Congressman Simpson E-Newsletter Week of September 27, 2010

Statement

Congressman Simpson E-Newsletter Week of September 27, 2010

Last week the House passed the Senate Amendment to H.R. 5297, the Small Business Lending Fund Act. This legislation creates a $30 billion fund for the Secretary of Treasury to make loans to banks with less than $10 billion in assets. While the stated purpose of the bill is to provide funding for banks to loan to small businesses, it does not require that banks receiving funding through the program do so. Because of these concerns and his concerns about the significant lack of oversight built into the program, Congressman Simpson voted against this bill.

Simpson Endorses "A Pledge to America"
House Republicans Pledge New Governing Agenda to Focus on Creating Jobs, Cutting Spending, Reforming Congress
Congressman Mike Simpson enthusiastically endorses the House Republicans "Pledge to America.' This new governing agenda addresses their top priorities -- including creating jobs, cutting spending, and changing the way Congress works.

"Our nation is at a historical crossroad. Americans have been engaged and vocal about the direction in which they think our country should be heading, and this Pledge addresses their concerns," said Simpson. "Our country needs certainty in order to overcome the challenges we are facing. Businesses need to know that they won't face increased taxes and regulatory burdens. Families need to know their jobs are secure and our economy is strong. Citizens need to know that Congress is working on behalf of the American people. Our Pledge addresses these priorities."

The Pledge is the culmination of a months-long engagement with the American people in which House Republicans sought their ideas and priorities for Congress. The agenda offers concrete solutions that can be implemented immediately to tackle the issues that are most important to the nation, including job creation, spending restraint, national security, health care, and reform of Congress itself.

"Across America, the people see a government in Washington that isn't listening, doesn't get it, and doesn't care. Today, that begins to change," House Republican Leader John Boehner (R-OH) said when the pledge was revealed. "This new governing agenda, built by listening to the people, offers plans to create jobs, cut spending, and put power where it belongs: in the hands of the people. 'A Pledge to America' offers a new way forward that hasn't been tried in Washington: an approach focused on cutting spending instead of accelerating spending, and eliminating uncertainty for the private-sector innovators and entrepreneurs who create jobs."

"A Pledge to America' can be downloaded in PDF format at http://pledge.gop.gov. This new governing agenda is comprised of five specific policy plans:

* Creating Jobs. "A Pledge to America" reflects Americans' demand for immediate action on policies that will end uncertainty for small businesses and help our economy get back to creating jobs. This new governing agenda contains a plan to create jobs, end economic uncertainty, and make America competitive -- including stopping all tax hikes, reining in red tape, and repealing ObamaCare's "1099 mandate' that puts severe burdens on small businesses.

* Cutting Spending. "A Pledge to America" embodies Americans' rejection of the now-thoroughly discredited notion that we can simply tax, spend, and borrow our way to prosperity. This new governing agenda contains a plan to cut spending and reduce the size of government -- including cutting government spending to pre-"stimulus,' pre-bailout levels, imposing a hard cap on future discretionary spending, and ending TARP once and for all.

* Reforming Congress. "A Pledge to America" acknowledges that we cannot get our arms around the issues of the day when we have a government that refuses to listen to the people and ignores their priorities. This new governing agenda contains a plan to reform Congress and restore trust -- including implementing "read the bill' reform, allowing for more open and fair debate, and requiring that every bill contain a citation of constitutional authority.

* Repealing and Replacing the Job-Killing Health Care Law. "A Pledge to America" recognizes that the American people continue to squarely oppose the government takeover of health care, with its higher costs, higher taxes, job-killing mandates, and Medicare cuts to pay for a massive new entitlement. This new governing agenda contains a plan to repeal and replace the job-killing health care law with common-sense reforms focused on lowering costs and protecting American jobs.

* A Strong National Defense. "A Pledge to America" reinforces Congress's responsibility to help provide for a strong national defense and fashion a coherent strategy to confront and defeat the terrorist threat. This new governing agenda contains a plan to keep our nation secure at home and abroad -- including passing clean troop funding bills, keeping terrorists off American soil, and fully funding missile defense.

Simpson Cosponsors Bill to Protect Firearms on Public Lands
Legislation Extends 2nd Amendment to Forest Service and BLM Land
Congressman Mike Simpson has signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 5523, the Firearms Freedom on Federal Lands Act, introduced by Representative Denny Rehberg (R-MT). The bill extends second amendment rights to Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands, ensuring the permanency of hunting and gun rights on our federal lands.

"This bill is essentially a preemptive strike at any attempt to ban hunting on federal lands," said Simpson. "We have to be proactive to protect our rights, and I hope Democrats and Republicans in Congress can act to do so."

While the Forest Service and the BLM do not currently restrict firearms, there has been concern amongst Members of Congress that the administration may move to do so. Members point to recent climate change regulations issued by the Department of the Interior and a leaked secret document revealing administration plans to recommend 13 million acres of land to be designated as new National Monuments. Last year, Congress voted to prevent the National Park Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Refuges from banning firearms; this bill extends those same rights to all federal lands.

H.R. 5523 prevents any presidential executive order or regulation from banning or restricting firearms and keeps the authority with state governments.

Simpson is the Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees both the Forest Service and the BLM.

Simpson Opposes Efforts to Ban Lead in Fishing Tackle
Congressman Mike Simpson last week joined his colleagues in sending a letter to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson opposing efforts to ban the use of lead in fishing products. The letter, signed by 77 Members of Congress, accompanies a letter from leading hunting, fishing, and conservation organizations pointing out that there is no scientific basis to warrant a ban on traditional fishing equipment.

"There is simply no data to support a ban on traditional fishing tackle and no reason for the EPA to restrict people's ability to take advantage of the great fishing opportunities in Idaho and elsewhere in the country," said Simpson. "At a time when more Americans are taking advantage of the recreational activities that are close to home, we should be encouraging them to reconnect with the outdoors, not making it more cost prohibitive."

The letter points out that there are 60 million recreational anglers in America, contributing $125 billion to the economy each year. Simpson is Ranking Member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior and the Environment, which oversees funding for the EPA.

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