releases: https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletter-archive/washington-watch-123118
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
This data as json
| url | title | date | year | month | party | chamber | state | member_name | bioguide_id | domain | scraper | source | date_source | text | has_text | collected_at | updated_at |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| https://woodall.house.gov/media-center/e-newsletter-archive/washington-watch-123118 | Washington Watch - 12/31/18 | 2018-12-31 | 2018 | 2018-12 | Republican | House | GA | Rob Woodall | W000810 | woodall.house.gov | legacy | PRESERVING OUR NATION'S FOOD STAMP PROGRAM FOR THOSE IN NEED Under the direction of President Trump, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is working on regulations that would increase the solvency of one of our nation's most important social safety net programs, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), also commonly referred to as food stamps. SNAP benefits, which are intended to be used by those who are struggling to support themselves, including poverty-stricken parents and their children, the elderly, and the disabled, are too often being used by those who would otherwise not qualify for open-ended support, namely able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs) who are age 18-49. Currently, ABAWDs are required to work or receive workforce training for a minimum of 20 hours per week if they want to receive SNAP benefits beyond 3 months in a given three-year period. However, states are given the discretion to waive that requirement for certain areas within their jurisdictions, which incentivizes millions of ABAWDs to stay out of the workforce. In fact, by some estimates, nearly 2.8 million ABAWDs are receiving food stamps, but aren't working. This waiver does a disservice to both ABAWDs and the folks who desperately need the SNAP support, not to mention the fact that this also contributes to our nation's historically low productivity rate and record high job openings. That's why I'm so pleased that USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue is going to work hard within his agency to ensure that ABAWDs who could and should look for work, are encouraged to do so. The success in our food stamp program is not measured in the number of individuals we keep as beneficiaries, but the number of folks we have helped get back on their feet to support themselves. TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MOVES TO PROTECT 340B HOSPITALS AND HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS In addition to the many steps the Trump Administration has taken to advance America's agricultural backbone, President Trump, with the help of Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' Administrator Seema Verma and Department of Health and Human Services' Secretary Alex Azar, has had tremendous success on the regulatory front when it comes to delivering common-sense and long overdue solutions to better our nation's health care system. From proposals to drive down prescription drug prices, to allowing states to operate their insurance markets with more flexibility, to increasing choice and competition for consumers, I have repeatedly expressed my support for the Administration's use of the regulatory tools at its disposal to bring solutions to our friends and neighbors. That said, I want to take this opportunity to share with you a more recent regulatory action taken by the Department of Health and Human Services that will surely work to ensure that drug makers are held accountable for overcharging hospitals that participate in the 340B drug pricing program. For those not familiar with the 340B program, it's a federal program that requires pharmaceutical companies to provide outpatient drugs to certain covered entities, most notably safety-net hospitals and care providers that serve a high percentage of low-income patients, like Grady Hospital for instance, at discounted prices. The 340B program enjoys bipartisan support in Congress and has been wildly successful in not only helping our most vulnerable hospitals keep up with rising prescription drug prices, but also allowing these entities to stretch already scarce federal resources so that they can provide more care to additional patients. In fact, the Department of Health and Human Services' Health Resources and Services Administration estimated that covered entities saved $3.8 billion on outpatient drugs through the program in fiscal year 2013, and $4.5 billion in fiscal year 2014. However, as much as our safety net hospitals rely on this crucial program, the program's integrity has been susceptible to bad actors ever since its inception in 1992. As such, while there's still much work to be done on the legislative front to protect and bolster the 340B program's integrity, and I certainly hope that the 116th Congress will work across the aisle to deliver much needed clarity and protection, I am pleased that the Administration has moved forward with finalizing the date in which pharmaceutical companies can begin to be held accountable for intentional wrongdoing. I believe such bold action is a step in the right direction. HOUSE PASSES MORE BIPARTISAN BILLS DURING SPENDING NEGOTIATIONS Amid the speculation and concern over the partial government shutdown, we in the House of Representatives rolled up our sleeves and continued working to deliver good public policy as the President and congressional leaders continued negotiating over the handful of remaining spending bills. We passed legislation to further crack down on human trafficking, to ensure the most vulnerable young girls in our society have access to educational opportunities, and to allow a process for more stakeholders to review key documents in cold case investigations that the FBI hasn't been able to solve. All of these bills were crafted with input from both Republicans and Democrats and were passed with overwhelming bipartisan majorities. A final bipartisan bill I want to highlight is the Foundations for