The creation of tax-free savings accounts for individuals with disabilities has been a top priority for disability rights advocates in Southwest Michigan. \"The ability to save money for housing or home modifications, assistive devices, accessible transportation, education & health care is critical for people with disabilities,\u201d says Joel Cooper, President & CEO at Disability Network Southwest Michigan.\u00a0\u201cWe hear from people with disabilities and family members who would like to put aside some money to pay for these necessities but cannot because they fear that this will jeopardize the health, housing, or community living supports they need to survive. We believe the ABLE Act will provide the security people need to negotiate the expenses that living with a significant disability brings.\u201d Under the ABLE Act, states would have the option to establish an ABLE program, under which eligible individuals with disabilities may establish an ABLE account. To be eligible, individuals must: 1) be severely disabled before turning age 26, based on a marked and severe functional limitation; or 2) receive benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Disability Insurance (DI) programs.\u00a0 ABLE accounts would be modeled after existing 529 investment plans \u2013 named after section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code \u2013 that are already used by families to save for college expenses. ABLE account balances and withdrawals would not jeopardize an individual\u2019s eligibility for Medicaid and other benefit programs. Other key features of the program include the following:\r\n \r\n    \r\n    Contributions into an ABLE account can be made by any person;\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Contributions are not tax deductible;\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Income earned by the accounts is not taxed;\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Account withdrawals, including portions attributable to investment earnings generated by the account, for qualified expenses are not taxable;\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Qualified expenses are those related to the individual\u2019s disability, including health, education, housing, transportation, training, assistive technology, and personal support;\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Individuals are limited to one ABLE account, and total annual contributions by all individuals to any one account can be made up to the gift tax limit ($14,000 in 2014);\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Aggregate contributions to an ABLE account are subject to an overall limit matching the State limit for Section 529 accounts;\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Individuals with ABLE accounts can maintain eligibility for means-tested benefits. ABLE account balances and withdrawals are completely excluded for the purpose of Medicaid and other benefit programs. In SSI, the first $100,000 in account balances is excluded; and\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    In the event a beneficiary of an ABLE account dies (or no longer has a disability) and has remaining assets in the account, the assets are first distributed to any state Medicaid plan that provided medical assistance to the beneficiary.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398497", "Walberg Votes for ABLE Act to Assist Individuals with Disabilities", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-votes-able-act-assist-individuals-disabilities", "Walberg Votes for ABLE Act to Assist Individuals with Disabilities", "2014-12-03", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Rep. Walberg voted in support of H.R. 647, the ABLE Act of 2014, legislation he cosponsored to create tax-free savings accounts for people born with disabilities to save for future, qualified expenses such as education, housing and medical expenses. H.R. 647 passed with a strong bipartisan vote of 404-17.\n\"Passage of the ABLE Act will help ease some of the challenges faced by people living with disabilities and their families by extending important financial planning tools that will help them achieve their potential. It's a commonsense step which will make a difference for those who need it most,\" said Rep. Walberg after the vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398390", "ROLL CALL: Upton Eyes the Architecture of Abundance for Energy", "2014-12-02", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "After\u00a0peeking inside\u00a0Sen.\u00a0Lisa Murkowski\u2019s, R-Alaska, energy manifesto Monday for clues on how she\u2019ll run the Energy and Natural Resources Committee next year, we turn today to the corresponding plan by House Energy and Commerce Chairman\u00a0Fred Upton, R-Mich.\r\nUpton\u2019s\u00a0\u201cArchitecture of Abundance,\u201d unveiled\u00a0in a July speech, takes critical aim at \u201cpolicies rooted in the old ideas of energy scarcity\u201d to reflect the rapidly changing energy dynamics of the past several years.\u00a0\r\nThat\u2019s a sentiment expressed on both sides of the Capitol, where lawmakers from both parties have called for addressing issues associated with the fracking boom, including environmental concerns, infrastructure, and exports, to name a few.\r\nUpton\u2019s plan showcases the committee\u2019s legislative work in the 113th Congress, in contrast to Murkowski\u2019s proposal revealing a detailed look at her own thinking. The contrast reflects Murkowski\u2019s time spent in the minority doing her homework and Upton\u2019s having the luxury of legislating for the four years he\u2019s been atop the powerful Energy and Commerce panel.\r\nUpton\u2019s committee has carefully laid the groundwork for a multitude of energy bills that have passed the House through regular order. As a result, the committee will be set to hit the ground running at the outset of the new Congress.\u00a0\r\nRemember that Upton, with the help of Energy and Power Subcommittee Chairman\u00a0Edward Whitfield, R-Ky., and Environment and the Economy Chairman\u00a0John Shimkus, R-Ill., has conducted a great deal of oversight during his tenure. Those efforts, which will be amplified through coordination with Senate GOP counterparts over the next two years, will also help shape policy.\r\nHouse Republicans\u2019 energy bills will find a much friendlier reception in a GOP-led Senate in the next two years than they found in the Democratic Senate for the last four years. The result may be less emphasis on sending message bills across the Capitol and more focus on finding areas of agreement with some Democrats, and even the White House, that could actually move energy legislation across the finish line.\u00a0\r\nEnacting an energy bill may be a heavy lift in the current political climate, but recall that a Democratic House and Senate overcame stark policy differences with President\u00a0George W. Bush\u00a0in 2007 to negotiate the last major energy law, the Energy Independence and Security Act (PL 110-140).\u00a0\r\nUpton\u2019s plan is based upon five \u201cpillars,\u201d all of which have sparked bipartisan interest: modernizing infrastructure, maintaining diverse electricity sources; boosting U.S. manufacturing by overhauling federal permitting processes; energy efficiency and innovation; and \u201cunleashing energy diplomacy.\u201d Bipartisan efforts to legislate in these areas could lead to surprise breakthroughs on energy. \u2026\u00a0\r\nRead the full article online HERE\u00a0 Learn more about the \u201cArchitecture of Abundance\u201d HERE", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398386", "Upton commemorates World AIDS Day 2014", "2014-12-01", "2014", "2014-12", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"Today we remember the lives tragically ended because of HIV/AIDS and renew our commitment to the millions more who continue to live with the virus today. Working together, we have made tremendous advances over the past decades in research, treatment, and prevention to offer greater hope for its victims and halt the spread to countless more. We will not rest until this epidemic is stopped once and for all.\" - Rep. Fred Upton\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      \u200bHouse Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in recognition of World AIDS Day. Observed worldwide on December 1, the day seeks to raise greater public awareness of HIV/AIDS, renew global efforts to stop the epidemic, and remember those lives lost. More than 1.2 million people are currently living in the United States with HIV and almost one in seven are unaware they have the disease, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\u201cToday we remember the lives tragically ended because of HIV/AIDS and renew our commitment to the millions more who continue to live with the virus today,\u201d said Upton who met this summer with Jeanne White-Ginder, mother of Ryan White, the Indiana teenager who died in 1990 from complications from AIDS after becoming infected with HIV from a contaminated blood treatment. Upton has been a longtime supporter of the Ryan White Comprehensive AIDS Resources Emergency (CARE) Act, the largest federally funded program in the United States for people living with HIV/AIDS. \u201cWorking together, we have made tremendous advances over the past decades in research, treatment, and prevention to offer greater hope for its victims and halt the spread to countless more. We will not rest until this epidemic is stopped once and for all,\u201d continued Upton. This Congress, Upton\u2019s committee successfully advanced S. 330, the HIV Organ Policy Equity (HOPE) Act, which allows research to fully evaluate the safety and efficacy of organ transplantation between individuals with HIV. In 1988, Congress banned the transplantation\u00a0of HIV-infected organs. Today, HIV treatments have extended and improved the lives of individuals with HIV, increasing the need for organ donations. S. 330 was signed into law by President Obama on November 21, 2013. This spring, Upton partnered with Rep. Diana DeGette (D-Colo.) in launching the bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative, which seeks to accelerate the discovery, development, and delivery of treatments and cures for patients facing life-threatening illnesses like HIV/AIDS. For more information on HIV/AIDS, testing, and prevention, visit http://www.aids.gov.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398115", "GR Press: Huizenga tasked to head US House monetary policy subcommittee", "2014-11-25", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Bill Huizenga tasked to head US House monetary policy subcommittee\u200b  \r\nMlive - Andrew Krietz - November 24, 2014\u00a0Come January 2015, one West Michigan legislator will move up the ranks in a new Congress.\r\n U.S. Rep. Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, has been assigned to chair the Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade. The position tasks the third-term congressman with the authority to review the Federal Reserve's board and keep oversight on its policies. ...\r\n\"It's very broad that in one sense, it's dealing with a massive issue and that is the Federal Reserve and our monetary policies,\" Huizenga said. \"For one, all you have to do is look at what's happening at interest rates: cars, mortgages, the value of money.\u00a0It does seem very academic on one hand, but there's a lot of practical and real-world ramifications.\" Read the rest of the story in Tuesday's Grand Rapids Press HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398111", "LDN: Huizenga says Congress considering response to Obama's immigration executive order", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Friday, Congressman Huizenga spoke with the Ludington Daily News about President Obama's latest executive action, how Congress will respond, and what bipartisan steps can be taken to begin to fix our nation's broken immigration system. Below are excerpts from the interview, which is available in it's entirety here. Huizenga says Congress is considering response to Obama's immigration executive order\r\nBy Steve Begnoche - Sun Nov 23, 2014.\r\nCongressman Bill Huizenga, R-Zeeland, says members of Congress are trying to understand what exactly President Barack Obama\u2019s immigration executive order means and just how far it goes before deciding how to respond. ...\r\n\u00a0\r\nHe [Huizenga], like most Republicans, questions if the president has the authority to do what he did, saying that gets very iffy when it comes to issuing work permits.\r\nSpeaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, Friday filed a lawsuit challenging the president\u2019s authority on health care that could be expanded to include the immigration decision, Huizenga said. The Republican-controlled House had authorized the lawsuit earlier, but Boehner waited until the immigration order to file it.\r\nHuizenga said that even Obama previously questioned the authority of the president to order changes. \u201cI agree with him earlier when he said he doesn\u2019t have the authority to do this. He or someone helped change his mind,\u201d Huizenga said. \u201cThat really is the heart of the problem. The president is trying to go forward without any kind of legislative process.\u201d ...\r\nHuizenga said immigration reform is needed and the current immigration law presents problems to agriculture in west Michigan and high tech industries.\r\n\u201cMy preference is to go after it in a step-by-step process,\u201d he said. One issue that needs to be tackled is border security. Huizenga said he agreed with Obama\u2019s call Thursday night for higher pay for border patrols.\r\n\u201cThere are some things we aren\u2019t that far apart on,\u201d he said. \u201cWe have to go in fix the ag part of this in west Michigan. There are not enough visas to allow people to move back and forth freely to serve the needs here. We have to fix the high tech side\u201cWe still have the thorny issue of what do we do with the people who are here.\" Read the entire\u00a0article\u00a0here on the Ludington\u00a0Daily News website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141205214920/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398496", "Cit Pat | Sticker shock in Year Two of buying health insurance the Obamacare way", "2014-11-24", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "JACKSON, MI \u2013 It is tempting to denounce the President of the United States right now, but he's not responsible for every disappointment that comes my way.\nAs one of 19 million Americans covered by private health insurance we buy\u00a0ourselves, I noted a recent\u00a0Kaiser Family Foundation survey\u00a0that\u00a0found prices rose just 3 percent in 2014 for family insurance coverage supplied in the workplace\u00a0a job benefit. This was called positive news that \"continues a recent trend of modest increases.\"\n\"Boy oh boy!\" I said. \"I could sure enjoy a little taste of that trend!\"\nHope was shattered Nov. 15, when Year Two began for buying health insurance through the government \"marketplace.\"\n\"Thanks a lot, Obama!\" I howled at the new prices.\nTo buy the same Blue Care Network coverage for the same three people in 2015, my family's cost will jump 17 percent in January.\nOur price rose 8 percent this year, even though we cut the number of family members covered from four to three. That's a 26-percent increase over two years for covering 25 percent fewer people.\nWhere's our positive modest increase,\u00a0Kaiser Family?\nCloser reading of the foundation's report reveals the 3-percent increase is something of a sham. Survey-takers also found deductibles, the money patients\u00a0must pay before insurance benefits kick in, keep rising. The average deductible is up 47 percent since 2009. Employers are switching to worse insurance and still paying 3 percent more.\nUnlike a large corporation, I cannot switch to cheaper insurance because I already purchase the worst coverage allowed by law. Our family deductible is so high people gasp in disbelief.\nLocal experts say some insurers selling health coverage in the Jackson area actually cut\u00a0prices for 2015. I assume that's true for some companies in the middle of the pack on pricing, but the bottom-end cost paid by our family went up sharply.\nBlaming Obamacare is tempting, but health insurance prices rose every year, and often obscenely, before Obamacare was invented. That's why it was invented.\nMaybe health insurance would be just as expensive today if John McCain was finishing his second term as president. All I know is Obamacare has done nothing to drive down high prices paid by my family, and things can easily get worse.\nMy insurance guy in Jackson warned in 2012 that I\u00a0should expect annual price increases of 12 to 20 percent to maintain similar coverage from year to year, which is crushing. So far he's right on the money.\nInstead of blaming Obama, insurance companies, doctors, or fat people who smoke, we must find some shred of national unity to fix this for real.\nAt least the government's web site usually works this year. One step at a time, I guess.\nTo read the original article at The Jackson Cit Pat, please click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398110", "Huizenga Questions Phony IAIS Transparency, Calls For Real Openness", "2014-11-21", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Huizenga Questions Phony IAIS Transparency, Calls For Real Openness \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        November 21, 2014\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      \r\n\r\n House Lawmakers See Problems With IAIS Despite Assurances of Federal Regulators\u00a0 \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nBy K. Claire Compton | November 18, 2014 09:59PM ET\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nNov. 18 (BNA) -- Lawmakers who want greater involvement in negotiations over global insurance standards told regulators Nov. 18 they're keeping an eye on the process and aren't satisfied with its transparency so far.\r\nThe self-described \u201cTeam U.S.A.,\u201d made up of regulators representing the Federal Reserve Board, the Treasury Department and state authorities, appeared before a House panel to update members on international standards currently being developed by the International Association for Insurance Supervisors (IAIS). ... \r\nThe Fed and Treasury representatives took the opportunity of the hearing to characterize the change as increasing transparency by eliminating the ability to \u201cpay to play,\u201d and preserving the IAIS's independence from the industry. ... \r\nRep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.), however, disagreed. \u201cYou might think it's an improvement, but there are a whole lot of people who don't think it's an improvement,\u201d Huizenga said to McRaith. \u201cYou've cut off the highway before you put on the on-ramp. There's no on-ramp or off-ramp. Mr. [Roy] Woodall was not allowed to come to meetings\u2014this flies in the face of transparency.\u201d\r\nWoodall, the Financial Stability Oversight Council's independent insurance expert, became an IAIS observer in February of this year, a status that will no longer confer special access. Woodall had been seeking greater involvement in the IAIS for several months prior to becoming an observer.\r\n\u201cRelegating systemic risk policymakers to only those opportunities afforded to the general public would reduce the likelihood of effective attainment of the IAIS goal of providing a meaningful contribution towards global financial stability,\u201d Woodall said in an August comment letter to the IAIS following its initial proposal to end observer status. ... Read the entire article here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398109", "Huizenga Named Chairman of Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling announced that Congressman Huizenga has been selected to Chair the Financial Services Subcommittee on Monetary Policy & Trade for the 114th Congress.\u00a0 \r\n\u00a0\u201cI am honored and excited at the opportunity to serve as Chairman of the Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee,\u201d said Huizenga. \u201cAs Chairman, my goal is to conduct vigorous oversight of the Federal Reserve and ensure monetary policy is formulated in an open and transparent manner.\u201d\r\n\u00a0\u201cIn a short period of time, Bill has proven himself to be an effective leader and bridge builder on the Financial Services Committee,\u201d said Chairman Hensarling. \u201cI am looking forward to Bill continuing to be a pragmatic, solutions-oriented legislator as Chairman of the Monetary Policy and Trade Subcommittee.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\r\nAs Chair, Congressman Huizenga will continue the subcommittee\u2019s oversight of how the Federal Reserve\u2019s Board of Governors conducts monetary policy as well as general oversight of the Federal Reserve System.\u00a0 The subcommittee will also review our nation\u2019s international monetary and trade policies to ensure they promote domestic economic growth and create an open and competitive global marketplace.\r\nThe Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade has jurisdiction over legislation in the House pertaining to:\r\n \r\n    \r\n    The impact of monetary policy on the economy, financial actions on interest rates, the allocation of credit, and the structure and functioning of domestic financial institutions;\u00a0\r\n    \r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n    \r\n    International investment policies, both as they relate to United States investments for trade purposes by citizens of the United States and investments made by all foreign entities in the United States;\u00a0\r\n    \r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    The Export-Import Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank;\u00a0\r\n    \r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    Coins, coinage, currency, and medals, including commemorative coins and medals, proof and mint sets and other special coins, and counterfeiting.\u00a0\r\n    \r\n \r\nCongressman Huizenga currently serves as the Vice Chairman of the Monetary Policy & Trade Subcommittee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398381", "Upton votes to bolster Michigans manufacturing growth, improve federal permitting processes", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Michigan today leads the nation in manufacturing job creation, accounting for more than a half million jobs and more than 90 percent of the state\u2019s exports, according to the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). That is a record of economic growth and opportunity that we want to see continue, says House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. Upton and his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives today passed important legislation that will boost manufacturing in states like Michigan and help create more jobs. H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, supports U.S. employers by providing them with greater transparency and timeliness in obtaining the federal permits necessary for new manufacturing. H.R. 4795 passed the House by a bipartisan vote of 238 to 172 and now awaits action in the U.S. Senate. \u201cThe United States has all the ingredients to strengthen our domestic manufacturing dominance,\u201d said Upton, who was recently recognized by NAM for his leadership on issues of importance to domestic manufacturers. \u201cWe have the affordable energy supply to run our factories, especially our growing abundance of natural gas. We have private investors willing to invest billions of dollars on new projects in America. We have a workforce that is second to none, but many of whom need jobs. And we have the technical knowledge to build manufacturing facilities that are the cleanest and most efficient in the world. All we need is a regulatory process that will allow it to happen.\u201d H.R. 4795 increases public transparency by requiring the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to publish on its website the total number of preconstruction permits issued; the percentage of permits issued within one year of the filing of a completed application; and the EPA Appeals Board\u2019s average timeline for deciding appeals of preconstruction permit application decisions. \u201cWe want to be a world leader in manufacturing, not in red tape,\u201d continued Upton. \u201cI am glad the President identified the potential of new American manufacturing in his State of the Union address, and acknowledged that there is red tape that needs to be cleared away. Passage of H.R. 4795 will help make this goal a reality for our job creators here in Southwest Michigan and across the country.\u201d H.R. 4795 also gives states and permit applicants the critical information they need by requiring the EPA Administrator to issue implementing guidance when publishing a final rule to establish or revise a national ambient air quality standard.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398382", "FOX NEWS: Partnering for Cures: Medical innovators team up to treat deadly diseases", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u201c[With] disease, it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a Republican or a Democrat or Independent \u2026 We want to solve these issues,\u201d said Upton. \u201c[There are] 7,000 diseases; we have cures for only about 500, and why can't we work together to try and help every family across the country in speeding up the approval of drugs and devices?\u201d\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Team work. That was the theme when medical thought leaders converged on New York City recently for the Faster Cures Center of the Milken Institute\u2019s \u201cPartnering for Cures\u201d conference where Fox News\u2019 own Dr. Manny Alvarez was a panel moderator. The event brings together medical experts, policy makers, industry leaders, and philanthropists to share ideas on how they can work together to speed the research and development of cures for the world\u2019s most devastating diseases. \u2026 Dr. Sangeeta Bhatia, a professor and director of the laboratory for multiscale regenerative technologies at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), who spoke at the meeting, said combining medicine and technology has paved the way for important discoveries in her own work. \u201cOne of the key breakthroughs was using engineering technologies, the microfabrication tools that were developed for making computer chips, to instead make little liver tissues,\u201d Bhatia told FoxNews.com. \u201cAnd that combination of fields has really accelerated progress, so now we can make little human microlivers. They're as big as the head of a pin, and we can use them to predict how patients would respond to drugs, to make them safer, and also to make medicines to kill infections of the liver like hepatitis and malaria.\u201d Medical breakthroughs like Bhatia\u2019s microlivers have caught the attention of policy makers who recognize the need to revamp the notoriously slow process of bringing medical innovations to the market. \u201cMost of our institutions, the [National Institutes of Health], the [Food and Drug Administration] \u2014 they were founded back before we did the kind of research that we do now so quickly,\u201d said Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO). \u201cRight now, it costs up to a billion dollars, [and takes] 10 years to get a new drug approved, so our challenge is to figure out how to restructure these agencies, so we can move these drugs more quickly through so they can get to the patients.\u201d DeGette teamed up with Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI), chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce to create the \u201c21st Century Cures\u201d initiative \u2013 a bipartisan piece of legislation that aims to bridge the gap between the pace of medical research and governmental agencies which oversee its development into life-saving drugs and devices. \"[With] disease, it doesn\u2019t matter if you\u2019re a Republican or a Democrat or Independent \u2026 We want to solve these issues,\u201d said Upton. \u201c[There are] 7,000 diseases; we have cures for only about 500, and why can't we work together to try and help every family across the country in speeding up the approval of drugs and devices?\u201d Upton and DeGette plan to move their bill through Congress in 2015. Not only will \u201c21st Century Cures\u201d speed the process of curing some of the world\u2019s most devastating diseases, Upton said, it will also create jobs and keep venture capitalists stateside. Read the full story online here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398384", "Upton responds to Presidents immigration order", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in response to the President\u2019s executive action on immigration. During the past two years, Upton has helped lead an effort in the U.S. House of Representatives to get bipartisan immigration reform legislation enacted. \u201cAs I\u2019ve long said, our current immigration system is broken and needs bipartisan reform. That means all sides working together \u2013 Democrats and Republicans, the White House and Congress \u2013 to get the job done,\u201d Upton said. \u201cThe President\u2019s \u2018go it alone\u2019 approach drives a political wedge into ongoing reform efforts and recklessly disregards our nation\u2019s lawmaking process. And meanwhile, Michigan farmers, employers, law enforcement, and families will continue to live and work under a cloud of uncertainty as our laws are decided at the whim of a lame-duck White House. It\u2019s time for real, thoughtful solutions, not more partisan maneuvering.\u201d In October, Upton welcomed his Florida colleague and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart to Kalamazoo, Mich., to share their ongoing immigration reform efforts in Congress, learn of the community\u2019s concerns, and encourage a constructive local dialogue on the issue. Upton and Diaz-Balart hosted an immigration roundtable discussion with local agriculture and business leaders at Southwest Michigan First and met with community members at the Dia de los Muertos celebration at St. Joseph Catholic Church hosted by the Hispanic American Council of Kalamazoo.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398493", "Walberg Votes to Promote Manufacturing and Create More American Jobs", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-votes-promote-manufacturing-and-create-more-american-jobs", "Walberg Votes to Promote Manufacturing and Create More American Jobs", "2014-11-20", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.Today, Rep. Walberg voted in favor of H.R. 4795, the Promoting New Manufacturing Act, to encourage investment in American manufacturing. The legislation passed with bipartisan support by a vote of 238 to 172.