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Hello Friends and Fellow West Texans,
Welcome back to my West Texas Wrap Up. Please remember to follow me on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube for regular updates on how I am serving the people of West Texas!
Securing Wins in Tax Bill
My Republican colleagues and I on the Ways and Means Committee took a critical step in delivering on President Trump’s America First agenda by extending pro-growth tax cuts and relief for working families and small businesses in West Texas.
Included in the bill are priorities I led which cut taxes, rein-in burdensome regulations, and strengthen healthcare for Rural America.
Farm Bill Update
As someone concerned about both the high cost of farming and the unsustainable fiscal trajectory of our country, I have long called for Republicans to use budget reconciliation to advance Farm Bill reforms that will strengthen rural America while restoring the fiscal health of our country.
This is a historic opportunity to deliver critical reforms to SNAP, strengthen the ag safety net, and move away from un-budgeted, emergency spending. I applaud the House Agriculture Committee for seizing this moment, and I look forward to working with Chairman Thompson to get these commonsense ag policies across the finish line.
Fiscal State of the Nation
Unchecked mandatory spending is driving this country off a fiscal cliff.
We’re not lacking clarity on solutions, what we’re lacking in Washington is courage - the courage to do what is necessary to rise up and meet this generational opportunity before America is irreparably damaged and our children robbed of a prosperous future.
As Chairman of the House Budget Committee, I held a hearing on the Fiscal State of the Nation. Watch my opening remarks here.
Increase Competition in the Prescription Drug Market
I recently introduced the Eliminating Thickets to Increase Competition (ETHIC) Act, legislation to lower prescription drug costs by addressing patent gamesmanship.
America leads the world in medical innovation and Congress understands the necessity of strong IP protections. Groundbreaking research and development fuels our economy, improves quality of life for patients, and brings down healthcare costs – one of the drivers of our national debt. Unfortunately, loopholes in our current patent system allow manufacturers to file for duplicative patents that delay competition.
I am proud to lead this legislation to ensure new patents include real innovation and bring additional value to patients.
Champion for Rural America
I was proud to introduce bipartisan legislation to permanently expand access to emergency medical care for Medicare, Tricare, and Medicaid beneficiaries.
Since Medicare began recognizing Freestanding Emergency Centers, millions of seniors in Texas have benefitted from increased access to emergency care. Unfortunately, the care these facilities provide — often at a lower cost to the Medicare program than most hospital-based ERs —disappeared for thousands of seniors as the Biden administration failed to continue recognizing them.
My legislation - the Emergency Care Improvement Act - will allow seniors to continue utilizing low-cost, high-quality FECs, spurring much-needed competition in our healthcare system.
America Cannot Have Free Trade Without Fair Trade
We are long overdue for a leader who demands adherence to the basic principle of fairness from our global trading partners and is willing to leverage the U.S. market in order to achieve reciprocal trade.
Read my latest op-ed in the Daily Caller, “America Cannot Have Free Trade Without Fair Trade.”
In The News
On Social Media
It is an honor and privilege to represent you in Congress. Feel free to forward this newsletter to our fellow West Texans and encourage them to sign up here for this update.
Your friend and fellow West Texan,
Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress
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