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| Returning the keys to our children's education back to local control |
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This week the House passed the Every Student Succeeds Act to reduce the federal role in K-12 education, restore local control, and empower parents.
The Every Student Succeeds Act is a proposal approved by a House and Senate conference committee to replace No Child Left Behind. The legislation - described by the Wall Street Journal as the "largest devolution of federal control to the states in a quarter century," - puts unprecedented restraints on Washington's intrusion into classrooms, reins in the Department of Education, and puts the keys to our children's education and future back in local control.
Our education system is failing our children and it’s not going to be fixed with the "Washington-knows-best" mentality. As a father and grandfather, I know firsthand this is a gravely flawed mentality. Our children deserve the best education possible and the system can only be fixed by those who know students best – parents, teachers, and communities.
The legislation also guts Common Core by making it illegal for federal bureaucrats to force the standards on states, schools, or students. All children learn differently and at their own pace and they should not be punished for this because of one-size-fits-all standards.
I am proud to support this agreement to prohibit the Obama Administration’s federally prescribed education standards and end Washington’s intrusion into our nation’s classrooms. |
| Blocking the EPA's Attack on American Energy and JObs |
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Also this week, the House voted to block the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) from implementing controversial new job-killing energy regulations that could significantly increase energy costs for American families with questionable environmental benefits.
The first resolution passed in the House, S.J. Res. 23, disapproves of the EPA’s proposed regulations for new power plants. Under the rule, the agency would require new coal-fired power plants to install technology not yet commercially available.
The second resolution passed in the House, S.J. Res. 24, disapproves of the EPA’s proposed regulations for existing power plants that would set unachievable emissions requirements. The rule would require states to submit plans to the agency to meet the new mandates. States that fail to submit a satisfactory plan would become subject to a “Federal Plan” under which the agency has proposed it would implement a federal regulatory cap-and-trade program.
According to Southern Company, the impact of these rules would include higher costs, reduced reliability, lower tax revenues for our state and communities, and the potential loss of 800 jobs within the company.
The rules are nothing less than a de facto ban on American energy that will raise costs, kill jobs, and reduce the reliability of electric power in America. To make things worse, even the EPA admits neither rule will have any meaningful impact on global temperatures. I hope these resolutions send a clear message that the American people do not support this radical plan to destroy jobs and take more money out of the pockets of hardworking American families.
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| From our Nation's Capitol XXXXV |
Monday, November 30, 2015: Last week was a busy week including spending a day in Glynn County visiting the International Auto Processing (IAP) facility at the Port of Brunswick, speaking to the Brunswick Kiwanis Club, visiting Cumberland Island and participating in a Vietnam Veteran presentation hosted by American Legion Post 9.
I also had a radio interview with Bill Edwards on WTKS in Savannah as well as a meeting with U.S. Postal Service officials in Pooler and a meeting with Savannah Quarter officials regarding their development permit. But perhaps the highlight of the week was on Thanksgiving Day when my two youngest sons and I volunteered in Atlanta at the Hosea Feed the Hungry Event at the World Congress Center. I’m back in Washington today and my first event is a meeting with members of the Committee on Homeland Security and members of the national press. It is important that our committee be accessible to the media with terrorism being so prevalent in our world these days. Afterwards, we have our weekly staff briefing where we discuss the busy week that we have coming up. Next, I head to our weekly Whip Team briefing to discuss the legislation that will be before us this week. After, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first and only vote series of the day.
Tuesday, December 1, 2015: This morning I head to our weekly GOP Conference meeting where Speaker Paul Ryan and other members of the leadership team discuss the upcoming week and the progress on the appropriations bill. Afterwards, I head downtown to speak to members of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP). This trade association represents most of the country’s health insurance plans and is interested in any reforms that may be coming to Obamacare. Once I’m back at the Capitol, I head to the Red Cross Holiday Mail for Heroes event, where Members of Congress are sending Christmas cards to our service men and women who are stationed overseas this Christmas. I spend almost an hour here writing Christmas messages to our heroes who are protecting us and are away from their families during this most special time of year.
Later, I head to the House Chamber where we have our first vote series of the day. After votes, I stay in the House Chamber and speak in favor of S. J. Res 23, a joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval of a rule submitted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) relating to Greenhouse Gas Emissions. You can watch my speech by clicking here. Next, I have a meeting with Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) to discuss two bills that I am sponsoring that will come before the subcommittee he chairs before heading back to the House Chamber to speak on S.J. Res 24, a companion bill of S. J. Res 23. Click here to see my speech. After speaking, we have our second vote series of the day and once we’re finished, we start debate on H. R. 8, the North American Energy Security and Infrastructure Act of 2015. During debate, I stay in the House Chamber and speak in favor of this bill before heading back to my office. You can watch my speech by clicking here.
Wednesday, December 2, 2015: Today I start with the Committee on Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions as we discuss the proposed department changes to retirement advisors. A link to my questions can be found here. Next, I head to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Operations hearing on the Office of National Drug Control Policy. A link to my questions at this hearing can be found here. Next, I head to the House Chamber where I give a one minute speech honoring the life of Chatham County Sherriff Al St. Lawrence. A link to my speech can be found here. Afterwards, I head to the Republican Study Committee where I speak on another bill I am sponsoring, the EQUIP Act that requires drug testing for unemployment benefit recipients if the recipient has shown to be at risk of drug abuse. Next, I head to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day before going back to my office to meet with staff and review the results of a recent district survey that we have done. Later, I head back to the House Chamber where we have our second and final vote series of the day.
Thursday, December 3, 2015: My day starts with a trip to the House Chamber where we convene at 9:00 a.m. this morning and I lead the pledge of allegiance before delivering a one minute speech honoring the life of longtime Savannah Morning News writer Tom Coffee. A link to my speech can be found here. Next, I head back to my office where I meet with Dave Riley from Camden County and Ed Lavish from Savannah who are visiting on behalf of the First District Navy League.
Afterwards, I meet with Tony Simon and Bo Moore from Atlanta regarding the Georgia Lottery before heading to the House Chamber for our first vote series of the day where we pass H.R. 8. Next, I head downtown where I meet with board members of the Associated Equipment Distributors (AED). Once I’m back at the Capitol, I head to the House Chamber where we have our second and final vote series of the day, as we pass H.R. 22, the Surface Transportation Reauthorization and Reform Act. My last meeting of the day is with representatives from the National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA), where we discuss pharmacy issues.
Friday, December 4, 2015: This morning, as is the case with almost any Friday morning that I am home, I’m at the Band of Brothers bible study in Garden City. One might think it’s crazy that almost 200 men would get up early and attend a bible study at 6:30 a.m. unless, of course, you’ve ever heard Rev. Kenny Grant deliver a message. Later in the morning, I’m at the Ralph Mark Gilbert Civil Rights Museum in Savannah to present them with a flag flown over the Capitol in honor of the 20th anniversary of the museum. Dr. Ralph Mark Gilbert was the leader of the civil rights movement in Savannah and was President of the NAACP in Savannah for many years. Next, I head to a meeting with my friend Dick Berkowitz, who has invited some of his friends for a casual conversation and update on my work in Washington.
Later that evening, I head down to Brunswick to perform the coin toss for the 5-A state semi- final football game between the Glynn Academy Red Terrors and the Ware County Gators. In a thrilling finish, Glynn Academy manages to hang on for a 24-16 victory and now heads to Atlanta for the State Championship game in the Georgia Dome next weekend. Good Luck, Red Terrors!
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