“Our hearts break when we see images of the terrible devastation in Oklahoma from last night and this morning. Families torn apart, kids taken from us way to earlier, and communities devastated.

“As we heard from our Oklahoma colleagues, the people of Oklahoma are strong. The people of our country are strong. We will help them rebuild and do what is necessary as Americans always do.

“We will continue to focus here in Washington on making sure that does happen and that we address the other challenges that our nation faces.”

“Mr. Speaker I rise today to support the SEC Regulatory and Accountability Act of 2013.

“The American economy is hurting and what we need is less government standing in the way of the private sector, not more. This Act will bring about some common sense reforms by requiring the SEC to review existing regulations as well as preventing new and unnecessary ones that would only continue to slow economic growth and hurt businesses and families.

“With job growth struggling, and already having experienced several years of high unemployment, we need to make certain that we are doing what we can to ensure that it’s easier and not harder for businesses to hire again. This Act will do just that by first clearly defining the root of a problem before trying to implement perhaps unjust and redundant burdens on America's businesses.

“This is an appropriate reform bill that should garner bipartisan support. The President’s own Jobs Council has advocated regulatory reform by focusing on streamlining the current system for permitting projects that can create jobs. That Jobs Council understand that regulations involving the federal, state, and local level can lead to a tangled web of red tape and cause a bureaucratic nightmare. The current system will only continue to stunt economic growth and this Act is a much needed step in the right direction.

“I would like to thank Chairman Scott Garrett and Financial Services Committee Chairman Jeb Hensarling for their leadership on this issue. Mr. Speaker, I strongly support the passage of this bill, and I urge my colleagues in the House to do so as well.”

“Madam Speaker, today I rise in support of the full repeal of ObamaCare.

“Moms and Dads across America are worried. They are worried about their health, the health of their kids, and the health of their aging parents. They are struggling to understand how the new health care laws will affect their prescription prices, their emergency room visits, whether they can keep their doctor or worse, whether they can keep their job.

“These families want the best for themselves and their children, and so do we. House Republicans want patient centered health care reform that lowers costs, increases access, makes the health care system easier to enter and easier to navigate. ObamaCare is not the answer.

“While both parties agree that we must make health care more accessible, we in the majority fundamentally disagree that more government is the answer. Sweeping mandates on individuals and businesses will not improve our health care. We do not wish to see unelected, federal bureaucrats come between patients and their doctors, limiting choices, lowering quality and raising costs.

“Madam Speaker, the ObamaCare law which is set to be implemented eight months from now, is a threat to American patients and their families. When this law was first debated in 2009 and signed in 2010, the White House promised the American people that ObamaCare would lower costs for families and businesses. That promise has been broken. Nothing could be further from the truth.

“If you like the health care coverage you currently have, you really don’t know if you will be able to keep it under ObamaCare. Many employers are delaying hiring decisions because of provisions outlined in the law and people with pre-existing conditions are now being denied the coverage the President promised. There are more complaints about the law than praise, and for good reason.

“It is now projected that ObamaCare will send health care premiums skyrocketing in the individual and small group insurance markets. When fully enacted, this law is expected to pose new financial burdens on America’s youngest adults and many working families. Moreover, due to the projected cuts to Medicare Advantage, many of our seniors will face a type of health care they didn’t bargain for.

“This Act should not be considered a reform, but a bureaucratic overreach that makes a mess out of our health care system and gives incredible power to the Internal Revenue Service.

“President Obama has already signed seven bills originating in the House that repeal or defund parts of this health care law, but if we are serious in wanting to deliver real results for the people who sent us here, we should repeal ObamaCare and replace it with the health care that the American people desire.”

“Good morning. Obviously, there have been a lot of questions raised over the last several days that the news has I think awakened the public, beginning to raise questions in their minds as to the direction of this government, and really to whom is this government accountable. We're going to proceed obviously in our work here in the House. We have to restore the trust in government and we have to restore the faith in our economy.

“There are questions that are being answered, and we are accountable to the families of the victims in Benghazi. We certainly are accountable to the taxpayers and the people of this country as to the actions of the IRS. And we certainly have plenty of questions and are accountable to the press in terms of its First Amendment rights and its ability to enjoy those and realize those.

“We have plenty of action on the floor this week, ObamaCare repeal is there again because we do not believe that an individual mandate or Washington-based health care is the direction we ought to go. We also are going to be working on an SEC accountability act. This is a bill coming out of the Financial Services Committee. It is a bill that the President's former Jobs Council said is necessary in terms of creating the conditions to create jobs. So, I'm hopeful that we can get a bipartisan vote on that coming together on the one thing that people are continuing to wonder, is Washington concerned about the future of this economy?”

“Today, with a strong bipartisan vote, the House acted to affirm our country’s resolve against the regulation of the Internet by the United Nations. During the 112th Congress, the House and Senate overwhelmingly adopted resolutions opposing efforts to regulate the Internet and its content. This hands off approach has enabled the Internet to remain a powerful source of freedom, economic growth and job creation. It is essential that the Internet remains stable and secure, and I want to thank the House Energy and Commerce Committee and Chairman Walden for leading the effort to ensure the Internet is free from government control.”

"The IRS cannot target or intimidate any individual or organization based on their political beliefs. The House will investigate this matter." 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – This week, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) hosted a luncheon for Virginia-based patient advocacy groups representing a broad range of diseases and disorders at the Library of Congress. Leader Cantor commended all those battling the daily challenges of these diseases and disorders. The discussion focused on what can be done to expand medical research, encourage innovation, prioritize National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding and improve the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval process.

Leader Cantor said, “Now more than ever our priority should be medical breakthroughs to help those suffering from life-changing diseases and disorders. I remain committed to supporting medical research innovations that can help save lives in Central Virginia and across the country. The important work done by patient advocacy groups is critical to expanding these efforts aimed at improving the quality of life and ultimately finding cures for so many of our friends and family. Eventually, by finding cures we can keep more people healthy and lower the cost of health care for all Americans."

Additionally, Leader Cantor announced that in the coming weeks he plans to support the Kids First Research Act, to expand pediatric research at the NIH by eliminating taxpayer funding for presidential campaigns and party conventions.

The following groups participated and shared their ideas with Leader Cantor:

• American Heart Association
• Commonwealth Autism Service
• Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
• Down Syndrome Association of Greater Richmond
• Focused Ultrasound Foundation
• National Alliance on Mental Illness Central Virginia Chapter
• National Kidney Foundation
• National MS Society in Virginia
• National Tourette Syndrome Association
• Parkinson’s Action Network
• Prevent Blindness America

“We have all watched with horror as the atrocities allegedly committed by Pennsylvania abortionist Kermit Gosnell have been revealed during his ongoing trial for the murder of four babies, allegedly causing the death of one woman, and hundreds of other criminal counts. The fact that Gosnell evaded the law for so long has raised issues about whether these clinics are being adequately inspected, and when violations of the law are discovered, whether those are being prosecuted. I commend Chairmen Goodlatte and Upton and their committee members for seeking answers to these questions in letters sent to attorneys general and state health officials in all 50 states and the District of Columbia today. We look forward to receiving responses to these inquiries.”

“Today, the House took an important step to ensure our commitment to paying down our debt and getting our fiscal house in order. While this does not fix all our budget problems, the Full Faith and Credit Act removes the threat of default and requires the Treasury to make good on its debt payments. House Republicans remain committed to smart policies that will strengthen our entitlement programs, cut government waste and grow our economy. I want to thank Chairman Hensarling and Representatives Tom McClintock, Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan and Tom Price for their leadership on this effort, and I hope Senate Democrats and the President will join us in addressing our nation’s spending problem.”

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Working Families Flexibility Act.

“If you are a working parent in this country, you know from experience that there’s hardly ever enough time to spend with your family.

“Recently, I spoke with a constituent from Richmond her name is Nicole Lambert. She is a working mom who runs an early childhood education center. It is quite often that Nicole is approached by one of her employees requesting more flexibility with how they can use their overtime. Some of her employees need to take off to take their child to the doctor, some need to go meet with a teacher. But under the current law, Nicole is not able to present her hardworking staff with this option. She understands that this bill would give her employees more flexibility to balance both work, and their lives at home.

“For too long, working families in the private sector have not been able to choose a more flexible schedule when working overtime. But, for the past 30 years government employees have been afforded this luxury. It’s time to for all of us to present all parents in America with this option.

“As a father of three, I can tell you as a working parent, I know that it is very necessary to be there for your children. And I bet no matter who you are as a working parent, if you ask any mom and dad what they could use more of, it’s time. Washington should not stand in the way of any employer voluntarily offering this benefit or any employee choosing more time.

“That’s the bottom line. Washington should not be in the way of more freedom in the workplace.

“I know this policy will work from speaking with local government employees who already enjoy this advantage. Vicki, is a working mom and police officer in my district. She works long hours and she raises her children. She tells me her life is made a little easier because she is allowed to work a few extra hours and save it up in case there’s a sick day or after school event she must attend.

“It is simply unfair for those who work for Nicole, in the private sector, to be prohibited from receiving the same benefits that Vicki does as a government employee.

“This is a bill that should easily garner bipartisan support because frankly it puts parents before politics and will give people more freedom to make their lives work. There is simply no good reason to deny hardworking parents the opportunity to take their children to the doctor or to attend a parent teacher conference.

“I thank my constituents for relaying their stories to me about how this bill helps. Again, I am very grateful for the leadership and the role model that Representative Martha Roby and Chairman John Kline have set forth in this effort. This Act will help parents all across America and I urge my colleagues to support it.”

Meet Nicole Lambert and Kim Mills, both are small business owners and working moms from Virginia who understand their employees want more flexibility with their time. Nicole is the owner of Rainbow Station, an early childhood education center in Glen Allen. Kim is co-owner and manager of Homemades by Suzanne in Ashland.

Nicole Lambert, Rainbow Station, Glen Allen, Virginia: “I often get asked by employees, do I have to take the overtime? Why couldn’t I have this time off next time I’m going on vacation, or why couldn’t I put some hours on the front end or some hours on the back end? It would really help me out. Or sometimes I get asked, why can’t I take these three hours that I spent working on this project tonight next week when I need to take my daughter to the doctor? I’d rather do that than take my paid time off bank. Right now, today, we don’t have that option…From a business owners perspective, and also spending a lot of my years being an employee of someone as well, I think this is a win-win for everyone.”

Kim Mills, Homemades by Suzanne, Ashland, Virginia: “I’m a working mother of two, Ashley and Austin. I have about 40 employees that I manage…We believe the Working Families Flexibility Act is important to the private sector and small businesses. It will provide employees a choice to handle their funds in the way they see needed for their individual purposes. Anytime you’re able to give an employee a choice it increases their morale and they’re more productive.”

FALLS CHURCH, VA – Today, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA) joined private sector employees and working parents for a roundtable discussion about The Working Families Flexibility Act at The CENTECH Group in Falls Church, Virginia:

“We want to thank CENTECH for hosting us today and I want to salute Chairman John Kline and of course the bill’s sponsor Representative Martha Roby for all their hard work on the Working Families Flexibility Act, which is what this bill is called, and it’s called that for a reason.

“Fernando talked about being able to meet the needs of today's workforce, and that’s exactly what this bill does. It says, that hourly waged employees in the private sector ought to have the same privilege and benefit as those in the public sector. That is if they work over 40 hours a week they ought to be able to engage in a voluntary arrangement with their employer to have comp time instead of receiving time and a half overtime.

“It’s very simple. If you’re a working parent, as I am, you know one thing all of us have in common and that is we need more time. That’s what this bill will allow. It is a common sense bill and it puts parents before politics.”

Watch the video and view photos from the Working Families Flexibility Act Event.
 

“Today’s jobs report showed some signs of hope for the thousands of people who found a job in April. However, this growth is way behind our nation’s potential. We must focus on job creation more than one day a month.

“At his press conference this week, President Obama failed to even mention the millions of hard-working Americans who remain unemployed or worse, the millions who have completely given up looking for a job. It's no surprise, given that many of the President's policies, including stifling regulations, high taxes and the implementation of ObamaCare, are making it harder for a manager to hire a new waitress or a salesperson or college graduates to get jobs that match their skills.

"House Republicans remain focused. House Republicans have already passed job growth and training legislation this Congress and will continue to pursue policies that get the engine of our economy roaring again. We stand ready to come together and find common ground that will achieve real economic growth and get even more people back to work."

Fixing President Obama's Flight Delays: "It was always our belief that the FAA and the Administration had the legal authority to enforce the reductions in spending in a smart way. They came back and finally relented saying we're not going to keep this pressure on, as I think the original intention was, and went ahead and asked for the bill that just passed last week. Overall, the sequester in terms of across the board cuts, I don't think anybody chooses that way to go and reduce spending. But over and again, the House has tried to get the President to come along and join us with cuts that make sense. We all know we've got a spending problem, we've got to come together and try and address that so we can get this country back on to a growth track."

Solving Our Spending Problem: "In the House, we're hard at work trying to figure out what the best way forward is. Obviously, we're a country that pays its bills, but we also maintain a commitment to do something about the unfunded liabilities that keep mounting associated with the entitlement programs. We can all do this. We can get together and solve this problem. Hopefully, we'll see some success this summer."

Working On Comprehensive Tax Reform: "I think all of us would like to see comprehensive tax reform take place where we can actually make our code simpler, fairer and reduce rates so we can spur innovation and growth. The conference we're at, the Milken Global Forum, is all about innovation and growth. I think making priority innovation is where we ought to head in terms of tax reform and policy in D.C."

Creating An Ecosystem For Growth And Innovation: "We need some real commitment to free markets, real commitment to balance sensible regulations. Not just more regulation, but a commitment to having a competitive tax structure. Right now, we hear over and again that's an issue for American based multinationals and people looking to invest their capital here. I also think we need to focus on promoting an ecosystem for investment. We want investors to come here, allocate their capital to the United States to go and create wealth and build value."

America Is The Creative Capital Of The World. “There is a desperate need of creativity here in Washington to try and figure out some of the very vexing problems that we’re facing. I really do believe very much in what was said earlier. Creativity is what sparked a revolution and the great minds of the 18th century that gave birth to this country. So there is certainly a tradition of creativity in America. We are the creative capital of the world. And I believe it is the government’s role really to provide a platform for the growth of creativity. It’s about creating the conditions and the environment for creativity.”

Innovating To Make Life Work For More People. “Generally, when I talk about a platform I take my iPhone out. I know we’re here with Microsoft, but I want to just use this as an analogy. This is a platform where creative people can come and bring their wares, apply their skills and create apps where it makes life work a lot easier for a lot of people in different areas. It takes information and puts it to work for the people and users of these devices. That’s what I believe we can do here in Washington, too. This place is a treasure trove of information that in many instances is sitting idle. Information that if we allow the innovative spirit of the private sector to be able to access that information, just think about the solutions that could come and quickly, not getting bogged down by the bureaucracy in this town, but be able to solve some of the very tough issues whether it is health care, the environment, energy, or the rest.”

Encouraging Open Data & Transparency. “Access to information transparency is a huge step that we can take. In essence, if we can hook hoses up to some of these dinosaur agencies and buildings in this town and allow the creativity to apply to all this data, I think we would be amazed at the solutions and innovations that could occur. I don’t think there is any question that if you look at tax policy, regulatory policy and the commitment on the part of the government to R&D, these are the kinds of things that specifically would foster a new age of creativity in this country.”

Citizen Cosponsor Project. “We have also in the Majority Leader’s Office announced a project called Citizen Cosponsor. This is a tool to connect with the voters and citizens of the country and open up the database of legislation and policy that is underway on Capitol Hill. Again, a two way street to foster a dialogue and communication.”