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Ensuring that Combat-Disabled Veterans are not Penalized for Working
Veterans should be able to freely work in the country that they sacrificed to protect without losing the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits that they are entitled to.
Last week, Representative Andy Kim (NJ-03) and I introduced the Purple Heart Freedom to Work Act to ensure that combat-disabled veterans do not have to choose between returning to the workforce or keeping their benefits.
Currently, combat-disabled veterans who earn an income more than $1,470 per month lose 100% of their SSDI for being actively engaged in the workforce. This unacceptably low limit deters workforce participation and disincentives injured veterans from pursuing jobs, promotions, or working overtime.
This legislation would raise the current monthly disability benefit for combat-disabled veterans from $1,470 per month to $2,460 per month, the statutorily allowed maximum level.
Additionally, it would ensure combat-disabled veterans retain their SSDI benefits in cases when earned income exceeds the new threshold. The bill introduces a 4 to 1 offset, eliminating the SSDI benefits cliff by gradually reducing benefits only after a veteran’s salary rises above $2,460 per month.
Read more here.
Supporting American Energy Production
The cost of energy affects everything in America, from the gas pump to heating your home- even what you buy at the grocery store.
Under the Biden Administration, our country has seen record-high energy prices and inflation. This is a direct result of Biden's irresponsible spending and his war on domestic energy production in the name of his progressive climate agenda.
President Biden made his opposition to American energy clear the moment he took office. On day one, he revoked the permit for the Keystone XL pipeline and canceled the Trump Administration's energy dominance initiatives.
Since then, he hasn't passed up an opportunity to attack American energy production.
This has created a situation where inflation is at a forty-year high, and gas prices have sky-rocketed out of control. As Americans struggle to fill their gas tanks, our farmers, who buy diesel thousands of gallons at a time to produce the food and fiber we depend on, are facing increased cost burdens that are contributing to rising food prices.
While I believe we should be good stewards of the limited resources we have, it is essential that we do not implement overreaching environmental regulations that harm hardworking Americans. There's a simple solution to get things back on track: reverse President Biden's misguided policies and produce more energy here at home.
This past week, the House passed H.R. 1, the Lower Energy Costs Act, which works to lower the cost of energy by:
- Increasing domestic energy production,
- Reforming permitting processes for all industries,
- Reversing anti-energy policies from the Biden Administration,
- Streamlining energy infrastructure and exports,
- and boosting the production and process of critical minerals in the United States.
Producing energy domestically not only lowers costs but also reduces our reliance on foreign energy from governments like Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, and Venezuela. The energy produced in the United States is also much cleaner than the energy produced in those nations, as we have significantly better technologies and processes.
I supported H.R. 1, and I will always stand up for American energy dominance.
Read more here.
Questioning USDA Secretary Vilsack About Projected Farm Bill Spending
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack came before the House Agriculture Committee last week to testify before the upcoming Farm Bill.
As of now, the Farm Bill is projected to spend less than 12% to support production agriculture while 82% of it goes to SNAP.
I asked Secretary Vilsack if he supports such a low percentage going to commodity support programs.
Read more here.
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