releases: http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-column?ContentRecord_id=34E3B324-91E0-4817-8044-4580889F62C0
Data license: MIT · Data source: dwillis/congress-press
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| http://renacci.house.gov/index.cfm/weekly-column?ContentRecord_id=34E3B324-91E0-4817-8044-4580889F62C0 | Renacci Report: Looking Back At The Past Year In Washington | 2014-12-31 | 2014 | 2014-12 | Republican | House | OH | Jim Renacci | R000586 | renacci.house.gov | legacy | Looking Back At The Past Year In Washington It is a great honor to serve you in the United States Congress. Though we have much work ahead of us, I want to take this opportunity to highlight my work on behalf of Ohio’s 16th District in Washington this past year. Addressing The Problems At The VA Like many living in Ohio’s 16th District, I was deeply troubled to learn of the systematic failures at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). We can and must be doing more to keep our promise to those who have served our country. In July, the House passed the Veterans’ Access to Care through Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act. Highlights from this legislation include providing $10 billion for veterans to seek private care at hospitals and clinics outside the VA, and $5 billion to allow the department to hire more doctors, nurses, and medical staff. It was signed into law on August 7, 2014. Reducing the Negative Effects of the President’s Health Care Law As I travel throughout Ohio’s 16th District, I continue to hear Ohioans speak of the negative effects of the President’s health care law. Whether it’s higher premiums or a small business grappling with the law’s employer mandate, the broken law’s unintended consequences are significant. This past year, the House passed the Employee Health Care Protection Act. It allows American workers who receive coverage through their employer the opportunity to keep their health plans through 2019. Additionally, I introduced the Simplifying Technical Aspects Regarding Seasonality (STARS) Act to clarify the employer mandate’s seasonal worker exemption provision so that our small businesses can focus their resources on doing what they do best: create jobs. Bringing Transparency to the Federal Government In Washington, we know that our current path is unsustainable, but do we really know where we stand fiscally? The answer is that we don’t, thanks to the federal government’s incomplete financial statements. That is why I introduced the Federal Financial Statement Transparency Act. This bill will encourage the federal government to clean up its balance sheet, lead to a more honest depiction of our nation’s finances, and ultimately allow Congress to balance the budget and more effectively address our growing debt. Reining In The EPA At a time when Americans are in need of a strong economic recovery, Ohio simply cannot afford to suffer more job losses as a result of this administration’s attack on coal and the affordable domestic energy that it creates. This abundant natural resource generates over 50 percent of our state’s electricity and the industry employs thousands of Ohioans. I was proud to support the Preventing Government Waste and Protecting Coal Mining Jobs in America Act. Not only will this bill curb this administration’s wasteful spending, it also removes the threat of new job-crushing federal regulations. Tax-Free Savings Accounts For Individuals With Disabilities Many parents living in Ohio’s 16th District have expressed the challenges they face when it comes to covering the costs associated everyday living expenses for their children. The challenge is even greater for parents with a child who has a disability. That is why I was a proud cosponsor of the Achieving a Better Life Experience Act (ABLE) Act, a bill that allows individuals with disabilities and their caregivers to set up tax-free savings accounts in order to save for their own costs of medical care, housing, transportation, and continued education. It passed the House in July and was signed into law earlier this month. Creating Conditions For Economic Growth Over the past several months, we have seen unemployment reports that show our labor force participation rate is the lowest it’s been in decades. We must be doing more to incite growth and innovation. That is why the House passed the Jobs for America Act, a bill that changes federal law to improve the conditions necessary for economic growth. Additionally, I introduced the Flexibility to Promote Reemployment Act, a bill that increases states’ flexibility to help unemployed individuals find employment by reducing the unnecessary Washington red tape that continues to stand in the way of job growth. These are just a few of the more than 300 House-passed bills that remain stalled in the Senate. Though gridlock in Washington is frustrating, I am more than hopeful that come January we can work together to advance these bipartisan solutions. As we enter 2015, I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to get our country back on the path to prosperity. | 1 | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z | 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z |