I'd like to share some highlights from my office's hard work on behalf of Nevadans this year. From resolving issues with federal agencies, to coordinating visits to our nation’s capital, my office helped Nevadans with several matters in 2019. When it comes to constituent services, Team Amodei’s top priorities will always be accessibility and responsiveness.
Please remember, if you’re ever unable to get the answers you need from a federal agency, or if you have been treated unfairly, our job is to intervene on your behalf. It’s been a pleasure to serve the people of CD-2 for more than eight years, and I look forward to continuing to serve you in 2020. As always, if we can ever be of assistance to you or someone you know, please do not hesitate to give us a call.
CONSTITUENT SUCCESS STORY:
Recently, one of my Constituent Services Representatives in Reno, Tracy Spears, helped secure previously denied benefits for a constituent who had tragically developed a work-related illness. This constituent sought assistance from our office after his appeal to the Department of Labor (DOL) had been denied.
Tracy was able to successfully intervene on this constituent’s behalf by contacting the Social Security Administration to track down a complete record of hours worked. Upon this discovery, DOL further reviewed the case and reversed its denial, allocating several years of pay withheld by the federal government to this constituent.
Nevadans deserve a government that works hard to get things done for the people it serves. I hope that you are encouraged by this constituent success story and will reach out to our office whenever you need assistance. One of the most important aspects of our jobs is to provide information about available resources and deliver solutions when you cannot get the answers you need. If you are ever having an issue with a federal agency and need immediate assistance, please give one of my offices a call. We’re happy to help.
WASHINGTON WRAP-UP
As you’ve probably experienced, there isn’t much positive news being broadcast from national media outlets these days, so I’d like to take another opportunity to cover some of the good news we’ve experienced recently, and throughout 2019, that isn’t getting the attention it deserves.
In case you missed my last update, in November I had the opportunity to join some of my colleagues in the House, President Trump, and members of his Administration at Camp David and the White House to discuss several policy issues important to Nevadans and the rest of the country. Our discussions touched on a variety of issues, including: taking action on the USMCA trade agreement, lowering prescription drug costs, immigration reform, transportation and infrastructure, and Western policy issues like Nevada military expansion projects, wildfires, and fuels management issues.
Modernized Trade Deal Passes the House
Speaking of the USMCA, I’m pleased to report this trade deal has successfully passed out of the House before we adjourned for the holidays. As you may know, H.R. 5430, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement Implementation Act, is a bipartisan trade deal negotiated by President Trump to replace the outdated North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) and grow our economy by stimulating more than $68 billion in new economic activity.
The United States trades more with our neighbors directly to the North and South than we do with any other countries in the world. In fact, we export more American goods to Canada and Mexico than we do to our next 10 largest export markets combined. Trade with just these two partners supports millions of jobs nationwide, including nearly 1,600 jobs in Nevada. Without a doubt, the USMCA will lead to freer markets, fairer trade, and increased export opportunities for America’s farmers, ranchers, entrepreneurs, and manufacturers. I’m pleased to finally see the USMCA pass the House, and I encourage my colleagues in the Senate to act swiftly on this legislation when we return in January.
Click here to read my full statement.
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020
Last week, I joined my colleagues in the House in support of S. 1790, a critical defense package that strengthens our national security, supports our brave men and women in uniform, veterans, and their families.
Click here for my full statement.
Supporting Cures and Low-Cost Options for Patients
On December 12, the House passed H.R. 3, a prescription drug bill that eliminates lifesaving cures while creating more government mandates. While Speaker Pelosi is trying to pass this legislation off as a “negotiation” that would lower drug prices for the American people, it’s actually a government mandate. Under the bill, drug companies would sell prescription drugs at a price arbitrarily set by government bureaucrats who would set a maximum price for the drug. If a manufacturer refuses to comply with that price, the government will tax the drug manufacturer’s overall revenue at 65 percent, a rate which keeps rising until it hits a 95 percent tax rate. In short: do what I say or go out of business. This severely impacts patients and makes our system even worse, because it would reduce the number of new drugs in the market instead of helping them reach patients.
In fact, the Council of Economic Advisers estimates H.R. 3 could kill upwards of 100 new drugs over the next decade. This is why I supported H.R. 19, legislation that was offered as a substitute amendment to H.R. 3.
H.R. 19 would actually lower costs and advance more cures for victims of devastating diseases. Read my full statement here.
Common-Sense Immigration Reform
With my support, the House also recently passed H.R. 5038, the Farm Workforce Modernization Act of 2019, a bipartisan piece of legislation that would establish a new employment-based immigration program for agricultural workers, requiring significant past and future work commitments to ensure the stability of American agriculture. This legislation is supported by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, more than 300 agricultural and agribusiness associations, and was developed through an exhaustive process which included input from agricultural stakeholders and labor organizations. Overall, this legislation represents a responsible first step in finally getting the ball rolling on immigration reform. As I have said before, the status quo doesn’t work for any interest group, and while reforms to this issue will continue to be complex and emotional debates, I will always prefer to be criticized for taking thoughtful action than for pretending inaction is a solution.