Evidence-Based Policymaking Act. Previously, we empaneled a cross section of experts to determine how Congress, in conjunction with executive agencies, could make better use of the reams of available data relating to federal programs designed to lift families out of poverty and into opportunity. Rather than measure success based on how many dollars are being spent, our goal is to measure success based on how many lives are changed for the better. Many of their recommendations were included in this new legislation, which will give Congress and the American people a whole new set of tools to examine these federal programs and discover where we can make improvements that further results rather than red tape. SECOND ROUND OF RELIEF FOR AMERICAN FARMERS Earlier this month, President Trump announced additional relief for farmers negatively affected by retaliatory tariffs as the Administration continues to iron out the details on new trade agreements with our neighbors abroad. This round of direct payments to farmers is intended to supplement the relief offered to farmers over the summer as a bridge during ongoing trade negotiations. Payments are being offered to almond, cotton, corn, dairy, hog, sorghum, soybean, sweet cherry, and wheat producers, many of whom are located right here in Georgia where agriculture is our number one industry. Talks looked promising after President Trump met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 Summit in Argentina, after which President Trump announced a delay in planned tariffs on Chinese goods and a tentative deal for China to resume purchasing American goods. While the short-term effects of renegotiation may not be ideal, maintaining the status quo was no longer an option. I am optimistic that President Trump will deliver better and fairer trade deals for American farmers and businesses, and ones that our international partners will see as mutually beneficial. LOCAL PARENT STARTS NON-PROFIT ADDRESSING FOOD INSECURITY IN GWINNETT SCHOOLS We are doers here in the Seventh District of Georgia. It's easy to talk about making a difference, but it takes a special kind of person to take the action needed to make the difference. Here at home we have example after example of folks doing just that: identifying a need and going about creating a way to address that need. It's inspiring every time. One of those examples is Alessandra Ferrara-Miller, a Suwanee resident, who had a realization when visiting her daughter's school for lunch. She had heard stories of children whose parents struggled to pay for school lunches, consequently leaving the students in a spot no child should have to endure. She looked around the cafeteria and knew similar situations existed for those in that room and school. She then set about doing something about it. She created and established All for Lunch, a non-profit organization intended to pay the school lunch accounts of those in need, and recently had the opportunity to present her first checks to certain Gwinnett County Schools! I feel so much pride in who we are as a community and the example we set. In every way, we set a standard of care and excellence that warms the heart and changes lives. It's all a byproduct of who we are as individuals, families, communities, businesses, and more. Our values and the way we live out those values sets us apart. It's not something we do once a year or just during a certain season. Throughout the year, on a daily basis, remarkable things are happening and I am so thankful to all of those like Alessandra who simply won't accept anything less than improving the life of a neighbor. I can't think of a better message to take into the New Year! CHAPTER 1030 VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA IN CUMMING SELECTS VETERAN(S) OF THE YEAR Settling on the most exemplary of our veterans in any given category is a very difficult task, so I can't say I fault the folks over at Chapter 1030 Vietnam Veterans of America for selecting two Veterans of the Year! Our veterans are special people. Service is a part of their character, and so often they continue to give to their communities in not just one, but so many ways. These two gentlemen were recognized for the work they're doing with Chapter 1030 to assist the homeless veteran population in Atlanta and North Georgia, and I'm grateful for their commitment to their brothers and sisters who have worn the uniform. If you'd like to learn more about how Chapter 1030 is making a difference across the region, you can visit their website and find information on upcoming events as well as some of their history. Congratulations once again to Tom Kirby and Steve Masak, and most of all, thank you both for all you continue to do for our community! HAPPY NEW YEAR; WELCOME TO THE 116TH CONGRESS With 2018 coming to a close and the new year beginning soon, we all naturally take time to pause and reflect. This is a time to be thankful for friends and family, to reflect on our lives and all that transpired in 2018, and to set new goals for 2019. And in this time, we in Congress must do the same as we look back at all we have achieved and all that we still have left to do. While I am optimistic that when the 116th Congress begins on January 3rd that we will continue to make targeted efforts to address some of our nation's most pressing issues, including infrastructure reform, healthcare reform, and tackling our national debt, I can't pretend that addressing these challenges will be easy in a divided Congress. In fact, I know that it will be hard work. However, I know my colleagues and I are up to the task. As we have proven in these past two years, the most successful legislation has come from collaborative discussions from leaders and individuals back home and from all political persuasions, and I look forward to building on those efforts to better serve our state and our community in the years to come. With that said, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year! Sincerely, Rob Woodall Member of Congress | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |