Frank's Footnotes: No Raises for Members of Congress

No Raises for Members of Congress Do you think its right to give Members of Congress a pay raise when millions of Americans are unemployed and underemployed? Neither do I. That’s why I voted for H.R. 3835 on Thursday, which would continue the pay freeze for Members of Congress. If you remember, some of the very first votes I cast in Washington cut my own office’s budget by a total of 11.4%. I’ve also voted to freeze my own pay prior to Thursday’s vote and have co-sponsored legislation that would eliminate automatic pay raises for Members of Congress once and for all. With millions of Americans struggling to find a good-paying job, it’s only right that we in the House freeze our own pay. You can be assured I will continue fighting to change the status quo and vote for legislation that keeps the middle class first, not Washington. H.R. 3835 passed the House of Representatives with a strong bipartisan vote of 309-117. It now heads to the Senate.     A Closer Look at Pres. Obama’s Unprecedented Recess Appointments Click the image above to watch the video I wrote last week informing you I had signed onto House Res. 509, which disapproved of the President’s appointment of Richard Cordray to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and three individuals to the National Labor Relations Board. I co-sponsored the resolution because I’m deeply concerned with the President’s decision to circumvent the Senate by not permitting it to perform its constitutional obligation of providing the president with advice and consent. I took further action during a hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee entitled “Unchartered Territory: What are the Consequences of President Obama’s Unprecedented “Recess” Appointments?” on Wednesday. During the hearing, I had a conversation discussing these “recess” appointments with Sen. Mike Lee (R, UT). You can watch our discussion by clicking here.     Reforming Washington’s Broken Budget Process Americans have rightfully lost trust in our budget process. The Senate’s refusal to pass a budget in over 1,000 days is a prime example of this broken system. Yet, their inaction is just one case of Washington’s inability to accomplish the most basic function of government. As a member of the House Budget Committee, I’m working to pass legislation that would finally fix this system. I was pleased to see two of these reforms pass the House on Thursday and Friday: H.R. 3578, the Baseline Reform Act and H.R. 3582, the Pro-Growth Budgeting Act. For too long, Washington politicians on both sides of the aisle have used budgetary gimmicks to give the illusion of spending cuts. For too long, Washington has made legislative decisions without considering the long-term affects those actions will have on our economy. Although these are only the first steps in reforming the broken process, these two bills will go a long way in finally repairing it. Click here for more information about H.R. 3578, the Baseline Reform Act and H.R. 3582, the Pro-Growth Budgeting Act.     A 21st Century Upgrade to America's Aviation The House did something very important this morning. We passed the Conference Report to H.R. 658, the FAA Reauthorization and Reform Act of 2012 . It authorizes funding of the Federal Aviation Administration through Fiscal Year 2015. The final measure, agreed upon by a House and Senate conference committee, is the first reauthorization of federal aviation programs since the last law expired at the end of fiscal 2007. The FAA has been operating on a lengthy series of short-term extensions in recent years. I have the honor of serving on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including the Aviation Subcommittee. This is a significant step forward. Congress must face up to its responsibilities and stop the merry-go-round of short-term funding measures we’ve seen in recent years that have caused so much uncertainty for our economy. The previous Congress couldn’t pass a reauthorization bill. So today’s vote is further proof that the House is getting the job done. It shows what Congress can accomplish when both chambers and both parties work together. The final bill contains measures that will increase aviation safety, create jobs and boost FAA efforts to modernize the nation’s air traffic through the NexGen system, which will guide aviation into the 21st Century. The FAA Conference Report now goes to the Senate for approval. Click here for more information on today’s vote.     Up Periscope! My visit to the submarine USS San Juan My visit to the submarine USS San Juan The closest many of us will ever get to a submarine is the movie screen. So I jumped at the chance to visit one at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard last Saturday. I spent a fascinating hour touring the USS San Juan (SSN 751), which is completing a series of repairs at the facility. I was deeply impressed by the professionalism of the San Juan’s officers and crew, and by the Shipyard’s workers. Granite Staters know the quality of work performed at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, and how vital that work is to defending our freedom. The jobs that are provided here are vitally important to the Seacoast’s economy, too. I recently expressed my support for a bipartisan congressional effort to make sure that work continues here. On my tour, I saw first-hand how deeply committed the 134 men who serve on the San Juan are to fulfilling their mission. I want them, and all the military and civilian workers at the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, to know I’m equally committed to keeping it open. “Click here” for more pictures and information on my visit to the Shipyard.     A Taste of New Hampshire vs. A Bite of the Big Apple - Looking Forward to a Patriots Victory on Sunday! Call it “A Taste of New Hampshire vs. A Bite of the Big Apple,” and who winds up eating depends on the result of Sunday’s Super Bowl. I have a friendly wager riding on the outcome of the big game with fellow House freshman Rep. Nan Hayworth (R, NY-19). Hayworth is putting up a menu of cold cuts, baked ziti and New York cheesecake in support of the New York Giants. I’m backing-up my hopes for a Patriots victory with a feast for 12 people called “A Taste of New Hampshire.” It includes: Lobster from Brown’s Lobster Pound in Seabrook, New Hampshire maple syrup from Smith Farm Stand in Gilford, Poutine from Chez Vachon in Manchester. Just as the Patriots represent the best in football, the Taste of New Hampshire represents goodies that Granite Staters have enjoyed for years. I’m proud to showcase the best of our state’s foods with my bet. But I’m sure that when the Patriots whittle the Giants down to size Sunday evening, the lobster, syrup and poutine won’t be going anywhere. And speaking as someone with a fondness for ziti, I’ll be rooting doubly hard for a Patriots win!” Two weeks ago, my office scored a delicious meal in another Capitol Hill wager when the Patriots defeated the Baltimore Ravens to win the AFC Championship. Rep. Andy Harris, (R, MD-1) personally delivered one dozen Maryland crab cakes to my office after the Ravens lost 23-20. You can watch WMUR’s video of the AFC Championship wager by clicking here.