Dear Oklahoma friends and neighbors,

October is as busy as September. I was glad to travel to Tulsa, Piedmont, Grove, El Reno and Kingfisher this week during the few days I was home from DC. The task in Washington over the next few weeks will focus on cutting spending and funding the federal government for fiscal year 2016, a bill to authorize the nation’s highway programs, and a replacement bill for the failed "No Child Left Behind" federal education policy.

Healthcare Cost and Small Business

Many Oklahomans have experienced the painful effects of Obamacare, but last week we took an important step to remove another harmful regulation on small businesses caused by the law. The Senate passed and the President signed the Protecting Affordable Coverage for Employees (PACE) Act, a bill to protect small businesses from healthcare premium increases under Obamacare.

Currently, the definition of the state-based small group markets was scheduled to change on January 1, 2016. The PACE Act will allow states to maintain the current small group market definition, meaning businesses with up to 50 employees. The change of this definition for small businesses will prevent premium increases and disruption for small and mid-sized companies, because they are not held to the same mandates as large companies.

I am still committed to protect Oklahomans from the harmful effects of Obamacare, and the PACE Act is one of many solutions I’ve co-sponsored to work toward that goal. Earlier this month, I co-sponsored The Middle Class Health Benefits Repeal Act of 2015 to eliminate Obamacare’s High Cost Plan Excise Tax, also known as the “Cadillac Tax.” I also co-sponsored the Obamacare Repeal Act (S.339), which would repeal the entire healthcare law. 

National Defense Authorization Act is on the President’s desk

Last week, the Senate passed a bill with strong bipartisan support to set a clear national defense policy for our nation, commonly known as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Each year, the NDAA authorizes budget authority for the Department of Defense and some of our national security programs.

There is a lot of concern in Oklahoma that the spread of extremists and military actors who seek to harm us has spun out of control. Just this week, Iran launched another ballistic missile test, Israel faces increasing threats, the Russians are on the move and Syria is absolutely on fire. Americans want to know their government will uphold its primary responsibility to maintain security and protect Americans. The National Defense Authorization Act provides a clear security plan in a chaotic world.

The NDAA bill passed 270 to 156 in the House and 70 to 27 in the Senate—yet the President issued a clear veto threat. Congress understands the critical need to set defense policy and guidelines to support America’s national security. It is hard to believe the President would push for deals with Iran but veto the bill to fund our troops. The bill is on his desk, it is now time for the Commander-in-Chief to sign the bipartisan bill to support our troops.  

Last week, I spoke about the nation’s need to set a clear plan for the Department of Defense. To watch the floor speech, CLICK HERE. To read a recent opinion piece I wrote, CLICK HERE. 

PTC Elimination Act

Oklahoma has a very diverse energy portfolio. We use oil, gas, coal, wind, solar, hydroelectric, and geothermal. That mix of energy solutions is good for the consumer and good for our energy security. Twenty-three years ago, the federal government put in place a Production Tax Credit (PTC) to help wind power and some other renewables get started. That mission has been fulfilled in a dramatic way with the tremendous expansion of wind power in Oklahoma.  

We are a leader in wind energy and the United States has expanded from three million MegaWatts of wind energy to 167 million MegaWatts of wind power. Since the wind industry is much more efficient and well established now, therefore, it is time to phase out the "temporary" tax credit that was put into place two decades ago to help them get started. On Wednesday, October 7, I introduced the Production Tax Credit (PTC) Act, a bill to phase out federal renewable energy tax credits.

The cost to taxpayers for the PTC, has increased substantially since its adoption. Another two-year extension of the subsidy is estimated to cost taxpayers $10.5 billion over the next ten years, and nearly all of the funding is attributable to the wind industry. If the PTC Elimination Act is signed into law, businesses producing wind energy will continue to have the same business tax deductions that are available to all other energy producers, they will just lose the additional subsidy.

Thirty-seven states, including Oklahoma, have production incentives in place through renewable portfolio standards or renewable portfolio goals. The federal PTC is a redundancy that subsidizes polices which states already pursue for local resources and utility markets.

I support an all-of-the-above energy strategy, and I certainly support wind as a large part of that goal. The wind industry has made major strides over the past two decades, and they have proven their industry to be successful without federal tax credits. While Congress works to find $13 billion in savings to fund the highway program, it is inconsistent to send $10 billion to help wind production get started in markets where they are already well established. 

