U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, now in Washington for his inaugural congressional session after succeeding Michele Bachmann in the 6th District, announced today that he has introduced his first two bills.
Here’s how his office describes his first attempts at federal lawmaking:
H.R. 1532, the Keeping Our Promises to Veterans Act of 2015:
This bill amends current law to improve the Veterans Choice Program by expanding access for the veterans that need it most. It implements four easy fixes: (1) relax the 40-mile radius requirement to 20 miles; (2) reduce the current 30-day waiting period to 15; (3) require the VA to prove that one of their facilities can actually provide the care required; and (4) force the VA to come in line with the Prompt Pay Act.
Emmer said in a statement: “After the disturbing revelations regarding veteran care at several VA hospitals around the country, Congress made great strides in working to resolve these issues. But there is still work to be done and oversights to rectify. We have a sacred obligation to our veterans when they return home. These small changes to the Veterans Choice Program will help them have easier and more reliable access to the care they deserve.”
H.R. 1606, the National Interchange/Intersection Safety Construction Program Act of 2015 (NIISCP):
The NIISCP would establish a national program that would prioritize a portion of federal highway funds every year and allow projects to compete for those funds on a state-by-state basis. Those projects selected could then be approved by Congress.
Emmer: “In my meetings with constituents, the calls for transportation assistance throughout our state are unanimous, especially with regard to expanding US 10 and I-94. With these needs so apparent and attention on it so minimal on the state level, this legislation is necessary to narrow the focus of a portion of funding to help keep our intersections and interchanges safe. Additionally, this will boost economic development and relieve congestion along the troubled routes that many Minnesotans travel daily.”
#1 on Emmer’s list for H.R. 1532 is incredibly important. Good on Emmer for doing that!
RINO
A real conservative would have introduced a bill to eliminate the VA altogether and convert all veteran health care to civilian hospitals, paid for when the veteran presents his Veterans Health Card, billable to DoD.
White RINOS
It seems that any Republican who does something you remotely disagree with instantly becomes a RINO. Tom Emmer, once your ‘true conservative,’ has become your new white RINO. Because he doesn’t want to take promised health care away from Americas veterans.
Refreshing
to have a republican representative who actually does something other than diss our President and who can be constructive for a change.
We’ll see
if Emmer decides to follow in the footsteps of Congresswoman Crazy Eyes, but for now these bills seem reasonable enough.