\n\"If our country is to remain globally competitive in the manufacturing sector with nations like China, Washington must provide clear guidelines to industry instead of the current onslaught of unpredictable, arbitrary regulations. This legislation cuts federal red tape, holds the EPA accountable and lays out a transparent construction permitting process so hardworking Americans can get back to work and help grow a healthy economy.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398108", "Huizenga Celebrates National Adoption Day, Praises West Michigan Families", "2014-11-19", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Huizenga Celebrates National Adoption Day, Praises West Michigan Families \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        November 19, 2014\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      To mark\u00a0National Adoption\u00a0Day, Congressman Huizenga discussed how West Michigan families have led by example\u00a0and opened their hearts as well as their homes to children from across the country so they can have a new start and a new family.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398380", "House approves Uptons bipartisan satellite TV bill", "2014-11-19", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation introduced by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, to ensure 1.5 million American satellite television viewers continue to receive broadcast programming. H.R. 5782, the STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014, extends for five years the Satellite Television Extension and Localism Act (STELA), which expires at the end of the year. The bill also includes a number of targeted reforms to better meet the needs of today\u2019s video marketplace.  \u201cThe STELA Reauthorization Act is an important piece of legislation that ensures that millions of satellite TV subscribers continue to receive broadcast TV programming from their chosen satellite provider,\u201d said Upton in his remarks on the House floor. \u201cIn addition to reauthorizing the distant signals offered by satellite providers, we were able to include targeted reforms that will in fact enhance the video marketplace and allow consumers to access the programming that they want, when they want it. These reforms are prime examples of the kinds of deregulatory changes we are looking at as we work to replace the 80-year-old Communications Act.\u201d The House approved Upton\u2019s H.R. 5782 by voice vote. The extension must now be approved by the U.S. Senate and signed by the President before December 31, 2014.  Upton\u2019s full remarks as delivered on the House floor follow: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I\u2019m pleased to offer yet another outstanding example of bipartisanship and thoughtful policymaking from the Energy and Commerce Committee. The STELA Reauthorization Act is an important piece of legislation that ensures that millions of satellite TV subscribers continue to receive broadcast TV programming from their chosen satellite provider. We have reached across party lines and across the two houses of Congress to craft a compromise bill for this must-pass legislation that will improve the video marketplace for TV viewers across the country.\u00a0 In addition to reauthorizing the distant signals offered by satellite providers, we were able to include targeted reforms that will in fact enhance the video marketplace and allow consumers to access the programming that they want, when they want it. These reforms are prime examples of the kinds of deregulatory changes we are looking at as we work to replace the 80-year-old Communications Act. They\u2019re going to spur investment in communications networks, promote competition, and, yes, create needed American jobs.\u00a0\u00a0 For example, this bill eliminates the costly CableCARD integration ban that has increased the cost of cable-leased set-top boxes and makes them less energy efficient. Ultimately this is a double-whammy for consumers, because after being forced to pay for an unnecessary and antiquated technology, consumers then have to pay a penalty in the form of higher electric bills. Although we eliminated the whole mandate in our original bill that we passed through our committee, we worked with our Senate colleagues and agreed to sunset the provision in one year. This will provide time for the FCC to hold a working group on successor solutions to CableCARD without unduly delaying the benefits to consumers who choose to lease equipment from their cable provider.\u00a0 This bill also evens the playing field for all video providers. It seeks regulatory parity for cable and satellite providers when it comes to protecting broadcast signals during Nielsen sweeps. It also provides satellite operators and broadcasters with the opportunity to modify local markets\u00a0 - like cable operators already have the ability to do. We hope that, in our update of the Communications Act, we can find additional ways to eliminate regulatory differences that no longer serve a meaningful, technical purpose or that distorts business and consumer incentives.\u00a0\u00a0 The bill provides other positive, bipartisan reforms, and it is our intent that as we update the Communications Act in the coming Congress that it continues along that very same path. That being said, the matter before us is the reauthorization of these provisions for the millions of satellite video subscribers that depend on them. The clock is ticking, and this bill will ensure when folks flip on their TVs, yes, their favorite show will be available, when they want to watch it.\u00a0\u00a0 I would urge all my colleagues to vote for this bill as this Congress is quickly drawing to a close.\u00a0\u00a0 I particularly want to thank the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Chairman Greg Walden, Ranking Members Henry Waxman and Anna Eshoo, and Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte as well as our respective staffs for the bipartisan and hard work on this important bipartisan legislation. I\u2019d also like to thank our Senate colleagues, Jay Rockefeller and John Thune for their willingness to work with us to find common ground. I am proud of our committee\u2019s record of bipartisan results. As we work toward the CommActUpdate next year to modernize our nation\u2019s communications laws for the innovation era, continued cooperation will be critical to that success.\u00a0 Without this bill, without this reauthorization moving forward, satellite viewers \u2013 millions of Americans \u2013 will have those sets turned off. It\u2019s important that we reauthorize this bill and I\u2019m pleased to do so in a very bipartisan way.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398106", "Advisory: Veterans Workshop At The VFW In Muskegon This Saturday", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Advisory: Veterans Workshop At The VFW In Muskegon This Saturday \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        November 18, 2014\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      This Saturday, the VFW in Muskegon will be hosting a Medals and Records Workshop for West Michigan veterans.\u00a0 Staff from Congressman Huizenga\u2019s Office will be on hand to assist veterans, as well as family members, navigate and fill out the forms necessary to obtain service medals, receive copies of the veteran\u2019s military service records, and answer any questions that may arise.\u00a0 The workshop will start at 10 AM and run until 2 PM at VFW Post 446, which is located at 165 S. Getty Street in Muskegon.\u00a0\r\n\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    What: Veterans Medals & Records Workshop\u00a0\r\n    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    Where: VFW Post 446 - 165 S. Getty Street in Muskegon.\u00a0\r\n    \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    When: Saturday, November 22nd from 10 AM \u2013 2 PM\u00a0\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Who: West Michigan Veterans / Congressional Staff", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398378", "Upton honored with Crime Fighter Award by anti-crime group", "2014-11-18", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "One of the most effective ways to reduce crime rates and save taxpayer dollars is through evidence-based investments in crime prevention, says Fight Crime: Invest in Kids, a national anti-crime organization made up of law enforcement leaders and violence survivors. By investing early in at-risk youth, the costly, generational cycle of violence, abuse, and neglect can be stopped. Fight Crime: Invest in Kids today honored U.S. Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, with its \u201cCrime Fighter Award\u201d for his efforts on behalf of at-risk children and families. The award recognizes Upton\u2019s support of the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting (MIECHV) program, which provides funding for states to support voluntary home visiting programs that are proven to improve child health, prevent abuse and neglect, encourage positive parenting, and promote school readiness. As Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Upton helped ensure a continuation of federal funding for MIECHV, which was set to expire at the end of Fiscal Year 2014. \u201cWe know that the early investments made in a child\u2019s life can pay off tremendous dividends down the road, whether that means graduating from high school, landing a permanent job, or staying out of jail,\u201d said Upton. \u201cLike in so many things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. By investing in our most vulnerable, we can help give these kids a real shot at becoming productive members of society. It is not only a better use of taxpayer dollars, it is a moral investment in our nation\u2019s future.\u201d The \u201cCrime Fighter Award\u201d was presented to Upton by Fight Crime: Invest in Kids member and Berrien County Sheriff L. Paul Bailey. \u201cMy number one job as sheriff is to protect public safety by enforcing the law. But after four decades in law enforcement, I know we all are better off if we can prevent crime in the first place,\u201d said Sheriff Bailey. \u201cThat is why I came to Washington, DC, today on behalf of the nearly 5,000 law enforcement executives that make up Fight Crime: Invest in Kids to urge Congress to renew funding for home visiting programs that have been proven to cut child abuse and neglect and reduce crime.\u201d Every year, there are roughly 700,000 confirmed cases of abuse or neglect nationwide, which does not take into account those cases that go unreported. The affected children not only carry the emotional scars for a lifetime, they are almost 30 percent more likely to commit a violent crime later on in life, reports Fight Crime: Invest in Kids. Home visiting programs can help break that cycle, significantly reducing the likelihood that an at-risk child will be arrested as an adult.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398105", "Michigan Health Care Costs Set To Skyrocket In 2015, Detroit & Lansing Regions To Be Hit With Double Digit Increases", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "On Friday, the Obama Administration released its health care cost projections for 2015 and the news isn't good for Michigan families.\u00a0 Despite numerous promises of lower costs from the Administration and its supporters on Capitol Hill, the majority of Michiganders will be hit with significant cost increases in the year ahead.\u00a0 Making matters worse, residents in the most populous areas of the state, including Detroit and Lansing, are facing double digit increases.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n \r\n\u201cThroughout the debate on reforming our nation\u2019s health care system, I have continually expressed my reservations about ObamaCare and its ability to provide better access to care at lower costs,\u201d said Congressman Bill Huizenga.\u00a0 \u201cThis latest report again demonstrates that ObamaCare is not and will not be the answer to controlling costs. \u00a0Moving forward, we need the President to be a constructive voice in the discussion surrounding patient-centered solutions that empower consumers, drive down costs, and improve care.\u201d\u00a0\r\n \r\nIt\u2019s also worth noting that about this time last year, 225,000 Michigan residents found out their insurance was going to be cancelled because of ObamaCare. This year, Michiganders are now finding out they have the opportunity to keep their insurance, it\u2019s just going to cost them.\u00a0\u00a0\r\n \r\nBelow are examples of the looming increases in counties across Michigan under the \u201cAffordable\u201d Care Act. \r\n \r\n2nd District\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    Allegan +2.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Kent +9.3%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Lake +7.4%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Mason +7.4%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Muskegon +9.3%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Newaygo +7.4% \r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Oceana +9.3%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Ottawa +8.7%\r\n    \r\n \r\n \r\nStatewide\u00a0\r\n \r\n \r\n    \r\n    Alpena +10.7%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Branch +12.3%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Clinton +10.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Eaton +10.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Genesee +8.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Ingham +10.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Jackson + 12.9%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Livingston +9.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Kalamazoo +9.7%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Macomb +15.3%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Oakland +15.3%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    St Clair +10.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Washtenaw +9.5%\r\n    \r\n    \r\n    Wayne +15.2%\r\n    \r\n \r\n \r\nNOTE: These numbers come from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and can be found on the New York Times\u2019 website HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398377", "Thank our veterans and troops this season with Holiday Mail for Heroes", "2014-11-17", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Help share the spirit of the season with our veterans, members of the military, and their families!\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Southwest Michigan is invited to share the spirit of the season with our veterans, members of the military, and their families by participating in the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes program. Now in its eighth consecutive year, the program allows Americans to express their warm greetings of thanks and holiday cheer with members of our Armed Forces. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, is encouraging area residents, schools, and community organizations to get involved in the nationwide program by sending personalized greeting cards of appreciation. \u201cA holiday greeting card is a simple but meaningful way to let our brave service members, veterans, and their families know how much we care,\u201d said Upton. \u201cThe holidays are an especially important time to let these men and women know that we are grateful for their service and appreciate the daily sacrifices that they and their loved ones make for all of us.\u201d Beginning this year, the Holiday Mail for Heroes program takes on a different look as individual Red Cross chapters take complete control of the program, meaning there will no longer be a national P.O. Box to which cards are sent. Local Red Cross offices are collecting, sorting, and distributing the holiday greeting cards.  Upton invites constituents to drop off their Holiday Mail for Heroes greeting cards at either of his constituent service offices, in Kalamazoo or St. Joseph/Benton Harbor. Upton\u2019s offices will be accepting cards until Wednesday, December 3. Kalamazoo District Office  \r\n157 South Kalamazoo Mall, Suite 180  \r\nKalamazoo, MI 49007  \r\n269-385-0039 St Joseph/Benton Harbor District Office  \r\n720 Main Street  \r\nSt. Joseph, MI 49085  \r\n269-982-1986 The American Red Cross has kindly asked senders to keep in mind a few guidelines: DO: * Include a heartfelt message and signature  \r\n* Use generic salutations such as \u201cDear Service Member, Veteran, or Military Family Member\u201d DO NOT: * Include personal contact information such as home or email addresses  \r\n* Include inserts of any kind; these items will be removed during the reviewing process\r\n* Send letters, packages, or gifts; only cards are accepted\r\n* Use cards that contain glitter, which can aggravate existing health issues Holiday Mail for Heroes participants can help spread the word through social media by using the hashtag: #holidaymail. For more information on the program, please visit: http://www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/holiday-mail-for-heroes.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398375", "House passes bipartisan legislation to approve job-creating Keystone XL energy project", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today marks the ninth time the House has voted to advance construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, which has been tied up in red tape now for over six years. \r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      The U.S. House of Representatives today approved bipartisan legislation \u2013 H.R. 5682 \u2013 to approve the application for the Keystone XL pipeline. The landmark energy project is estimated to support tens of thousands of U.S. jobs and provide for the delivery of affordable North American energy supplies. But despite the untold economic benefits and the environmental \u201cgreen light\u201d from the U.S. Department of State, the project has remained tied up in red tape for more than six years. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, praised today\u2019s bipartisan vote of 252 to 161. A vote on the legislation is expected in the U.S. Senate next week. \u201cPresident Obama famously proclaimed in January 2013 that he would do \u2018whatever it takes\u2019 to create jobs and 2014 was renamed the President's so-called \u2018Year of Action.\u2019 But when the chips are down, President Obama is incapable of saying \u2018yes\u2019 to a project that would create thousands of American jobs and advance our energy security. But despite the President\u2019s excuses, we haven\u2019t given up on finding a bipartisan solution,\u201d said Upton. \u201cHopefully, this ninth vote is the charm, and the Senate and President will finally agree that after six years, it\u2019s time to say yes to energy and yes to jobs.\u201d The Keystone XL project has been exhaustively studied with more than 22,000 pages of federal environmental review. It is also expected to be one of the safest pipelines ever built, adhering to the new pipeline safety standards that were advanced by Upton and Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich., and signed into law by the President in January 2012.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141114185518/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398492", "Walberg Votes to Move Forward with Keystone XL Pipeline", "2014-11-14", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Walberg Votes to Move Forward with Keystone XL Pipeline \n   \n    \n       \n      \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e\n      \n      \n    \n    \n      \n        Washington,\n        Nov 14\n      \n       \n    \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n      \n      \n      Washington, D.C. \u2013 Today, Rep. Walberg voted for H.R. 5682 to provide immediate authority for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, an energy infrastructure project that has been delayed for over six years. H.R. 5682 passed on a strong bipartisan vote of 252-161.\n\u201cBipartisan support for the pipeline continues to grow while the Obama Administration and the Senate have blocked every effort over the last six years to pass this important energy infrastructure and boost our economy. \u00a0The Senate and President are out of excuses \u2013 let\u2019s approve the Keystone pipeline and begin construction on this project that will create jobs and lower energy costs,\u201d said Rep. Walberg following the vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398373", "Upton honors U-M med school dean as leader in public health", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"The discoveries being made in the life sciences astound and amaze, opening up opportunities for therapies, treatments, and care never before possible. Thanks to the leadership of individuals like Dr. Woolliscroft, the United States will continue to lead the world in providing the highest level of patient care and medical training.\" - Rep. Upton\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today recognized Dr. James O. Woolliscroft as a national leader in the field of public health. Since 2007, Dr. Woolliscroft has served as dean of the University of Michigan Medical School and was recognized this weekend by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) with its highest honor: the Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education.Dr. Woolliscroft has taken an active interest in Upton\u2019s bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative, which is focused on accelerating the discovery, development, and delivery of lifesaving treatments for patients in the United States. Dr. Woolliscroft participated in Upton\u2019s first Cures roundtable on May 6, 2014, along with leaders from the National Institutes of Health and the Food and Drug Administration. In October, Dr. Woolliscroft welcomed Upton to campus for a tour of the University of Michigan Health System laboratories to see firsthand the incredible scientific discoveries being made by Michigan researchers today. Learn more about 21st Century Cures here Read Dr. Woolliscroft\u2019s October 31 viewpoint in the Kalamazoo Gazette here The full text of Upton\u2019s remarks in the Congressional Record follow: Mr. Speaker, earlier this year, I joined my Energy and Commerce Committee colleague Diana DeGette of Colorado in launching a bipartisan initiative called 21st Century Cures, which is taking the first-ever comprehensive look at the cures process here in the United States \u2013 from discovery to development to delivery. Our goal is to help bring lifesaving treatments, devices, and therapies to patients faster and ensure our nation\u2019s laboratories and manufacturers remain global leaders in medical innovation. Our initiative has fostered a nationwide dialogue, bringing together the brightest minds in the field of public health. One of Michigan\u2019s health leaders has been a part of that conversation from the very beginning, taking part in our first Cures roundtable on May 6: Dr. James O. Woolliscroft, MD, dean of the University of Michigan Medical School. I recently had the opportunity to speak with some of the nation\u2019s top health researchers about the cutting-edge work being done in their laboratories at the University of Michigan. The scientific discoveries being made there are truly incredible and will ultimately help save untold American lives. The work being done within the University of Michigan Health System and at the U-M Medical School in particular is in no small part thanks to the visionary leadership of Dr. Woolliscroft. Dr. Woolliscroft was recently recognized by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) with its highest honor: the Abraham Flexner Award for Distinguished Service to Medical Education. Dr. Woolliscroft has been a national leader in medical education for more than three decades, since joining the U-M medical faculty in 1980. He has served the school in several capacities until becoming dean in 2007, with a focus on transforming the curriculum to train our next generation of medical leaders. In the words of one of his AAMC nominators, Dr. Woolliscroft \u201chas been consistently ahead of his time and often prophetic about the trends in medical education.\u201d He was among the first to advocate moving the paradigm of medical education from the acquisition of knowledge to performance-based metrics. Likewise, Dr. Woolliscroft was among the first to champion medical student training in community settings. Through his tireless efforts, these have become the new standards in medical education. And like all great teachers, Dr. Woolliscroft not only imparts knowledge, but inspires others through his passion for educating. The discoveries being made in the life sciences astound and amaze, opening up opportunities for therapies, treatments, and care never before possible. Thanks to the leadership of individuals like Dr. Woolliscroft, the United States will continue to lead the world in providing the highest level of patient care and medical training.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-votes-move-forward-keystone-xl-pipeline", "Walberg Votes to Move Forward with Keystone XL Pipeline", "2014-11-13", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Rep. Walberg voted for H.R. 5682 to provide immediate authority for the construction of the Keystone XL pipeline, an energy infrastructure project that has been delayed for over six years. H.R. 5682 passed on a strong bipartisan vote of 252-161.\n\"Bipartisan support for the pipeline continues to grow while the Obama Administration and the Senate have blocked every effort over the last six years to pass this important energy infrastructure and boost our economy. The Senate and President are out of excuses  let's approve the Keystone pipeline and begin construction on this project that will create jobs and lower energy costs,\" said Rep. Walberg following the vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398372", "Upton: Presidents unfair emissions deal with China endangers Michigans recovery, jobs", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in response to President Obama\u2019s announcement that he has struck a deal with Chinese President Xi Jinping to reduce carbon emissions. \u201cAmerica\u2019s pain is truly China\u2019s gain. If the President has his way, communities in Michigan and across the country will continue to be at a disadvantage for many years to come. The Chinese are promising to double their emissions while the administration is skirting Congress to impose drastic new regulations inhibiting our own growth and competitiveness. Michigan is at long last on the right track with a resurgence in manufacturing job creation, rising home values, and affordable energy prices. Our families and employers have come too far to turn back the clock on our recovery. Our top priority must be jobs and the economy \u2013 plain and simple.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141112185727/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398491", "The Washington Post: VA restructuring plan draws virtually no outside enthusiasm", "2014-11-12", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "The Department of Veterans Affairs on Monday unveiled\u00a0a\u00a0restructuring plan\u00a0to regain the public\u2019s trust and ensure smoother operations after\u00a0the agency\u2019s recent scheduling scandal, but veterans groups and\u00a0key members of Congress have expressed little enthusiasm for the proposals.\nThe American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars have said nothing\u00a0about\u00a0the plans, which is unusual for a major initiative. Meanwhile, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America expressed cautious optimism, mixed with a dash of criticism.\n\u201cAfter years of failure, missed deadlines and disappointment at VA, our veterans will only celebrate when we see results,\u201d IAVA chief executive Paul Rieckhoff said Monday. \u201cWe\u2019re all rooting for Secretary McDonald and the VA, but IAVA members won\u2019t be satisfied until the mission is accomplished and we see a measurable difference in local communities nationwide.\u201d\n Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald speaks about his efforts to improve services during a news conference at the National Press Club on Nov. 7. (Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP)\nSenate Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) didn\u2019t address any specifics of the VA plan in a statement about the initiative Monday. Instead, he applauded\u00a0the department\u2019s recent efforts to hire more health professionals who can help deal with increasing\u00a0demand.\n\u201cThat\u2019s the senator\u2019s major focus and the subject of his meetings with [VA Secretary Robert McDonald] on VA reform,\u201d said Jeff Frank, a Sanders spokesman.\nHouse Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Jeff Miller (R-Fla.), one of the department\u2019s\u00a0staunchest critics, suggested in a statement Monday that nothing will\u00a0appease him like seeing quick firings of\u00a0employees\u00a0who were responsible for the scheduling scandal, which involved widespread falsification of appointment data to cover up treatment delays.\n\u201cNew plans, initiatives and organizational structures are all well and good, but they will not produce their intended results until VA rids itself of the employees who have shaken veterans\u2019 trust in the system,\u201d Miller said. \u201cSo far, VA hasn\u2019t done that \u2014\u00a0as evidenced by the fact that the majority of those who caused the VA scandal are still on the department payroll.\u201d\nLast month, the\u00a0department implemented\u00a0its first official firing\u00a0under new rules that Congress and President Obama approved this summer\u00a0for removing\u00a0senior executives over\u00a0wrongdoing\u00a0and performance\u00a0issues.\nAll told, the agency has proposed terminations for four senior executives, and McDonald, who took office in the wake of the scheduling scandal, has said that he has proposed disciplinary action for about 40 employees, with the\u00a0possibility of 1,000 more to come.\nBut many Republicans, especially Miller, have accused the VA chief of moving too slowly. In particular, the chairman takes issue with the department giving employees five days\u2019 notice before initiating the firing process to give them time to answer the charges against them.\nMiller has also complained that VA executives have a chance to retire\u00a0or\u00a0accept other federal jobs\u00a0before the agency has a chance to finalize their removals.