Town Hall Lessons

Over the last several weeks in Oklahoma, I’ve had the opportunity to listen to my constituents and learn about what issues concern them the most. I’ve had a very full schedule traveling across the district for meetings with local chambers of commerce, visits with community leaders and officials, tours of local businesses, interviews with local media and some firsthand updates on severe weather damage. Each week, I also hosted town hall meetings, where I invited my constituents to join me for a legislative update and participate in a forum to ask questions and talk with me directly. This included two telephone town hall meetings from my Norman office and six town hall meetings in Moore, Ada, Chickasha, Ardmore, Midwest City and Lawton. During each and every stop along the way, but especially during my town hall meetings, there were several issues that came up repeatedly.

Clearly, the majority of my constituents remain frustrated with the actions of the Obama Administration and lack confidence in the president’s ability to lead in various areas. Most noticeably at this point in time, my fellow Oklahomans are very alarmed by the proposed nuclear deal negotiated with Iran by the Administration. Throughout the two years of negotiations, the president assured the public that any deal reached would prevent a nuclear-armed Iran and block its pathway to acquiring and building a nuclear weapon. Unfortunately, the deal sent to Congress does not fulfill the president’s promise and instead merely delays Iran’s potential development of a nuclear bomb. Further, by lifting sanctions, the agreement dangerously empowers the country to continue funding our terrorist enemies, which jeopardizes the safety and security of our friends and allies in the neighborhood – including Israel.

Like those I heard from across the Fourth District, I am very uncomfortable with the concessions made to Iran in the deal sent to Congress and especially in the reported secret side agreement that allows Iran to perform its own inspections of some nuclear sites and military installations. When the legislation comes for a vote in the days ahead, there is no chance that my Republican colleagues or I will support it. However, unless both chambers of Congress secure enough votes to block a veto of legislation that disapproves the agreement, the president unfortunately has the authority to implement the deal.

In the wake of several undercover videos showing the cold-hearted, profit-driven and suspicious back-room realities at Planned Parenthood, Oklahomans voiced concern about the federal funding received by the nation’s largest abortion provider. Like those I heard from in my district during town hall meetings, I share the same disgust over the evidence seen in the atrocious videos that reveals a dark industry that devalues unborn life. Along with many of my colleagues in the House, I was proud to cosponsor the Defund Planned Parenthood Act of 2015 that would discontinue funds for one year for any service offered by Planned Parenthood or its affiliates if it performs abortions.

Before the videos were released this summer, the subcommittee I chair also addressed some of Planned Parenthood’s federal funding in the appropriations bill for Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education and Related Agencies. When the bill was passed out of full committee at the end of June, it reflected cuts to direct sources of federal funding in the subcommittee’s jurisdiction. We accomplished that by eliminating funding for HHS Title X Family Planning grants, maintaining full support for community health centers and boosting funding for lifesaving biomedical research. I wish that was the only source of funding for the organization, but currently, the majority of federal funds are distributed through Medicaid reimbursements. In order for those funds to be cut off from Planned Parenthood as well, it would require that the organization not be designated as a Medicaid provider—a decision that can only be made by the president.

Constituents remain concerned about the state of our nation’s economy and our climbing debt that currently exceeds $18.3 trillion. During conversations about our nation’s fiscal situation, I talked about the need to reform entitlement spending, which includes Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. While we were discussing these drivers of our debt, I talked about the urgent need to save Social Security and ensure its existence for future generations of American workers. Throughout the entirety of working life, every American contributes to the fund and trusts they will receive benefits from the program down the road. But due to changing demographics and expected lifespan of Americans, the fund is currently on track to be exhausted by 2033.

As I said during my conversations with constituents, it is critical that lawmakers and the president work to change the trajectory and avert the imminent Social Security crisis. While there is no agreed-upon solution yet, I am pleased that conversations are taking place on both sides of the aisle. In particular, I am proud of a piece of bipartisan legislation I helped reintroduce with my Democrat House colleague John Delaney. Our bill calls for a bipartisan and bicameral commission to discuss and propose solutions for Social Security. The 13-person panel would have a year to report back to Congress with recommendations, and any proposal would require a vote in both chambers. If passed by Congress and signed into law, measures could be taken to save Social Security.

During my Lawton town hall meeting, I heard from my constituents in the military community who were especially concerned about the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which is responsible for taking care of our veterans following their honorable and brave service to our nation. After the abuses uncovered at the VA that included unacceptable wait times for veterans in need of care, lawmakers in both chambers and on both sides of the aisle have acted to increase transparency and accountability. There is still work to be done, and similar VA reforms will remain a priority for Congress in the future.

If you attended one of my town hall meetings recently, I want to assure you that your concerns have been heard loud and clear. As I return to our nation’s capital for legislative work, please know that your thoughts go with me and greatly inform my work and the votes I cast on behalf of the Fourth District.