Sixth District Report

Dear Friend, 

I am so glad to be home in the Bluegrass holding town hall meetings, touring local facilities, meeting with students and senior citizens, and speaking with many of Kentucky's job creators.  Thank you for the opportunity to update you on my work.


Special Note on Syria

I appreciate the President's decision to seek congressional authorization for military action.  But the United States should not intervene in Syria unless and until the President articulates sufficient justification and receives congressional approval. The President has not yet explained how intervention would advance America's national security, nor clearly defined the specific outcome that U.S. actions would seek to achieve.  

The Obama Administration has already stated that any military action will be short in duration and limited in scope, and will not be aimed at overthrowing the Assad regime. So the question remains how such a limited "symbolic" attack against a hardened dictatorship would advance our interests.


Bringing Congress to the Bluegrass

WTVQ - Congressmen Conduct Affordable Care Act Hearing In Lexington

Richmond Register – Business owners, residents testify on the possible affects of Obamacare

Courier-Journal – Obamacare pilloried by Kentucky business owners in front of congressmen

Herald-Leader – Barr, Guthrie, Yarmuth get an earful about health care law at Lexington hearing

Business First – Ky. business owners: Do something about Obamacare

Bowling Green Daily News  – Hearing focuses on law's impact

Richmond Register – Hearing reveals uncertainty, worry surrounding health care law

State-Journal – Obamacare Hearing Draws Praise, Worry From Kentuckians

WBKO – Businesses and Lawmakers Worried About Health Care Changes

WKMS – KY Chamber Rep on what the Affordable Care Act Means for Businesses

cn|2 – Congressmen agree: Affordable Care Act needs fixing -- but that won't happen any time soon

Improving Education for Kentuckians



As summer draws to a close and school starts up for another exciting year, I would like to take a minute to share some information about my efforts to ensure a bright future for our children and service-members through educational opportunity.


Getting Washington Bureaucrats Out of Kentucky’s Schools

I am committed to strengthening educational opportunities for all of them. That is why I voted for the House-approved H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, legislation that eliminates one-size-fits-all metrics created by No Child Left Behind and replaces them with state-determined accountability plans, thereby returning authority to states and school districts.  

The Student Success Act will put control back in the hands of the parents, teachers, leaders and local school districts who know our students better than the Obama Administration and give them the flexibility and freedom they need to best serve their student populations. By getting Washington out of the way, the Student Success Act will help ensure a brighter future for our kids.

Click here for more information on the Student Success Act.


Providing More Certainty to College Students Heading Back to School 

College students can breathe a little easier as they head back to school. That is because Republicans and Democrats in Congress recently came together and agreed on long-term, market-based student loan reform that took politicians out of the student loan interest rate equation. The measure, which originally passed the House of Representatives in May with my support, will strengthen federal student loan programs and serve the best interests of students and their families.

Earlier this year, the President himself called for a market-based rate, and we responded in the House of Representatives by passing a bill, which did just that -- the Smarter Solutions for Students Act. I am glad the Senate followed our lead in the House and approved a slightly amended version of our legislation called Senate Amendment to H.R. 1911, the Bipartisan Student Loan Certainty Act of 2013. Our college students deserve student loan rates that cannot be used as bargaining chips in Washington politics.

Click here for more information about the bipartisan solution.


Restoring Military Tuition Assistance 

It is important that our military service members have an opportunity to further advance themselves through higher education. That's why I voted in support of H.R. 2397, the Defense Appropriation Act, that will continue Military Tuition Assistance (MilTA) through the next fiscal year. Military Tuition Assistance is a valuable in-service benefit for active duty service men and women that aids in the development of a highly educated force that can bolster occupational and institutional competencies. 

I am proud to support this legislation because we must keep our commitment to our service members. The brave men and women who serve in uniform have never given up on our country, and now we have signaled that we won't give up on them.

Click here for more information about the Military Tuition Assistance program.


Quick Reminder: Military Academy Day September 7th

Don't forget to tell any students interested in applying to one of the nation’s service academies about this Saturday's Sixth District Military Academy Day! 

The event will be held at the The Aviation Museum of Kentucky from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM with registration beginning at 8:30 AM.

Please JOIN and SHARE the Facebook Event for this Saturday's upcoming Academy Day!


Honoring Our Veterans



On Saturday, I was honored to join Eastern Kentucky University President Michael Benson to announce a $1 million grant that will help homeless veterans at EKU's 2013 Welcome Back Student Veterans Picnic hosted by the Eastern Kentucky University Office of Military and Veterans Affairs and the EKU VETS Club. 

The grant will help the Kentucky River Foothills Development Council provide a range of services that promote housing stability and play a key role in connecting Veterans and their family members to VA services such as mental health care and other benefits. 

Click here to watch the WTVQ story and for more information about the grant. 

Please continue to let me know your thoughts and concerns about issues facing our community, and also feel free to forward my weekly newsletter to your friends, family and neighbors. 

You may also visit my website, Facebook and Twitter, where you can find regular updates about my work at home in the Sixth District and in Washington.

Thank you and have a great week!

Sincerely, 

In this Edition:

Special Note on Syria

Bringing Congress to the Bluegrass

Improving Education for Kentuckians

Quick Reminder: Military Academy Day September 7th

Honoring Our Veterans