\nMcDonald\u00a0has argued\u00a0that he is holding\u00a0employees accountable as fast as he can while allowing for due process. He said during\u00a0a media breakfast last week\u00a0that he can\u2019t just \u201cwalk into a room and simply fire people,\u201d even with the new law in place for removing bad actors.\nThe legislation that was approved this summer shortened the appeal process for senior executives who are proposed for removal, but it does not allow the VA to oust employees\u00a0without a chance to respond.\n\u201cNo one doubts that reforming VA is a tough job,\u201d Miller said. \u201cBut getting rid of failed executives should be the easiest part \u2014\u00a0not the most difficult.\u201d\nTo read the original article at the Washington Post, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-statement-president-s-support-regulating-internet", "Walberg Statement on Presidents Support for Regulating the Internet", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, DC Rep. Tim Walberg issued the following statement in response to President Obama's announcement of his support for regulating the Internet as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act:\n\"The President's recently announced support for regulating the Internet as a utility is bad for consumers, entrepreneurs, and the future of our economy. The Internet has served as an engine for economic growth precisely because of its freedom from undue government regulation and interference. The FCC is an independent body and should resist this political pressure from the White House to regulate the internet in a way which will increase online censorship, kill jobs and limit future innovations.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141111190116/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398489", "Walberg Statement on Presidents Support for Regulating the Internet", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Walberg Statement on President\u2019s Support for Regulating the Internet \n   \n    \n       \n      \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e\n      \n      \n    \n    \n      \n        Washington,\n        Nov 11\n      \n       \n    \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n      \n      \n      WASHINGTON, DC\u00a0\u2013 Rep. Tim Walberg issued the following statement in response to President Obama\u2019s announcement of his support for regulating the Internet as a utility under Title II of the Communications Act:\n\"The President's recently announced support for regulating the Internet as a utility is bad for consumers, entrepreneurs, and the future of our economy.\u00a0 The Internet has served as an engine for economic growth precisely because of its freedom from undue government regulation and interference. The FCC is an independent body and should resist this political pressure from the White House to regulate the internet in a way which will increase online censorship, kill jobs and limit future innovations.\"\u00a0 \n\u00a0\n    \n  \n  \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141111190150/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398490", "Jackson Cit Pat: Take time to reflect on the many sacrifices our nation's veterans have made for our country", "2014-11-11", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "As we take time this week to pay tribute to our military men and women who have returned home from the battlefield, I hope you will make the day more personal by reflecting on individuals in our community \u2013 whether a relative, neighbor or friend \u2013 who volunteered to put on a uniform and serve in defense of our great nation.\nI've been personally inspired by the story of Samuel MacDonald Worthington, a 1934 graduate of Jackson High School who left his position as a draftsman and tool designer to enlist in the Navy.\u00a0\nAlthough older than most in training, he was determined to excel as a pilot, and served in World War II as a flight instructor and a patrol plane commander. When his overseas tour ended, Lt. (jg) Worthington re-enlisted to ensure that all of his crew members returned home safely.\u00a0\nDuring his second deployment, Worthington's plane came upon the wreckage of the U.S.S. Indianapolis (CA-35), in the Pacific Ocean \u2013 one of the worst at sea naval disasters in history.\nJust after\u00a0midnight on July 30, 1945, the U.S.S. Indianapolis with almost 1,200 crew members on board, was hit by two torpedoes from a Japanese submarine.\nThe ship was split into three parts, and it sank within 12 minutes. Three-quarters of the crew died in the attack, making it the largest loss of life at sea in the Navy's history.\nWhile on patrol from Saipan to Jinamoc, Worthington and his crew noticed a flash and a large oil slick.\nThey saw the survivors of the tragedy, with sharks around the perimeter, and the crew began dropping all survival gear \u2013 including their own life jackets and rafts - but their request for permission to land and pick up survivors was denied.\nWorthington's daughter Dee-Dee says, \"My precious father has passed to his heavenly home, but I still have contact with the radioman. My mother and I were honored to represent my father at the opening of an exhibit at the National Military History Center in Auburn, Indiana.\nThe exhibit included a U.S.S. Indianapolis display with a picture of my dad/crew and an informative write-up.\u00a0We also were humbled to meet some of the survivors.\"\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\nOn Veterans Day, we will pause to reflect on the many sacrifices our nation's uniformed men and women have made for our country.\nHere in the House of Representatives, I've worked to honor those sacrifices by supporting a number of veterans' bills, including legislation to address the disability claim backlog at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), improve vocational and educational opportunities, and to help vulnerable disabled veterans maintain housing.\nIn May, I introduced bipartisan legislation to ensure living Medal of Honor recipients receive timely access to their health benefits.\nWe have a duty to make sure these heroes have access to the VA when they need it, and the Medal of Honor Priority Care Act will ensure that this select group of individuals is guaranteed high-quality care.\nI've also spearheaded efforts to assist service members as they end their military service and transition back into civilian life.\nThe\u00a0Service Members Transition Improvement Act is a bipartisan bill I've introduced to strengthen the connection between separating soldiers and veteran service organizations by providing a more accessible and up-to-date copy of their information to state veterans agencies.\u00a0\nThe legislation was later included as an amendment in the National Defense Authorization Act which passed in the House of Representatives earlier this year.\nFor those heroes who are no longer with us, such as Lt. Samuel Worthington, we will forever be grateful for their heroic military service and defense of our nation's freedoms.\nFor those who are still living in our community, we will continue to demonstrate our gratitude and work to provide the benefits and care they have earned and deserved.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398370", "Upton responds to latest air bag recall reports", "2014-11-07", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today responded to new reports regarding the recalls of vehicles equipped with faulty Takata air bag inflators. The New York Times today reported that Takata may have been aware of the dangerous defect as early as 2004 but failed to alert safety regulators. Upton\u2019s committee began a review of the Takata air bag issue even before these latest revelations, and has already received bipartisan staff briefings from NHTSA and manufacturers on the status of the air bag recalls; the panel\u2019s oversight of the issue is ongoing.\u201cOur first and most urgent priority is ensuring that drivers and their families are safe on the road. As the recalls continue and the faulty airbags are replaced, we also need answers about when the danger was discovered and whether it was concealed from regulators, or not adequately understood once the regulators became aware. A consistent focus for the committee has been information sharing \u2013 making sure that as soon as a danger is identified, the regulators are notified and a plan is put into place to address it. Auto safety will continue to be a priority for this committee for the rest of this Congress and well into next year,\u201d said Upton. The Energy and Commerce Committee has been actively engaged on auto safety issues this year. Upton\u2019s committee conducted an extensive investigation into the General Motors ignition switch recall, and recently released a report detailing NHTSA\u2019s failures in identifying the deadly problem. Following this report, Upton and other committee leaders have requested a Government Accountability Office review of NHTSA\u2019s structure and effectiveness, including the agency\u2019s information sharing capabilities.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398371", "THE RIPON ADVANCE: Upton outlines priorities for 114th Congress", "2014-11-06", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "By Aaron MartinRep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) recently outlined the House Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s priorities for the 114th Congress on Wednesday and reflected on the committee\u2019s bipartisan success in the 113th Congress.  \u201cAt the Energy and Commerce Committee, we have had a proven record of bipartisan success and that will only continue to grow in the coming years,\u201d Upton, the chairman of the committee, said. \u201cEarlier this year, my Democratic colleague Diana DeGette joined me in launching the 21st Century Cures initiative with the goal of accelerating the pace of new cures and treatments. We have heard from patients, researchers, care givers and innovators for the past several months about the tremendous opportunities we have in the United States to find treatments for the thousands of diseases without them and close the gap between the science of cures and how we regulate them.\u201d\u00a0 Upton said the committee would continue to advance the 21st Century Cures initiative in hopes of bringing hope to patients across the country.\u00a0 \u201cThis is also our chance to govern on energy and environmental policy,\u201d Upton said. \u201cWe achieved great bipartisan success in the House this Congress advancing commonsense solutions that seek to harness the benefits of the American energy boom and empower states. We unveiled a broad new energy vision called the Architecture of Abundance, which includes plans to build a modern new energy infrastructure and increase energy efficiency. We want to build off our past successes and work together to see these policies enacted.\u201d\u00a0 Upton also noted that the committee\u2019s work to update the nation\u2019s communications laws to meet the demands of the 21st century.\u00a0 \u201cOver the next several months, we will take what we have learned from our hearings and white papers to update the law to boost job creation and economic growth in the innovation era,\u201d Upton said. \u201cLikewise, we have made progress on key issues to consumers, workers and job creators, exploring issues that range from data protection to privacy to manufacturing. We will continue to advance these priorities in the coming year.\u201d\u00a0 Creating jobs and growing the economy will also remain focal points of the committee going forward, Upton said. Read the full article online here View the committee\u2019s bipartisan #RecordOfSuccess in the 113th Congress here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398368", "Upton statement on committee priorities for the 114th Congress", "2014-11-05", "2014", "2014-11", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement regarding the committee\u2019s priorities for the 114th Congress. Upton recently unveiled the #RecordOfSuccess webpage chronicling the committee\u2019s bipartisan achievements in the 113th Congress. \u201cAt the Energy and Commerce Committee we have had a proven record of bipartisan success and that will only continue to grow in the coming years. Earlier this year my Democratic colleague Diana DeGette joined me in launching the 21st Century Cures initiative with the goal of accelerating the pace of new cures and treatments. We have heard from patients, researchers, care givers, and innovators for the past several months about the tremendous opportunities we have in the United States to find treatments for the thousands of diseases without them and close the gap between the science of cures and how we regulate them. In the coming weeks we will continue to advance this initiative and work with our colleagues in Congress and the administration to deliver hope to patients and loved ones all across the country.\u00a0 \u201cThis is also our chance to govern on energy and environmental policy. We achieved great bipartisan success in the House this Congress advancing commonsense solutions that seek to harness the benefits of the American energy boom and empower states. We unveiled a broad new energy vision called the Architecture of Abundance, which includes plans to build a modern new energy infrastructure and increase energy efficiency. We want to build off our past successes and work together to see these policies enacted.\u00a0 \u201cWe have also spent the past year gathering input and information to inform our work to bring the nation\u2019s communications laws into the 21st Century. Over the next several months, we will take what we have learned from our hearings and white papers to update the law to boost job creation and economic growth in the innovation era. Likewise, we have made progress on key issues to consumers, workers, and job creators, exploring issues that range from data protection to privacy to manufacturing. We will continue to advance these priorities in the coming year. \u201cHelping to create jobs and grow the economy have always been our focus, and will continue to be the top priority for the committee. We will work to ensure that all sectors of the economy, including health care, telecommunications, manufacturing, and energy, can tackle today\u2019s challenges and take advantage of the opportunities of the future. And we will continue our careful oversight to hold government accountable to the people. I remain very optimistic and encouraged by the success that we have had over the past two years and look forward to seeing our #RecordOfSuccess grow.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398367", "Reps. Upton, Diaz-Balart join in Kalamazoo to call for bipartisan immigration reform", "2014-10-31", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The current U.S. immigration system is broken and failing millions, said U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who yesterday brought together local leaders for an immigration roundtable discussion at Southwest Michigan First in downtown Kalamazoo. Joining Upton was U.S. Representative Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., who is the cofounder and chair of the Congressional Hispanic Conference in the U.S. House of Representatives. Over the past two years, Upton and Diaz-Balart have been leading a bipartisan effort in the House to get immigration reform legislation enacted. \u201cFrom the start, Congressman Upton has understood the problems that our immigration system faces, and we have been working together to find an answer that will bolster our economy, respect the rule of law, and protect our nation,\u201d said Rep. Diaz-Balart. \u201cI'm grateful for friends like Congressman Upton who see these problems and have committed themselves to being part of the solution. I look forward to joining him and our House colleagues in the 114th Congress to continue working towards a better tomorrow for our country.\" The roundtable gave Upton and Diaz-Balart the opportunity to share their ongoing efforts with Southwest Michigan community leaders and to encourage a constructive local dialogue on the issue. Participants included representatives from major area employers, higher education, farmers, and community advocates. \u201cImmigration reform is a critical issue for our country. In Southwest Michigan it really affects three areas: hospitality, university education and agriculture. It's really a matter of national security,\u201d said Ron Kitchens, chief executive officer of local economic development organization Southwest Michigan First. \u201cI'm glad we had the opportunity to speak to Congressman Upton, who is a huge supporter of immigration reform. And I am extremely happy he was able to bring one of the top leaders in the House on this issue, Congressman Diaz-Balart, to talk to Kalamazoo leaders.\u201d\r\nFollowing the roundtable, Upton invited Diaz-Balart to join him for the Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) celebration at St. Joseph Catholic Church hosted by the Hispanic American Council of Kalamazoo. While there, the two met with community members and reiterated their firm commitment to see reform enacted, action that both agree is years overdue. \u201cIt as a very emotional moment for me when my Congressman, Fred Upton, told leaders throughout the private sector stakeholders that we all need to work together to make immigration reform a reality,\u201d said Lori Mercedes, Executive Director of the Hispanic American Council, who also took part in the immigration roundtable earlier in the day. \u201cAnd then to have another Congressman, Mario Diaz-Balart, come and speak to our Hispanic community and tell us that yes, this is a very important issue for Congress to pass. And that they will. It was a tremendous opportunity.\u201d Upton and his staff have continued to regularly meet with a broad range of Michigan stakeholders that each bring a unique perspective to the immigration discussion: farmers, business leaders, higher education, families, faith and community groups, and law enforcement. \u201cThis is an issue that has an impact on every community in our country. To further delay reform is to perpetuate the problems of a broken system that hurts millions of families and costs our economy dearly. That is simply unbefitting our great nation,\u201d said Upton. \u201cAs we heard today, this is an issue that cannot afford to sit on the back burner any longer. I look forward to continuing my efforts with Mario to get the job done, working with Democrats and Republicans to craft legislation that the President can sign into law. The costs of inaction are simply too great.\u201d\u00a0  This August, Upton and Diaz-Balart were two of only 11 Republican House Members to vote against a measure that sought to stop the Deferred Action for Child Arrivals (DACA) program that provides protections for those who illegally arrived in the United States as children.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398107", "Huizenga: The Restoration of White Lake Is Great News For Muskegon County", "2014-10-30", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) released the following statement after the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it has officially delisted White Lake from the binational list of toxic hotspots:\r\n \r\n\"Today is a great day for Muskegon County.\u00a0 Having White Lake removed as an 'area of concern' is a positive development for the communities surrounding White Lake, throughout Michigan, and across the entire Great Lakes region. White Lake's delisting and recovery is very personal to me. I have been involved in the process both as a staff member of former Congressman Peter Hoekstra as well as an elected official since 1997. \r\n \r\n\"The White Lake community has worked diligently to restore their lake to its true potential and provided the rest of the Great Lakes region with a clean up approach to emulate. \u00a0Restoration of White Lake will enhance recreational activities, expand economic opportunity, and contribute to building a stronger Whitehall, a stronger Montague, and a stronger Muskegon County.\"", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141029185555/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398486", "Thomson Reuters | IRS clarifies its position on civil forfeitures in uncharged structuring cases", "2014-10-29", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Following a slew of recent negative press involving IRS\u2019s use of civil forfeiture laws, IRS\u2019s Chief of Criminal Investigation (CI) has issued a statement stating that the agency would no longer pursue the seizure and forfeiture of funds associated solely with legal source \u201cstructuring\u201d cases unless there are exceptional circumstances that warrant such seizures or forfeitures. This article provides background on the banking laws implicated in these cases and on the Justice Department\u2019s asset forfeiture program, the facts of a recent high-profile case that brought this issue into the public eye, and proposed legislation to combat perceived civil forfeiture abuses.\nBackground.\u00a0Under the Bank Secrecy Act (BSA), financial institutions generally must report each deposit, withdrawal, exchange of currency or other payment or transfer which involves a transaction in currency of more than $10,000. Multiple currency transactions must be treated as a single transaction if the financial institution has knowledge that the transactions are by or on behalf of any one person and result in either cash in or cash out totalling more than $10,000 during any one business day. (31 CFR \u00a7103.22)\nA taxpayer may not \u201cstructure,\u201d or assist in structuring, his deposits (e.g., by keeping a series of deposits under the $10,000 threshold) in order to avoid BSA requirements. (31 USC 5324(a)(3)) A fine of not more than $250,000, or imprisonment for not more than five years, or both, may be imposed on a person who willfully violates this anti-structuring provision. (31 USC 5322(a))\nAccording to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) website, the DOJ\u2019s Asset Forfeiture Program \u201cencompasses the seizure and forfeiture of assets that represent the proceeds of, or were used to facilitate federal crimes. The primary mission of the Program is to employ asset forfeiture powers in a manner that enhances public safety and security. This is accomplished by removing the proceeds of crime and other assets relied upon by criminals and their associates to perpetuate their criminal activity against our society. Asset forfeiture has the power to disrupt or dismantle criminal organizations that would continue to function if we only convicted and incarcerated specific individuals.\u201d\nRecent scandal.\u00a0A recent\u00a0New York Times\u00a0article (\u201cLaw Lets I.R.S. Seize Accounts on Suspicion, No Crime Required\u201d (Oct. 25, 2014), by Shaila Dewan) profiled Carole Hinder, a restaurant owner who, for 38 years, deposited the earnings from her cash-only establishment at a local bank. According to the article, last year, without charging Hinder with any crime, IRS seized her checking account because of the less-than-$10,000 pattern in deposits\u2014which, by itself, was apparently a sufficient basis to obtain a seizure warrant despite the facts that valid business reasons may exist for keeping deposit levels under $10,000 and that doing so isn\u2019t illegal absent an intent to evade the BSA reporting requirements. (The article indicates that IRS is one of several agencies that investigates cases then refers them to the DOJ.)\nAccording to a press release by the Institute for Justice (IJ), Hinder and the IJ are bringing a lawsuit challenging the forfeiture. (\u00a0http://www.ij.org/iowa-forfeiture-release-10-27-2014\u00a0) Larry Salzman, an IJ attorney, called civil forfeiture \u201cone of the most serious assaults on property rights in America today.\u201d The IJ says that unlike criminal forfeiture (which generally follows a criminal conviction), with civil forfeiture, a property owner can have his or her property permanently taken without ever being convicted of or even charged with a crime. The IJ also alleges that IRS made 639 seizures in 2012, up from 114 in 2005\u2014a more-than-550% increase.\nRIA observation:Weekly Alert\u00a0readers might remember the Institute for Justice from their representation of the plaintiffs in the\u00a0Loving\u00a0case (Loving, et al, v. IRS, et al, 113 AFTR 2d 2014-867113 AFTR 2d 2014-867), which successfully challenged IRS\u2019s authority to regulate tax return preparers who prepare and file tax returns for compensation.\nIRS\u2019s response.\u00a0Richard Weber, chief of IRS-CI, provided the following statement to the\u00a0New York Times:\u00a0\u201cAfter a thorough review of our structuring cases over the last year and in order to provide consistency\u2026 I.R.S.-C.I. will no longer pursue the seizure and forfeiture of funds associated solely with \u201clegal source\u201d structuring cases unless there are exceptional circumstances justifying the seizure and forfeiture and the case has been approved at the director of field operations (D.F.O.) level. While the act of structuring \u2014 whether the funds are from a legal or illegal source \u2014 is against the law, I.R.S.-C.I. special agents will use this act as an indicator that further illegal activity may be occurring.\u201d\nPolitical response.\u00a0Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Ranking Member of the Judiciary Committee and senior member of the Finance Committee, commented in response that \u201c[t]he IRS plays a role in fighting money laundering and other criminal activity, but it has to treat business owners fairly. If the pendulum has swung too far in favor of the government and against fairness for innocent people, then it\u2019s time to reform civil asset forfeiture laws and procedures.\u201d\nLegislative proposals.\u00a0There have been a number of recent bills introduced regarding civil asset forfeiture (which has become an increasingly prevalent issue over the past few years, with alleged abuses occurring at the state and local levels in addition to misuse by federal agencies) prior to this latest scandal. S.2644, the \u201cFifth Amendment Integrity Restoration (FAIR) Act of 2014,\u201d was introduced by Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) back in July. The bill would make the federal government\u2019s standard of proof in civil forfeiture proceedings be \u201cclear and convincing evidence\u201d and would require the government, in addition to showing a substantial connection between the seized property and the offense in a forfeiture proceeding, to establish by clear and convincing evidence that the owner of any interest in the seized property intentionally used the property (or knowingly consented or was willfully blind to the use of the property by another) in connection with the offense.\nH.R. 5212, the \u201cCivil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2014,\u201d was also introduced in July by Rep. Tim Walberg (R-MI). The bill would similarly make the government\u2019s standard of proof be \u201cclear and convincing evidence,\u201d require the government to notify all owners of forfeited property of the possibility of using a public defender to argue their case, and expand the criteria to consider when weighing the proportionality of the amount of the forfeiture against the connected crime. To read the original article at Reuters, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398365", "Upton wins 2014 Community Health Champion Award", "2014-10-28", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "While recently visiting the Family Health Center\u2019s main office in Kalamazoo, Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, was presented an award from the National Association of Community Health Centers Inc.Denise Crawford, president and chief executive officer of the center, along with Dr. Allan Wilke, director of the Family Medicine Residency program of Western Michigan University\u2019s School of Medicine, presented Upton with the 2014 Distinguished Community Health Champion Award \u201cIn grateful appreciation for your dedication and commitment during the First Session of the 113th Congress to strengthening and expanding access to vital primary health care services for America\u2019s uninsured and medically underserved.\u201d The award is but a small token for how Fred has supported the Family Health Center\u2019s mission, Crawford said. \u201cWe\u2019re glad we have Congressman Fred Upton representing our area,\u201d Crawford said. \"Fred has been here many times and is a friend of the health center. He really cares about our mission of providing a range of medical, dental and mental health services for our community members who otherwise couldn\u2019t afford it.\u201d Wilke, whose medical students will get vital, supervised hands-on training in the health center, said he is thankful that Upton supported Western\u2019s medical school as well as the needs of the most vulnerable in Southwest Michigan. \"It\u2019s obvious that Fred cares about the people who work here and the people who come here for care,\u201d Wilke said. \u00a0\"I appreciate his support of the development of the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine and of our Family Medicine residency program at the Family Health Center.\u201d Upton said he was humbled by the award. \u201cPeople need to get medical treatments, dental screenings and other check-ups to make sure a small problem doesn\u2019t turn into a big one,\u201d Upton said.\u00a0\u201cPlaces like the Family Health Centers help the community in myriad ways.\u00a0 \u201cThese care givers are the angels among us and I applaud the work done here by staff, medical school students, doctors, volunteers and everyone else.\u201d The Family Health Center has seven locations throughout Kalamazoo and Portage to help low-income and homeless patients. It provides a range of services such as dental, family practice pediatrics, medical social work and emergency prescription assistance.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141028230712/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398485", "Hillsdale: Walberg introduces legislation to reform civil asset forfeiture laws", "2014-10-28", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "HILLSDALE \u2014 Civil asset forfeiture is a practice by which the government can seize and sell a person\u2019s property without the individual ever being charged with a crime. If a person\u2019s property is suspected of being used for criminal activity, then it is subject to seizure; this\u00a0includes cash, vehicles and even homes.\nOn July 28, Rep. Tim Walberg introduced H.R. 5212 \u2013\u00a0the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act \u2013 which, according to a release, seeks to restore personal property rights under the Fifth Amendment and ensure due process of law by reforming long-standing civil forfeiture policy.\nIn the release, it\u2019s reported current law allows\u00a0agencies like the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and the\u00a0Department of Justice (DOJ)\u00a0to take property suspected to be connected with a\u00a0crime without charging, let alone convicting, the property owner of a crime.\nThe Federal Asset Forfeiture Fund collected more than $2 billion in 2013 from civil and criminal forfeitures policy.\nCases of civil asset forfeiture have occurred in Michigan.\u00a0Longtime grocer Terry Dehko, of Fraser,\u00a0had his bank accounts seized by IRS because they suspected him of being a money launderer. The charges were never filed, but Dehko had to prove his money was not used in a criminal enterprise.\nIn cases throughout the country there have been instances of law enforcement agencies seizing property and using the money for extravagant purchases.\u00a0Some police agencies have been found to\u00a0have spent\u00a0the money on outlandish items like margarita machines or vacation trips for friends of the force.\nWith more and more instances being reported on throughout the country, there has been increased\u00a0pressure on lawmakers to make a change. This has ultimately led to the pending legislation.\nIn 2012 local police agencies in Hillsdale County reported zero asset forfeiture funds. However, according to the state of Michigan, the Hillsdale County Sheriff and Hillsdale County Prosecutors reported $7,866 in forfeiture funds \u2013 that number is up $4,192 from 2011 when $3,674 was reported.\nFor comparison, Branch County reported $3,960 in 2012. That number is up $3,152 from $808 in 2011. Similarly, Lenawee county reported $3,100 in 2012 \u2013 that reporting increased $2,097 from $1,003 in 2011.\nHillsdale\u2019s northern neighbor, Jackson County, comes in much higher with $20,833 reported in 2012. That number is down $31,041 from the $51,874 reported in 2011.\n\u201cIn a country founded on principles of due process and property rights, we should not be promoting a system where an individual\u2019s property may be seized without a finding of guilt,\u201d Walberg said in his press release. \u201cReform to our civil asset forfeiture laws is necessary to ensure the federal government can no longer profit from the unjust seizure of property.\u201d\nAccording to Walberg\u2019s office in Washington D.C, the proposed legislation was introduced in direct response to several recent stories involving innocent property owners having their property seized by federal officials.\n\u00a0\u201cThis legislation provides commonsense reforms to restore the balance of power away from the government and back to protecting individual rights and due process,\" Walberg said. \"We cannot abide a system where citizens fear that law enforcement can seize, forfeit and profit from their property.\"\nWalberg was in Hillsdale last week and said the bill is gaining bipartisan support; he\u00a0said there may be enough support\u00a0by next term to get it passed. Walberg said that when a piece of legislation has both liberal and conservative media outlets supporting it, it has a very good chance of becoming law.\nOn July 27 the bill was referred to the house judiciary committee, and then on Sept. 25 the legislation was referred to the congressional subcommittee on crime, terrorism, homeland security and investigations.\nTo read the original article at the Daily News, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141026184745/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398484", "Washintgon Post: Congress expresses doubt about U.S. Ebola precautions", "2014-10-24", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Lawmakers voiced skepticism on Friday about Obama administration assurances that government measures are likely to succeed in protecting the United States, and U.S. soldiers overseas, from further spread of the Ebola virus.\nRep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), who chairs the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, characterized the administration\u2019s response to the disease so far as \u201cbumbling.\u201d\n\u201cI think we all know that the system is not yet refined to where we could say it is working properly,\u201d he said during a hearing on government management of the disease.\nIssa and other members of Congress questioned measures the administration had taken to prepare for a possible pandemic before Ebola appeared in U.S. hospitals, and their recommendations to\u00a0health-care workers\u00a0and the public since then.\nThe hearing came the morning after\u00a0a New York doctor\u00a0who recently returned from West Africa was confirmed to have Ebola. He was the fourth person to be diagnosed with the disease in the United States.\nOfficials from the Department of Health and Human Services and the Defense Department detailed plans for preventing the spread of Ebola at home and among U.S. troops being sent to\u00a0the disease\u2019s epicenter\u00a0in West Africa.\nEarlier this year, President Obama ordered up to 4,000 U.S. soldiers be sent to West Africa to train local health workers, build treatment facilities and help coordinate the international response to the disease.\nBut lawmakers pointed out that the government\u2019s own guidelines for quarantine, travel safety and the protection of medical workers appeared to have evolved in the weeks since Ebola was first diagnosed in a U.S. hospital.\n\u201cLately, when a government agency comes before this committee, especially, and tells me, \u2018There\u2019s nothing to worry about. We got this,\u2019 that\u2019s when I start to worry,\u201d said Rep. Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.).\nNicole Laurie, a senior official at the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), said the risk of a significant Ebola outbreak in the United States is \u201cremote.\u201d\n\u201cBased on the first U.S. cases, HHS has already made adjustments to minimize the spread of Ebola,\u201d she said. \u201cThese include tightened guidance for the use of personal protective equipment, an expanded aggressive national education campaign for health-care workers, and screening and active monitoring of passengers entering the United States, now funneled through five airports.\u201d\nShe said it was natural that procedures had changed after the disease appeared in the United States.\nBut Deborah Burger, co-president of National Nurses United, told lawmakers that American health-care workers remained at risk. She said nurses had gotten inconsistent instructions, were often left to make decisions about proper precautions for themselves and at times had been forced to improvise their own protective gear.\nShe said only new, legally required guidelines would ensure medical facilities will provide workers the protection they need.\n\u201cThe response to Ebola from U.S. hospitals and governmental agencies has been dangerously inconsistent and inadequate,\u201d she said.\nJohn Roth, the Department of Homeland Security\u2019s inspector general, told lawmakers that the administration had mishandled a nearly $50\u00a0million program to prepare for pandemics.\nThe Department purchased coveralls and surgical masks, for example, that may have been unneeded, while other gear, such as respirators, had expired, Roth said. Officials are now working to address those problems, he said.\n\u201cI think it\u2019s evident by the hearing today and hearings that will go on that you\u2019re not bringing us a sense of security,\u201d said Tim Walberg (R-Mich.).\nLawmakers also probed officials about plans for protecting troops sent to West Africa.\n\u201cThe safety of our service members\u00a0. . .\u00a0is absolutely paramount, and while you can never mitigate risk to zero, I think we\u2019ve taken all the steps to mitigate the risk,\u201d said Michael Lumpkin, assistant secretary of defense for special operations and low-intensity conflict.\nOfficials acknowledged the U.S. government would currently only be able to bring less than 10\u00a0symptomatic soldiers home per week. The military is working to develop isolation pods that could move up to 15 sick patients by air at a time.\nDefense officials explained some guidelines for keeping soldiers safe in West Africa. For example: asking soldiers to stand three feet from local nationals and washing their hands with chlorine. Soldiers\u2019 temperatures will be taken twice a day.\nTo read the original article at Washington Post, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398364", "Upton, Committee press President Obama for answers on Ebola response efforts", "2014-10-23", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today led a group of 28 Republican committee members in sending a letter to President Obama, Ebola Response Coordinator Ron Klain, Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell, and Secretary of Homeland Security Jeh Johnson seeking further answers on the administration\u2019s response and preparedness efforts to treat those with Ebola, prevent any further spread in the United States, and stop the spread of the virus at its source in West Africa. The members write, \u201cwith a series of questions and recommendations to ensure that the U.S. response to the risks posed by the Ebola outbreak in West Africa is as effective as possible in protecting the public health and safety of the American people. Congress stands ready to serve as a strong and solid partner in solving this crisis.\u201d\u00a0 Upton and fellow committee members requested more information about the administration\u2019s plan to prevent the spread of Ebola in the United States, rationale behind its opposition to travel restrictions, efforts to improve the development of diagnostic testing and screening, and the capacity of the U.S. public health system to identify and treat patients with Ebola. Read the complete letter online here. \u201cEnergy and Commerce Committee members have serious concerns about insufficient planning and preparedness from the administration in response to the ongoing Ebola threat. In an effort to provide some peace of mind to the American people, we continue to ask the administration to outline a clear strategy and work with us to ensure that every step necessary is being taken to protect the public health. With a disease as deadly as Ebola, there is no margin for error,\u201d commented Upton.\u00a0 Energy and Commerce Committee leaders first sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell seeking details on the administration\u2019s preparedness and response efforts on September 12, 2014. The Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee held a hearing last week, which left members with additional questions about the status of a clear and effective strategy to address the threat of Ebola in both the United States and Africa. The letter was signed by: Full Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-MI)  \nOversight and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Tim Murphy (R-PA)  \nFull Committee Chairman Emeritus Joe Barton (R-TX)  \nHealth Subcommittee Chairman Joe Pitts (R-PA)  \nFull Committee Vice Chairman Marsha Blackburn (R-TN)  \nVice Chairman of the Health and Oversight and Investigations Subcommittees Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R-TX)  \nRep. Ed Whitfield (R-KY)  \nRep. John Shimkus (R-IL)  \nRep. Greg Walden (R-OR)  \nRep. Lee Terry (R-NE)  \nRep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)  \nRep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R-GA)  \nRep. Steve Scalise (R-LA)  \nRep. Bob Latta (R-OH)  \nRep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA)  \nRep. Gregg Harper (R-MS)  \nRep. Leonard Lance (R-NJ)  \nRep. Bill Cassidy (R-LA)  \nRep. Brett Guthrie (R-KY)  \nRep. Pete Olson (R-TX)  \nRep. David McKinley (R-WV)  \nRep. Cory Gardner (R-CO)  \nRep. Mike Pompeo (R-KS)  \nRep. Morgan Griffith (R-VA)  \nRep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL)  \nRep. Bill Johnson (R-OH)  \nRep. Billy Long (R-MO)  \nRep. Renee Ellmers (R-NC) Read the complete letter online here", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398363", "Upton Responds to Air Bag Recalls, Warnings", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, today responded to the expanded recall of vehicles equipped with faulty Takata air bag inflators and warnings by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) this week urging drivers to get their cars fixed over concerns that air bag rupture could lead to severe injuries.\r\n\u201cThe auto industry has made vast advancements in safety over the last decades \u2013 something to be commended \u2013 but as new safety features and technologies are developed, we are faced with new challenges. Airbags were designed to improve safety and help save lives, which is why it\u2019s so disconcerting to hear reports of this life-saving tool posing a potential hazard to drivers. Recalls continue to mount across the country, and drivers are losing confidence. The first priority must be to ensure that all cars on the road are safe, and I urge drivers to heed NHTSA\u2019s warnings and act immediately to get their vehicles fixed. We also need to take a close look at this airbag issue and the timeline and scope of the recalls to ensure that the appropriate steps are being taken to protect drivers and their families. I\u2019ve long said that when it comes to vehicle safety, there can be no margin for error,\u201d said Upton.\u00a0\r\nDrivers can visit SaferCar.gov to determine if their vehicle is affected by the airbag recalls. Committee staff has requested a briefing with NHTSA on the status of the Takata air bag recalls and will also be meeting with auto manufacturers to discuss supplier issues.\u00a0\r\nUpton has been a leader on vehicle safety issues and was the author of the TREAD Act, which enhanced communication between auto manufacturers and regulators and increased NHTSA\u2019s ability to collect and analyze information about safety defects. The committee this year has been conducting an extensive investigation into the General Motors ignition switch recall, and recently released a report detailing NHTSA\u2019s failures in identifying the deadly problem. The investigation found NHTSA failed to act on evidence identifying the defect and lacked a technical understanding of advanced vehicle safety systems.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024000304/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398483", "Forbes: Federal Forfeiture Program: What's It Funding?", "2014-10-22", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Cops are increasingly looking and acting more like soldiers. How are they paying for all this militarized equipment? One source of funding is particularly disconcerting for Americans\u2019 constitutional rights: equitable sharing.\nUnder this federal forfeiture program, local and state law enforcement can seize\u2014and keep\u2014cash, cars and other property they suspect have links to crime. Yet the taken property overwhelmingly came from people who have done nothing wrong. According to a new investigation by\u00a0The Washington Post, the government never charged property owners with a crime in 81 percent of equitable sharing cases. Since 2008, 5,400 police departments and task forces have spent $2.5 billion in federally forfeited property.\nThese off-budget funds are a driving force behind the militarization of America\u2019s police forces, giving rise to \u201cwarrior cops.\u201d \u00a0A Georgia town of 8,000 people spent nearly $80,000 on weapons and protective gear, including 27 M-4 rifles. Another department in Georgia purchased an eight-ton BearCat armored personnel carrier for $227,000. Police in Prince George\u2019s County, Md. obtained a \u201cmobile command bus\u201d worth $1.2 million. Nationwide, police have spent over\u00a0$175 millionin equitable sharing funds on weaponry.\nWhile these procurements are helping transform Officer Friendly into G.I. Joe, other police purchases uncovered by the\u00a0Post\u00a0were more lavish. Or just plain ridiculous. To paint kids\u2019 faces at an Easter party, police in Reminderville, Ohio hired \u201cSparkles the Clown\u201d for $225. One Texas sheriff\u2019s department spent $637 on a coffee maker, and over $5,000 on \u201cbanquets, luncheons and fundraisers\u201d and expenses for the \u201cSmokin Pigs Cooking Team.\u201d The Sheriff\u2019s Office in Mesa County, Colo.\u00a0paid over $8,400\u00a0to send 20 lawyers to a conference at a ski resort in 2009. Agencies around the country have bought dozens of \u201cnew and used sports and luxury cars, including at least 15 Mercedes, a dozen Mustangs, a handful of BMWs and two Corvettes.\u201d\nOther police and prosecutors have infamously\u00a0used forfeiture funds\u00a0to buy Hawaiian vacations and a margarita machine. Or as John Oliver put it, \u201cThey were literally using this money as their own personal slush fund.\u201d\nMeanwhile, more altruistic causes are getting short shrift. Less than one percent of all equitable sharing funds, or about\u00a0$20 million, has funded \u201ccommunity-based programs.\u201d According to the Justice Department, these programs can include \u201ca drug treatment facility, job skills program, or a youth program with drug and crime prevention education.\u201d Yet even this paltry figure may be inflated: Hiring Sparkles the Clown was listed as a \u201ccommunity-based program.\u201d\nMoreover, there is an appalling lack of oversight and accountability. The Department of Justice has only been able to\u00a0audit\u00a025 out of the 5,400 police departments and task forces that partake in equitable sharing. While the Justice Department\u2019s\u00a0guidelines\u00a0admonish that \u201cagencies should not \u2018spend it before you get it\u2019 or budget anticipated receipts,\u201d that hasn\u2019t stopped 100 departments and task forces from receiving the equivalent of at least 20 percent of their budgets from equitable sharing. For one Maryland police department, asset forfeiture is used both \u201cin tight budget periods, and even in times of budget surpluses.\u201d\nThe weak safeguards don\u2019t stop there. In callous disregard for federalism, police can routinely\u00a0evade state restrictions\u00a0and cash in through civil forfeiture, so long as they collaborate with a federal agency. For instance, Missouri and North Carolina are two of just\u00a0eight states\u00a0that ban law enforcement from keeping any forfeiture proceeds, according to the Institute for Justice\u2019s report, \u201cPolicing for Profit.\u201d But these laws don\u2019t apply to property seized under equitable sharing. So if local and state law enforcement partner with an agency like the DEA, they can take property under federal law, and keep up to\u00a080 percent\u00a0of the proceeds. In Missouri, instead of padding police budgets, any revenue generated from forfeiting property is supposed to fund public schools. But equitable sharing completely undermines that arrangement. In 2010, the Missouri State Auditor reported that of $5.7 million seized that year, \u201cless than $26,000 went to Missouri public schools.\u201d In contrast, over $4.2 million was transferred to a federal agency through equitable sharing, and then funneled back to local law enforcement.\nSimilarly, North Carolina is\u00a0the only state in the country\u00a0that essentially does not have civil forfeiture, instead requiring a criminal conviction before the government can take someone\u2019s property. Yet law enforcement still spent over\u00a0$90 million\u00a0in federally forfeited assets since 2008. In fact, according to\u00a0The Washington Post, North Carolina and Missouri are the\u00a0seventh and tenth largest spenders\u00a0of equitable sharing funds respectively.\nSen. Rand Paul and Rep. Tim Walberg haveintroduced new legislation\u00a0that would either end or curb equitable sharing, thereby stemming the flow of military-grade equipment onto our nation\u2019s streets. As local police departments continue to metastasize into paramilitary units, civil forfeiture reform is vital to reverse this disturbing trend.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398362", "Upton comments on new travel restrictions for Ebola-affected countries", "2014-10-21", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in response to today\u2019s announcement by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security of new travel restrictions and protective measures to prevent the spread of Ebola to the United States. The new policy would require travelers arriving in the United States whose travel originates in Guinea, Liberia, or Sierra Leone to fly into one of five U.S. airports \u2013 John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York, Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey, Washington Dulles International Airport in Virginia, Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport in Georgia and O\u2019Hare International Airport in Chicago \u2013 that have already adopted enhanced screening measures and added protocols. \u201cFunneling all passengers through these five airports helps close a gap that could have allowed affected travelers into our country with no screening at all, which makes it a good start, but certainly not a complete solution,\u201d Upton stated. \u201cI continue to believe more comprehensive travel restrictions can be used to keep Ebola from spreading and allow us to train all of our resources on treating the sick and containing this disease in the affected countries.\u201d Last week, Upton\u2019s Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations held an urgent, bipartisan hearing with some of the United States\u2019 top public health officials to examine the U.S. public health response to Ebola. Upton then questioned Dr. Thomas Frieden, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on the use of travel restrictions from regions of Africa impacted by the fatal disease. Watch Upton\u2019s exchange with CDC Director Frieden HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141024000437/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398326", "The Blade: Star-spangled assembly kicks off students D.C. trip", "2014-10-20", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "DUNDEE, Mich. \u2014 A Dundee High School special assembly last week promoted an upcoming student trip to the nation\u2019s capital, featured a congressman as keynote speaker, and celebrated George Washington with the dedication of a portrait of the first president that came from his Mount Vernon estate.\nAbout a dozen students will spend the week before Thanksgiving in Washington catching the sights and learning how government works, said history teacher Paul Walters, who will accompany them.\nThe assembly kicked off with a performance of \u201cThe Star-Spangled Banner\u201d by the school choir, with piano accompaniment by music teacher Haley Sulisz, that earned applause from the audience in the school gym.\nMr. Walters then explained Project Close Up, a national nonprofit program that helps finance field trips to Washington. The students, he said, \u201cget out of school for a week, but it\u2019s not a vacation.\u201d\nJon Vogt, another history teacher, who wore a George Washington T-shirt, spoke more about the project, and the choir launched into \u201cWhen Johnny Comes Marching Home.\u201d\nSeniors Holly Harnica and Kaitlin Symanns then recalled their experiences on the field trip to D.C. last year. Holly said she would remember the trip all her life and recalled visiting the Supreme Court. But the most memorable part, she said, was interacting with students from around the country.\nMr. Vogt then spoke of Mount Vernon and George Washington, telling the students \u201cthere\u2019s no one who exemplifies American history\u201d more than the first president. Mr. Vogt promised a box of candy to students who could explain five points from Washington\u2019s Farewell Address, delivered in 1796.\nThe extemporaneous keynote address was given by U.S. Rep. Tim Walberg (R., Tipton). He described the 7th Congressional District, which he represents and which includes Monroe County, as \u201cthe gateway to Pure Michigan\u201d and a place of rich history, including the War of 1812. He told the students they were as American as George Washington was, \u201cas American as anyone who came before you,\u201d and that this status carried responsibilities.\nThen the portrait of George Washington was unveiled. Mount Vernon also donated an American flag that flew over the estate.\nTo read the original article, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398169", "Upton touts his committees bipartisan #RecordOfSuccess, unveils new resource chronicling efforts in the 113th Congress", "2014-10-17", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Upton touts his committee\u2019s bipartisan #RecordOfSuccess, unveils new resource chronicling efforts in the 113th Congress\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        WASHINGTON, DC,\r\n        October 17, 2014 | \r\n      Lynn Turner / Nick Culp\r\n      (269-385-0039 / 202-225-3761) \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n      \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n        Upton: \u201cIn a time of partisan politics, the Energy and Commerce Committee has been able to rise above and get the job done, working together to make a difference for countless families here in Michigan and across the country.\u201d\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      The House Energy and Commerce Committee today launched its #RecordOfSuccess webpage, highlighting its bipartisan accomplishments in the 113th Congress to create jobs and spur economic growth, modernize government for the innovation era, and protect families, communities, and civic initiatives. Under the leadership of Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, 84 committee bills have cleared the House of Representatives, with 32 bills becoming law, and 52 bills awaiting Senate action.\u00a0\u00a0\r\nUpton commented, \u201cI\u2019m very proud of our proven record of success and appreciate the continued bipartisan efforts made by our committee members. In a time of partisan politics, the Energy and Commerce Committee has been able to rise above and get the job done, working together to make a difference for countless families here in Michigan and across the country. But our results should be even better with over four-dozen bills awaiting action in the Senate. I am proud that every single one of our bills received Democratic votes in the House, and over two-dozen bills now on the Senate\u2019s doorstep cleared the House with a veto-proof margin. Our work continues, and we welcome the Senate to swiftly approve our bipartisan bills.\u201d\u00a0\u00a0\r\nTo view the committee\u2019s #RecordOfSuccess and to track legislation that remains #StuckInTheSenate, click here.