News From Washington and Across West Texas

Dear Friend,

The first and most important job of the federal government is to protect our citizens and provide for a common defense. After eight years of weakening our defense posture under the Obama administration, our nation is finally making the strategic investment we need to restore our readiness against ever-increasing threats across the globe.

Unfortunately, the progress we’ve made hit a roadblock last week when, instead of approving an overwhelmingly bipartisan Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act, House Democrats put forward a bill that slashes $1.2 billion in military personnel funding, prohibits military resources from being used to secure our southern border, and prioritizes social experimentation over preparedness. Most importantly, it underfunded the Defense Department by $17 billion – well below what both President Trump and the Senate have requested, and well below what our military leaders need to maintain America’s competitive military advantage and achieve peace through strength. Going forward, I hope House Democrats won’t inject partisan policy proposals into traditionally bipartisan bills, especially not ones that are essential to ensure the safety and security of our brave men and women in uniform, and of all American citizens.

Delivering Rural Health Care Solutions
There is no question that our country is facing a serious crisis in ensuring that rural Americans have the same access to quality care and medical services as their urban and suburban counterparts, with over 90 rural hospitals closing their doors in the past three years, including two in our District in the last year alone. That is why, this week, I was honored to be appointed as Co-Chair of the Ways and Means Committee Rural and Underserved Communities Health Task Force, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance rural health care solutions for the good people of West Texas and rural America as a whole.

Our nation depends on strong rural communities for its food supply and energy independence. Without access to basic health care, these small towns will not be able to support the next generation of farmers, ranchers, and energy producers. Now more than ever, it is critical we develop sustainable solutions to support those living in America’s breadbasket and energy basin so that we, as a nation, can continue to maintain a safe, affordable and abundant supply of food and energy.

Providing Price Transparency in Prescription Drugs
For too long, seniors on Medicare have been unfairly subjected to an opaque and confusing process for choosing the right medicines at the right price, leaving them in the dark about their own healthcare needs. That is why it’s critical we eliminate the obscurity and empower seniors with the information they need to be real consumers who have bargaining power and the ability to make the healthcare choices that best fit their needs and their budgets.

To that end, I recently introduced the “Shop Rx Act” to ensure sponsors of prescription drug plans offer real-time benefit tools to Medicare beneficiaries, providing the transparency in pricing that patients and providers alike deserve. This legislation will not only help seniors avoid surprise costs at the pharmacy, but will also allow them to have more-productive, better-informed conversations with their doctors and empower them to shop around for different products, activating the forces of free-market competition that will bring healthcare costs down. Click here or on the image below to watch my remarks in the House Committee on Ways and Means introducing my legislation to provide seniors with greater clarity and increased choice when making decisions with their doctors about treatment options.

Fellow West Texan
Last week, I was honored to welcome my friend, and Haskell native, Energy Secretary Rick Perry to my office to talk energy policy, military matters, and all things West Texas. As the Head of the Department of Energy, Secretary Perry has a broad portfolio, covering everything from our nation’s nuclear weapons program to energy research, conservation, clean energy technologies, and domestic energy policy. I thanked the Secretary for his outstanding leadership in helping achieve U.S. energy dominance and for his steadfast support of our West Texas energy producers.

Big Country Pride
It was also great to have Hardin-Simmons University Cowboys Football Coach Jesse Burleson and his family up from the Big Country to join me in the House chamber recently.

Under Coach Burleson’s leadership, the Cowboys have enjoyed unprecedented success; going 36-4 in the past four seasons, including four consecutive playoff appearances, graduating 14 All-Americans, and two Rimington trophy winners. Even with all they’ve accomplished on the Gridiron, the most important thing Coach Burleson’s Cowboys learn while playing football at Hardin-Simmons is that God loves them, has a plan for them, and if they follow Him, there is nothing they cannot overcome or achieve in this world. See my floor speech recognizing Coach Burleson and the Cowboys here.

National Champions
We certainly have some of the best and brightest coming up in West Texas, and we saw that once again recently when a group of sixth and seventh grade students from Southcrest Christian School in Lubbock were recently recognized as national winners of the 17th annual eCybercommission competition, a Science, Technology, Engineering and Math competition sponsored by the U.S. Army’s Educational outreach program. Under the direction of their advisor Laura Wilbanks, the sixth and seventh grade teams from Southcrest used the knowledge and skills they learned in the classroom to solve real world challenges in their community. Specifically, these teams worked on developing devices that would help prevent children from dying after being accidentally left in a hot car, as well as reduce the number of deer-related automobile accidents each year.

Later this week, we will mark exactly 50 years since Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin planted an American flag on the surface of the moon as part of mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding. Just like the team on the Apollo 11 mission, these students are part of a national effort to ensure that America continues to lead the way in science and ensure that we remain the premiere laboratory of innovation in the world. These students’ creativity and commitment to science and technology is impressive, and I’m confident that they will propel us to new heights of discovery and help improve the quality of life for not only our citizens, but for all mankind. Click here to read KCBD’s writeup on the students from Southcrest Christian and their national championship win.

Please know that it is an honor to be your Representative. Feel free to reach out to my office and let me know how I can best serve you.

Your friend and fellow West Texan,

Jodey C. Arrington
Member of Congress