releases: http://cook.house.gov//media-center/newsletter/congressman-cook-newsletter-november-18-2014
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://cook.house.gov//media-center/newsletter/congressman-cook-newsletter-november-18-2014 | Congressman Cook Newsletter: November 18, 2014 | 2014-11-18 | 2014 | 2014-11 | Republican | House | CA | Paul Cook | C001094 | cook.house.gov | legacy | Capitol Update Congressman Cook Votes To Construct Keystone Pipeline Congressman Cook voted in favor of H.R. 5682, a bill to approve the Keystone XL Pipeline. This bill passed the House of Representatives with bipartisan support. H.R. 5682 authorizes TransCanada to construct, connect, operate, and maintain the Keystone XL pipeline, which would carry oil from Canada to Texas. Building the pipeline will create an estimated 20,000 jobs across the country, and will protect the national security interests of the United States by reducing our dependence on foreign oil. Today’s vote is an important step toward building this critical pipeline. An estimated 380,000 barrels of oil will move through the pipeline per day, about half the amount of oil the U.S. imports from the Middle East. TransCanada plans to invest $7 billion in building the pipeline which will generate tax revenue in several states and boosting gross state product by billions of dollars. Cook said, “The House has acted on behalf of the majority of Americans that support building the Keystone XL Pipeline. This is about jobs, jobs, and more jobs. I’ve always said that we can find ways to protect the environment and still boost the economy. This project will help accomplish that goal. The pipeline will directly create an estimated 20,000 high paying jobs as well as indirectly create thousands of additional jobs nationwide. “Building the Keystone XL Pipeline is not just good environmental and fiscal policy; it’s good national security policy. The more energy America buys from close allies like Canada, the less dependent the country is on sources of foreign oil from unfriendly places like the Middle East, Venezuela, and Russia. “I am urging the Senate to do the right thing and pass this bill. If the Senate passes the bill it will head to the President’s desk. President Obama can create tens of thousands of American jobs and strengthen our energy security with the stroke of the pen.” A Message from Congressman Cook on the New Republican Majority Last month, President Obama declared, “I’m not on the ballot this year… but make no mistake, these policies are on the ballot. Every single one of them.” On Election Day, the American people agreed, voting to elect the largest Republican House Majority since the late 1920s and a Republican majority in the Senate. This was not only a repudiation of the President’s policies, but was a mandate from the people for a new direction. This new Congress has the responsibility to get government back to work. For four years, Harry Reid’s Senate blocked House efforts to create jobs, make government more efficient, and grow the economy. Now, with a newly elected Senate majority dedicated to working with the House, we have the opportunity to send long overdue legislation to the President’s desk. These bills include expanded American energy production and exploration, a simplified tax code, stronger national security, and robust job-creating legislation. Any attempt by the President to veto or obstruct this legislation would be ignoring the clear message of the American people. Additionally, the new Republican Senate majority will restore a crucial check on this administration. The President’s claim that he can bypass Congress and govern “with a pen and a phone” requires compliant courts and compliant staff in key executive agencies. Through its control of the confirmation process for appointees, the Senate can hold the President accountable in a way that the House cannot and ensure that presidential appointees who ignore the primacy of Congress will not be confirmed. The appointment of Loretta Lynch as Attorney General will serve as a key opportunity for the Senate to check the President’s overreach. Before she is confirmed, the Senate must get a commitment from her that she’ll never go along with any administration amnesty scheme. Increasing domestic energy production and ending our reliance on foreign oil must be a top priority for the new Congress. By creating a diverse domestic energy portfolio, we can stabilize living expenses for middle-class families hit hardest by spikes in energy and gas prices. America must maximize the resources we have, rather than rely on foreign oil fields subject to capture by terrorist groups like ISIS. We also need to deal with defense sequestration. Draconian cuts to national security spending have threatened our readiness and could send troops into combat underprepared. When Americans puts their lives on the line for this country, we owe it to them to take every precaution to ensure that they’ll return safely. We also need to ensure the new leadership at the Veterans Administration follows through on the reform package passed by Congress and signed into law last summer. We’ve failed our veterans too long, and we must do better. Finally, we must fight to create good-paying jobs for working Americans. The first step to a strong economy is scaling back government rules and regulations. Small businesses are the engine of the American economy, and the administration’s regulations have caused that engine to stall. Last year, legislation to limit the President’s ability to impose job-killing regulations failed to pass a divided Congress. With a new Republican majority, I expect this crucial bill will reach the President’s desk next year. These are just a few of the vital bills that can become law in the next Congress. I’m hopeful that Congress will be able to work with the President to follow through on the American people’s mandate. Expanded energy, stronger national security and veterans services, and less regulation should be the top priorities of the next Congress as we work to keep America strong. This editorial first appeared in The Riverside Press Enterprise on November 16, 2014. To