\u00a0\r\nAn Accounting of the Energy and Commerce Committee\u2019s #RecordOfSuccess for the 113th Congress Follows Below: (As of October 15, 2014)\r\n\u00a0\r\nPublic Laws: Legislation Passed by the House and the Senate \r\n(25 public laws containing 32 E&C bills)\r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n    H.R. 307, Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Approved by the Senate on February 27, 2013; Approved by the House on March 4, 2013; Signed into law on March 13, 2013) \r\n    H.R. 267, Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on February 13, 2013; Approved by the Senate on August 1, 2013; Signed into law August 9, 2013) \r\n    H.R. 2576, To amend title 49, United States Code, to modify requirements relating to the availability of pipeline safety regulatory documents, and for other purposes (Approved by the House on July 16, 2013; Approved by the Senate on August 1, 2013; Signed into law on August 9, 2013)\r\n    S. 330 (H.R. 698), HIV Organ Policy Equity Act (Approved by the Senate on June 17, 2013; Approved by the House on November 12, 2013; Signed into law on November 12, 2013) \r\n    H.R. 2094, School Access to Emergency Epinephrine Act (Approved by the House on July 30, 2013; Approved by the Senate on October 31, 2013; Signed into law on November 13, 2013) \r\n    S. 252 (H.R. 541), PREEMIE Reauthorization Act (Approved by the Senate on September 25, 2013; Approved by the House on November 12, 2013; Signed into law on November 27, 2013) Includes:\r\n    \r\n    H.R. 3204, Drug Quality and Security Act (Approved by the House on September 28, 2013; Approved by the Senate on November 18, 2013; Signed into law on November 27, 2013) H.R. 3204 combined the following two bills:\r\n    \r\n    H.R. 3588, Community Fire Safety Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on December 2, 2013; Approved by the Senate on December 17, 2013; Signed into law on December 20, 2013) \r\n    H.J. Res. 59, Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 \u00a0(Approved by the House on December 12, 2013; Approved by the Senate on December 18, 2013 Signed into law on December 26, 2013) \r\n    H.R. 623, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium Land Transfer Act (Approved by the House on October 29, 2013; Approved by the Senate on December 20, 2013; Signed into law on December 26, 2013)\r\n    H.R. 3527, Poison Center Network Act (Approved by the House on \u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adJanuary 8, 2014; Approved by the Senate on January 14, 2014; Signed into law on January 24, 2014) \r\n    H.R. 4302, Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on March 27, 2014; Approved by the Senate on March 31, 2014; Signed into law on April 1, 2014) Includes:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 2019, Gabriella Miller Kids First Research Act (Approved by the House on December 11, 2013; Approved by the Senate on March 11, 2014; Signed into law on April 3, 2014)\r\n    S. 1557 (H.R. 297), Children's Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Approved by the Senate on November 12, 2013; Approved by the House on April 1, 2014; Signed into law on April 7, 2014) \r\n    H.R. 724, To amend the Clean Air Act to remove the requirement for dealer certification of new light-duty motor vehicles (Approved by the House on January 8, 2014; Approved by the Senate on May 22, 2014; Signed into law on June 9, 2014) \r\n    S. 622 (H.R. 1407), Animal Drug User Fee Amendments of 2013 (Approved by the Senate on May 8, 2013; Approved by the House on June 3, 2014; Signed into law on June 13, 2014) Includes:\r\n    \r\n    S. 2086, Reliable Home Heating Act (Approved by the Senate on May 21, 2014; Approved by the House on June 23, 2014; Signed into law on June 30, 2014)\r\n    H.R. 316, Collinsville Renewable Energy Production Act (Approved by the Senate on June 23, 2014; Approved by the House on June 23, 2014; Signed into law on June 30, 2014) \r\n    H.R. 803, Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (Approved by the House on March 15, 2013; Approved Senate changes on July 9, 2014; Signed into law on July 22, 2014)\r\n    H.R 1528, Veterinary Medicine Mobility Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on July 8, 2014; Approved by the Senate on July 16, 2014; Signed into law on August 1, 2014) \r\n    H.R. 4631, Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on June 24, 2014; Approved by the Senate on July 31, 2014; Signed into law on August 8, 2014) \r\n    H.R. 3548, Improving Trauma Care Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on \u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00ad\u00adJune 24, 2014; Approved by the Senate on July 31, 2014; Signed into law on August 8, 2014) \r\n    S. 276, a bill to reinstate and extend the deadlines for commencement of construction of a hydroelectric project involving the American Falls Reservoir (Approved by the Senate on June 19, 2013; Approved by the House on September 11, 2014; Signed into law on September 26, 2014)\r\n    S. 2154 (H.R. 4290), Emergency Medical Services for Children Reauthorization Act of 2014 OR Wakefield Act (Approved by Senate on September 10, 2014; Approved by House on September 16, 2014; Signed into law on September 26, 2014)\r\n    H.R. 594, Paul D. Wellstone Muscular Dystrophy Community Assistance Research and Education Amendments of 2014 (Approved by the House on July 28, 2014, by voice vote; Signed into law on September 26, 2014)\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nCommittee Legislation Passed by the House and Pending Senate Consideration or Resolution\r\n(52 E&C bills await Senate consideration)\r\n\r\n    H.R. 1580, To affirm the policy of the United States regarding Internet governance (Approved by the House on May 14, 2012, by a vote of 413-0)\r\n    H.R. 235, Veteran Emergency Medical Technician Support Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on February 12, 2013, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 45, To repeal the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act and health care-related provisions in the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 (Approved by the house on May 16, 2013, by a vote of 229-195)\r\n    H.R. 271, Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on May 22, 2013, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 3, Northern Route Approval Act (Approved by the House on May 22, 2013, by a vote of 241-175) \r\n    H.R. 2218, Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on July 25, 2013, by a vote of 265-155) \r\n    H.R. 2754, To amend the Hobby Protection Act to make unlawful the provision of assistance or support in violation of that Act, and for other purposes (Approved by the House on July 30, 2013, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 1582, Energy Consumers Relief Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on August 1, 2013, by a vote of 232-81) \r\n    H.R. 2052, Global Investment in American Jobs Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on September 9, 2013, by a vote of 379-32)\r\n    H.R. 2844, Federal Communications Commission Consolidated Reporting Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on September 9, 2013, by a vote of 415-0)\r\n    H.R. 2775, No Subsidies Without Verification Act (Approved by the House on September 12, 2013, by a vote of 235-191) \r\n    H.R. 3350, Keep Your Health Plan Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on November 15, 2013, by a vote of 261-157) \r\n    H.R. 1900, Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act (Approved by the House on November 21, 2013, by a vote of 252-165) \r\n    H.R. 2279, Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on January 9, 2014, by a vote of 225-188) Includes: \r\n    \r\n    H.R. 3811, Health Exchange Security and Transparency Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on January 10, 2014, by a vote of 291-122)\r\n    H.R. 3362, Exchange Information Disclosure Act (Approved by the House on January 16, 2014, by a vote of 259-154) \r\n    H.R. 7, No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act (Approved by the House on January 28, 2014, by a vote of 227-188)\r\n    H.R. 3590, Sportsmen's Heritage And Recreational Enhancement Act (Approved by the House on February 15, 2014, by a vote of 268-154) \r\n    H.R. 938, United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on March 5, 2014, by a vote of 410-1). The Energy and Commerce Committee reported H.R. 3683, which was incorporated into H.R. 938\r\n    H.R. 2126 (S. 1191), Better Buildings Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on March 5, 2014, by a vote of 375-36) Includes:\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n    \r\n    H.R. 3826, Electricity Security and Affordability Act \u00a0(Approved by the House on March 6, 2014, by a vote of 229-183)\r\n    H.R. 3675, Federal Communications Commission Process Reform Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on March 11, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 4015, SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on March 14, 2014, by a vote of 238-181)\r\n    H.R. 4414, Expatriate Health Coverage Clarification Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on April 29, 2014, by a vote of 268-150) \r\n    H.R. 4092, Streamlining Energy Efficiency for Schools Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on June 23, 2014, by voice vote) \r\n    H.R. 4801, to require the Secretary of Energy to prepare a report on the impact of thermal insulation on both energy and water use for potable hot water (Approved by the House on June 23, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 3301, North American Energy Infrastructure Act (Approved by the House on June 24, 2014, by a vote of 238-173) \r\n    H.R. 1098, Traumatic Brain Injury Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on June 24, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 1281, Newborn Screening Saves Lives Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on June 24, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 4080, Trauma Systems and Regionalization of Emergency Care Reauthorization Act (Approved by the House on June 24, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 6, Domestic Prosperity and Global Freedom Act Approved by the House on June 25, 2014, by a vote of 266-150) \r\n    H.R. 4007, Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards Program Authorization and Accountability Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on July 8, 2014, by voice vote)\u00a0 \r\n    H.R. 4572, STELA Reauthorization Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on July 22, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 4450, Travel Promotion, Enhancement, and Modernization Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on July 23, 2014, by a vote of 347-57)\r\n    H.R. 3696, National Cybersecurity and Critical Infrastructure Protection Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on July 28, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 4250 (S. 2141), Sunscreen Innovation Act (Approved by the House on July 28, 2014, by voice vote; S. 2141 was approved by the Senate as amended on September 18, 2014, by unanimous consent)\r\n    H.R. 4709, Ensuring Patient Access and Effective Drug Enforcement Act (Approved by the House on July 29, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 669, Sudden Unexpected Death and Data Enhancement and Awareness Act (Approved by the House on September 9, 2014 by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 4067, a bill to help ensure patients, including Medicare patients and those in rural communities, have access to health care they need (Approved by the House on September 9, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 4701, Vector-Borne Disease Research Accountability and Transparency Act\u00a0 (Approved by the House on September 9, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 3670, Anti-Spoofing Act of 2013 (Approved by the House on September 9, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 5057, EPS Service Parts Act of 2014 (Approved by the House on September 11, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 5161 (S. 2583), E-LABEL Act (Approved by the House on September 11, 2014, by a vote of 402-29; S. 2583 was passed by the Senate on September 18, 2014, by unanimous consent)\r\n    H.R. 3522, Employee Health Care Protection Act (Approved by the House on September 11, 2014, by a vote of 247-167)\r\n    H.R. 83, a bill to require the Secretary of the Interior to develop an action plan to address the energy needs of the insular areas of the United States and the Freely Associated States (Approved by the House on September 15, 2014, by voice vote; Approved by the Senate, as amended, by unanimous consent on September 18, 2014)\r\n    H.R. 4771, Designer Anabolic Steroid Control Act (Approved by the House on September 15, 2014, by voice vote)\r\n    H.R. 2, American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act (Approved by the House on September 18, 2014, by a vote of 226-191) H.R. 2 included previously House-passed H.R. 3, H.R. 1900. H.R. 3301, H.R. 1582, H.R. 3826, H.R. 4801, and H.R. 6)\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\nVisit energycommerce.house.gov/recordofsuccess to keep track of committee bills\r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398096", "Oceana Herald Journal: Huizenga helps area veterans receive medals earned during time of service", "2014-10-16", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Oceana Herald Journal: Huizenga helps area veterans receive medals earned during time of service \r\n   \r\n    \r\n       \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        October 16, 2014\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Last week, Congressman Huizenga presented veterans from Hart and surrounding communities with the medals they earned during their time of service to our nation. \u00a0Below is coverage of the Medals Ceremony from Oceana's Herald Journal. Pictures of the ceremony can be found here.Never forgotten: Veterans Honored and Remembered at Medals Ceremony\r\nOceana Herald Journal - Amanda Dodge -\u00a0Wednesday, October 15, 2014 12:33 pm\r\n\r\nFreedom is certainly not free and the sacrifices of so many are encapsulated into a tiny token to be displayed proudly. These tokens are the various medals, ribbons and badges earned by distinguished members of the armed forces. These decorations serve as a reminder of all they have done and what they have given in service to their country.\r\nU.S. Representative Bill Huizenga and his staff have made it their mission to work with veterans and the families of deceased veterans in our area to help obtain these honors \u201cearned during their valiant service on behalf of a grateful nation.\u201d\r\nEarlier this year, those inquiring about medals were asked to present a copy of their DD 214 to Huizenga\u2019s staff and they then filled out the necessary forms to obtain the medals. This process can take around two months. Once Huizenga\u2019s staff receives the medals they are presented to the veterans during a formal ceremony. According to documents from Huizenga\u2019s office, each veteran or family receiving medals is asked if they would like to be a part of the ceremony, and those that decline had their medals sent to their home. The entire Oceana Herald Journal story can be found here in the \"online edition\" on the OHJ Website.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398157", "Upton holds hearing on U.S. response to Ebola outbreak", "2014-10-16", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, held a hearing\u00a0today with some of the nation\u2019s top public health officials to examine the U.S public health response to the Ebola outbreak. Held by the Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, the bipartisan hearing focused on the role of U.S. public health agencies and their efforts to prevent the spread of Ebola within the United States. \r\n\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u00a0\r\n \u201cWe need all hands on deck. We need a strategy. And we need to protect the American people, first and foremost,\u201d said Upton in his opening remarks. \u201cIt\u2019s not a drill \u2013 people\u2019s lives are at stake, and the response so far has been unacceptable.\u201d\r\n\u00a0The preparedness of U.S. ports, points of entry, health care facilities, and other institutions to identify, diagnose, isolate, and treat Ebola patients in a safe and appropriate manner were also evaluated.\r\n\u00a0\u201cWe need a plan to treat those who are sick, to train healthcare workers to safely provide care, and to stop the spread of this disease here at home and at its source in Africa. This includes travel restrictions or bans from that region beginning today,\u201d continued Upton. \u201cSurely we can find other ways to get the aid workers and supplies in to these countries. From terrorist watch lists to quarantines, there are tools used to manage air travel to assure public safety. Why not here? We can no longer be reacting to each day\u2019s crisis. We need to be aggressive and finally get ahead of this outbreak.\u201d\r\n\u00a0Upton directly questioned Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), on the use of travel restrictions from regions of Africa impacted by the fatal disease. \r\nIn addition to CDC Director Frieden, Upton and fellow committee members heard from officials from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, and Texas Health Resources. Watch Upton\u2019s opening remarks here Watch Upton\u2019s Q&A with CDC Director Frieden here The full-text of Upton\u2019s opening remarks follow:\r\n Let me first begin by thanking our witnesses and all of the Members, Republicans and Democrats, for being here today. You know, it\u2019s unusual to convene a hearing in DC during a district work period, but on this issue, there\u2019s no time to wait. I was likewise glad to see the President get off the campaign trail yesterday to finally focus on the crisis.\r\nPeople are scared. We need all hands on deck. We need a strategy. And we need to protect the American people, first and foremost. It\u2019s not a drill \u2013 people\u2019s lives are at stake, and the response so far has been unacceptable.\r\nAs Chairman of this committee, I want to assure the witnesses that we stand ready to support you in any way to keep Americans safe, but we\u2019re going to hold your feet to the fire on getting the job done, and getting it done right. Both the US and the global health community have so far failed to put in place an effective strategy fast enough to combat the current outbreak.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe CDC admitted more could have been done in Texas. Two health care workers have become infected with Ebola even as nurses and other medical personnel suggest that protocols are being \u201cdeveloped on the fly.\u201d And none of us can understand how a nurse who treated an Ebola-infected patient, and who herself had developed a fever, was permitted to board a commercial airline and fly across the country.\r\n\u00a0\r\nIt\u2019s no wonder the public\u2019s confidence is shaken. Over a month ago, before Ebola reached our shores, we wrote HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell seeking details for the preparedness and response plan here at home and abroad. And it\u2019s clear whatever plan was in place was insufficient, but I believe that we can and must do better now.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe need a plan to treat those who are sick, to train healthcare workers to safely provide care, and to stop the spread of this disease here at home and at its source in Africa. This includes travel restrictions or bans from that region beginning today. Surely we can find other ways to get the aid workers and supplies in to these countries. From terrorist watch lists to quarantines, there are tools used to manage air travel to assure public safety. Why not here? We can no longer be reacting to each day\u2019s crisis. We need to be aggressive and finally get ahead of this outbreak.\r\n\u00a0\r\nThe American people also want to know about our troops and medical personnel who are courageously headed to Africa to treat the sick. How are they going to be protected? We want to know that health care workers here in America have the training and resources necessary to safely combat that threat as well.\r\n\u00a0\r\nSo it\u2019s not just the responsibility of the US. The global health community bears the charge to finally get ahead of the threat, develop a clear strategy, train all of those involved in combating this disease, and eradicate the threat.\r\n\u00a0\r\nWe have all heard the grave warnings that this is going to get worse before it gets better \u2013 people are scared. It is our responsibility to ensure that the government is doing whatever it can to keep the public safe. Diana DeGette and I have partnered together on the 21st Century Cures initiative to help improve the research and speed the approval of life-saving medicines and treatments, and while much attention has been paid to how this effort can help with diseases like cancer and diabetes, these same reforms have to help us in the development of treatments for deadly infections like Ebola. We are partners in this effort to save lives.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398058", "Upton recognized as champion for Michigan manufacturing jobs", "2014-10-15", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, has been recognized by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) for his continued efforts to support the growth of manufacturing in the United States. Upton received the \u201cNAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence\u201d for his voting record in the 113th Congress on issues that are of importance to domestic manufacturers. Upton was one of only three members of the Michigan delegation to receive a 100 percent rating from NAM. \u201cWe are a nation of builders and Michigan manufacturers have been at the forefront of our economic comeback, leading the nation for manufacturing job creation. We want to see that record of growth and innovation continue,\u201d said Upton, who recently took part in Manufacturing Day at Mach Mold in Benton Harbor, Mich.  Manufacturing employs more than a half million men and women in Michigan, according to NAM, and accounts for more than 90 percent of the state\u2019s exports. \u201cWe need the right policies to keep Michigan manufacturers competitive,\u201d continued Upton. \u201cThat means supporting lower energy costs through the responsible production of North American energy; a regulatory system that takes into account economic costs and common sense; properly maintained transportation infrastructure; and a pro-growth tax code that puts our manufacturers on an even footing with overseas competitors.\u201d\nNAM is the largest manufacturing association in the United States, representing small and large manufacturers in every industrial sector and in all 50 states. \n\u201cManufacturers in Michigan and throughout the United States are making a comeback, creating jobs, making more products and making them better than ever before,\u201d said NAM Senior Vice President of Policy and Government Relations Aric Newhouse. \u201cHowever, manufacturers are often disproportionately impacted by decisions made by policymakers in Washington. The NAM is proud to stand with lawmakers like Representative Upton, who understand what is at stake and seek to implement policies that will foster innovation, growth and competitiveness.\u201d The \u201cNAM Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence\u201d is awarded based on a list of Key Manufacturing Votes selected by NAM\u2019s Key Vote Advisory Committee.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=398010", "Upton comments on ongoing Ebola outbreak ahead of Thursdays hearing", "2014-10-14", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, released the following statement regarding the ongoing Ebola outbreak. The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold a hearing this Thursday, October 16, at noon to examine the U.S. public health response to the outbreak. Officials from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be among the hearing witnesses.\r\n\u201cEbola has been on the world's radar screen since March and yet the United States and the international community are still scrambling to stay ahead of and stop this outbreak.\u00a0We remain gravely concerned about this ongoing threat and the committee will continue diligently investigating the response efforts and preparedness plans,\u201d said Upton. \u201cThe stakes could not be any higher, and as I have said before, we cannot afford to look back at this point in history and say we could have done more.\u201d\r\nMore background for Thursday\u2019s hearing is available online here. The committee first sent a letter to HHS Secretary Sylvia Burwell seeking more information regarding the ongoing Ebola outbreak and preparedness and response efforts at home and abroad on September 12, 2014.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397897", "Upton blasts White House proposal to bring Guantanamo terrorists to the United States", "2014-10-10", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in strong opposition to a White House proposal that would bring violent terrorists held at the U.S. Naval Station at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to the United States. Both the House and Senate have repeatedly enacted bipartisan measures, signed by the President, barring any funds from being used to transfer these detainees into the United States.\u201cThe recent beheadings of two Americans are a horrific reminder that the threat of radical Islam is real and must be eliminated. The terrorists held at Guantanamo are not ordinary criminals \u2013 they are hardened extremists in the midst of an endless war against the United States, our citizens, and values. The American people strongly oppose bringing these dangerous jihadists to U.S. soil and the Congress has repeatedly acted to ensure the current ban on such detainee transfers remains law. The administration\u2019s most recent proposal follows its unlawful release of five senior Taliban leaders this summer. It is a reckless disregard of reality and U.S. law.\u201d Last month, Upton and his House colleagues passed a bipartisan resolution (H.Res.644) condemning the administration for its failure to properly notify Congress before releasing five senior Taliban members from Guantanamo in exchange for the release of U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. The non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) \u2013 the federal government\u2019s independent internal watchdog agency \u2013 found the action to be in violation of U.S. law, which requires Congress to be notified at least 30 days in advance of such a transfer.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397763", "Huizenga To Hold Medals Ceremony For West Michigan Veterans In Hart On Wednesday", "2014-10-07", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Tomorrow, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) will host a medals ceremony at the VFW in Hart at 2:00 PM. Rep. Huizenga will present West Michigan veterans and their families with medals earned during their valiant service on behalf of a grateful nation. The VFW in Hart is located at 802 South State Street in Hart.  Congressman Huizenga will give brief opening remarks prior to the medals ceremony. Recipients:  Vietnam Veteran: Sargent First Class James Lynwood Roquemore of Hart, U.S. Army. Awards:  \u2022\tArmy Reserve Components Achievement Medal with 1 bronze oak leaf cluster  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Good Conduct Medal, 3rd Award  \r\n\u2022\tNational Defense Service Medal  \r\n\u2022\tVietnam Service Medal with 2 bronze service stars  \r\n\u2022\tArmed Forces Reserve Medal  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Service Ribbon  \r\n\u2022\tRepublic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device (1960)  \r\n\u2022\tExpert Badge with Auto Rifle Bar  \r\n\u2022\tSharpshooter Badge with Rifle Bar Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran: Specialist Barbara J. Locke of Hart, U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserves.\r\n  \r\nAwards: \u2022\tAir Force Good Conduct Medal  \r\n\u2022\tAir Force Outstanding Unit Award  \r\n\u2022\tAir Force Longevity Service Award Ribbon  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Reserve Components Achievement Medal  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Commendation Medal  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Achievement Medal  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Good Conduct Medal  \r\n\u2022\tNational Defense Service Medal  \r\n\u2022\tArmed Forces Reserve Medal with letter \"M\" device  \r\n\u2022\tOverseas Service Ribbon  \r\n\u2022\tMarksman Badge with Auto Rifle Bar  \r\n\u2022\tGlobal War on Terror Expeditionary Medal  \r\n\u2022\tGlobal War on Terror Service Medal World War II Veteran: Donald E. Grey, Formerly of Walkersville, U.S. Army.  Accepting on behalf of his father, Daniel E. Grey\r\n  \r\nAwards: \u2022\tArmy Good Conduct Medal  \r\n\u2022\tAmerican Campaign Medal  \r\n\u2022\tEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with 2 bronze service stars  \r\n\u2022\tWorld War II Victory medal  \r\n\u2022\tArmy of Occupation Medal with Germany Clasp  \r\n\u2022\tHonorable Service Lapel Button WWII Vietnam Veteran: Specialist Raymond Mack Shineldecker (Killed in Action), Formerly of Muskegon, U.S. Army.  Accepting on behalf of Specialist Shineldecker, his sister Nancy Ellis \r\n  \r\nAwards: \u2022\tSilver Star  \r\n\u2022\tBronze Star  \r\n\u2022\tPurple Heart  \r\n\u2022\tArmy Good Conduct Medal  \r\n\u2022\tNational Defense Service Medal  \r\n\u2022\tVietnam Service Medal with 3 bronze service stars  \r\n\u2022\tCombat Medical Badge 1st Award  \r\n\u2022\tRepublic of Vietnam Campaign Ribbon with Device (1960)  \r\n\u2022\tMarksman Badge with Rifle Bar Congressman Huizenga is honored to help West Michigan Veterans with information regarding benefits, navigating the federal government, and obtaining medals earned during their military service. If you know a veteran in need of assistance, please call (616) 570-0917 for more information.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397699", "Upton convenes 21st Century Cures roundtable at WMU Medical School", "2014-10-07", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Over the past several months, the bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative has fostered a robust conversation among patients, researchers, medical professionals, and advocates from across the country on how to accelerate the pace at which lifesaving medical treatments are discovered, developed, and delivered in the United States. Launched this spring by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, the initiative aims to save patients lives through faster cures and help employers in states like Michigan continue to be global leaders in medical innovation. This morning, Upton brings his 21st Century Cures conversation to Southwest Michigan with a roundtable discussion between distinguished health industry leaders at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine in downtown Kalamazoo.  Opening Statement of House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (as prepared for delivery): Today we continue our tremendous bipartisan efforts on the 21st Century Cures initiative with this Southwest Michigan roundtable. Launched this spring, the initiative aims to save patients\u2019 lives through faster cures and help employers in states like our great state of Michigan to continue to be global leaders in medical innovation. Today we will discuss ideas that we have received over the past several months and look to more specific steps we can take to accelerate the cycle of cures and the role Southwest Michigan\u2019s patients, researchers, medical professionals, advocates,\u00a0 and industry play\u00a0 in keeping America the innovation capital of the world. \r\n\r\nOver the past several months, the 21st Century Cures initiative has fostered a robust conversation and a number of our committee members have held roundtables across the country to hear about how American innovation is providing hope, saving lives and creating jobs. Today is no exception. It will provide an opportunity for us to see how Southwest Michigan can help accelerate the cycle of cures and make a real difference in the lives of Americans.\u00a0\u00a0 \r\n\r\nWhether it\u2019s cutting edge Parkinson\u2019s research happening at the Van Andel Institute, the potential game-changing diabetes treatments under development at Metabolic Solutions, or the breakthroughs that continue to happen at Pfizer and Stryker, our region of Michigan has proven it\u2019s at the forefront of advances in the life sciences field. I\u2019m excited to welcome Dr. Burgess, Dr. Collins and Dr. Shuren to Southwest Michigan to hear firsthand all the good work being done here.\r\n\r\nTo continue our work toward more cures and treatments, we have brought together another all-star roundtable. Joining us today we have:\r\n\r\nDr. Michael Burgess, Member of Congress and Vice Chair of the Subcommittees on Health and Oversight and Investigations  \r\nDr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health  \r\nDr. Jeffrey Shuren, Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration  \r\nMs. Kirsten Axelsen, Vice President of Worldwide Policy at Pfizer, Inc.  \r\nMr. Stephen Benoit, CEO of Metabolic Solutions  \r\nMr. Richard Stec, Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs of\u00a0 Perrigo Pharmaceuticals  \r\nDr. Hal Jenson, Founding Dean and Professor at the Western Michigan University Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine  \r\nDr. Peter Jones, Research Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Van Andel Institute  \r\nMr. Kevin Lobo, Chairman and CEO of Stryker Corporation  \r\nMr. Tony Mandarino, Director of the Alex Mandarino Foundation  \r\nDr. Joseph Mirro, President, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer at West Michigan Cancer Center We need to hear from the full panel, so I\u2019d ask the participants to keep their answers brief, to about a minute if possible so we can keep the conversation moving. In closing, I want to thank all of you for participating today, and I would specifically like to recognize the inaugural class and faculty of Western Michigan University\u2019s Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine who are in attendance today. We are counting on you to find the discoveries and cures of the future. I also want to thank everyone who has offered their input on this 21st Century Cures initiative. I can\u2019t tell you how much we appreciate the thoughtful contributions from Michiganders and folks all across the country. We intend to release a Cures legislative discussion draft in early January 2015 and will look to swiftly move the legislation early in the next Congress. If you want your idea considered, please send it to cures@mail.house.gov as soon as possible. The more specific the idea, the better. Now, I\u2019d like to give our participants a chance to offer some opening comments. Please keep your comments to a couple minutes. Let\u2019s start with Dr. Collins . . .", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397738", "Upton comments on discovery of Asian carp eDNA in Kalamazoo River", "2014-10-07", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in response to today\u2019s announcement by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) that a water sample within the lower Kalamazoo River, Allegan County, tested positive for Asian carp environmental DNA (eDNA).\u201cThis finding is a frightening reminder of the threat posed to our fragile Great Lakes ecosystem. Building upon the success of this year\u2019s water resources bill, the Great Lakes region must work together to find a solution that protects our treasured waters for future generations,\u201d said Upton, a leading member of the congressional Great Lakes Task Force. \u201cThousands of jobs hang in the balance as our Great Lakes support a multi-billion-dollar fishing industry, which could be quickly decimated if the carp reach our waters. I applaud Governor Snyder for recognizing the urgency of this situation. We must all remain vigilant until this destructive force is stopped.\u201d Upton\u2019s office has been in close contact with the State of Michigan and will receive additional information as further testing is conducted. Earlier this year, Upton voted for the Water Resources Reform and Development Act (WRRDA) of 2014, which passed the House by a nearly unanimous vote of 412 to 4. Now law, WRRDA seeks to prevent the spread of Asian carp by requiring USFWS \u2013 along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, National Park Service, and U.S. Geological Survey \u2013 to provide technical assistance, coordination, and support to state and local governments. Additionally, WRRDA authorizes the Army Corps to make modifications and enhancements to existing projects to prevent the spread of invasive species within the Great Lakes.  Per the Michigan DNR and USFWS, 200 water samples were taken along the Kalamazoo River in June 2014 and then again in July. Of those latter 200 samples, one tested positive for Asian carp eDNA. The findings \u201cindicate the presence of genetic material of silver carp, such as scales, excrement or mucous. However, there is no evidence that a population of silver carp is established in the Kalamazoo River.\u201d Popular activities in the Kalamazoo River, like recreational boating and fishing, increase the possibility of carp eDNA entering the river without the presence of a live carp.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397616", "Upton celebrates Southwest Michigan manufacturers for innovation, job creation", "2014-10-03", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u200bHundreds of area students and community members turned out for Southwest Michigan\u2019s second annual Manufacturing Day today at Mach Mold in Benton Harbor for the opportunity to interact with area manufacturing businesses and learn more about careers in the manufacturing industry. More than 1,500 similar events were held across the country today to recognize America\u2019s manufacturers and their successes in innovation, job creation, and community development.U.S. Representative Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, spent the morning speaking with exhibitors and students representing a dozen local schools. As part of the visit, Upton also sat down for a roundtable discussion with business owners, community development leaders, and elected officials, where he shared his bipartisan efforts to bring greater certainty to Michigan\u2019s economy and accelerate job creation and economic growth. \u201cManufacturing is the backbone of our economy here in Southwest Michigan \u2013 we need to give these local businesses, large and small, the certainty they need to continue to innovate, grow their operations, and create jobs,\u201d said Upton, who was at Mann + Hummel in Kalamazoo, Mich., earlier this week as the auto component manufacturer dedicated its $17.4 million expansion, which will bring 70 new jobs to the area. Michigan now leads the nation as the state that is creating the most new manufacturing jobs. That trend has been supported by statewide reforms, including passage of the Proposal 1 ballot initiative in August 2014, which will save businesses more than $550 million by eliminating the personal property tax on industrial and commercial personal property. \u201cWe have made impressive progress toward strengthening our manufacturing dominance in recent years, but we can do better with the right policies. As we stand at the verge of a manufacturing renaissance, it is more important now than ever that we construct a regulatory framework that allows our manufacturers to thrive,\u201d continued Upton, who serves as Chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Today\u2019s event was organized by Benton Harbor nonprofit Kinexus, which is focused on community and workforce development in Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren counties.\r\n \u201cManufacturing Day brings together manufactures and educators to inspire tomorrow's talent and ensure the industry remains a driving force for Southwest Michigan's economy,\u201d said Todd Gustafson, Kinexus executive director. \r\nThe three-county region is home to more than 450 manufacturing businesses, which account for nearly 17,000 manufacturing jobs in Southwest Michigan, according to the economic modeling software firm Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI).", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397413", "Huizenga Highlighted For Stellar Committee Attendance", "2014-10-01", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, the Washington Examiner took a look at how Members of the U.S. House of Representatives tended to their committee assignments. The report shined an important light on how elected officials spend their time in Washington. Representative Huizenga was noted for having one of the best records in Congress for attending Financial Services Committee meetings and hearings. \u00a0The Financial Services Committee  has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the economy, the banking system, housing, insurance, and securities and exchanges. Additionally, the Committee also has jurisdiction over monetary policy, international finance, international monetary organizations, and efforts to combat terrorist financing. \u00a0Below are highlights from the Washington Examiner, the piece can be read in it's entirety here. Many House members miss more than two-thirds of their committee meetings\u200b  \r\nThe Washington Examiner - September 29, 2014 Dozens of members of the U.S. House of Representatives have missed two-thirds of this session's committee meetings, where much of the nuts-and-bolts work of Congress gets done, a Washington Examiner analysis found.\u00a0...\u00a0 The Examiner analyzed 1,000 committee and subcommittee hearing minutes published by the Government Printing Office for the present Congress.\u00a0The GPO does not publish minutes of all hearings, and half of those that were published didn\u2019t list attendees, so the data aren\u2019t comprehensive. ... Among members with the best attendance record is Rep. John Conyers Jr., D-Mich., who missed only one of 39 House Judiciary Committee hearings this session.\u00a0The 85-year-old Conyers is ranking minority member of the committee. He was first elected to the House in 1965 and is the chamber's second-longest serving member. Only five other House members had rates as good as or better than Conyers: Democrat Al Green of Texas and Republicans Andy Barr of Kentucky, Bill Huizenga of Michigan, Scott Garrett of New Jersey and Robert Pittenger of North Carolina.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397618", "Upton announces blockbuster lineup for 21st Century Cures roundtable in Kalamazoo", "2014-10-01", "2014", "2014-10", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\"Michigan has an important role to play in this effort to provide more hope for families, and better treatments and cures for patients.\u201d - Rep. Upton\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      Over the past several months, the bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative has fostered a robust conversation among patients, researchers, medical professionals, and advocates from across the country on how to accelerate the pace at which lifesaving medical treatments are discovered, developed, and delivered in the United States. Launched this spring by House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, the initiative aims to save patients lives through faster cures and help employers in states like Michigan continue to be global leaders in medical innovation.Upton announced yesterday that he will be bringing his 21st Century Cures conversation to Southwest Michigan with a roundtable discussion between distinguished health industry leaders (listed below).  \n Members of the public are invited to join the Cures conversation on digital media via Facebook and Twitter by using the hashtag #Path2Cures. Additional information on 21st Century Cures may be found online at http://energycommerce.house.gov/cures.\u00a0\nParticipants will include:\n\u00a0\nMs. Kirsten Axelsen, Vice President of Worldwide Policy, Pfizer @pfizer Mr. Stephen Benoit, CEO, Metabolic Solutions Development Company @stephencbenoit\nThe Hon. Michael Burgess, M.D., Member of Congress @michaelcburgess Dr. Francis Collins, Director, National Institutes of Health @NIHDirector Dr. Hal Jenson, Founding Dean and Professor, Western Michigan University School of Medicine @WMUMedicine Dr. Peter Jones, Research Director and Chief Scientific Officer, Van Andel Research Institute  @VAInstitute Mr. Kevin Lobo, Chairman and CEO, Stryker Corporation @StrykerNews Mr. Tony Mandarino, Director, The Alex Mandarino Foundation Dr. Joseph Mirro, President, CEO, and Chief Medical Officer, West Michigan Cancer Center @WestMICancerCtr Mr. William Parfet, Chairman and CEO, MPI Research @Mpiresearch_co Dr. Jeffrey Shuren, Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health, Food and Drug Administration @US_FDA Mr. Richard Stec, Vice President of Global Regulatory Affairs, Perrigo Pharmaceuticals @PerrigoCareers \u200bThe Hon. Fred Upton, Member of Congress\u200b @RepFredUpton", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397330", "Upton to hold #Path2Cures roundtable at WMU medical school", "2014-09-30", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The health sciences have deep roots in Southwest Michigan dating back to the founding of the Upjohn Company in the 19th century. Today, employers like Perrigo, Pfizer, MPI Research, and Stryker continue to lead the world in medical innovation while providing for thousands of jobs across the region. House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, wants to make sure that local legacy of delivering life-saving treatments and cures continues to grow in the 21st century and beyond. That is why Upton joined Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., earlier this year in launching a new bipartisan initiative called 21st Century Cures. Their goal is to accelerate the pace at which lifesaving medical treatments are discovered, developed, and delivered in the United States. Through a series of hearings, roundtables, and white papers, Upton\u2019s committee has spent the past several months taking the first-ever comprehensive look at the cycle of cures, gathering invaluable input from patients, researchers, medical professionals, and advocates from across the country. Upton plans to unveil legislation based on the feedback received over the past several months at the start of the 114th Congress.\u00a0 Upton today announced that he will be bringing his 21st Century Cures conversation to Southwest Michigan with a roundtable next Tuesday, October 7, 2014, at the newly opened Western Michigan University (WMU) Homer Stryker M.D. School of Medicine at the W.E. Upjohn campus in downtown Kalamazoo. Dr. Francis Collins, Director of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and Dr. Jeff Shuren, Director of the Center for Devices and Radiological Health at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), will be among the featured participants. \u201cThis has been a truly collaborative and bipartisan effort from the very beginning. Every one of us has been impacted by a life-threatening disease in one way or another, which is why this work is so important,\u201d said Upton. \u201cSouthwest Michigan has long been synonymous with cutting-edge medical research and care \u2013 from our nationally recognized hospitals and manufacturers to our most recent addition, the WMU School of Medicine. I am so pleased that Dr. Collins and Dr. Shuren have agreed to take part in this important conversation with health industry leaders right here in our own community. Michigan has an important role to play in this effort to provide more hope for families, and better treatments and cures for patients.\u201d Further details on the program and a full list of participants will be announced in the near future. Members of the public are invited to join the conversation on digital media via Facebook and Twitter by using the hashtag #Path2Cures. Additional information on 21st Century Cures may be found online at http://energycommerce.house.gov/cures.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397379", "Upton Comments on Confirmed Ebola Case in the United States", "2014-09-30", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "With news of the first confirmed Ebola case in the United States, Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement about the confirmed case of Ebola in the United States:\r\n\u201cGiven the severity of the outbreak in Africa, perhaps it was only a matter of time for the first case of Ebola to reach our shores,\u201d said Upton, who is also chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. \u201cNevertheless, today\u2019s news should serve as a wake up call.\r\n \u201cAs I have said before, the response to this outbreak must be an all-hands-on-deck effort. This is not just an Africa or United States problem. This is a global problem.\r\n \u201cThe United States has a first-class health care system and we will continue to take every step necessary to contain and prevent the spread of this disease and ensure the public health. But with the increased urgency of a U.S. case, our oversight efforts will play an increasingly important role, as will the efforts of all those involved in fighting the spread of Ebola.\r\n \u201cThe committee looks forward to having a hearing with top administration officials in the coming weeks to ensure we are taking every necessary step and precaution possible.\u201d\r\n Upton also said the House Energy and Commerce Committee plans to hold a hearing on the issue in the next several weeks. Committee members have been receiving regular, bipartisan briefings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).\r\n In addition, committee leaders have sent a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell seeking more information about the outbreak of Ebola and asking for information on how prepared the United States is battle the disease.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20141003000047/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397409", "The Blaze: The Government Doesnt Need to Charge You With a Crime to Seize Your Assets and Property", "2014-09-30", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Did you know you don\u2019t actually need to be charged with a crime for the government to seize your financial and property assets?\nUnder U.S. law, it can take only the suspicion of a crime to turn lives upside down and seize the property of innocent citizens.\nThe civil asset forfeiture law allows government agencies like the IRS or the Department of Justice to confiscate anyone\u2019s property without obtaining criminal charges against them.\nOriginally intended to seize the assets of money launderers and drug dealers, the law\u2019s low requirement threshold has allowed government agencies to incorrectly identify someone as a possible suspect in a crime take their assets. It can take more than a year for an innocent person who has had their business, property or finances seized to be cleared of wrongdoing, during which time they can lose everything, said Rep. Tim Walberg (R-Mich.), who is working to reform the law.\nWalberg has introduced the\u00a0Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act, which would require the government to show proof that an individual was involved in criminal wrongdoing before it can seize property. Currently before the House Judiciary Committee, the legislation has several cosponsors but may have difficulty passing both the House and Senate.\nWednesday\u2019s new episode of TheBlaze TV\u2019s\u00a0For the Record, \u201cSeized,\u201d will reveal how\u00a0thousands\u00a0of people have become innocent victims of the government\u2019s forfeiture law and what they are doing to fight back.\n\u201cThis has a tremendous negative impact on our freedoms and the ability to carry on our government the way it\u2019s been established according to the Constitution,\u201d Walberg said. \u201cThat\u2019s not what government should be, in the place of being a fearmonger, a producer of fear in the peoples\u2019 lives and ultimately, using their power to extract resources for their own benefit.\u201d\nDavid B. Smith, an asset forfeiture attorney \u00a0based in Alexandria, Virginia, just outside the nation\u2019s capital, told TheBlaze that many small-business owners become targets of the government because they don\u2019t have a full understanding of the law. He said many small-business owners draw the attention of the IRS when they inadvertently engage in \u201cstructuring,\u201d a banking tactic often used by money launderers.\nStructuring is when someone makes deposits or withdrawals of less $10,000 to avoid having the bank file a currency transaction report with the IRS or the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Business owners, however, have told Smith they believed they were following the law when they made deposits or withdrawals of less than $10,000.\nSmith, who helped draft the Civil Asset Forfeiture Reform Act of 2000 and other federal and state forfeiture laws, said the banks don\u2019t warn customers that they will be targeted by the government if they make these types of deposits.\n\u201cThere are federal judges who don\u2019t know it\u2019s illegal. There are loads of lawyers who don\u2019t know it\u2019s illegal, even criminal defense lawyers, because very few people handle these types of cases,\u201d Smith said.\nBut it\u2019s not just seizing people\u2019s assets without proper cause that\u2019s a concern. According to the Institute of Justice, a civil liberties law firm and government watchdog group, allegations of overreach by law enforcement have included using\u00a0forfeiture\u00a0funds to purchase unnecessary and often outlandish items, including:\n\u2022 In Georgia, a district attorney\u2019s used forfeiture funds to buy steak, booze and to see CeeLo Green in Concert.\n\u2022 In Texas, a district attorney used $500 dollars of seized forfeiture funds to buy tequila, rum and a margarita machine to throw a party.\n\u2022 Another Texas district attorney spent $27,000 to attend a conference in Hawaii.\n\u2022 A Georgia sheriff\u2019s office spent $90,000 on a Dodge Viper for its D.A.R.E. program.\nBut it\u2019s what law enforcement officials themselves say that reveals how dependent the agencies have become on forfeiture funds. At a Columbia, Missouri, Citizens Police Review Board in November 2012, Police Chief Ken Burton\u00a0explained in detail\u00a0how his department uses the forfeiture funds, saying there are no real limitations on what the departments can buy.\n\u201cWe usually base it on something that would be nice to have,\u201d Burton. \u201cWe usually base it on something that would be nice to have that we can\u2019t get in the budget for. We try not to use it for things that we need to depend on \u2026 it\u2019s kinda like \u2018Pennies from Heaven\u2019 to get you a toy or something that you need is the way we typically look at it.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=397385", "Huizenga Leads Bipartisan Call For Regulatory Transparency", "2014-09-29", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Today, Congressman Bill Huizenga (R-MI) and Congressman Gregory Meeks (D-NY) along with U.S. Senators Dean Heller (R-NV) and Jon Tester (D-MT) issued the following statements after joining to introduce a bipartisan and bicameral resolution in both the United States House of Representatives and the United States Senate to promote an open and transparent process with regard to the recent proposal introduced by the International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) to prohibit public observers from their meetings: \u00a0\r\n\u201cOpenness and transparency are vital to ensuring that regulators take into account the impact of their decisions on consumers. The International Association of Insurance Supervisors\u2019 (IAIS) suggestion to close its meetings to consumers and impacted industries is a very large step in the wrong direction. I am glad to see bipartisan and bicameral support in rejecting the idea of another group of bureaucrats attempting to shut the American people out of the regulatory process,\u201d said Congressman Huizenga.\u00a0\r\n\u201cInternational collaboration is essential in reaching cross border standards to safeguard against systemic risks in our global insurance markets. I therefore welcome IAIS continued efforts in seeking harmonized global standards, which should be adopted with the greatest level of transparency. The process should be inclusive and open to key stakeholders, including industry groups to ensure that adopted standards have been fully deliberated and understood by all parties,\u201d added Congressman Meeks.\u00a0\r\n\u201cThe IAIS must have an open and transparent process for the public to view. Holding working groups and other meetings in secrecy only discredit the decisions made by IAIS. It is critical for IAIS to have an open process to ensure input from policymakers and participants around the globe,\u201d said Senator Heller.\r\n\u201cTransparency is key to good, responsible government,\u201d Tester said. \u201cWhether in Montana, the U.S. Congress, or internationally, transparency holds folks accountable to those they serve. This resolution sends a clear message that the Association\u2019s recent efforts to reduce transparency and public participation should be abandoned to ensure that an open process is maintained.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140926005330/http://amash.house.gov/press-release/national-business-free-market-groups-give-awards-amash", "National business, free market groups give awards to Amash", "2014-09-25", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Justin Amash", "A000367", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nSeptember 25, 2014\n\u00a0\nCONTACT\nWill Adams\n(202) 225-3849\nwill.adams@mail.house.gov\n\u00a0\nNational business, free market groups give awards to Amash\nAmash scores trio of accolades from leading economic advocates\nWASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Three national business and free market groups in the past week gave awards to Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) for his record on economic issues.\nThe National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) gave Amash its \u201cGuardian of Small Business\u201d award for his support of tax relief and domestic energy production and combatting Obamacare. The NFIB represents 350,000 small and independent business owners in the United States.\n\u201cThe record shows that Rep. Amash is a true champion of small business, supporting the votes that matter in the 113th Congress,\u201d said NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner. \u201cThis award reflects our members\u2019 appreciation for supporting the NFIB pro-growth agenda for small business.\u201d\nThe National Taxpayers Union (NTU) similarly gave Amash their \u201cTaxpayers\u2019 Friend\u201d award for 2013. Amash scored second-highest on NTU\u2019s scorecard in the entire House. NTU rates congressmen on every vote concerning taxes, spending, and debt. NTU is one of the oldest taxpayer organizations, and it advocates for \u201ctax relief and reform, lower and less wasteful [government] spending, individual liberty, and free enterprise.\u201d\n\u201cWith so many remaining doubts that our economy has completely turned a corner, it\u2019s never been more important for Washington to change direction on fiscal policy,\u201d NTU President Pete Sepp said. \u201cFortunately, the taxpayers of Michigan\u2019s Third District could count on Rep. Amash to help put our nation on a saner path. Day in and day out, Rep. Amash earned the title of \u2018Taxpayers\u2019 Friend.\u2019\u201d\nFinally, the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI) gave Amash its \u201cChampion of the Worker\u201d award for a \u201cperfect voting record[] on key employment and workforce issues\u201d in this Congress.\nReferring to the 28 House members who won the award, CEI\u2019s Aloysius Hogan said, \u201cThese lawmakers resisted all of the accounting gimmickry, unfunded government handouts that burden future workers, and additional federal mandates that put people\u2019s jobs and economic well-being at risk.\u201d\n\u201cI\u2019m honored to receive awards from the major business and free enterprise groups,\u201d said Amash. \u201cI work for ordinary Americans and against the inside deals hatched by special interests and Washington politicians. I will continue fighting for smaller government, less regulation, and more freedom for the American people.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/tim-walberg-honored-guardian-small-business-nfib", "Tim Walberg Honored as Guardian of Small Business by NFIB", "2014-09-22", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C. Rep. Walberg was named a \"Guardian of Small Business\" by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for his voting record on behalf of America's small-business owners in the 113th Congress.\nNFIB President and CEO Dan Danner praised Rep. Walberg for \"standing up for small business.\" In presenting the group's coveted Guardian of Small Business Award, Danner said, \"Small-business owners are very politically active  paying close attention to how their lawmakers vote on key business issues and stand by those who stand for them.\"\n\"The record shows that Rep.Walberg is a true champion of small business, supporting the votes that matter in the 113th Congress,\" said Danner. \"This award reflects our members' appreciation for supporting the NFIB pro-growth agenda for small business.\nRep. Walberg released the following statement after receiving the award:\n\"With small businesses creating and employing more than 50 percent of the workforce, I am honored to be recognized with an award that champions their success. I will continue to support efforts which create jobs and give small businesses the tools they need to grow and expand.\"\nNFIB's \"How Congress Voted,\" which serves as a report card for members of Congress, was also unveiled this week. The report presents key small-business votes and voting percentages for each lawmaker. Those voting favorably on key small-business issues at least 70 percent of the time during the 113th Congress are eligible for the Guardian award.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140922190511/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394260", "Tim Walberg Honored as Guardian of Small Business by NFIB", "2014-09-22", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON, D.C.\u2013 Rep. Walberg was named a \u201cGuardian of Small Business\u201d by the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) for his voting record on behalf of America\u2019s small-business owners in the 113th Congress.\nNFIB President and CEO Dan Danner praised Rep. Walberg for \u201cstanding up for small business.\u201d In presenting the group\u2019s coveted Guardian of Small Business Award, Danner said, \u201cSmall-business owners are very politically active \u2013 paying close attention to how their lawmakers vote on key business issues and stand by those who stand for them.\u201d\n\u201cThe record shows that Rep.Walberg is a true champion of small business, supporting the votes that matter in the 113th Congress,\u201d said Danner. \u201cThis award reflects our members\u2019 appreciation for supporting the NFIB pro-growth agenda for small business.\u00a0\nRep. Walberg released the following statement after receiving the award:\n\u201cWith small businesses creating and employing more than 50 percent of the workforce, I am honored to be recognized with an award that champions their success. I will continue to support efforts which create jobs and give small businesses the tools they need to grow and expand.\u201d\nNFIB\u2019s \u201cHow Congress Voted,\u201d which serves as a report card for members of Congress, was also unveiled this week. The report presents key small-business votes and voting percentages for each lawmaker. Those voting favorably on key small-business issues at least 70 percent of the time during the 113th Congress are eligible for the Guardian award.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140924061625/http://amash.house.gov/press-release/amash-host-town-halls-grand-rapids-and-battle-creek", "Amash to host town halls in Grand Rapids and Battle Creek", "2014-09-22", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Justin Amash", "A000367", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE\nSeptember 22, 2014\n\u00a0\nCONTACT\nJordan Bush\n(616) 451-8383\njordan.bush@mail.house.gov\n\u00a0\nAmash to host town halls in Grand Rapids and Battle Creek \nGRAND RAPIDS, Mich. \u2013 Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) announced town hall meetings in Grand Rapids and Battle Creek.\nThe town halls are open to the public.