This week, I presided over a Legislative Branch Subcommittee hearing examining the budget of the House of Representatives.
In order to put an end to the vicious federal spending cycle, Congress must conduct proper oversight and eliminate all forms of reckless spending habits, especially for its own budget. Since 2011, I have returned approximately $495,000 of my own office budget to the United States Treasury.
As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I take the responsibility of being a good steward of taxpayers’ dollars very seriously. I will continue to conduct vigorous oversight for the legislative and executive branch agencies affecting businesses and families in Nevada. I will also continue to do all that I can to eliminate out of control spending, while still protecting important benefits for federal employees, servicemen, veterans, and seniors.
Click here to watch the full hearing and learn more.
Washington Visitors:
Nevada Association for Career and Technical Education
I had a productive meeting this week with members of the Nevada Association for Career and Technical Education. We discussed the importance of Career and Technical Education as well as the Perkins reauthorization. I look forward to joining them at their annual conference in July. Thanks for stopping by.
Nevada Humanities
This week, I met with members from Nevada Humanities to discuss appropriations for the National Endowment for the Humanities. I had the opportunity to visit with Joe Crowley, President Emeritus of the University of Nevada, Reno; Mary-Ellen McMullen, community and education advocate; and Christina Barr, Statewide Executive Director of Nevada Humanities.
Committee Work:
Budget Hearing: Department of the Interior
This week, at an Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing, I questioned U.S. Interior Secretary Sally Jewell about the 2017 Interior budget. I specifically questioned her about the sage hen issue, concerns regarding the timeframe of Bureau of Indian Affairs home title conveyances, improving science coordination between the DOI and local research institutions and the Basin and Range National Monument. Click here to listen to my testimony and for a full video of the hearing.
Budget Hearing: Bureau of Land Management
In addition to questioning Secretary Jewell, I also questioned Bureau of Land Management Director Neil Kornze about the Administration’s 2017 budget proposal. I had questions regarding mine permitting in Nevada, sagebrush focal areas, the collaboration between Nevada and the Governor’s office as it pertains to sage hen habitat maps, and the wild horse and burro population. Click here to learn more.
Washington Wrap-Up:
House Votes to Strengthen Medicaid and Save Taxpayer Dollars
With my support this week, the House passed H.R. 3716, the Ensuring Terminated Providers are Removed from Medicaid and CHIP Act by a vote of 406-0. In a time where it seems like Congress can’t see eye to eye on any path forward for reforming our broken health care system, I’m proud to have supported a bill which reforms Medicaid and reduces spending, that passed with no opposition on either side of the aisle. This bill will make it easier for states to identify fraudulent Medicaid providers and easier for patients to find which providers in their area are accepting new Medicaid patients.
Bill to Give Small Business Owners Regulatory Relief Passes House
I also supported H.R. 4557, the “BRICK” Act, a bill that will delay the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) “Brick MACT” rule until the courts are able to assess the legal impacts of the regulation. Most brick plants are small businesses, and when these family-owned operations are forced to comply with EPA regulations, they must often borrow millions of dollars to meet the EPA’s requirements. The brick manufacturing industry supports a number of jobs in Nevada and thousands of other jobs across our country. This bill will keep American jobs from crumbling by giving business owners flexibility and ensuring the proper judicial checks are put in place.
Opportunities for Students:
I’m currently seeking highly motivated college students to intern in my Washington office for the Summer 2016 session, which includes May – August. Candidates should possess an interest in the legislative process, strong communication skills and attention to detail. Responsibilities include: answering phones, leading tours of the U.S. Capitol, attending committee hearings and performing various other tasks based on skills and interests. A qualified applicant will possess excellent oral and written communications skills and a willingness to work on a variety of tasks. Nevada ties strongly preferred. Interested candidates should send their cover letter and resume to: nv.internship@gmail.com. REMINDER: the application deadline for the Summer 2016 session is MARCH 11. Visit: amodei.house.gov/internships for additional information.
Veterans History Project
Thank a veteran! Partner with the Library of Congress Veterans History Project (VHP) to document oral histories, mementos, letters, maps, pictures and more so that every veteran will be forever memorialized in history.
The VHP was created in 2000, to preserve and make firsthand remembrances of America’s war veterans accessible. Since then, the VHP has archived thousands of stories from American veterans, including accounts of every war from World War I to recent Afghanistan and Iraq conflicts. The growth of this collection is supported by volunteers like Scout troops, students, family members, and neighbors who interview the veterans in their lives and submit their oral histories to VHP. The project serves to provide future generations with a better understanding of the realities of war. Visit
http://loc.gov/vets for more information.
