Tag Archives: US House of Representatives

Mar 21 2016

Rep. Poliquin Meets with White House, Urges Against Unilateral National Monument Designation

Rep. Poliquin Meets with White House, Urges Against Unilateral National Monument Designation

Poliquin also requests Congress prevent unilateral designation in Maine’s North Woods

 

WASHINGTON – Today, Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, met with White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) Managing Director Christy Goldfuss to urge against the prospect of President Obama unilaterally designating nearly 90,000 acres in the Katahdin Region as a national monument.  This meeting was a result of a request that Congressman Poliquin sent last month.

 

In the meeting at the White House, Congressman Poliquin discussed the local Katahdin Region, the strong local opposition to a national monument designation, the threat a national monument would have on current and future forest products jobs, the costs of construction and maintenance of a national monument that would take away necessary funding for Acadia National Park, the safety of the current road system for future visitors, and the threat that a national monument poses to recreational access for private citizens.

 

After the meeting, Congressman Poliquin released the following statement:

 

“Today’s meeting is a critical step in conveying the interests and concerns of local residents and stakeholders,” said Congressman Poliquin. “We raised serious issues that White House staff indicated they had not heard about prior to today including road safety concerns. We are continuing to urge the President to understand the grave consequences that his unilateral designation of a national monument would have on the local Katahdin Region now and for generations to come. I am hopeful that our message resonates with the White House and the President.”

 

The meeting was also attended by Dana Doran, the Executive Director of the Professional Logging Contractors of Maine, Bob Meyers, the Executive Director of the Maine Snowmobile Association, and Patrick Strauch, the Executive Director of the Maine Forest Products Council.

 

In addition to his White House meeting, today Congressman Poliquin also sent a letter to the House Appropriations Committee requesting that language be included in the FY 2017 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would prohibit President Obama from making this unilateral designation in Maine’s Penobscot County. Twenty-eight other Members of Congress joined Congressman Poliquin in sending this letter.  The language requested would not prevent national monuments from being created through an act of Congress and is consistent with the original intent of the Antiquities Act.

 

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The full text of the appropriations request letter can be found here:

 

March 22, 2016

 

 

The Honorable Ken Calvert

Chairman

Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

U.S. House of Representatives

B-308 Rayburn HOB

Washington, DC 20515

 

The Honorable Betty McCollum

Ranking Member

Committee on Appropriations

Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies

U.S. House of Representatives

1016 Longworth HOB

Washington, DC 20515

 

Dear Chairman Calvert and Ranking Member McCollum:

 

As you begin work on the fiscal year (FY) 2017 Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations bill, we urge you to include language that would prevent presidential abuse of the Antiquities Act.

 

National monuments can be powerful symbols of our nation’s historical and natural heritage. Unfortunately, there is a long and shameful list of abuses of the Antiquities Act whereby Presidents of both parties far exceeded the intent and letter of the 1906 law.  The law was enacted over concerns about protecting mostly prehistoric Indian ruins and artifacts—collectively termed “antiquities “—on federal lands in the West.

 

By definition, the sites were to be very small—“the smallest area compatible”—with preserving the antiquity, not millions of acres. According to the nonpartisan Congressional Research Service and the actual statute, “In establishing a national monument, the President is required by the Antiquities Act to reserve ‘the smallest area compatible with the proper care and management of the objects to be protected.’”

 

Presidents on either side of the aisle shouldn’t have unilateral authority to create massive new national monuments by executive fiat without local public input.  It is, after all, the people living near these national monuments who are most affected by their creation.  These citizens deserve to have a strong voice regarding the use of public land near their communities.

 

Unilateral designations that circumvent Congress typically result in devastating consequences for local communities that negatively affect their future economic prosperity.  Designations under the Antiquities Act don’t have to follow the environmental process required under NEPA and also aren’t required to solicit public input prior to declaration. These declarations often result in some of the most restrictive land-use regulations possible and also greatly impact hunting, fishing, OHV, and other recreational activities. Grazing rights, water rights, wildfire prevention, and other land management activities can also be negatively impacted.

 

In the fiscal year 2016 appropriations process, the House passed an amendment with bipartisan support to prohibit the use of funds to make a Presidential declaration by public proclamation under the Antiquities Act in counties where there is significant local opposition. In the 113th Congress, the House passed legislation with bipartisan support to reform the Antiquities Act and ensure public involvement in the creation of national monuments.

 

President Obama has exceeded the intent of this law and abused the Antiquities Act more than any other American president.  To date, he has designated or expanded 22 national monuments, and these designations have locked up more than 3 million acres of land.  In February 2016, the president unilaterally designated three new national monuments in the California desert encompassing nearly 1.8 million acres. To make matters worse, President Obama states on the White House website promoting his latest declarations that he has protected (locked up) “more than 265 million acres of land and water – more than any other president in American history.” Unfortunately, he isn’t done yet, and we can expect several more overreaching designations within the next several months.

