Update From Hal Rogers

Update From Hal

Dear Friend,

As the Kentucky National Guard prepares for the largest deployment of its troops since World War II, we realize the bravery and sacrifice required of them. More than 1,300 soldiers from the 149th Manuever Enhancement Brigade (MEB) will be training for deployment for Operation New Dawn to help U.S. Forces withdraw from Iraq later this year. Nearly 700 of those soldiers are with the "Mountain Warriors" Battalion, made up mostly of men and women from Southern and Eastern Kentucky. Louisville's Freedom Hall will host a departure ceremony on Saturday, June 4th at 4:00 p.m.

Every Memorial Day, we are reminded of the true cost of freedom. This year, I had the distinct privilege of honoring our troops and fighting families by serving as the reception host to the nationally televised “National Memorial Day Concert” inside the U.S. Capitol. With music performed by the National Symphony Orchestra and dramatic performances by Hollywood’s rising stars, this event recognized the bravery of soldiers and families who have carried the full weight of our flag, going above and beyond the call of duty.

In Somerset, we had the rare opportunity in May to honor the fallen and missing soldiers of the Vietnam War when The Center for Rural Development hosted The Wall that Heals, a mobile replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D.C. Click here to watch the kick-off ceremony.

I salute all of our veterans and active members of the U.S. Armed Forces, as well as their families.

Reining in the EPA
Here on the homefront, I recently co-sponsored a bipartisan bill to rein in the overreaching Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The Obama Administration and the EPA have not only taken dead aim at the coal industry in Southern and Eastern Kentucky and across Appalachia, but also state government's ability to issue permits under the Clean Water Act (CWA). The bureaucracy is strangling economic growth through job-killing regulations.

H.R. 2018, the "Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act of 2011" restricts EPA's ability to second-guess or delay a state's permitting and water quality certification decisions under CWA once EPA has already approved a state's program. We must restore the long-standing balance between federal and state partners in regulating the nation's waters.

Appropriations News

Earlier this week, the House of Representatives overwhelmingly and wisely rejected the President’s request of an increase in the debt limit without any restrictions or reductions in spending. In other words, the federal credit card at a record $14.3 trillion dollars is about to be maxed out later this summer. Any financial advisor will tell you that the first step in getting out of a debt is to start by cutting up your credit card, not extending your limit.

At present, we’re borrowing 42 cents out of every dollar, largely from China. We’re adding a record $1.6 trillion dollars to our debt annually and every dollar borrowed becomes a future dollar plus interest we have to pay back. This is shameful, unsustainable, and represents a serious threat to our economic and national security. My Republican colleagues and I are insisting the White House and Senate Democratic leadership get serious about reducing the deficit with cuts in spending that exceed the proposed $2.4 trillion debt limit increase. This means that for every dollar we increase the debt ceiling, we want at least that much and more in savings to try and get our fiscal house back in order.

Click here for more information on my work as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee

Congressional Art Competition
I appreciate all of the art teachers who encouraged their students to participate in the Congressional Art Competition. Our 2011 winner was Emily Tackett, the valedictorian for Breathitt County High School. Her artwork will hang in the U.S. Capitol for one year to represent Kentucky's Fifth District.

Emily utilized charcoal on pre-toned paper to recreate her grandmother’s reunion with her brother during World War II. She entitled the piece "Brother Returns from War." Her art teacher is Paul Hale. Emily is the daughter of Lisa and Jesse Tackett of Jackson, Kentucky.

Volunteers in the 5th
There is no question that the volunteers and community leaders in Kentucky's Fifth District are the backbone of the success we are witnessing at PRIDE and UNITE.

PRIDE Spring Cleanup totals are starting to roll in and so far, every community met or surpassed the "Get Five for PRIDE" challenge in April!

Wolfe County increased the number of volunteers from 40 volunteers last year to 1,618 this year! Whitley County increased from 690 to 1,334 volunteers this year! I am impressed by the determination of our communities to restore the natural beauty of our region.

The Operation UNITE Community Coalitions invested a lot of time and resources in the "Accidental Dealer" campaign, educating the public about the importance of locking up prescription pills and properly disposing of expired or unwanted medications.

The UNITE "Pill Dragon" destroyed more than 500,000 unwanted prescription pills during the campaign, keeping them out of the hands of potential abusers.

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As always, please feel free to contact me at any time by sending me an email. If you would like to receive more frequent updates on what’s happening in Washington, please join my Facebook page or subscribe to my YouTube channel. Thank you to everyone who has dropped by to share your opinion -- let’s keep the dialogue going!

Sincerely,

Hal