Last week, the U.S. House of Representatives passed my bill, H.R. 3192, the Homebuyers Assistance Act, by a bipartisan vote of a 303-121. H.R. 3192 would provide a formal hold-harmless period for those making a good faith effort to comply with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (TILA-RESPA) Integrated Disclosure (TRID) rule, which became effective on October 3, 2015.

I am proud that the House came together to pass H.R. 3192, a commonsense measure to protect the nearly 600,000 Americans each month refinancing or buying a home. However, despite the straightforward and bipartisan nature of the legislation, the White House has already threatened a veto, and the Senate has yet to indicate when they will take up the bill. 

This situation serves as a microcosm of Washington’s problems right now. We have a House of Representatives doing its work by passing bills that address serious and immediate challenges facing Americans, a Senate dragging its feet better than an NFL receiver trying to stay in bounds while making a catch, and a President routinely ignoring the will of the people.

H.R. 3192, is not the only veto threat looming on bipartisan legislation. Last Friday, the House passed H.R. 702, a bill that would lift the ban on crude oil exports. This ban is outdated and provides no benefit to America or our allies throughout the world. This bill is a critical step towards boosting economic development, creating more jobs, and strengthening our national security objectives.

We have the resources to supply our NATO allies with North American energy and mitigate the national security risks that come with dependency on Russian and Middle Eastern oil. Ending this ban is a win for economic security and a win for national security, but, despite these potential outcomes, the President has also indicated he will veto H.R. 702.

A third bill the President is saying he will veto is the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. This is the legislation that funds our military, and it has already passed both the House and Senate. Over 70 Senators agreed to the bill, a shining achievement when you consider how hard it is to get 70 Senators to even agree on which day of the week it is.

This is unconscionable and a kind of recklessness not befitting of a Commander-in-Chief. For 53 years, Congress and the President have authorized the NDAA, and it is a process that is generally immune to politics. The pay and benefits for our men and women in uniform are tied to him signing the NDAA into law, as well as crucial funding for many other aspects of our national security.

The American people are frustrated with their government, and rightfully so. But, the House is producing important legislation aimed at helping those we are charged with serving, and we are being met with maximum resistance from the President. Congress has been presented with a difficult challenge, but if we continue to work for legislation that creates jobs, fights executive overreach, and protects our national security interests then we will ultimately succeed. 

Sincerely,

Representative French Hill

I rise today to honor the men and women of Little Rock Air Force Base and the surrounding communities for their 60 years of dedicated service and sacrifice to the defense of our nation.

In its long history it has had many important missions, including reconnaissance and bombers, and is now known as the C-130 capitol of the world.

Little Rock Air Force Base is one of the most technologically advanced and well-run military installations in the entire country and, in my view, is clearly a center of excellence for our global airlift operations.

It is the tactical airlift “Center of Excellence” and trains aircrew members from our three services and more than 40 nations.

The base builds the foundation of America’s combat airlift capability and trains the world’s best airlifters to “fly, fight, and win.”

I am truly honored, and most of all proud, to represent Little Rock Air Force Base and the surrounding communities.

The service and sacrifice of the men and women of Little Rock Air Force Base are examples to all Arkansans and Americans, and I look forward to continuing to represent such an incredible military asset.

The order, issued on a 2-1 vote from the Cincinnati-based Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, was a preliminary boost for a group of 18 states that challenged the EPA regulation. The rule seeks to bring smaller bodies of water at the outer edges of watersheds under the Clean Water Act and was issued jointly with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

“A stay temporarily silences the whirlwind of confusion that springs from uncertainty about the requirements of the new rule and whether they will survive legal testing,” said the majority on a three-judge appeals court panel.