 

Accordingly, we ask that you include language similar to the following:

 

NATIONAL MONUMENTS

`(a) Consultation Requirement- The President may not designate lands to be a new or expanded national monument unless, not more than 1 year before such designation, the Secretary of the Interior–

`(1) consulted with each community, county, municipality, city, town, or township created pursuant to State law with boundaries within or adjacent to lands affected by the designation; and

`(2) obtained the concurrence for the designation from–

`(A) the governing body of each community, county, municipality, city, town, or township described in paragraph (1); and

`(B) the wildlife management and land management authorities and governor of each State in which all or part of the new or expanded national monument would be located.

`(b) Limitations on Declarations- A declaration shall not–

`(1) include private property without the informed written consent of the owner of that private property;

`(2) be construed to increase the amount of funds that are authorized to be appropriated for any fiscal year;

`(3) apply to more than 5,000 acres;

`(4) include any area of the exclusive economic zone as established by Proclamation Numbered 5030, dated March 10, 1983;

`(5) be construed to prohibit or constrain any activities on or above the land conducted by the Department of Defense or other Federal agencies for national security purposes, including training and readiness activities; or

`(6) be used to create or expand a national monument located, in part or in whole, in the following:

`(A) The counties of Coconino, Maricopa, Mohave, and Yavapai in the State of Arizona.

`(B) The counties of Modoc and Siskiyou in the State of California.

`(C) The counties of Chaffee, Moffat, and Park in the State of Colorado.

`(D) The counties of Clark, Lincoln, and Nye in the State of Nevada.

`(E) The county of Otero in the State of New Mexico.

`(F) The counties of Jackson, Josephine, and Malheur in the State of Oregon.

`(G) The counties of Carbon, Duchesne, Emery, Garfield, Kane, San Juan, Uintah, and Wayne in the State of Utah.

`(H) The county of Penobscot in the State of Maine.

`(c) Additional Requirements for Declarations- A declaration shall

`(1) expire 3 years after proclaimed or reserved unless specifically

approved by–

`(A) a Federal law enacted after the date of the proclamation or reservation; and

`(B) a State law, for each State where the land covered by the proclamation or reservation is located, enacted after the date of the proclamation or reservation; and

`(C) a Governor, for each State where the land covered by the proclamation or reservation is located, enacted after the date of the proclamation or reservation; and

`(2) comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969

`(d) Water Rights- Water rights associated with a national monument created or expanded by a declaration —

`(1) may not be reserved expressly or by implication by a declaration; and

`(2) may be acquired for a national monument created or expanded by declaration

under this subsection only in accordance with the laws of the States in which the water

rights are based .’.

 

We thank you for your consideration of this request, and for your leadership on the committee.

 

Sincerely,

 

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Click HERE to see a scanned version of the appropriations request letter.

 

Items to Note:

 

 

Mar 3 2016

Poliquin Sends Letter to Entire Republican Conference, Suggests 14 Reforms to Improve Health Care System

Poliquin Sends Letter to Entire Republican Conference, Suggests 14 Reforms to Improve Health Care System

Congressman Poliquin highlights needed health care improvements as GOP Task Force begins its work

 

WASHINGTON – This week, Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, delivered a letter to the entire Republican Conference highlighting important reforms to the Affordable Care Act, known as ObamaCare.

 

Poliquin attached his letter from May 2015 to the Chairmen of the House Committees on Ways and Means, Education and the Workforce, and Energy and Commerce, which outlines 14 suggested reforms to the health care law.

 

Poliquin delivered his reforms to the Republican Conference in light of the newly created Task Force on Health Care Reform’s launch last week.

 

In his letter to his colleagues, Congressman Poliquin writes:

 

“I strongly advocate for these changes based on many conversations with Maine residents and small business owners, who have described their experiences with the job-killing mandates and smothering costs of a government-run health insurance market.

 

“As our Conference engages in thoughtful debate on a replacement for ObamaCare, I ask that we seize this opportunity to institute common sense and free market health care policy for American Families.”

 

 

In May 2015, Congressman Poliquin sent a letter to then-Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Chairmen Fred Upton (R-MI) and John Kline (R-MN) expressing his concerns with ObamaCare and offering 14 free-market solutions to the President’s health care law.  Congressman Poliquin’s  reforms include:

  • Require hospitals and doctors to provide patients with the estimated costs of health care services and procedures so they can shop for the best care at the lowest price. This will reduce monthly health insurance premiums by driving down the underlying cost of health care.
  • Allow insurance companies to share savings with patients when services and procedures of comparable quality are purchased outside of the health care plan’s network at below average costs.
  • Allow individuals, families, and businesses to shop across state lines for the health insurance plans that fit their needs and pocketbooks.
  • Remove the mandates for unnecessary and expensive health care services and procedures to be covered by all health insurance plans.
  • Allow affordable high-deductible and low- premium health care policies to be offered by insurance companies.
  • Allow small businesses and other organizations to band together while negotiating the purchase of the health insurance plans that best meets their needs at costs they can afford.
  • Allow insurance companies to charge much less for health care plans sold to younger individuals and those who make healthy lifestyle choices.
  • Require insurance companies to provide coverage to individuals with pre-existing health conditions.
  • Require health insurance plans to be portable when workers change jobs.
  • Allow states to establish reinsurance pools that provide affordable health insurance to those who need high levels of health care services.
  • Allow health insurance policies to be purchased with pre-tax dollars.
  • Expand the use of tax-free health saving accounts by allowing the funds to pay for monthly premiums as well as out-of-pocket expenses.
  • Allow families to buy primary health care services directly from their doctors of choice, and then purchase inexpensive high-deductible policies to insure against catastrophic illness.
  • Do not allow the IRS to fine or penalize individuals who choose not to purchase health insurance.

