View from the Capitol – February 29, 2016

Getting You a Better Response

The recent flooding in Missouri’s Fourth Congressional District, coupled with concerns expressed stemming from the flooding of 2013, revealed a number of areas in which improvements could be made to better assist constituents who are coping with major losses and hardships. What came to light is the fact that communications between the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and local communities are not as good as they could and should be. Changes were needed.

In response, this week, the House passed a FEMA reform bill, which included my language to foster more open communications between FEMA’s disaster response operations and those communities struggling with the aftermath of a major disaster by providing more transparency, increased consistency, and ultimately better assistance during the recovery phase.

 

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Vicky speaks on the House floor in favor of the FEMA Reform Act

 

Specifically, the FEMA Disaster Reform Act requires FEMA to implement processes to provide consistent guidance for disaster relief, maintain accurate and appropriate records of recovery efforts, and identify and use the technology available to best disseminate information to those affected.

This bill will make sure that not only Missourians, but all Americans going through an emergency, know what is going on and are confident that relief is on its way.

Respecting Infant Lives

You may remember I was selected to serve on the House Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives to gather information and get the facts about medical practices of abortion service providers and the business practices of the procurement organizations who sell baby body parts. The panel held its first hearing on Wednesday, examining the ethics behind procuring and selling baby body parts and related matters.

 

The Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives

We heard from a number of experts—professors who teach ethics, medical practitioners, and biomedical researchers—on the ethical implications and issues for the women who terminate a pregnancy, for the researcher, for the person who needs a cure, and for the baby. This was a very informative hearing that brought to light some very serious ethical concerns in the harvesting of baby body parts. It is important we hold these hearings so we can let the American people know about this dreadful practice.

 

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Vicky questions witnesses at the Select Investigative Panel on Infant Lives hearing

 

Protecting Life and Women’s Health

The Supreme Court this week heard oral arguments in the Whole Woman’s Health vs. Hellerstedt case. This case involves a Texas law, similar to laws Missouri holds, that puts in place commonsense health and safety regulations for women seeking an abortion. The law improves the continuity of care for patients, ensures a minimum of physician competence, prevents doctor miscommunication, and prevents patient abandonment. It also requires abortion centers to be sterile, sanitary environments with emergency access, proper staffing, and minimum safety measures and precautions to protect the lives of both mother and child.

This is a commonsense law that provides basic protections to women. I wrote an op-ed on this case in support of the Texas law. You can read it here.

 

Visiting with Veterans

I was glad to meet with a delegation from the Boone County VFW this week. We discussed the importance of VA healthcare to our nation’s veterans, and some of the issues facing our VA system today. It is always good to hear from those with firsthand knowledge and experience with critical issues such as taking care of our veterans.

Vicky with the Boone County VFW delegation

 

Meeting on School Lunches

I also had the pleasure of meeting with nutrition professionals of the Missouri School Nutrition Association this week to discuss the onerous USDA school lunch regulations.  While we all agree students need nutritious and affordable lunches, Washington’s top down regulations are driving kids away from the program and squeezing school budgets. I am a proud sponsor of a bill to eliminate Washington's mandated school lunch price formula and I also support several other bills to provide more flexibility on school lunch decisions to local school officials. I appreciate MSNA’s valuable insight and support.

 

Vicky with members of the Missouri School Nutrition Association

Legislative Links

The House passed legislation to help protect jobs in the brick manufacturing industry. The Blocking Regulatory Interference from Closing Kilns (BRICK) Act, H.R. 4557, will help preserve America’s brick manufacturing industry and its 7,000 jobs from an overreaching and overly strict EPA rule that has yet to withstand judicial scrutiny.

We also passed H.R. 3716, a bill that takes steps to ensure doctors who have been banned from a state’s Medicaid program for reasons of fraud, poor quality, or lack of integrity don’t find their way into another state’s Medicaid program. Not only does this bill help eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse in Medicaid programs, it makes sure those using Medicaid are in the hands of capable and caring doctors.

Have a great week,

Vicky Hartzler
Member of Congress