Veterans
One of my highest priorities in Congress has been support for our area veterans. Northeast Indiana is one of the highest ranked recruiting areas for the U.S. Military and as those soldiers, sailors and airmen retire it is imperative that we honor the commitments we made to them. For this reason, I have supported a 100% increase in Veterans funding over the past 8 years.
In 2004, the CARES Commission recommended to eliminate the 26 inpatient beds at the Fort Wayne VA Hospital, forcing veterans to drive to Indianapolis or Marion. I strongly opposed this recommendation and have fought with three different VA Secretaries to save this facility. As the final decision is set to be made later this year, I am confident that inpatient services will stay in Fort Wayne and I will continue to fight to expand and renovate this facility so our young servicemen and women will have the facility they deserve.
Fort Wayne is no longer the only veteran's facility we have in Northeast Indiana. After working for several years, I am happy to see that a VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic will open in Goshen this fall. I don't believe that veterans should have to drive hours and spend hundreds of dollars to receive the care they deserve.
After to listening to area veterans discuss their economic hardships, I introduced legislation that would increase the mileage reimbursement veterans receive when traveling for healthcare to that of what federal government employees receive. I believe that veterans should at least receive the same reimbursement rate as IRS employees and other bureaucrats.
Education
As a senior member of the House Education Committee, I am a fierce defender of America's promise to deny no one the opportunity of a quality education, and throughout my career in Congress I have always fought to increase access for families and students. Whether that means increasing money for Pell Grants and student loans, fighting so that parents are not forced to send their kids to failing schools, or creating GEAR-UP with my friend Rep. Fattah to help low-income students prepare themselves for college, I will always fight to ensure we make the best investment possible in our greatest resource, our children.
Ensuring the promise of education means letting parents and communities—those who know best what is good for children—make decisions, not bureaucrats in Washington. Local control of education provides the accountability that is lost when a federal agency determines what is best for Hoosier students. This also means that the system works best when parents and communities are engaged in their schools. I have fought aggressively for parental involvement – for instance fighting the establishments of both parties to ensure that parents of kids in Head Start are given decision-making responsibility in the governance of local Head Start programs.
I have also succeeded in bringing millions of federal dollars back to area colleges and universities in the district, like IPFW, St. Francis, Ivy Tech, Indiana Tech, Grace College, Trine (Tri-State), or Indiana Wesleyan. At all levels of the educational system, I do my best to make the American Dream a reality – to ensure that everyone has the tools they need to succeed.
Funding Northeast Indiana Projects
Throughout my tenure in Congress, I fought to increase transparency
and accountability in the federal appropriations funding process. For
years, I have publicly disclosed my requests on behalf of Hoosier
projects. Last year, the House of Representatives finally caught up
with this common-sense disclosure process and required all members to
publish their requests. I believe local taxpayers have the right to
see some of their dollars returned to Hoosier education, roads, and
defense projects. At the same time, they are your tax dollars and you
deserve to know which projects are receiving funding.
Other legislation:
- I support the Republican's one-year moratorium on earmarks because
I believe our system is in need of additional reforms.
- I have voted fourtimes for a measure that would require a member’s
name to be listed in the appropriations bill next to any request for
funding. (H.Res. 491, H.Res 1000, H.R. 4957, H.Res. 440)
- I am cosponsoring legislation to create a Joint Select Committee on
Earmark Reform to study the problems with our current system and
propose solutions (H.Con.Res.201).
- I am urging Speaker Pelosi to reduce the national debt by the
amount Republicans would have received in earmarks during the FY 2011
moratorium (Republican letter sent to Speaker Pelosi on March 16, 2010)
Acorn
I have been an outspoken critic of ACORN's abuses of public funds and
criminal activity. Over the past two years I have
- Cosponsored H.Res 911 which asks the Attorney General to appoint a Special Counsel to coordinate and investigate ACORN and its affiliates.
- Cosponsored H.R. 3571 the Defund ACORN Act
- Cosigned a letter on July 15, 2008 to the GAO to examine Americorps and ACORN in voter fraud activities
- Cosigned a letter on September 15, 2009 asking Obama to disclose and terminate all taxpayer funding of ACORN
- H.R. 3828 Suspend ACORN Certification Act –Requires HUD IG to audit/investigate ACORN HUD assistance
- H.R. 3696 which prohibits recipients of TARP from funding ACORN
- H. CON. RES. 192 Expressing sense of Congress that ACORN should lose tax exemption