Dear Friend,
I was truly honored this week to be presented with the Family Research Council’s True Blue Award. This award is presented annually to legislators who have demonstrated an unwavering commitment and consistent support of faith, family, and freedom. I have, and will continue to vote for and support pro-life, pro-family legislation. You can read more about the Family Research Council on its website here; and the Council’s Vote Scorecard here.
Congresswoman Hartzler accepts the Family Research Council’s “True Blue” Award
On a related note, as we celebrate National Marriage Week, I spoke on the House floor about “Why Marriage Matters.” I am blessed to have been married to my husband, Lowell, for 30 years now, and I genuinely believe that marriage is not only a sacred bond between a man and a woman; it is the cornerstone to a healthy society. You can watch my speech here.
Congresswoman Hartzler delivers her speech, “Why Marriage Matters” on the House floor.
I was further honored to chair my first hearing as Chairwoman of the House Armed Services Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee. I am proud to have been chosen to serve in such an important role. I am committed to providing critical oversight to our Defense Department, ensuring that valuable tax dollars are being spent wisely to ensure our military is an efficient and well-functioning organization. In this hearing my fellow committee members and I received an update on the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay. Though most of this hearing was classified, you can watch the video of my opening statements here, on my YouTube channel.
Congresswoman Hartzler chairs an Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee hearing.
This week I was pleased that representatives from Moberly Area Community College and State Fair Community College came to visit. These schools are doing great work to train Missourians for high demand jobs and bringing quality educations to a very diverse group of Missourians. As a former educator, I am always glad to hear of the great work such dedicated people are doing to educate Americans and listen to their ideas on how to make it better.
Top: Congresswoman Hartzler meets with Dr. Jeffery C. Lashley, President (left) and David Weis, Board Member (right) of the Moberly Area Community College.
Bottom: Congresswoman Hartzler meets with representatives from State Fair Community College, (left to right) Ms. Judy Parkhurst (Board Member), Dr. Joanna Anderson (President), Mr. Randall Eaton (Board Member), Congresswoman Hartzler, Mr. Gary Noland (Board Member), Mr. Ron Wineinger (Board Member), and Mr. Rob Dixon (Executive Director)
On a legislative note, Congress has responded to the calls of the American people to create jobs and boost American energy security. After six years, five State Department reviews, and 11 votes on the issue, both the House and Senate have passed the Keystone XL Pipeline Bill. This pro-growth jobs bill now goes to the president’s desk with strong bipartisan and bicameral support. I strongly urge the president to join the House, Senate, and American people in saying 'yes' to tens of thousands of quality jobs and to a common-sense approach to America's energy needs.
Lastly, I would like to bring your attention to an issue that is currently playing out in the Senate. As you may be aware, we are staring at a ticking clock. On February 27 funding for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will expire. You may remember that Congress passed a continuing resolution last year to fund all agencies of the government except for DHS, in order to address the president’s illegal executive actions on immigration. The House acted promptly in January, once the new Congress was sworn in, to fully fund DHS; but Senate Democrats won’t even let the bill come to the floor for debate. And so, the clock keeps ticking. Their stonewalling is foolish, and it is thwarting the security of our homeland.
The House bill is a good bill. Not only does this bill defund the president’s immigration actions, it provides for the largest operational Customs and Border patrol force in history, bolsters enforcement of the immigration and customs system, ensures the safety of our airports, and strengthens efforts to combat human trafficking and child exploitation. Yet the Democrats are not allowing this bill to get to the floor because it doesn’t fund the president’s actions on immigration. Changes to immigration law should be made deliberately by Congress – not by executive action that deliberately skirts the elected representatives of the people.
In the coming days, my Republican colleagues and I will be urging those Senate Democrats – some of whom also initially agree that the president’s actions were wrong – to listen to the American people, stop their dangerous gamesmanship, and pass our bill to fund DHS.
I hope you have a great week, and I look forward to seeing you as I travel through the district!
Sincerely,
Vicky Hartzler
Member of Congress
