Newsletter: Shelley's Weekly Update: Congress Should Vote on ISIL Military Action

Statement

On Thursday, I attended a classified briefing for members of Congress where intelligence officials outlined the dangers that the Islamic State group known as ISIL or ISIS poses to American interests.

As a nation, we must act decisively and deliberately to protect America and the world from the threat of terrorism.

ISIL presents a clear threat to peace worldwide and has committed heinous acts against innocent Americans, Syrians and Iraqis. We must work with a coalition of international partners to ensure that ISIL is dismantled and can no longer spread its malicious culture of hate and torture.

America must be united as a nation and with our allies in defense of freedom and liberty, and the president last night presented a plan to counter and neutralize ISIL.

In that vein, I believe that Congress owes it to the American people to have a thoughtful, reasoned debate on this issue and bring it to the floor for a vote.

PUSHING FOR HEALTH CARE REFORMS

This week, the House took another step to allow families to keep their doctors and insurance plans by passing H.R. 3522, the Employee Health Care Protection Act.

This bill would allow group health insurance plans offered in 2013 that were deemed not compliant with the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) to be offered now and for the next five years. These plans would be considered to meet Obamacare's minimal essential coverage, and small business and their employees would be able to purchase these plans regardless of whether they were enrolled in them in 2013.

Simply put, the Employee Health Care Protection Act keeps the president's promise that people who like their health insurance can keep it, and it also provides more affordable alternatives for small businesses whose health care costs are soaring.

And while the House continues to address the inherent flaws in Obamacare, I will continue to fight for meaningful, patient-centered health care reforms.

I spoke on the House floor Wednesday about the Employee Health Care Protection Act and the need for enact real reforms. Please click here to watch my speech.

DRESS FOR SUCCESS

On Wednesday, I dropped off my donations to Dress for Success DC's Congressional Suit Challenge -- I hope the clothes, shoes and accessories donated will help women as they go on interviews and start their careers.

WATERS OF THE UNITED STATES

I voted yes Tuesday on legislation to prohibit the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from broadening its authority over state and local waters.

H.R. 5078, the Waters of the United States Regulatory Overreach Protection Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives 262-152. The bill would prohibit the EPA and the Army Corps of Engineers from enacting a proposed rule regarding the waters of the United States and expanding the EPA's jurisdiction into state and local waters.

By redefining waters of the United States under the Clean Water Act, the EPA and the Army Corps would be able to claim jurisdiction over nearly any area connected to downstream navigable waters, including ditches.

This proposed rule has nothing to do with keeping waters safe for consumption or preserving our waterways -- it's about the EPA once again expanding its authority over state and local jurisdictions.

Under the vague regulation proposed by the EPA and the Corps of Engineers, federal power would grow, subjecting our farmers, construction workers and energy producers to even more regulations, red tape and delays.

I'm proud to support legislation to reject this proposed rule and send federal officials back to the drawing board to work with state and local leaders on a jurisdictional waters rule that makes sense for our economy and our environment.

Thank you for reading my weekly e-newsletter, and as always, you can join in the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

Sincerely,

Shelley Moore Capito

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