\nWHAT:\nTown Hall Meeting\n\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\nWHEN:\nWednesday, September 24, 2014\n5:30 p.m. \u2013 6:30 p.m.\n\u00a0\nWHERE:\nBoard of Commissioners Chambers\nKent County Building, 3rd Floor\n300 Monroe Ave. NW\nGrand Rapids, MI 49503\n\n__________________________________________________________\n\nWHAT:\nTown Hall Meeting\n\u00a0\nWHEN:\nThursday, September 25, 2014\n12:00 p.m. \u2013 1:00 p.m.\n\u00a0\nWHERE:\nBattle Creek City Hall\n10 N. Division St.\nBattle Creek, MI 49014\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394307", "THE DENVER POST: A (political) breakthrough on biomedical research", "2014-09-20", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "\u200bFor those who have despaired of the two parties in Congress working together on behalf of important goals, brace yourselves for some good news: A powerful House Republican and Colorado's own Democratic Rep. Diana DeGette are joining in an ambitious effort to restructure funding and regulations around biomedical research to foster innovation and life-saving products.\u00a0It's an important collaboration called 21st Century Cures. Not only could it accelerate biomedical breakthroughs, it could also ensure the United States retains its lead as the center of innovation \u2014 a lead that has eroded in recent years.\u00a0\u00a0| The chairman of the Energy and Commerce Committee, Fred Upton of Michigan, and DeGette have spent the past few months seeking advice from a broad spectrum of experts associated with biomedical research, from scientists to regulators to investors. And they intend to draft a bill by year's end to introduce in the next Congress.\u00a0\u00a0 \"We've discovered there is quite a bit of consensus\" on what to do, DeGette told us. And that consensus includes those running government agencies such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and Food and Drug Administration (FDA) \u2014 meaning they won't stand in the way.\u00a0\u00a0 DeGette points to several problems that need attention:\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022 Reliable funding. Although funding for NIH was doubled in 2001, it has lost 25 percent of its buying power since because of budget freezes and cuts.\u00a0\u00a0 \u2022 The obsolete structure of the federal agencies, which slows down approvals. As a result, a 21st Century white paper explains, \"the timelines, size, failure rates, and costs of conducting trials [for new therapies] are at all-time highs, with administrative and regulatory burdens often contributing to such increases.\" Indeed, the cost of developing a new drug now exceeds $1 billion.\u00a0 \u2022 Lack of a centralized registry for those engaged in biomedical research. \"If you had a registry \u2014 with informed consent for patients \u2014 then you could have one pipeline to get those big studies done,\" DeGette said. Large-scale genome trials could be done much more easily, she added.\u00a0\u00a0 There are other issues, too, but suffice it to say the legislation will cover a lot of ground. But that's also why it is potentially such an important initiative that, if done properly, should attract wide, bipartisan support.\u00a0\u00a0 After all, DeGette observed, \"Addressing disease is not a partisan issue.\"\u00a0 Click here to read the editorial online", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394121", "Huizenga Named Guardian of Small Business By NFIB", "2014-09-19", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "This week, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) was named a Guardian of Small Business by the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) based on his record of supporting pro-growth policies that increase job creation and support small business expansion.  After receiving the award, Congressman Huizenga released the following statement:  \u201cI am honored to be recognized by the National Federation of Independent Businesses as a Guardian of Small Business,\u201d said Huizenga.  \u201cAs a small business owner myself, I understand how tax and regulatory policies crafted in Washington directly impact job creators and economic growth across West Michigan. Because of their unique ability to adapt and innovate, small business entrepreneurs will continue to be a driving force in growing Michigan\u2019s economy and boosting job creation.\u201d\n\"The record shows that Congressman Huizenga is a true champion of small business, supporting the votes that matter in the 113th Congress,\u201d said NFIB President and CEO Dan Danner.  \u201cThis award reflects our members\u2019 appreciation for supporting the NFIB pro-growth agenda for small business.\u201d\nNFIB\u2019s \u201cHow Congress Voted,\u201d which serves as a report card for members of Congress, was also unveiled this week. The report presents key small-business votes and voting percentages for each lawmaker. Those voting favorably on key small-business issues at least 70 percent of the time during the 113th Congress are eligible for the Guardian award. This is the second consecutive Guardian of Small Business Award for Congressman Huizenga.  He has received a perfect score of 100 percent both times he has received the award.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394071", "Huizenga Small Business Legislation Included in House Passed Jobs Package", "2014-09-18", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Huizenga Small Business Legislation Included in House Passed Jobs Package\r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      f \r\n      t \r\n      #\r\n      e\r\n      \r\n      \r\n    \r\n    \r\n      \r\n        Washington,\r\n        September 18, 2014\r\n      \r\n       \r\n    \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n  \r\n    \r\n      \r\n      \r\n      Tonight, the House passed H.R. 4 \u2013 the Jobs for America Act \u2013 a package of 15 bills designed to strengthen the economy. \u00a0Included in the jobs package was H.R. 2274 authored by Congressman Huizenga. H.R. 2274 removes regulatory roadblocks surrounding the sale and transfer of small and mid-sized businesses.\u00a0 The House jobs package passed by a vote of 253 to 163.\u00a0 After the vote, Congressman Huizenga released the following statement:\r\n\u201cIt has been estimated that approximately $10 trillion of privately owned, small, and family-run businesses will be sold or closed in the coming years as baby boomers retire,\u201d said Huizenga.\u00a0 \u201cClosure of these small businesses will cost countless jobs across the nation and impact communities from Ludington to Kentwood here in West Michigan. By reducing overly burdensome regulations on business brokerage services, we can create an environment where these small businesses are smoothly transferred to the next generation of entrepreneurs.\u00a0 H.R. 2274 helps preserve small business jobs currently in existence while fostering opportunity for future economic expansion and job creation.\u201d\r\n\r\nIn addition to Congressman Huizenga\u2019s legislation, H.R. 4 included the following jobs bills:\u00a0\r\n\r\n    H.R. 2575, the Save American Workers Act, authored by Representative Todd Young, which repeals Obamacare\u2019s 30-hour definition of full-time employment;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 899, the Unfunded Mandates Information and Transparency Act, authored by Representative Virginia Foxx, which equips Congress and the public with tools to determine the true costs of regulations;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 2804, the Achieving Less Excess in Regulation and Requiring Transparency (ALERRT) Act, authored by Representative George Holding, Chairman Bob Goodlatte, Representative Doug Collins, and Representative Spencer Bachus, which promotes jobs, better wages, and economic growth through regulatory reform;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 367, Regulations From the Executive in Need of Scrutiny (REINS) Act, authored by Representative Todd Young, which ensures that Congress votes on all new major rules before they can be enforced;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 1105, the Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act, authored by Representative Robert Hurt, which prevents Dodd-Frank Act regulations from diverting capital from small- and medium-sized businesses;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 3474, the Hire More Heroes Act, authored by Representative Rodney Davis, which incentivizes businesses to hire veterans by excluding them from ObamaCare\u2019s employer mandate threshold;\u00a0\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 1526, the Restoring Healthy Forests for Healthy Communities Act, authored by Chairman Doc Hastings, which will put Americans back to work by promoting responsible timber production;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 761, the National Strategic and Critical Minerals Production Act, authored by Representative Mark Amodei, which allows the U.S. to develop resources that are critical to our economic\u00a0competitiveness;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 3086, the Permanent Internet Tax Freedom Act, authored by Chairman Bob Goodlatte, which protects internet access for all Americans and fosters growth in the digital economy;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 4438, the American Research and Competitiveness Act, authored by Representative Kevin Brady, which makes the R&D Tax Credit permanent, paving the way for increased innovation and investment in the U.S.;\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 4457, the America's Small Business Tax Relief Act, authored by Representative Pat Tiberi, which makes section 179 expensing permanent ensuring that our small businesses have the certainty they need to grow their businesses and create jobs;\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 4453, the S Corporation Permanent Tax Relief Act, authored by Representative\u00a0 Dave Reichert, which provides the necessary flexibility for S corporations to access capital and make new investments;\u00a0\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 4718, authored by Representative Pat Tiberi, making bonus depreciation permanent in order to lower the cost of capital for businesses; and\r\n\r\n\r\n    H.R. 523, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2013, authored by Representative Erik Paulsen repeals the excise tax on medical devices that part of ObamaCare.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394009", "Upton recognizes Jasmnika Newbern of Benton Harbor on being honored as Midwest Youth of the Year", "2014-09-18", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, had the honor of introducing Jasmnika Newbern of Benton Harbor, Mich., at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Congressional Breakfast today in the nation's capital where she recognized as \u201cMidwest Youth of the Year.\u201d The Benton Harbor High School graduate is the first member of her family to attend college and is now a freshman at Michigan State University where she plans to study criminal justice. Newbern was named \u201cMichigan Youth of the Year\u201d this spring and went on to excel at the regional competition in Chicago. As a student in Benton Harbor, Newbern helped lead an anti-bullying campaign and organized a student-led peace rally and walk against teen violence and bullying. \u201cJasmnika is an intelligent, determined, and inspirational young woman who has shown how one individual \u2013 even in high school \u2013 can make a real difference in their community,\u201d said Upton, who also met with Newbern yesterday in his Washington office. \u201cHer experience is such a powerful testament to the important role organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton Harbor play in communities across the country.\u201d Click\u00a0here\u00a0to watch Jasmnika Newbern\u2019s acceptance speech", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=394062", "Walberg Votes for Bills to Reduce Energy Costs & Promote Job Creation", "2014-09-18", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-votes-bills-reduce-energy-costs-promote-job-creation", "Walberg Votes for Bills to Reduce Energy Costs & Promote Job Creation", "2014-09-18", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Rep. Walberg voted in favor of H.R. 2, the American Energy Solutions for Lower Costs and More American Jobs Act, and H.R. 4, the Jobs for America Act. H.R. 2 is a comprehensive package of energy bills already passed by the House and awaiting a Senate vote that would expand energy production and lower energy costs. H.R. 4 is a single jobs package of bills that includes legislation to reduce federal regulations, lower taxes and equip job-creators with the tools they need to succeed.\n\"American families and American businesses are struggling under excessive federal regulations, high energy costs and burdensome taxes. We can't afford to wait any longer to address these issues. I'm proud to support these pieces of legislation that reaffirm our commitment to an all-of-the-above' energy strategy and creating jobs for a healthy economy,\" said Rep. Walberg following the vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393723", "Huizenga Legislation To Help Low & Moderate Income Families Sent To Senate", "2014-09-17", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Last night, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 5461 containing several provisions to reform Dodd-Frank including, the Mortgage Choice Act, legislation first introduced by Congressman Huizenga to help low and moderate income Americans attain a qualified mortgage. \u00a0Congressman Huizenga released the following statement after H.R. 5461 passed with strong bipartisan support by a vote of 327 to 97:\n\"This legislation will help low and middle income borrowers as well as prospective first-time homeowners realize a portion of the American Dream,\u201d said Huizenga. \u201cHard-working families across the nation should not be denied access to a qualified mortgage because of technicalities that are largely out of their control. H.R. 5461 represents a positive, bipartisan step forward to make sure West Michigan residents can attain mortgages for their first home; Michigan farmers can access the financing they need to buy tractors and work their land; and Americans across the nation can buy insurance policies without severe premium increases.\u201d\nOn Monday,\u00a0Congressman Huizenga spoke on the House floor during the debate on H.R. 5461.\u00a0 A video and transcript of Rep. Huizenga\u2019s remarks are available below.\n<\n\nRep. Huizenga: Mr. Speaker, I rise tonight in support of H.R. 5461, a bill authored by Mr. Barr, my colleague on the Financial Services Committee, and cosponsored by Mr. Miller from California and myself.  This bill contains four titles.  Three of which have already passed this House with overwhelming or unanimous support, and one that passed with only a dozen \u2018no\u2019 votes. Mr. Speaker, it is rare that the Senate sends us meaningful legislation, and it is even rarer when they send us legislation that fixes the Dodd-Frank Act.  As we on the Financial Services Committee have seen in our hearings and markups, our friends on the other side of the aisle and the other side of the Capitol, usually defend Dodd-Frank to the hilt - bestowing upon it the kind of deference normally reserved for sacred texts handed down from the Heavens.   We should all agree that Congress doesn\u2019t always get it right.  When sweeping legislation is enacted -- and remember, Dodd-Frank is a 2,300-page bill -- there are often areas that later need clarification.  That is exactly what we are here talking about today.   Whatever one\u2019s position on Dodd-Frank, we should all be able to agree that the text is not sacred and does need some fixing.   That is why I am pleased that the Senate has sent us a bill to clarify that regulators should not impose regulatory capital requirements designed for banking institutions on insurance companies. The Senate bill, S. 2270, passed the other body unanimously.  There is broad support in the House for a companion measure.  But there is equally broad support for three other Dodd-Frank technical correction amendments that have previously passed this House\u2014Mr. Barr\u2019s bill on the treatment of collateralized loan obligations under the Volcker Rule; Mr. Grimm\u2019s bill to exempt end-users of derivatives from Dodd-Frank\u2019s overreaching margin requirements; and my own bill on how \u2018points and fees\u2019 are treated under Dodd-Frank\u2019s onerous qualified mortgage rule. My legislation that is included in this package is a strong, bipartisan provision that modifies and clarifies the way \"points and fees\" are calculated.  This provision is narrowly focused to promote access to affordable mortgage credit without overturning the important consumer protections and sound underwriting required under Dodd-Frank's \"ability to repay\" provisions.  Homeownership has been a pillar in American life for generations and this particular provision will help more Americans realize this portion of the American Dream. This bill is a commonsense measure that should, and I believe does, have broad bipartisan support.  I was puzzled, however, by a Dear Colleague Letter produced by Ranking Member Waters circulated earlier today.  In the letter, she writes that Mr. Barr has coupled the insurance capital bill with other \u201cdivisive legislation.\u201d  I would ask my friend the Ranking Member what divisive legislation is she referring to.  Is it the CLO bill, which passed the House on voice vote?  Is it the end-user bill, which passed the House and the Ranking Member's \u2018yes\u2019 vote herself and only a dozen nay votes?  Or is it my bill, that also passed the House on voice vote? I don\u2019t see the divisiveness and I don\u2019t see where the problem is. The reality is that Americans don\u2019t care about the parliamentary process so much as they want results.  We are pleased that the Senate has finally come to the table on Dodd-Frank reforms. This legislation represents a step forward in working with the other body to make sure that my constituents can get mortgages to buy their first home; that farmers can access the financing they need to buy tractors and work their land; and that Americans can buy insurance policies without severe premium increases.  I encourage my colleagues to support H.R. 5461\u2014especially my Democratic friends whom I believe support every component of the package.  I reserve the balance of my time. Background: The Mortgage Choice Act originally passed the House unanimously on June 9, 2014; however the Senate has yet to act on this important legislation.  The inclusion of Rep. Huizenga\u2019s legislation in H.R. 5461 gives the Senate another opportunity to make homeownership a reality for more Americans across the nation.   More details on H.R. 3211, including Congressman Huizenga\u2019s floor speech on the importance of reaffirming homeownership as a pillar of life in America, can be found here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393922", "Upton supports bipartisan measure to fund government, authorize action against ISIS", "2014-09-17", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, voted today for a stopgap measure (H.J.Res.124) to prevent a government shutdown and keep federal agencies operating under current FY 2014 rates until mid December. The short-term funding bill passed the House of Representatives by a bipartisan vote of 319 to 108 and now awaits action in the Senate. \u201cThis bipartisan agreement ensures our government remains operational as Congress completes its work to pass line-by-line appropriations bills for the remainder of the upcoming fiscal year. I am hopeful that the Senate will follow the House\u2019s lead and act without haste.\u201d H.J.Res.124 keeps government operations at current levels into the new fiscal year, until December 11, 2014. The extension affords the House and Senate time to complete its work on full-year appropriations legislation for FY 2015.  Upton also voted in favor of an amendment to the underlying funding bill that authorizes the Pentagon to train and equip vetted Syrian opposition groups in the battle against the terrorist organization ISIS. Offered by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. \u201cBuck\u201d McKeon, R-Calif., the amendment was adopted by a vote of 273 to 156. \u201cThirteen years ago, our world was shaken as we witnessed the heinous destruction of thousands of innocent lives here on U.S. soil. We saw evil, looked it in the eye and vowed never again. The threat posed by ISIS and other radical terrorist organizations is all too real and must be eradicated. The United States does not stand alone it this effort, but we have a responsibility to lead.\u201d The McKeon amendment does not authorize use of military force. It also ensures congressional oversight and greater transparency through reporting requirements. The provision does not authorize additional funds, but requires the President to submit a reprogramming request to Congress for existing funds.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://huizenga.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393643", "Huizenga: President Obama Lied About ObamaCare Preventing Taxpayer Funded Abortion Services", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Bill Huizenga", "H001058", "huizenga.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The non-partisan Government Accountability Office (GAO) issued a report concluding American taxpayers have subsidized abortion services for more than 1,000 insurance plans across the nation.\u00a0 This report directly contradicts promises made by President Obama and pro-life congressional democrats that ObamaCare would respect longstanding bipartisan law by preventing taxpayer dollars from being used to pay for abortion on demand. \r\nToday, Congressman Bill Huizenga (MI-02) released the following statement regarding ObamaCare allowing for taxpayer funded abortions:\r\n\u201cPresident Obama came before Congress and promised the American people that no federal dollars would be used to fund abortions.\u00a0 Today\u2019s GAO report proves this promise, and others made in support of ObamaCare, are unequivocally false. Without this \u2018Presidential Promise,\u2019 ObamaCare would likely not have passed the House of Representatives and become the law of the land. While the State of Michigan has taken steps to prevent taxpayers from paying for abortions, it has become abundantly clear that the federal government has failed to do so.\u00a0\r\n\r\n\u201cEarlier this year, the House passed the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion and Abortion Insurance Full Disclosure Act which would prevent federal dollars from funding abortion services; however the Senate has refused to act on this common sense legislation. \u00a0American taxpayers should not be forced to violate their conscience and pay for abortions. The U.S. Senate needs to immediately act to fix this problem, uphold bipartisan agreements, and protect American taxpayers.\u201d\r\n\r\nBackground:", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393680", "Upton Committee Report Details Failures of Auto Safety Regulators in GM Ignition Switch Recall", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Upton: \u201cIt is tragic that the evidence was staring NHTSA in the face and the agency didn\u2019t identify the warnings\u2026 They failed.\u201d\r\n          share:\r\n          f \r\n          t \r\n        \r\n      \r\n      \u200bThe House Energy and Commerce Committee today released a new report written by the majority staff outlining the findings of its investigation related to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration\u2019s (NHTSA) role in the delay of the General Motors (GM) ignition switch recall. The report identified a number of key failures and missed opportunities by the nation\u2019s automobile safety regulator in analyzing and responding to data and information provided to the agency, which contributed to NHTSA\u2019s inability to identify the safety defect.\u00a0GM has recalled millions of vehicles this year for issues that have been linked to at least 19 deaths, including two teenagers from the Southwest Michigan district of Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph. Upton\u2019s committee opened an investigation into the actions of both GM and NHTSA following the initial recall of certain Chevrolet Cobalt models due to an ignition switch defect which could cause the ignition to inadvertently move from the \u201crun\u201d mode and may prevent air bags from deploying in affected vehicles. The committee\u2019s investigation, along with GM\u2019s internal investigation conducted by Anton Valukas, revealed a series of failures by the company to identify and remedy this defect, which contributed to tragic injuries and the loss of life. But the committee\u2019s investigation also uncovered failures and critical mistakes by NHTSA, which allowed this fatal problem to fester unresolved for over a decade.\u00a0  \"It is tragic that the evidence was staring NHTSA in the face and the agency didn't identify the warnings. NHTSA exists not just to process what the company finds, but to dig deeper. They failed,\u201d said Upton. \u201cWe'll keep looking for answers, and keep working toward solutions \u2013 whether it means changing our laws or pressing for change at the companies that follow them and the agencies that enforce them \u2013 but we know for sure that NHTSA was part of the problem and is going to have to be part of the solution.\u201d  As outlined in the report, the committee\u2019s findings revealed that NHTSA had ample information to identify a potential safety defect as early as 2007, including a State Trooper report linking air bags and the ignition switch and three independent investigations commissioned by the agency involving the non-deployment of frontal airbags in the Cobalt. NHTSA failed to follow up on the information it was provided and also lacked an understanding of the advanced vehicle systems that were implemented in response to the agency\u2019s own standards.  The committee identified key problems in the agency\u2019s practices that contributed to the failure of NHTSA to identify the safety defect, including a failure to keep pace with the industry it regulates, information silos, a culture that minimizes accountability, and a tendency to get overwhelmed or distracted by specific issues.  While GM has taken some steps to fix its mistakes, it does not appear NHTSA has taken any corrective actions. The report notes \u201cfive months later, there is no evidence, at least publicly, that anything has changed at the agency. No one has been held accountable and no substantial changes have been made. NHTSA and its employees admit they made mistakes but the lack of urgency in identifying and resolving those shortcomings raises questions about the agency\u2019s commitment to learning from this recall.\u201d  The committee\u2019s report concludes, \u201cThe agency\u2019s repeated failure to identify, let alone explore, the potential defect theory related to the ignition switch \u2014 even after it was spelled out in a report the agency commissioned \u2014 is inexcusable. This was compounded by NHTSA staff\u2019s lack of knowledge and awareness regarding the evolution of vehicle safety systems they regulate. Regulators should not be held to a different standard. NHTSA\u2019s conduct needs to reflect its mission and serve as a model to those it regulates.\u00a0 The agency, therefore, must be willing to hold itself accountable and learn from past mistakes.\u201d  To view the committee\u2019s full report, click HERE.\u00a0  To view a list of supporting documents, click HERE.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393725", "Upton makes strong case for Fort Custer to Missile Defense Agency head", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "To ensure our homeland remains protected in the event of an attack, the United States must be prepared for the worst, says Congressman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, who met today with Vice Adm. James D. Syring, the current director of the Missile Defense Agency (MDA). Sitting in his Washington, DC office, Upton made a strong case for the selection of the Fort Custer Training Center of Augusta, Mich. Fort Custer is one of four locations being considered by the MDA for a potential interceptor site capable of shielding the eastern-half of the United States against threats posed by nations like Iran and North Korea. \u201cSouthwest Michigan not only has the infrastructure, resources, and leadership, we have the strong public backing to support this critical national security mission,\u201d said Upton, who attended a public scoping meeting hosted by the MDA at the Sherman Lake YMCA in Augusta in late August.  In addition to the support of the local community, Upton noted the selection of Fort Custer has the strong endorsement of Michigan Governor Rick Snyder as well as Maj. Gen. Gregory J. Vadnais, the Adjutant General who commands the Michigan Army and Air National Guard units. \u201cGovernor Snyder and I are really pleased and appreciate the incredible support from the community and Congressman Upton to construct GBI at Fort Custer, should the decision be made to move forward,\u201d said Maj. Gen. Vadnais. Building the missile defense system would infuse more than $3 billion into Southwest Michigan\u2019s economy, resulting in the addition of 300 new direct jobs and as many as 1,800 indirect jobs. Upton recently submitted a letter in strong support of the selection of Fort Custer as part of the official public comment period. A copy of the letter may be found here, the full text of which follows immediately below. September 12, 2014 Black & Veatch Special Projects Corp  \nAttn: MDA CIS EIS\n6601 College Boulevard\nOverland Park, KS 66211-1504 To Whom It May Concern: As the Department of Defense studies potential locations for an East Coast missile defense site, I wish to express my strong support for the Fort Custer Training Center in Augusta, Michigan, as the future home of this important national security mission.  Strategically located between Chicago and Detroit, the region surrounding Fort Custer boasts the robust critical infrastructure necessary to support the construction and long-term success of this mission, including surface and air transportation; energy; housing; and education. Positioned near two major interstates highways (I-94 and I-69), the location is a stone\u2019s throw away from the 110th Airlift Wing at the W.K. Kellogg Air National Guard Base, which boasts a 10,000-foot runway capable of meeting Department of Defense needs. Presently home to the Michigan Army National Guard\u2019s 177th Regiment, the Regional Training Institute, and the Augusta Armory, the Fort Custer Training Center is the heart of a community with a proud and longstanding history of supporting our military and its veterans.  