Overheard in Domestic Committee 03/16/15

On the topic of marriage:

"If we were to change the definition of marriage in this bill, we would first need to call up Merriam Webster and have them change the definition" -Marsha

"Are you saying Merriam Webster is an authority on legal definitions?" -Steny Hoyer

"When it comes to the definition of the word, yes." -Marsha

"Did you see that there are two other definitions which don't specify marriage between a man and a woman?" -Steny Hoyer

"Those are the short definitions" -Marsha


Potpourri (all Marsha):

"I don't want to go into the biological issue right now...but I think we can all imagine it in our heads. This seems a little childish."

"Thank you congresswoman Slaughter, my ACTUAL friend from across the aisle."


On the topic of sex change surgery:

"Is the congresswoman saying we should make people get the costly and dangerous surgeries to be able to qualify for the gender categories of marriage?" -Louise Slaughter

"Well, you guys covered it under the bill you voted in, Obamacare, so yes, if it's covered." -Marsha

LTE From Congressman King: Democrats Attempt to Disarm Americans

On March 13, 2014, while SimGov congress was in session and discussing H.R. 45, the “Restore Second Amendment rights” act, a Democratic Congress-member offered up an amendment that would “Ban Semi-Automatic Guns in the United States”. This amendment would have immediately outlawed well over sixty million firearms in the United States.

This attempt to disarm millions of Americans was a direct attack on the American people’s fundamental rights and liberty, in particular their second and fourth amendment rights. Semi automatic firearms were introduced more than a century ago, and in 2012 over fifty percent of new firearms bought by the American people were semi-automatic firearms. Semi-automatics are used for the same purposes as others firearms, including self-defense, hunting, recreational and competitive target shooting. They also, along with other firearms in the U.S, act as a protective measure to shield us from any tyrannical government. With that said, it is absolutely vital that we protect the Americans people to right to keep and bear arms, and we must fight against politicians who attempt to disarm the citizens of America.

To my constituency in Iowa, as long as I am in Congress I will never, to the best of my abilities, let your Constitutional Rights be abused or taken by an overreaching or overbearing government.

Congressman King

LTE from Congressman Hoyer: Reflections on the Floor Session on March 13

Dear Constituents and People of the United States of America,

I just wanted to inform you on the recent bill debated on the floor seeking to remove restrictions on gun rights that was considered today. After the debate I presented on the bill, I was verbally harassed by several of my colleagues from across the aisle for the information that I had presented. They belittled my character and the quality of my points. I just wanted to remind members of Congress from across the aisle that verbal comments specifically directed at members of Congress are out of line and contrary to the parliamentary procedures. I hope that fellow members of Congress across the aisle should reread the proper protocol necessary for floor sessions. Belittling members of Congress is frankly, unacceptable.

Congressman Hoyer

That's What Marsha Said 3/13/15

1. If guns are illegal, a quick Google search will provide many other ways to kill people
2. Since Congressman Hoyer seems to be adverse, oh wait, I'm not supposed to call people out.....
3. Yes, because I'm not afraid of answering questions

Star Spangled Kevin

LTE From Congressman Devin Nunes

To the people of California’s 22nd Congressional District and residents of the Central Valley,

I am pleased to announce that H.R. 87 has been submitted to the Hopper and handed over to the Domestic Policy Committee. This bill was written with you in mind. I understand the significant struggles that our area is facing, and this is in large part due to an insensitive government. Over the last few decades, our federal government has continued to take away our water in order to save a small fish. To this I encourage people to think about if they want to put a fish’s life before that of thousands of people.

When I ran for this position, I promised you that I would do my very best to save our area by bringing the water back, and that is what I am hoping to do with this bill. I will not give up the fight for the Central Valley. Our water is essential to our livelihoods and I am working hard to make sure people from other parts of the country see and understand this.

Thank you for your support during these first few months. You are the reason I am where I am today and because of that I am working hard to do my best to represent you.

Congressman Devin Nunes

Overheard in Domestic Committee 3/11/15

Marsha:

"All I can think about is Kazakhstan..."

"Lois, you are not the nicest lady in Congress."

"Study after study says yelling is the new spanking."


Tune in next week to see what Marsha said in Domestic Committee.

LTE from Congressman Steny Hoyer

Dear Constituents from Maryland’s Fifth Congressional District,

I wanted to inform you on some great news during the 114th session of Congress. On February 25th, my bill, “The Special Olympics Funding Act”, which increases funding for Special Olympics Programs across this nation, passed with unanimous bipartisan support in the House and was signed into law by our President this past Wednesday, March 4th. The Special Olympics Funding Act recognizes the great contributions of people with disabilities across the United States and is a necessary step in working to create opportunities for all people to be able to show off their abilities in their communities through sports competitions. Through this bill, I want to let the great people from my district and across the nation to know that I value all people, regardless of disabilities, and work tirelessly to make sure that they have the opportunities they deserve.

