Congressman Simpson E-Newsletter Week of May 6, 2014

Statement

Last week the House passed H.R. 4414, the Expatriate Health Care Coverage Clarification Act, by a vote of 268-150. The bill exempts expatriate health plans, employers providing expatriate health plans, and expatriate health insurance issuers from Obamacare. The House also took up two appropriations bills. H.R. 4486, the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2015, passed by a vote of 416-1, and H.R. 4487, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2015 by a vote of 402-14. This was the earliest start to the annual appropriations process since 1974. Congressman Simpson supported all three bills.

Simpson Votes to Boost Veterans Programs, Increase Efficiency at VA and DOD

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson last week voted in favor of H.R. 4486, the Fiscal Year 2015 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. The annual funding bill, which funds the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), included an increase of $1.5 billion for veterans programs in FY15.

"This bill includes the necessary funding that our veterans have earned through their service and commitment to protecting our freedoms," said Congressman Simpson. "The bill fulfills our moral and legal obligations to our veterans and also focuses heavily on fixing the unacceptable backlog of disability claims. It puts our priorities where they should be--providing essential medical care to veterans."

H.R. 4486 continues efforts to end the disability claim backlog and increase efficiency by providing funding for digital scanning of health records and requiring timely and accurate data exchange between the VA and the Department of Defense.

Though the bill significantly boosts veterans programs, it acknowledges fiscal realities by reducing discretionary funding by $1.8 billion without impacting troops or veterans projects or services.

The bill passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 416 to 1.

Simpson Commends House Plan to Establish Select Committee Investigating Benghazi

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson released the following statement in response to Speaker of the House John Boehner's announcement that the House of Representatives plans to form a select committee to investigate the September 11, 2012 terrorist attack in Benghazi, Libya.

"I have been closely monitoring the House committee's investigations for the past two years concerning the terrorist attack in Benghazi," said Congressman Simpson. "I am very disappointed that the administration has not been forthcoming in providing answers to the many questions that have emerged since the attack. I am troubled by the recent news that the Obama Administration is intentionally withholding documents, and I fully support the Speaker's plan to form a select committee to lead the investigation. I am hopeful that a select committee can provide clarity in learning the truth and determining what must be done to ensure such a tragedy never happens again."

Congressman Simpson, who is a cosponsor of House Resolution 36 which would create a Special Select Committee on Benghazi, reiterated that this must continue to be a top priority for this Congress.

"I have communicated with my colleagues on this issue throughout this Congress and have been supportive of Congressman Frank Wolf's (R-VA) proposal to form a select committee. The most recent revelations have made it abundantly clear that we must use our authority in Congress to demand answers to critical questions that the Administration has not answered. The safety of American citizens at home and abroad depends on it."

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