Fighting Back Against Poverty

On Wednesday, the House Budget Committee held a hearing on the issue of poverty where we had the opportunity to listen to folks on the frontlines fighting on behalf of those in need. This hearing was an important and instructive part of our ongoing effort to focus attention on poverty in America.

Fundamentally, we believe in a vision that is meant to foster the greatest amount of opportunity for the greatest number of people. Unfortunately, Washington often stands in the way of people achieving true economic mobility and reaching their dreams. Americans are good and decent people who want to care for their neighbor in need. At the same time, we have a responsibility to use hard-working taxpayer dollars in the most efficient way that maximizes the benefit for those we mean to help.

Poverty is neither a Democrat nor Republican issue, neither liberal nor conservative. As vice chairman of the House Budget Committee and as one committed to finding real, compassionate solutions to the ongoing challenges of poverty, I look forward to continuing to work with Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and our entire committee to develop specific ideas to eradicate poverty across our country.

#Benghazi

On Friday, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) announced that he intends to bring before the House of Representatives a resolution establishing a select committee to investigate the September 11, 2012 terrorist attack on the American consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Ever since the attack that killed four Americans – including U.S. Ambassador Christopher Stevens – we in the House of Representatives have been battling to get the facts about what exactly occurred, who was responsible, and how the Obama Administration responded. To that end, I have long supported the establishment of a select committee – including co-sponsoring legislation introduced by my colleague Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA).

Unfortunately, in our search for the truth we’ve been confronted by a White House spin machine that has from day one tried to mislead the American people about the cause of this terrorist attack and the Obama Administration’s response to it. The American people deserve to know the truth. Moreover, it is incumbent upon us to have a full and honest accounting of what happened so that we can help make sure our nation and those who serve on its behalf around the world are safer and more secure.