view the article click here. Congressman Cook Opposes Secretary Hagel’s Call for Base Closures Congressman Cook today responded to the comments made by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel on his recent visit to the National Training Center at Fort Irwin. Hagel called for a new Base Realignment and Closure Commission (BRAC) as part of his plans to downsize the military. These comments were made during a visit to Fort Irwin, one of the Army’s premier training bases. The Secretary did not specify which bases he would seek to close. Congressman Cook responded, “I simply don’t understand why the Secretary of Defense would talk about closing military bases at a time when we face so many global threats. With the Islamic State, an increasingly aggressive Russia and China, and rogue nations like Iran and North Korea pursuing nuclear weapons, the readiness of our troops and our capabilities should be our number one priority. “In addition to the security situation, the Secretary’s comments could not have been delivered at a worse location, in the midst of communities that were severely impacted by the closures of Norton Air Force Base and George Air Force Base. California has been repeatedly targeted for base closures, despite the fact that it contains some of the finest military installations in the world. "I will fight to prevent any additional California base closures, especially those in Southern California. I’m prepared to voice those concerns to the Secretary.” A Message from Congressman Cook on National Adoption Day On Saturday, November 22, we will celebrate National Adoption Day as a way to raise awareness of the children in foster care waiting to find permanent, loving families. In 2013, 4,500 children were adopted by their forever families but more than 100,000 are still awaiting permanent homes. There are more than 23,000 foster children who age out of the system every year without ever receiving a permanent home or the support they need to be independent and productive adults. In honor of National Adoption Day, I've cosponsored a House resolution highlighting these issues and promoting permanent homes to these vulnerable children. Congressman Cook Votes to Eliminate Unnecessary Government Reports Last week, Congressman Cook voted in favor of H.R. 4194, the Government Reports Elimination Act, a bill that eliminates unnecessary and duplicative government reports. The Congressional Budget Office estimates this bill will reduce spending by more than $1 million over five years by eliminating and modifying these government reports,. Cook said, “H.R. 4194 is a great step in the right direction of reducing government waste. By simply modifying and eliminating a handful of government reports, we were able to see savings in the millions. I urge my colleagues in the House to continue to cut through unnecessary and wasteful government and reduce the tax payer burden.” Congressman Cook Promotes Data Safety There have been too many stories this year about credit card data being stolen from major retailers. Between four highly publicized attacks, over 113 million credit cards were compromised. Here are a few tips to protect yourself in the event your information is stolen: 1) Change your passwords every 90 days with a password that is at least 8 characters; 2) Take advantage of free credit monitoring services offered by impacted stores; 3) Never trust suspicious e-mails or phone calls asking for your personal information; and 4) Check your own credit score free of charge at www.annualcreditreport.com. District Update Congratulations to San Bernardino County’s New Firefighters More than two dozen cadets made it through 10 weeks of intense training to become firefighters in San Bernardino County. Each cadet entered the training as a licensed paramedic. During the program the cadets trained for six days a week. The program included training in structural and wild land firefighting, and rescue and emergency medical services. Cadets also had to follow a demanding physical fitness regimen. The new graduates will assume full-time shift assignments as firefighter-paramedics at stations throughout the county fire’s jurisdiction. Those locations include Fontana, Victorville, Joshua Tree, Yucca Valley, Lake Arrowhead, and Hesperia. Military Nominations If you are a current high school senior and are interested in attending one of our nation’s prestigious military academies, I encourage you to fill out an application through my office. Young Americans who attend West Point, the Naval Academy at Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy receive a world-class university education. This gives them the skills to not only serve in our nation’s armed forces, but to lead successful careers later in life. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2014. The application for a service academy nomination can be found here. Veterans Corner My office is here to help you. If you or someone you know needs help with the Veterans' Administration please call my Apple Valley District Office at 760-247-1815. Women Veterans Collaborative Networking Event The Inland Empire will host an event exclusively designed for women Veterans on Thursday, November 20 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. This event will focus on women’s wellness and healthy living. Light refreshments will be served. The event will be held at 2055 Elks Drive in San Bernardino. Barbecue for Veterans Disabled American Veterans will host a barbecue on Friday, November 21. It will be held in the Veterans Community Garden at 2517 Pacific St in Highland. The barbecue is held once a month. For more information call 909-770-4812. 2014 Leroy Huff Memorial Walk This annual event is held in memory of Leroy Huff. Huff, a Vietnam Veteran and Marine Master Gunnery Sergeant, lost his battle with pancreatic cancer in December 2013. The memorial walk and run will be held on Saturday, November 29 in Riverside, CA. All the money raised will go toward educational programs to help people better understand and fight the disease. For more information call 951-241-6168. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |