Keep Americans Flying On Time
By Cong. Randy Neugebauer
Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. After a week of delays caused by the Obama Administrations decision to furlough air traffic controllers Democrats in Washington agreed to join Republicans in
making smarter cuts rather than penalizing Americans. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was required to cut 5 of its budget under sequestration.
As Ive told you before I never supported sequestration. But since Democrats wouldnt join with Republicans to replace the across-the-board cuts with more common-sense reforms agencies have to comply with it. Unfortunately the Obama Administration is trying to make this process as painful as possible for the American people in order to score political points.
The FAA had the flexibility to cut their costs without delaying travelers but they chose to furlough controllers instead. For instance the FAA could cut the $8 million they spend sending employees to conferences in cities like Las Vegas. A 5 reduction in the FAAs current operations budget is equivalent to the FAAs entire budget in 2010 proving that the agency can operate on this budget without having to furlough air traffic controllers.
I was glad that Democrats agreed that we shouldnt play politics with taxpayer dollars and instead turn our focus to smarter government by cutting inefficiencies. So last week I voted to replace the furloughs by trimming the fat from another FAA program.
Im going to continue working to reduce government spending through targeted cuts to wasteful programs.
Keeping the Administration Honest on Fracking
In West Texas we know a thing or two about hydraulic fracturing or fracking. Weve been using this practice for decades to produce energy.
New technology is allowing us to access more natural gas reserves now than ever before and were able to produce massive amounts of reliable clean and cheap energy. The Cline Shale and the Eagle Shale are both booming centers of economic growth and job creation right nearby.
The Obama Administration has a working group that is supposed to be researching policy efforts to support safe and responsible natural gas development. This group was supposed to provide a draft research plan last October and a final plan this January. It has already missed both deadlines.
So last week the House Science Subcommittees on Energy & Environment held a
hearing to review the working groups progress.
I explained how important fracking is to West Texas and urged the working group to work closely with industry to ensure that they are using the best possible data from the people doing the work on the ground. We all want clean safe reliable energy and Ill make sure that any government research helps us power our nation forward.
Action Item
This Saturday is
Lemonade Day. Its a great event that introduces children to entrepreneurship and business management. I hope to see you there!
Events in Lubbock This Week
Im looking forward to spending this week at home in Lubbock meeting with constituents.
- Monday night Ill be talking with a local Boy Scout troop about our Constitution and why its important to be active in our democracy.
- Tuesday morning Ill meet with the West Texas Homebuilders Association. After that Ill speak to the Lubbock Lions Clubthe largest Lions Club chapter in the United States.
- Tuesday afternoon Ill meet with my financial services advisory group to talk about what I can do in Washington to keep Lubbock and Americas markets strong.
- On Wednesday Ill celebrate Cinco de Mayo a few days early at the Chamber of Commerce lunch. Ill also be meeting with peace officers to commemorate National Police Week and Peace Officers Memorial Day.
- On Thursday Ill attend the Lubbock Community Prayer Breakfast to mark the National Day of Prayer. On this day people of all faiths are encouraged to pray for our nation; a tradition that traces its roots to the first call to prayer in 1775 when the Continental Congress asked the colonies to pray for wisdom in forming a nation.
- After the prayer breakfast Ill head over to the Reese Center at Texas Tech to introduce legislation to help reduce windstorm damage.
I hope to see you at one of these events please stop by and say hi!
Congressman Randy Neugebauer represents the 27 Texas Panhandle counties included in the 19th District of Texas. Since taking office June 5 2003 currently in his 5th term he serves as Chairman of the House Financial Services Committee Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations and is also a member of both the House Agriculture Committee and the Science & Technology Committee.