Click here to read my full statement.
Government Funding Packages for Fiscal Year 2020
This week, the House successfully passed H.R. 1158 and H.R. 1865, two legislative packages that include all 12 Fiscal Year 2020 appropriations bills. In terms of the reforms, funding priorities, and responsible spending reductions included in these bills, Nevadans can certainly claim a number of victories. More specifically, these packages will increase funding for Department of Interior (DOI) operations, including: wildland fire management, Lake Tahoe restoration efforts, hazardous fuels reductions, watershed restoration, and the Bureau of Land Management’s (BLM) Wild Horse and Burro Program. The Interior portion of these bills also allocates $12 million for radium cleanup efforts, which the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) would be eligible to receive.
In addition to providing funds to secure our Southern border, prioritize national security, and rebuild our military, other wins for the Silver State include funding for rural development programs, rural housing, Public Health Training Centers, and critical transportation and infrastructure programs. Amid all of the short-term continuing resolutions and recent disruptions we’ve encountered with regard to fully funding the federal government, I’m pleased to be entering the second session of the 116th Congress by providing certainty to our government agencies for the remainder of the Fiscal Year.
House Votes on Articles of Impeachment
As you probably know, on December 18th, the House took action to impeach President Donald J. Trump for allegedly committing high crimes and misdemeanors. This marks just the third time in U.S. history that a president has been impeached. Specifically, the House voted on two Articles of Impeachment: Abuse of Power and Obstruction of Congress. I acknowledge that politics are important, however, our nation’s institutional integrity and our fundamental touchstones have a value that should overcome political fanaticism and lust for power. As such, I voted against each article because after thoughtful deliberation and review, I could not identify where any proof-standard of a crime being committed by the President had been achieved.
Click here for my full statement.
2019 WINS
While you can never say mission accomplished, 2019 has definitely been a pretty good year. Let’s take a closer look at some additional legislative successes:
Economy
- Under President Trump, our unemployment rate is the lowest it’s been in half a century;
- In September 2019, the unemployment rate for women reached its lowest level in more than six decades – and remains historically low;
- Youth unemployment recently reached its lowest level in more than 50 years; and
- There are more than 7 million job openings available for American workers, far exceeding the number of job seekers.
Tax Reform
- Paychecks and wages are continuing to grow as a direct result of tax reform, with 90 percent of American wage earners receiving higher take-home pay;
- A typical family earning $75,000 received a tax cut of more than $2,000 post tax reform;
- More than 6 million American workers received wage increases, bonuses, and increased benefits thanks to President Trump’s tax cuts; and
- More than 130 utility companies, including those in Nevada, lowered electric, gas, or water rates.
Veterans
- The President recently signed the largest Veterans Affairs budget in history;
- Expanded access to walk-in community clinics that offer immediate local care; and
- Expanded access to telehealth services for veterans.
Healthcare
- President Trump signed an executive order to improve seniors’ healthcare and improve the fiscal sustainability of Medicare;
- He expanded short-term, limited-duration health plans to provide Americans with more flexible and affordable health insurance options;
- Expanded access to Association Health Plans (AHPs); and
- Put forward a set of principles to address the problem of surprise billing in healthcare.
LOOKING AHEAD
In 2020, our office will continue working to build off these recent successes and policy wins. Come January, my staff and I plan to hit the ground running with some of the following items being at the top of our to-do list:
- Continuing to work with relevant stakeholders in Nevada on military expansion projects;
- Introducing legislation to provide increased opportunities for economic development throughout Nevada;
- Continuing to address CD-2’s transportation and affordable housing needs throughout the Fiscal Year 2021 Appropriations process;
- Continuing to work with my colleagues in the House and local stakeholders in Nevada to support common-sense solutions that will increase people’s access to quality and affordable healthcare; and
- Continuing to monitor the expansion of 5G telecommunications networks, which will provide more Americans access to quality wireless services.
Finally, I hope we can all agree to move past the political nastiness of this past year and strive to do even better for our country in 2020. As you and your family begin making plans to gather with loved ones, please travel safe, share what you can with others, and stay warm. I extend my best wishes for a happy and healthy holiday season and a happy New Year.
As always, thank you for subscribing to the Amodei Report. I look forward to continuing to keep you up to date on the issues you care about most. For additional information, please visit my website at amodei.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-6155, Reno office: (775) 686-5760, or Elko office: (775) 777-7705. To receive updates on what I am doing in Washington and in Nevada’s 2nd District follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