 

This year, Speaker Ryan announced the creation of six committee-led task forces within the Republican Conference to focus on and develop an agenda for major priorities for Congress.

 

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Click HERE to see a PDF version of Congressman Poliquin’s letter to the Republican Conference.

Click HERE to see a PDF version of Congressman Poliquin’s May 2015 letter to Chairmen Ryan, Kline and Upton.

Mar 2 2016

WARNING: IRS Scams Continue to Harm Mainers

WARNING: IRS Scams Continue to Harm Mainers

Congressman Poliquin’s offices in Lewiston, Bangor and Presque Isle are here to help victims of IRS fraud

 

LEWISTON – Phone scams from IRS impersonators continue to exploit taxpayers in Maine at alarming rates. These ongoing attacks have directly harmed countless individuals in Maine’s Second District, most of which are seniors.  Congressman Bruce Poliquin’s offices in Lewiston, Bangor and Presque Isle are available as resources to anyone who has been targeted or suspects that he or she has been targeted by these scam artists.

 

“It is despicable to me that there is an entire illegal industry today that exploits so many honest, hardworking citizens,” said Congressman Poliquin.  “It is especially disturbing that these scam artists target our seniors in particular, who are more likely than anyone else to fall victim to these criminals.”

 

When answering phone calls, it is important to remember that the IRS will NEVER:

  • Call to demand immediate payment or call about taxes owed, without first having mailed you a bill.
  • Demand that you pay taxes without giving you the opportunity to question or appeal the amount they say you owe.
  • Require you to use a specific payment method for your taxes, such as a prepaid debit card.
  • Ask for credit or debit card numbers over the phone.
  • Threaten to bring in local police or other law-enforcement groups to have you arrested for not paying.

 

Also, be aware that IRS scams by email are up 400% this season.  Remember to take the proper precautions to defend against misleading and harmful emails from scammers.

 

Congressman Bruce Poliquin’s Offices:

 

  • Lewiston: 784-0768 or visit 179 Lisbon Street
  • Bangor: 942-0583 or visit 6 State Street, Suite 101
  • Presque Isle: 764-1968 or visit 631 Main Street, Suite 2

 

For additional information on how to defend against identity theft, please visit https://www.irs.gov/Individuals/Identity-Protection.

 

Congressman Poliquin has worked hard in Congress to combat scams against Mainers, especially our seniors.  In February, Poliquin introduced the Senior $afe Act in the House, which will provide important protections for seniors to combat investment fraud, an enormous abuse of the investment market that exploits about one-fifth of investors aged 65 or older.  Poliquin’s bill is companion legislation to Senator Susan Collins’ bill in the Senate.

Mar 1 2016

Poliquin Stands Up for Maine Jobs and Maine-Made Products

Poliquin Stands Up for Maine Jobs and Maine-Made Products

Congressman Poliquin testifies in front of the House Armed Services Committee supporting the use of quality American products for our Military Men and Women

 

WASHINGTON – Today, Maine’s Second District Congressman, Bruce Poliquin, testified before the House Armed Services Committee to advocate for the use of the Berry Amendment, a provision which requires the Department of Defense to use American-made products when available.  In addition, Congressman Poliquin thanked the Committee for its work to include an additional DDG-51 ship in last year’s National Defense Authorization Act to be manufactured at Bath Iron Works, employing more than 6,000 Mainers from across our State.

 

Congressman Poliquin testifies before the House Armed Services Committee. Click HERE to watch the Congressman’s testimony.

 

After the hearing, Congressman Poliquin released the following statement:

 

“I urge the Committee to implement the Berry Amendment and to require the Department of Defense to use materials that are made here in America, specifically the top-of-the-line athletic shoes that are manufactured in Maine’s Second District” said Congressman Poliquin. “Our businesses and workers in Maine produce the best shoes in America and provide more than 900 jobs for hardworking Mainers.”

 

Congressman Poliquin enters the House Armed Services Committee hearing room sporting his own American-made athletic shoes.

 

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Attachments area

Preview YouTube video 20160301 Member Day – National Defense Priorities from Members for the FY 2017 NDAA (ID: 104597)

20160301 Member Day – National Defense Priorities from Members for the FY 2017 NDAA (ID: 104597)