Dave's Weekly Wrap: January 25, 2015

Statement

Friends,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying the new year as we get into the thick of winter. On Monday, our nation stopped to remember and honor the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., truly one of our country's greatest leaders.

On Tuesday, President Obama delivered his annual State of the Union address to Congress and I will tell you, I'm glad the pageantry of the speech is over so my colleagues can join me in focusing on the things we were elected to do -- which starts with finding solutions to the problems facing our constituents.

Regrettably, the President made it clear he's not interested in working with us in Congress to achieve those solutions, but rather spending more of our money. His new proposals are going to cost $68 Billion more than the budget we've agreed to. I'm a numbers guy, and that's a 7% increase we can't afford to spend.

The way I see it, my job is to roll up my sleeves to help the middle class and grow our economy, so our small businesses can succeed in a global marketplace without Washington regulations holding them down.

This week I voted with my colleagues in the House to pass H.R. 161, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act, a bill to further America's energy renaissance and increase access to natural gas. Over half the homes in the U.S. are heated by natural gas, but in many places there is a shortage of pipeline capacity as federal regulators are getting in the way - causing delays that can drag on for months and leave construction projects in limbo. This bill reforms the permitting process and ensures that pipeline construction has a clear timeline.

I was glad to back home on Friday a busy day of meetings with constituents and small business owners. I participated in a forum with my fellow Congressmen and Northeast Ohio Mayors and City Managers, as we discussed ways we can all work together to do what's best for the region. I also had a chance to stop by the Stow-Munroe Falls Library and deliver a Congressional Proclamation of Recognition on their 90th Anniversary.

As always, it is an honor to represent you.

-Dave

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