Legislative Update
During the month of May, the full United States House of Representatives considered a variety of measures related to veterans, energy, health care, and national security. Congressman Todd Platts voted in favor of these measures, each of which passed the full United States House of Representatives by solid margins.
Specifically, the veterans measures included a bill to allow certain veterans currently at private colleges under the post-9/11 GI Bill to receive greater tuition reimbursements (H.R. 1383), a bill to increase penalties for businesses that misrepresent themselves as “veteran-owned” (H.R. 1657), and a bill to make it easier for veterans to file appeals of denials of their claims (H.R. 1484). The bills passed by votes of 289-0, 385-1, and 419-1.
In an effort to address rising energy costs, the House also passed legislation (H.R. 1230) aimed at lifting a de facto moratorium on further energy exploration in the Gulf of Mexico. The legislation allows additional environmental safeguards while nonetheless requiring lease sales to proceed. The bill passed by a vote of 266-149.
With respect to health care, the House earlier this year passed legislation to repeal the new health care law and replace it with better reforms. Because the Senate has never acted on this legislation, the House has now moved on to repealing specific aspects of the new law, including provisions that by-pass the ordinary annual budgetary process (H.R. 1213, H.R. 1214, H.R. 1216) and provisions that provide taxpayer funding of abortion (H.R. 3). The bills passed the House by votes of 238-183, 235-191, 234-185, and 251-175.
Finally, the national security legislation included a bill authorizing appropriations in fiscal year 2011 for sixteen intelligence agencies (H.R. 754), a bill authorizing appropriations in fiscal year 2012 for the Department of Defense (H.R. 1540), and a bill to reauthorize for four years certain counter-terrorism authorities – such as “roving wiretaps” on suspects who switch cell phones (S. 990). The bills passed by votes of 392-15, 322-96, and 250-153.
All of the aforementioned bills, except S. 990, are now pending consideration in the Senate. S. 990 was passed in the Senate by a vote of 72-23 and signed into law by President Barack Obama on May 26, 2011.
Web Page Highlights (www.house.gov/platts)
Armed Services Committee Adopts Amendment to Ensure Better Treatment of Troops Suffering from Brain Injuries
The House Armed Services Committee approved an amendment to H.R. 1540 - referenced above - which was sponsored by Rep. Platts. The amendment directs the U.S. Department of Defense to establish guidelines for rehabilitation of moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries for military personnel. Congressman Platts sponsored the amendment on behalf of the office of U.S. Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (AZ-8).
(http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/pa19_platts/TBIGiffords.shtml)
Oversight Subcommittee Examines Tax Identity Theft
The Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management, chaired by Rep. Platts, examined the rapidly growing problem of tax identity theft at a hearing on June 2, 2011. Witnesses included victims of tax fraud, the Commissioner of the IRS, and a representative from the Government Accountability Office. A copy of Rep. Platts’ opening statement is posted to the web site.
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