| Protecting Pennsylvania's Families: |
| Fighting For A Sustainable Budget |
 I
wish we could have had your good sense in Washington last week. Your
family understands how to live within its means. Your family knows that
you don't spend what you don't have. Unfortunately, Washington still
refuses to accept this principle.
Early
last Saturday morning, the Senate passed its first budget in four
years. I was astounded that it took Sen. Harry Reid so long to introduce
a budget. I was even more shocked by what was in it.
The
Senate Democrats' budget is a recipe for continuing our miserable
economy and inadequate job creation. I voted against it because it
dramatically hikes taxes, fails to rein in spending and does not balance
our books. In fact, this budget makes our nation's fiscal and economic
woes worse. The New York Times
writes that this budget, "would fast-track passage of tax increases,
trim spending gingerly and leave the government still deeply in the debt
a decade from now."
This
budget is more of the same recent, failed policies. The Democrats have
already increased taxes $1.2 trillion in the president's health care
law. They added over $600 billion in higher taxes on January 1. Now, we
are looking at another $1.5 trillion in still higher, job-killing taxes
over 10 years.
Senate
Democrats want to tax and spend more at a time when we should be
reducing Washington's out-of-control spending. This budget does nothing
to reform and sustain entitlement programs - programs that President
Obama has admitted will go bankrupt no matter how much we raise taxes.
In fact, the Senate Democrats' budget raises taxes and adds more debt to
recklessly accelerate spending on already unsustainable entitlement
programs. Such irresponsible policies represent a total abdication of
leadership and a lack of seriousness in fixing our budget mess.
My
constituents in Pennsylvania rightfully expect more from the Senate
than what this budget represents. I will continue striving to work
together to rein in our excessive spending, and put our nation on a
sustainable path that will significantly grow the economy for all
Americans.
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| Restoring Tuition Assistance For Service Members |
I support tuition assistance for our service members
and I'm relieved the Senate has restored this critical measure. The
administration should never have cut tuition assistance in the first
place, not when there are so many areas of wasteful, duplicative
spending that could be eliminated.
Tuition
assistance educates service members who can attend part-time while in
the military. It is one of the reasons America's best and brightest
choose to serve in our Armed Forces. Suspending the program would have
hurt our all-volunteer force with severe consequences for our national
security.
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| Protecting Our Children |
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Along
with my good friend, District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman, I toured
Mission Kids, a child advocacy center in Montgomery County this week.
This nonprofit helps children involved in abuse to navigate the criminal
justice system in a safe, comforting environment. The center's
highly-trained team is devoted to responding to - and preventing - child
abuse and helping to care for children in crisis.
Mission
Kids provides the kind of compassionate care that I'd like to see
replicated across the Commonwealth. I was happy to write to U.S.
Attorney General Holder and express my support for their application for
a National Children's Alliance grant. I hope the Attorney General will
be receptive to the wonderful work that Mission Kids does.
I'm also grateful to District Attorney Ferman for inviting me on the
tour and for her critical work in co-founding Mission Kids.
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| Ending The Medical Device Tax |
Click here to watch video of my floor speech against the Medical Device Tax.
I'm
very pleased to report that my amendment to repeal the medical device
tax created in the president's health care law passed the Senate by an
overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 79 -20.
This
measure eliminates a burdensome provision of the president's health
care law which forces manufacturers of medical devices - ranging from
cochlear implants to pacemakers and artificial joints - to pay a 2.3
percent tax on their sales. The tax, which took effect in January, is
expected to cost device manufacturers roughly $194 million per month,
putting 43,000 American jobs at risk, according to the Advanced Medical
Technology Association. It is already hindering innovation, job
creation, and quality, affordable patient care.
I'm
thankful to Sen. Bob Casey for working with me to end this costly tax,
and I will continue to fight to ensure that it is eliminated once and
for all.
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| Standing With Pennsylvania's Veterans |
At
Delaware County's VFW Post 928, Congressman Pat Meehan and I hosted
veterans from across the Commonwealth to show support for ranking combat
valor medals above those for drone operators in the military's order of
precedence. (Read The Delaware County Daily Times article.)
Outstanding
achievement in the military should be honored and accomplishments by
those not involved in direct combat operations should be encouraged and
recognized. I also realize that citations should stay current with the
ways technology allows us to protect our nation and that's what the
Distinguished Warfare Medal is designed to do.
However, I strongly believe our service men and women who act with
particular valor and courage on the front lines, in harm's way, should
be held in the highest esteem. That's what I heard repeatedly from
Pennsylvania's veterans and that's why I am cosponsoring bipartisan
legislation that would prevent the Distinguished Warfare Medal from
being ranked higher than medals such as the Bronze Star with valor
device and the Purple Heart.
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Photo Journal
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In
the midst of working on the budget, I was able to take a break and
visit with cadets from Valley Forge Military Academy. I always
appreciate hearing from Pennsylvania's young people - especially those
who are service-minded. Thanks for coming to Washington, gentlemen.
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