Trusting our Farmers and Ranchers

When I travel through Oklahoma, I consistently hear from farmers and ranchers about the expanding burden they face from federal overreach and mountains of cumbersome regulations. Time and time again, they ask me, "how can we stop the government intrusion?"

I have made it a priority during my time in Congress to address the burdensome regulatory barriers on the private sector, especially on the agriculture industry.

My proposal to involve more Americans in the regulatory rulemaking process, push regulations back to the states whenever possible, and allow more consistency in regulations is detailed in a recent opinion piece I wrote, We Must Trust Farmers and Ranchers. 

Bottom line: Washington, DC should trust farmers and ranchers to best utilize technologies and strategies that work for them on their land. 

Department of Labor Regulatory Actions

In September, I sent a letter to the Department of Labor (DOL) to question the Occupational Safety and Health Administrations (OSHA), a department within DOL, on their practice of using "guidance documents" to create new rules. 

On Wednesday, September 23, the subcommittee I chair held a hearing to examine whether federal agencies have used regulatory guidance appropriately. The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) allows agencies to produce guidance documents to clarify issues in an existing regulation without publication in the Federal Register and without the public notice and comment process. The hearing revealed that some agencies might improperly issue guidance documents instead of regulations, in order to avoid public input and take advantage of the APA’s exceptions and relaxed procedures. 

To read the full letter to the Department of Labor's office of Occupational Safety and Health Administration, CLICK HERE. 

Keeping You In The Loop

• The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) created a new decision that significantly changes how every business franchise operates in America. The goal of the Obama Administration to promote union membership in America destroys the American small business model and further slows the economy. I have co-sponsored a bill to reverse the ruling and have worked with the Appropriations Committee, where I serve, to cut off funding for the implementation of NLRB's harmful decision. For more information on the bill, CLICK HERE.
• On Wednesday, September 30, I spoke on the Senate floor about the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), which was set to expire. The LWCF is a program in desperate need of reform. Despite the federal government owning nearly one third of all property in the US, Congress continues to spend hundreds of millions of dollars every year acquiring more land. Yet, Congress neglects to take care of the lands we already own, which currently needs more than $20 billion in maintenance. To watch my speech on the floor, CLICK HERE.
• On Wednesday, October 7, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, on which I serve, passed three bipartisan regulatory improvement bills I introduced along with my subcommittee counterpart, Senator Heidi Heitkamp. The bills aim to facilitate greater transparency and accountability in the federal rulemaking process. To review the bills, CLICK HERE.
• When the Obamacare bill passed, the Congressional Budget Office assumed 21 million Americans would enroll in a health plan by 2016, but on Thursday, the Obama Administration announced that only 10 million people will actually enroll by the end of 2016. This is yet another warning that Americans do not like the health care law.
• On Friday, October 9, the House voted to lift a 40-year ban on US crude oil exports. I have been vocal in my support for lifting the ban. The President has threatened to veto the bill, but it passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support. It’s time to remove barriers for domestic energy production, as the US is now the only country to have a ban on crude oil exports. Lifting the ban would not increase domestic fuel prices, but would encourage exploration, production and promote more industry employment. For more information on HR 156, CLICK HERE. To read my full statement, CLICK HERE.
• On Friday, October 9, the US Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit issued a nationwide stay against the EPA’s controversial Waters of the US Rule (WOTUS). This hold by the 6^th Circuit is an important step in the effort to have the EPA and the Army Corps clarify the inherent overreach of their federal regulatory jurisdiction. I will continue to work to protect Oklahomans from this unjust interpretation. To read more about the Court’s full publication, CLICK HERE.
• On Friday, October 9, I sent a letter to Secretary of State John Kerry to question the Obama Administration’s commitment to promote international religious freedom through diplomatic relations, as is stated as a “key objective of US foreign policy.” To read the full letter to Secretary Kerry, CLICK HERE.

Stay Connected! 

If you would like more information on these topics or any other legislation currently before the U.S. Senate, please do not hesitate to call my D.C. office at (202) 224-5754. My Oklahoma City office can be reached at (405) 231-4941 and my Tulsa office at (918) 581-7651. You can also follow me on Facebook or Twitter or Instagram for updates on my work in Congress.

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