Along this same line, I am submitting a bill to address the important issue of special education funding. This bill, the “Special Education Empowerment Act of 2015,” seeks to increase federal funding to special education programs across the United States to equal forty percent of excess cost of education children with disabilities. This bill is critical to ensure that all children with disabilities have an opportunity to receive the quality education that they deserve. In addition, this bill is critical to help relieve local school districts across the nation from the financial burdens of special education. Through the ratification of this bill, not only will students with disabilities be able to have a greater opportunity to succeed in school, but local school districts will not have to make unnecessary cuts to other programs.

The Special Education Empowerment Act of 2015 is much needed in order to ensure equality of education for all people in this great nation. Therefore, those who do not support this bill are voting against allowing people with disabilities to receive the quality education that they need, something that is contrary to what the United States of America stands for. I will strive to encourage all members of Congress to support this bill in order to ensure that all people, regardless of disabilities, have the opportunity to receive the education that they deserve in this great nation.

Yours Truly,
Congressman Steny Hoyer

LTE from Congresswoman Lummis

This Monday I will be submitting an extremely important bill to address the salient issue of “Net Neutrality.” Just last month, The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) approved new regulation to reclassify the Internet as a telecommunication service or public utility, under Title II of the Communications Act. The FCC has granted themselves the authority to govern and control any “unjust” and “unreasonable” network management practices of Internet Service Providers (ISP), however, the FCC fails to be required to work under any resections of its own. Furthermore the vague language of “unjust” and “unreasonable” greatly worries me and I believe the FCC will use this clause to justify future illegal acts, overstepping their initial purpose to hold power.

The FCC is a part of the executive branch, consisting of 3 appointed Democrats and 2 appointed Republicans. It remains unsurprising that the casts were strictly across party lines, and won with the support of President Obama. I am astounded at the FCC’s impudent decision to slap on even more costly government regulations to a formerly free and accessible tool. I do not expect the American people to tolerate such action. The National Security Agency (NSA) has already been caught wiring tapping your phones (phones that are unsurprisingly classified as a telecommunication service). Don’t let them have access to your Internet as well!

Congresswoman Lummis

Op/Ed from Congresswoman Foxx

Today, Congress made a decision concerning H.R. 52, also known as “Joint Resolution.” In this bill, the president laid out a plan for America to combat the brutal terrorist group ISIS. It stated that America would send “armed troops” to the Middle East for a maximum three year period. Congress unanimously voted against this bill.

This is not to say that the issue with ISIS is not at the forefront of our minds. In fact, we found that this bill was a step forward to bringing justice for those people that ISIS has harmed. Both parties are mainly concerned with the vagueness of the plan, specifically concerning “armed troops,” and the length of time our “troops” would spend in the Middle East.

America has recently been involved in two wars in the Middle East. Too many men and women have sacrificed their lives for the sake of this country’s safety. Too many families have been torn apart. To combat against such an enemy as ISIS, it is important that the president has a well thought out strategy with our troops and their families in mind. This includes defining “armed troops,” providing details on how they will be combating against ISIS and having a realistic time frame for the time American troops will be in the Middle East. Hopefully, the president will be able to present to Congress a revised bill with a better strategy for the brave troops of America and to bring justice for the victims of ISIS.

Congresswoman Foxx

Op/Ed from House Speaker McCarthy

Today, the American People witnessed the monumental signing of two very important bills. The first of these bills, "The Special Olympics Funding Act", works to increase funding for one of our nation's great programs, the Special Olympics, which has stood to improve the lives of those with mental disabilities for over 45 years. This was a bipartisan bill, written by my great friend across the aisle, Steny Hoyer, and passed with unanimous support on the floor of the house.


Our second bill, written by myself with support from other House Republicans, is the "Helping our American Heroes Act". This bill strengthens our support for veteran's mental health. We care about our nation's Veterans, and they deserve our full support both when they are serving abroad and at home. Again, this bill was bipartisan, with unanimous agreement, and demonstrates our congress' ability to work together.


Unfortunately, today also demonstrated our President's obstructionist desire to prevent the work of our Congress. Today President Knecht vetoed the "State Education Administering Act", citing the legislation as, "redundant". We as a congress do not appreciate such mockery of the bills we pass on behalf of the American people, and we hope our President does not continue to destructively limit our ability to work together as a nation.

House Speaker McCarthy

Overheard in Domestic Committee 03/04/15

This might as well be called "Things Marsha Blackburn says in Domestic Committee." Here are my favorites quotes from Marsha Blackburn (TN-07) in today's committee meeting:

"My apologies for messing that up..."  

"Fine.....I'll give testimony...."

"This bill is about the second amendment, so if we're talking numbers here, it is the second most important thing that we need to uphold. Right? Right."

"Pulls out his gun, kind of illegally, but that's besides the point."

"Excuse me, Congressman Hoyer, can you please refrain from mocking me during my opening statements?"

"You all have to listen to me for 15 minutes."  

"If, in a hypothetical situation, someone bursted into this room right now, we would all die."



Here is another quote, but from the President himself. Obama joined us today in an online chat room. He was speaking about Congressman McCarthy's Repeal Obamacare bill: