The Hill Report: Week of March 10 - 14, 2014

Statement

This week, the House approved two bills to rein in the Administration's unrestrained executive overreach. The Constitution clearly states that once laws are enacted, the president is tasked with responsibly enforcing them. However, throughout his presidency, President Obama has chosen to selectively enforce the law or sidestep Congress through executive action to push his political priorities. Most recently, the president unilaterally delayed or modified several parts of ObamaCare due to the law's devastating impact on families and businesses.

In response to the president overstepping the boundaries of his constitutional authority, the House passed the ENFORCE the Law Act and the Faithful Execution of the Law Act. These bills restore balance to the separation of powers by implementing tools for Congress to hold the president and any federal official accountable for failing to faithfully execute the law. These important bills would prevent the troublesome expansion of executive power that we've witnessed from the current Administration and provide the American people with certainty that the laws on the books will be followed.

SGR Reform

On Friday, the House passed H.R. 4015, the SGR Repeal and Medicare Provider Payment Modernization Act. As you may know, our nation's current Medicare reimbursement formula -- the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR) -- is outdated and unstable for seniors and their physicians. Unless Congress takes immediate action, Medicare providers will see a nearly 24 percent reduction in their reimbursement rates, which would dramatically reduce seniors' access to health care and jeopardize the future of Medicare.

In response, today the House approved a bipartisan, bicameral proposal that represents years of work by Congress to address this important issue and provide certainty for those who rely upon Medicare. This proposal is also fully paid for by delaying ObamaCare's individual mandate, ensuring that this legislative fix won't add to our long term debt. I'm proud of the House's work this week to reform our Medicare payment system and protect our nation's seniors while also reducing wasteful spending.

City Council Meetings

In addition to legislative business, I was delighted to welcome City Council members from both Dallas and Garland to Washington this week. On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of taking the Mayor of Garland and other city officials on a night tour of the Capitol. During the tour, we also had the chance to talk about the Council's priorities for the year and how we can collaborate to work toward our shared goal of making North Texas a better place to work and live.

On Wednesday, I had the opportunity to meet with Dallas City Council members and city officials. During our meeting we discussed the progress of the Trinity River Corridor Project, MAP -- 21 reauthorization, local government grant programs, and a variety of other issues. I always value the opportunity to sit down with local officials and discuss how we can work together to accomplish the city's federal legislative priorities.

Special Olympics Texas

On Wednesday, I was pleased to join Special Olympics Texas athletes and representatives for breakfast during their annual visit to Capitol Hill. I enjoyed talking with the athletes about their athletic achievements and sharing stories about my son Alex's experiences with Special Olympics sports. Special Olympics offers individuals with special needs a unique opportunity to develop to the best of their abilities, and I'm extremely grateful for the opportunity to meet with them each year.

As a member of the Special Olympics Texas President's Advisory Council, I will continue to support the Special Olympics and promote policies in Congress that will create more opportunities for individuals with disabilities.

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