Congressional Roundup
Congressman Gary Miller, Representing California’s 42nd District

Sept. 9, 2011

This Week in Congress:

School Choice – This week, the House began consideration of H.R. 2218, the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act. Due to shortcomings in the current charter school program, there is no support to replicate or expand high-quality charter schools. Meanwhile, charter schools have had difficulty securing financing to build or rehabilitate current facilities. H.R. 2218 would reauthorize the charter school program through FY 2017 and streamlines it to encourage the development of charter schools through grants to state entities. Specifically the bill would: provide financial assistance for the planning, program design, and initial implementation of charter schools; expand the number of highquality charter schools available to students across the nation; evaluate the impact of such schools on student achievement, families, and communities; and encourage states to provide support to charter schools for facilities financing in an amount commensurate to the amount states have typically provided for traditional public schools. In addition, the legislation would support efforts to strengthen the authorizing process for charter schools to improve performance management, including transparency, monitoring, and evaluation of such schools. H.R. 2218 authorizes $300 million per year (versus $450 million currently authorized), subject to appropriations. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates that the bill would cost $1 billion over the next five years, with no direct impact on spending or revenues.

FY 2012 Intelligence Authorization Act – On Friday, September 9, the House approved H.R. 1892, the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 by a vote of 384-14. The bill would authorize the intelligence activities of the United States government for Fiscal Year 2012. The bill would fund the requirements of the men and women of the intelligence community – military and civilian – many of whom directly support the war zones or are engaged in other dangerous operations to keep Americans safe. These activities are intended to enhance national security, support and assist the Armed Forces, and facilitate U.S. foreign policy. CBO cannot provide estimates for certain provisions in the unclassified portion of the bill because they concern classified intelligence programs. On that limited basis, and assuming appropriation of the authorized amounts, CBO estimates that implementing H.R. 1892 would cost $585 million over the 2012-2016 period, subject to appropriations.

Next Week:

NLRB’s Boeing Ruling– Next week, the House is expected to consider H.R. 2587, the Protecting Jobs from Government Interference Act, as part of House Republicans’ regulatory relief and job creation agenda. The bill would amend the National Labor Relations Act to prohibit the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), in future and pending cases, from ordering any employer to close, relocate, or transfer employment under any circumstances. This legislation would effectively prevent the NLRB from restricting where an employer can create jobs in the United States. On April 20th, the NLRB issued a complaint against The Boeing Company for the alleged transfer of an assembly line from Washington state to South Carolina. As of this writing, not one union employee at Boeing’s Puget Sound facility has lost their job as a result of the proposed South Carolina plant. However, the NLRB is continuing to pursue a “restoration order” against the company that would cost South Carolina thousands of jobs and deter future investment and business expansion in the United States.

FAA Extension– Next week, the House is expected to consider a short-term extension of the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) operations and programs. The extension would extend temporarily the FAA’s authority to expend funds from the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, as well as authorize funding for the Airport Improvement Program. Currently, the FAA’s authorization is set to expire September 17, 2011. FAA’s authority to collect aviation trust fund revenues and expend money in the trust fund expired on July 22, 2011 and was not reauthorized until the Senate approved H.R. 2553 on August 5, 2011. Earlier this year, the House and Senate each adopted a long-term FAA reauthorization bill. A conference committee is expected to meet to resolve differences between the two legislative proposals soon.

Resolution of Disapproval on the Debt-Limit Increase– Next week, the House is also expected to consider a resolution to disapprove of a scheduled $500 billion increase in the statutory debt limit, as authorized under the Budget Control Act. The Budget Control Act authorizes Congress to consider a resolution of disapproval of the debt limit increase and provides expedited procedures for consideration of the resolution. If it is not approved in both chambers, or is vetoed by the President and the veto is not overridden, the debt limit would increase by $500 billion, for a total initial debt limit increase of $900 billion – which coincides with a $917 billion in initial spending reductions contained in the bill. If a resolution of disapproval against the increase is approved and becomes law, $400 billion (the amount of the initial debt ceiling increase) would be subject to automatic spending cuts with exceptions for Medicare, defense, veterans, and Social Security.

Complete Consideration of Charter School Bill– Also next week, the House is expected to complete consideration of H.R. 2218, the Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act.

Items of Note:

Congressman Miller’s September Column — Rep. Gary Miller has published his column for the month of September, entitled, “Breaking Down Barriers to Improve America’s Highways.” To read the column, go to http://garymiller.house.gov/News/DocumentSingle.aspx?DocumentID=258042

Job Creation

• Last week, the U.S. Department of Labor announced that no net new jobs were created in the month of August, and that the unemployment rate continued to remain high, at 9.1%.
• It is clear that two and a half years of spending money we do not have to grow government has failed to create jobs and reinvigorate our economy.
• Unfortunately, some in Washington still believe that we can tax, spend, and borrow our way to prosperity and job creation.
• Despite the failure of the 2009 “stimulus,” President Obama has asked Congress to agree to $450 billion more for short-term measures that will not lead to long-term economic growth or create new jobs.
• Mountains of government regulations imposed on the private sector by the National Labor Relations Board and the Environmental Protection Agency, uncertainty about Obamacare, out-of-control government spending and debt, the threat of higher taxes, a confusing tax code, and high energy prices have our nation’s job creators playing defense.
• The truth is government doesn’t create jobs. Jobs come from entrepreneurs who see opportunities, take risks, innovate, and earn success.
• Small business owners don’t need Washington to tell them how to create jobs. They need Washington to get out of the way and stop making it more difficult for them to invest in their businesses and hire new workers.
• House Republicans are working to tear down obstacles to job creation and get the government out of the way so that the private sector has an opportunity to grow.
• Complying with government red tape costs small businesses with fewer than 20 employees an average of $10,585 per employee every year.
• According to the Small Business Administration, excessive regulations cost our economy $1.7 trillion each year, a huge drag on our economy.
• Rising energy costs are another tremendous strain on our economy and American families.
• Every penny increase per gallon of gas costs consumers $4 million per day. Utilizing more of our own energy sources here at home will mean more jobs, lower prices, and more money for American families.
• More stimulus spending and debt won’t cure our economy. Growing jobs and cutting spending go hand in hand. To balance the budget we need spending cuts and real economic growth.
• With so many Americans continuing to struggle to find adequate employment, we must put an end to the borrowing and spending agenda of the past two and a half years and promote an environment where the private sector and entrepreneurship may thrive.
• At a time when our national debt has soared to unsustainable levels, we cannot afford to repeat the mistakes of the past.

Balanced Budget Amendment

• We are in this current debt crisis because Washington spends far more than it can afford.
• The growth of our national debt slows our economy as job creators and investors hold back due to the threat of higher taxes, inflation, and borrowing costs.
• As the national debt has increased, so have the interest payments on the debt, which constitutes the four largest monthly expense for the federal government.
  So far this year, the U.S. has spent more than $412 billion on debt interest payments.
• It is long past time for Washington to adopt a balanced budget. Later this year, the House and Senate will be required to vote on a Balanced Budget Amendment to the Constitution.
• A Balanced Budget Amendment will prevent future overspending by cutting up the nation’s credit cards and forcing the federal government to live within its means.
• Americans know Washington won’t live within its means by choice. A Balanced Budget Amendment will force Washington to live within its means, just like families and businesses.
• 49 states have some form of balanced budget requirement. Why is it that the one entity with the $14.7 trillion debt does not?
• In order to get our nation’s fiscal house back in order, it is imperative that Congress quickly consider and send to the states for ratification a Balanced Budget Amendment.