Public support for the selection of Fort Custer has been overwhelming at every level. Both our state\u2019s Governor and Adjutant General are strong supporters and recognize the importance of this mission. The Kalamazoo County Board of Commissioners, the Calhoun County Board of Commissioners, and the Michigan State Senate (among others) have all passed resolutions formally endorsing the site, and the Michigan State House is expected to do the same. Fort Custer also has the backing of the region\u2019s two leading economic development organizations \u2013 Southwest Michigan First and Battle Creek Unlimited \u2013 as well as the recent endorsement of the Kalamazoo Gazette \u2013 the area\u2019s largest print and online news source. I recently attended the Missile Defense Agency\u2019s public scoping meeting in Augusta, which was preceded by a tour of the two potential interceptor sites at the training center location. The meeting was well-planned, informative, and well-attended \u2013 MDA leadership and staff deserve to be commended for a job well done. I am one who has always recognized that providing for our national security and care of our veterans are priorities that rise above politics. I have never hesitated to stand by our Armed Forces to ensure that they have the training, resources, and funding necessary to succeed both here at home and abroad. I have also supported efforts to provide for greater collaboration with our first responders to prepare for any contingency. With growing threats from rogue states like Iran and North Korea \u2013 along with emerging threats posed by well-financed terrorist organizations like ISIS \u2013 we as a nation need to be prepared for the worst. The location of a future interceptor site is a decision that is vital to our national security and thus must be based on that above all else. That is why I am excited that we have such a top-notch site ready to go here in Southwest Michigan. I respectfully urge you to locate the next interceptor site at Fort Custer. Thank you for your time and thoughtful consideration. Sincerely, Fred Upton\nMember of Congress", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393681", "Rep Walberg Welcomes Constituents to Receive  Angels in Adoption Award", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393719", "Walberg Votes to Assist Veterans", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393721", "House Passes Walberg Legislation To Bring Greater Accountability & Transparency to Government", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Press Releases \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work on behalf of Michigan's 7th District.\n\u00a0\nPress Kit \nMembers of the media can view Rep. Walberg\u2019s biography and download an official picture.\n\u00a0\nTim in the News \nFind the latest articles about Rep. Walberg from local and national papers.\n\u00a0\nOpinion Editorial \nRead the latest opinion editorials authored by Rep. Walberg.\n\u00a0\nLatest Videos \nVideos of Rep. Walberg from the House floor and committees.\n\u00a0\nSocial Media \nFollow Rep. Walberg on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for more updates.\n\u00a0\ne-Newsletter Archive \nStay up-to-date on Rep. Walberg\u2019s work in D.C. and in Michigan through the e-newsletter.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/house-passes-walberg-legislation-bring-greater-accountability-transparency", "House Passes Walberg Legislation To Bring Greater Accountability & Transparency to Government", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, the House passed in H.R. 5169, the Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, legislation Rep. Walberg authored to provide greater transparency and accountability within the Senior Executive Service (SES). The Senior Executive Service is comprised of senior level employees in managerial supervisory, and policy positions in the Executive Branch of the Federal Government.\nH.R.5169 would make Senior Executive Service employees subject to the same employment standards as other civil service personnel. It would streamline the process for removing members of the SES for misconduct, subject SES employees to many of the same rules for the employees they supervise, and would limit the amount of time an agency has to complete adverse action proceeding for senior leaders engaged in misconduct.\n\"From the IRS to the VA, the American people have lost trust in the federal government to do the right thing. In many cases, these scandals have been spearheaded or continued by senior executive employees. My bill raises the level of accountability when misconduct occurs and provide greater assurances to the American taxpayer that Washington is being good stewards of their hard-earned dollars,\" said Rep. Walberg following the vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-walberg-welcomes-constituents-receive-angels-adoption-award", "Rep Walberg Welcomes Constituents to Receive  Angels in Adoption Award", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Rep. Tim Walberg is proud to announce that Dick and Cathy Caskey from North Adams have been named Angels in Adoption recipients through the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI).The Caskeys have five biological children and have given 16 adopted children a loving home.\n\"The Angels in Adoption award could not go to a more deserving couple. Dick and Cathy Caskey feel every child deserves to be in a home where he or she is cherished and have opened their hearts to special needs children over the years that have been challenged with blindness, epilepsy, autism, cerebral palsy and other difficulties. They are truly an inspiration,\" said Rep. Walberg.\nThe Angels in Adoption program was established in 1999 and is a public awareness campaign and provides an opportunity for all members of the U.S. Congress to honor the good work of their constituents who have enriched the lives of foster children and orphans in the United States and abroad. The Caskeys were honored at the annual CCAI awards ceremony on September 16 in Washington, D.C. with hundreds of other recipients from around the country.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-supports-bipartisan-child-care-development-block-grant-reforms", "Walberg Supports Bipartisan Child Care & Development  Block Grant Reforms", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.- Today, Rep. Walberg helped pass a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. The CCDBG program has not been reauthorized since 1996 andS. 1086,the Child Care and Development Block Grant Actmodernizes the CCDBG program and implementsreformswhichenhance parental choice, strengthen child safety and promote better care for our kids.\n\"This program is important inhelpingmanyworking families balance the demands of their jobs and caring for their kids.I applaud the bipartisan work on the bill while still maintaining the program's essential purpose with increased state flexibility and parental choice,\"commented Rep. Walberg after the vote.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://walberg.house.gov/media/press-releases/walberg-votes-assist-veterans", "Walberg Votes to Assist Veterans", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "walberg.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, D.C.  Today, Rep. Walberg voted for a package of bills to help our nation's veterans. Among the bills passed with bipartisan support are measures to rein in out-of-control costs of three major Veterans Affairs projects, provide for a cost-of-living increase for certain disabled veterans and their dependents, and extend a number of important programs which help female veterans and homeless veterans.\n\"I remain committed to assisting our nation's veterans and ensuring they have access to the benefits they deserve. Today's legislation illustrates the House's continued commitment to delivering on these promises while also rooting out waste and abuse within the VA,\" said Rep. Walberg following the votes.   \nBackground on bills:\n H.R. 3593The VA Construction Assistance Act would implement reforms to expedite construction and rein in the out-of-control costs of three major VA regional projects under development\n  H.R. 5404- Department of Veterans Affairs Expiring Authorities Act would extend a number of programs benefitting female veterans, homeless veterans and student veterans and other authorities given to the VA pertaining to health care, housing and transportation\n  H.R. 4276- Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury Improvement Act would require the VA to submit detailed quarterly reports to the Congress regarding the pilot program for rehabilitative services for veterans with traumatic brain injury\n  S. 2258- Veterans' Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act would provide for an increase in the rates of compensation of veterans with service connected disabilities and rates of dependency and indemnity compensation or the survivors of certain disabled veterans", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140918224859/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393786", "Government Executives: House Approves Bill To Make It Easier to Fire Senior Executives", "2014-09-16", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "The House on Tuesday passed legislation that would make it easier to discipline and fire senior executives across the federal government.\nThe Senior Executive Service Accountability Act (H.R. 5169) would make the federal government\u2019s top career officials eligible for one- to 14-day suspensions without pay, and expand the criteria that could be used to justify firing them. Currently, members of the SES can only be\u00a0suspended for more than 14 days, or fired. Those who are suspended continue to receive pay, must receive 30 days\u2019 advance notice of a proposed suspension, have the right to reply, and the right to appeal to the Merit Systems Protection Board. Agencies can issue a reprimand in lieu of a suspension for lesser offenses.\nThe new provision allowing for shorter suspensions gives supervisors more flexibility in disciplining senior executives. Opponents of the bill, however, believe it could lead to politically-motivated suspensions.\nThe final bill also includes a provision that would require SES employees put on administrative leave during the investigation and ultimately fired if the Merit Systems Protection Board sides with the agency, to pay back their salary and accrued annual leave for that period of time to the agency. In addition, the legislation would get rid of a provision in the current law which allows\u00a0SES employees removed for performance and placed in a General Schedule job\u00a0from retaining their SES salary.\u00a0\nThe House passed H.R. 5169 under a suspension of the rules on Tuesday night.\nH.R. 5169 would extend the initial probationary period for SES employees from one to two years. Many of the procedural hurdles that prevent agencies from immediately firing senior executives do not apply when the employees are in their probationary periods. H.R. 5169 also requires agencies to provide a written justification for each of their\u00a0SES positions every two years, and give employees a written description of their job performance requirements 30 days before each evaluation period.\nSenior executives now\u00a0can be fired\u00a0for poor performance, misconduct, or the failure to complete assigned duties within the confines of due process. H.R. 5169 would add another reason defined as \u201csuch cause as would promote the efficiency of the service.\u201d As of September 2013, there were 7,190 career senior executives in the federal government, according to\u00a0data\u00a0from the Office of Personnel Management.\nThe Senior Executive Service Accountability Act, introduced by Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Mich., and cosponsored by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif. \u2013 significantly changes SES oversight. H.R. 5169 was inspired by\u00a0Lois Lerner, the senior executive at the heart of the IRS controversy who continued to collect pay during the investigation and retired at the height of the scandal. Lerner has continued to deny any wrongdoing in the matter.\nIt\u2019s not the first time, however, that lawmakers have sought to make it easier to fire top career officials who, unlike appointees, have strong job protections within the civil service system so that they can\u2019t be fired for political reasons. In 2013,\u00a0legislation circulating\u00a0in both chambers would have allowed the government to put those top career employees on leave without pay for three months pending the outcome of an investigation. The legislation, which Congress did not pass, directed agencies to fire, suspend without pay, or reinstate employees at the end of the 90 days. Congress this summer passed legislation which President Obama signed into law that makes it easier for the\u00a0Veterans Affairs Department\u00a0to discipline and fire senior executives engaged in misconduct or wrongdoing.\nThe Senior Executives Association sent a\u00a0Sept. 15 letter\u00a0to members of the House, urging them to vote against the bill, questioning the legality of the legislation.\n\u201cLaws already exist to allow agencies to hold employees accountable \u2013 supervisors at all levels need to understand the policies and have the will to use them and political leadership needs to support their doing so,\u201d wrote SEA President Carol Bonosaro. \u201cNonetheless, SEA welcomes the opportunity to engage in a serious attempt at identifying what accountability policies work, which do not and whether problems arise from the policies themselves versus implementation.\u201d\nBonosaro emphasized that SEA understands the desire to hold employees accountability and protect taxpayer money, but \u201ctrying to do so through unnecessary \u2013 or worse, unconstitutional \u2013 policy changes is not the answer.\u201d\nLawmakers voted on an amended version of the bill. The original version included provisions that reduced agency notification to employees of an adverse personnel action from 30 days to 15 days, and another that required SES employees who receive written notice of a pending\u00a0removal from the civil service to take mandatory annual leave during which they would receive pay, but could not work. Those provisions were dropped from the bill\u2019s final version.\nTo read the original article, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140918225026/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393606", "Walberg Supports Bipartisan Child Care & Development  Block Grant Reforms", "2014-09-15", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Walberg Supports Bipartisan Child Care & Development  Block Grant Reforms  \n   \n    \n       \n      \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e\n      \n      \n    \n    \n      \n        Washington,\n        Sep 15\n      \n       \n    \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n  \n    \n      \n      \n      Washington, D.C.\u00a0- Today, Rep. Walberg helped pass a bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reauthorize the Child Care and Development Block Grant (CCDBG) program. The CCDBG program has not been reauthorized since 1996 and\u00a0S. 1086,\u00a0the Child Care and Development Block Grant Act\u00a0modernizes the CCDBG program and implements\u00a0reforms\u00a0which\u00a0enhance parental choice, strengthen child safety and promote better care for our kids.\n\u201cThis program is important in\u00a0\u00a0helping\u00a0many\u00a0working families balance the demands of their jobs and caring for their kids.\u00a0\u00a0I applaud the bipartisan work on the bill while still maintaining the program\u2019s essential purpose with increased state flexibility and parental choice,\u201d\u00a0commented Rep. Walberg after the vote.\n    \n  \n  \n  \n    \n      f \n      t \n      #\n      e", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393342", "Upton roundtable hears from MPIs William Parfet, national health leaders", "2014-09-12", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "The House Energy and Commerce Committee heard this week from an all-star panel of leaders in the health industry as part of the committee\u2019s bipartisan 21st Century Cures initiative. Launched this spring by Committee Chairman Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, 21st Century Cures is taking the first-ever comprehensive look at how treatments are discovered, developed, and delivered here in the United States. By listening to experts from around the country, Upton can help determine how to best accelerate that process. By making sure federal policy keeps pace with advances in science and technology, we can get life-saving therapies and cures to patients faster while also keeping America the medical innovation capital of the world.\u201cThe 21st Century Cures initiative affects every American as they, their families, or their friends have been affected by disease,\u201d began Upton. Among those sharing their expertise with lawmakers was the head of Mattawan, Mich.-based scientific research company MPI Research. William Parfet spoke about the need for collaboration between innovators in the private sector and government regulators to advance technologies and treatments at greater speeds and reduced costs. \u201cIt\u2019s so hard for regulations to keep pace. It\u2019s so hard for regulations to really help allow for new innovative methods to be tested and used,\u201d said Parfet, who is chairman and chief executive officer of the privately held firm. Parfet was joined on the impressive panel by the Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell; National Institutes of Health (NIH) Director Francis Collins; Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Margaret Hamburg; philanthropist Michael Milken; renowned inventor Dean Kamen; and Dr. Dan Theodorescu, director of the University of Colorado Cancer Center. \u201cThis really has been a collaborative effort, and we need everyone to continue providing us with specific ideas \u2013 none too big, none too small \u2013 about how we can make a significant reduction in the time and costs associated with the discovery, development, and delivery of safe and innovative new treatments and cures for patients who need them,\u201d said Upton. Members of the public may continue to submit ideas via cures@mail.house.gov. The public is also encouraged to join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter using the hashtag #Path2Cures. Click here to watch this week\u2019s roundtable \u00a0Click here to learn more about 21st Century Cures", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["https://web.archive.org/web/20140918225030/http://walberg.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393251", "Forbes: After Cops Seized and Kept Cash, Washington, D.C. Settles Almost Million-Dollar Forfeiture Class Action", "2014-09-12", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Tim Walberg", "W000798", "web.archive.org", null, null, "legacy", "Under\u00a0D.C. law, after receiving a notice that their property has been seized and is subject to forfeiture, owners have 30 days to file a claim to try to get their property back. Meanwhile, the city has\u00a0one year\u00a0to file a civil forfeiture action.\nPurportedly, these procedures were not followed with Hardy or the thousands of people he represents as a class. In 2009, the Evidence Control Branch of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) sent out 3,000 asset forfeiture notices. But\u00a02,000 of them were returned\u00a0to the division unsigned. The Branch\u2019s manager even testified that they usually did not search for other addresses to mail the returned forfeiture notices.\nArguing that the District\u2019s forfeiture policy infringed their Fifth Amendment right to due process, Hardy, along with Donnell Monts, who had $823 taken after his arrest in 2006,\u00a0filed a class action\u00a0in 2009. Five years later, the two men will each receive $2,500 as part of the settlement.\nAltogether, the nearly 1,400 claimants in the class action lost almost $700,000 to forfeiture, so the settlement will restore roughly three-quarters of what was taken from them. Yet the claimants represent just 14 percent of those affected by this particular D.C. forfeiture policy. Over a six-year period, the\u00a0Metropolitan Police Department seized a staggering\u00a0$2.9 million\u00a0from these owners collectively.\nAmong the owners represented in the lawsuit, the median amount of cash seized was a mere $120. In fact, the MPD seized as little as $1 from some owners. There is little indication trivial amounts of money can be plausibly tied to the drug trade, noted Sean Day, who was co-counsel on the class action.\nNor is Washington, D.C. an outlier in using civil forfeiture to seize small sums of cash. Research by the\u00a0Institute for Justice\u00a0challenges the notion, frequently perpetuated by law enforcement, that civil forfeiture is primarily wielded against sprawling criminal enterprises. In Minnesota, the average value of forfeited property was\u00a0$1,250, while in Georgia half of the property seized by law enforcement in 2011 was worth less than\u00a0$650.\u00a0Since the cost to litigate is often worth more than the property that was taken, many owners do not even contest these seizures.\nYet the class-action settlement does not alter the scant safeguards and perverse incentives created by the\u00a0District of Columbia\u2019s civil forfeiture regime. To forfeit property, the District only needs to show probable cause, the same standard used to obtain a warrant. Not only do 36 states have a\u00a0higher standard of proofin all civil forfeiture cases, but probable cause is a far cry from requiring \u201cbeyond a reasonable doubt,\u201d which is needed to convict someone of a crime. After a property is forfeited, law enforcement can keep all of the proceeds.\nThese lax laws create potent incentives to police for profit. Between 2010 and 2012, Washington, D.C. generated\u00a0$4.8 million\u00a0in forfeiture revenue. \u201cIt\u2019s become a cash cow for a lot of jurisdictions frankly,\u201d said Day.\nMoreover, the MPD makes liberal use of a federal loophole known as\u00a0\u201cequitable sharing.\u201d\u00a0Under this program, local and state law enforcement can collaborate with federal agencies to forfeit property under federal law, thereby bypassing local and state civil forfeiture laws. Local law enforcement can then take a cut of the proceeds from forfeited property. From 2010 to 2012, the Asset Forfeiture Unit of the MPD processed\u00a0$9.2 million\u00a0worth of property seized by both joint task forces and the MPD. The MPD kept $2 million in equitable sharing proceeds.\nMeanwhile, property owners have to contend with legal proceedings that can be downright baffling, like having to pay for their right to challenge a seizure in court. This\u00a0\u201cpenal sum\u201d\u00a0is 10 percent of what the property is worth (as determined by the MPD) and can range anywhere from $250 to $2,500. If owners do not pay, the government automatically wins and keeps the property.\nAfter police seized his car in June 2012, Keith Chung, a firefighter, was told to pay a bond of\u00a0$2,075\u00a0before he could challenge the seizure in court. Police never charged Chung with any crime. After the Public Defender Service for the District of Columbia intervened,\u00a0he got his car back\u00a0.\nMoreover, unlike criminal cases, the burden of proof is on the owners\u2014they are assumed guilty unless they prove their innocence. In order to retrieve their property, owners have to show by a \u201cpreponderance of the evidence\u201d they have no connection to a crime to prevail, a higher burden of proof than what the D.C. government needs to forfeit property. Since these forfeiture cases are in civil court, owners do not have a right to court-appointed counsel, even if they are indigent.\nIn the class action that was settled, the attorneys\u2019 hourly rate was just north of\u00a0$250. So an hour of legal help was worth twice as much as the property taken from Hardy and many others. As the case makes clear, many owners simply do not have the means to challenge the government in court.\nNor is the government required to maintain or preserve property it has seized. In a separate, currently-pending forfeiture class action filed against the District, police seized and held onto Takia Jenkins\u2019 car for almost a year. She was never charged with a crime nor was her car involved in any criminal prosecution. When she finally got her car back, the windows were damaged and the car wouldn\u2019t start. Mold had even formed on the inside.\nLast year, six members of the D.C. city council\u00a0introduced a bill\u00a0that would have overhauled civil forfeiture in the District. While it did not pass, the council is expected to reconsider forfeiture reform when it reconvenes in the fall. On the federal level,\u00a0Rep. Tim Walberg\u00a0and\u00a0Sen. Rand Paul\u00a0have introduced legislation that would either restrict or outright eliminate participation in equitable sharing, preventing law enforcement from trying to circumvent forfeiture reforms at the local level.\nSpeaking at a\u00a0panel in July on civil forfeiture\u00a0at the Heritage Foundation, Congressman Walberg described his bill as \u201ccommon-sense,\u201d as it \u201cdoes not detract from good law enforcement.\u201d Americans, he added, should live \u201cwithout the fear of overweening government.\u201d\nTo read the original article at Forbes, click here.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393191", "We will #NeverForget", "2014-09-11", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Thirteen years ago this morning, our nation was shaken as nearly three thousand innocent men, women, and children lost their lives in the September 11th terrorist attacks. We will never forget the horrific events of that fateful day, nor will we forget those lives lost and the countless loved ones they abruptly left behind.\r\nThis Patriot Day, flags across the country will be displayed at half-staff as we remember the thousands of innocents tragically lost and honor those heroes who bravely answered the call to duty when their fellow Americans needed them.\r\n We also keep in mind those who have continued to work around the clock to keep our nation safe and secure from future terrorist attacks \u2013 from our local emergency responders to the members of our Armed Forces. They put their lives on the line and take risks every day for us \u2013 we owe them and their families a tremendous debt of gratitude.\r\n The world as we knew it was forever changed that morning through the acts of violent extremism. The brutal destruction, heartbreak, and bloodshed that most of us only recognized from overseas news reports, history books, or the movies became a reality upon our shores.\r\n Ongoing instability in the Middle East and elsewhere reminds us that those who would use terror and violence against others to achieve their goals still exist. The terrorist organization ISIS poses a very serious and credible threat to the world and here at home. There is no question that we must destroy that radical threat before its terrors reach our shores. The United States should be part of a broad coalition of forces to get that job done, and I look forward to hearing the specific details of such a strategy in the days ahead.\r\n We live in a much different world today than we did before the terrorist attacks of September 11th. While much has changed, our American values and resolve remain strong.", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"], ["http://upton.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=393105", "Upton responds to Presidents remarks on ISIS terrorist threat", "2014-09-10", "2014", "2014-09", "Republican", "House", "MI", "Fred Upton", "U000031", "upton.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Rep. Fred Upton, R-St. Joseph, issued the following statement in response to President Obama\u2019s evening address to the nation on countering the terrorist organization ISIS. Upton joined fellow House Republican leaders earlier today for an hour-long closed-door briefing on ISIS and the evolving situations in Iraq and Syria. \u201cISIS poses a very serious and credible threat to the world and here at home. There is no question that we must destroy that radical threat before its terrors reach our shores. The United States should be part of a broad coalition of forces to get that job done, and I look forward to hearing the specific details of such a strategy in the days ahead.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "truncated": false, "filtered_table_rows_count": 402, "expanded_columns": [], "expandable_columns": [], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "units": {}, "query": {"sql": "select url, title, date, year, month, party, chamber, state, member_name, bioguide_id, domain, scraper, source, date_source, text, has_text, collected_at, updated_at from releases where \"party\" = :p0 and \"state\" = :p1 and \"year\" = :p2 order by date desc limit 101", "params": {"p0": "Republican", "p1": "MI", "p2": "2014"}}, "facet_results": {"party": {"name": "party", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "Republican", "label": "Republican", "count": 402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?state=MI&year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "chamber": {"name": "chamber", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "House", "label": "House", "count": 402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI&year=2014&chamber=House", "selected": false}], "truncated": false}, "state": {"name": "state", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "MI", "label": "MI", "count": 402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&year=2014", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}, "year": {"name": "year", "type": "column", "hideable": false, "toggle_url": "/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI&year=2014", "results": [{"value": "2014", "label": "2014", "count": 402, "toggle_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI", "selected": true}], "truncated": false}}, "suggested_facets": [], "next": "2014-09-10,http~3A~2F~2Fupton~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D393105", "next_url": "http://dpwillis-congress-press-search.hf.space/press/releases.json?party=Republican&state=MI&year=2014&_next=2014-09-10%2Chttp~3A~2F~2Fupton~2Ehouse~2Egov~2Fnews~2Fdocumentsingle~2Easpx~3FDocumentID~3D393105&_sort_desc=date", "private": false, "allow_execute_sql": true, "query_ms": 239.08632504753768, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}