Rep. Hartzler -- our citizens deserve security

Saturday, April 23, 2016
Rep. Vicky Hartzler Gabe Franklin/Daily Mail

Nevada Daily Mail

"With the House not in session, I'm back home with one simple message, security. It's not a luxury or a matter of opinion but a matter of financial, personal and national security that we grow our economy, increase take home pay, strengthen our military and provide the care that is due our veterans and seniors. All my work is focused on providing the people of Missouri's fourth district and our nation with the security people need!"

With those words, U.S. Rep. Vicky Hartzler opened a 20-minute interview at the offices of the Nevada Daily Mail Friday afternoon.

"I sought this office and want to continue to serve," said Hartzler, "precisely because I believe, when government gets out of the way the capacity of Missourians is something that will amaze you. Whether its job and community development or helping those in need, the citizen's I'm privileged to serve are a force for good that far exceeds the best that Washington can ever do."

Hartzler, who represents 24 counties in Missouri, including Vernon, is the only Republican serving on both the House budget and armed services committees.

"If a bill requires any funding, it passes through the budget committee," said Hartzler, "which not only means that I stay informed, but that I can provide the common sense Missouri values that are needed more than ever."

Asked to speak about those values Hartzler explained, "In Missouri's fourth district, it's common sense to live within your means. It's common sense to balance your checkbook and not spend yourself into a situation where those you owe actually control your life. But that's precisely what this nation has done, precisely what Washington continues to do and is not what I call sense but nonsense."

Speaking of her work on the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Hartzler spoke of the national security threats this nation faces.

"I agree with former secretary of state, Henry Kissinger," said Hartzler, "that as a nation, we face more threats today than at any time since World War II."

"We are burying our heads in the sand if we pretend that China's construction of islands in the South China Sea, North Korea's nuclear advances, Iran's ballistic missile technology, Putin's efforts to recreate a Russian empire and the so-called Islamic State -- which now controls an area the size of Indiana -- are not real threats."

"I receive national security briefings that tell it like it is," said Hartzler. "These and others do constitute a clear and present danger to the security of this nation and to the welfare and commerce of people the world over."

Hartzler summed up her views on defense by saying, "I believe in peace through strength."

"Not that long ago this nation's military posture was such that we were prepared and able to fight land wars in two separate parts of the world, noted Hartzler. "But some analysts now question if we could fight even one."

"As most of us learned on the playground," said Hartzler "weakness only emboldens bullies and the nearly one trillion dollars in cuts we have made to our military will only serve to embolden our enemies."

Another matter Rep. Hartzler touched upon was a House Armed Services Committee report on the 2014 exchange of five Taliban prisoners for U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl who was held in Afghanistan.

"The report showed the president made a bad deal and the White House put politics and expediency ahead of proper procedure in making the deal," said Hartzler.

"While I'm a big supporter of our nation's military, it is more important than ever to spend each dollar as carefully as possible, said Hartzler. "That is why I have spent time on a committee investigating wasteful spending. People must be held accountable and dollars must be used to increase force readiness and modernization."

Asked about balancing the budget Hartzler said, "When I went to Washington, I asked to be put on the budget committee. Every year I've been in Congress, I have voted in favor of the House's balanced budget but I strongly oppose using sequestration as the means to achieve budget control."

Sequestration involves setting a hard cap on the amount of government spending within broadly defined categories. If Congress adopts spending that exceeds those caps, it automatically triggers across-the-board spending cuts, which affect all departments and programs by an equal percentage.

"While it took a few years to realize, I'm glad to say that enough of my colleagues in the House now realize the sequestration begun in 2013 has been a failure," said Hartzler. Gimmicks can't fix budgets and I'm glad we put sequestration on hold for this budget year and the next."

Speaking on other budget issues, the representative turned to the Affordable Care Act. "I am beginning to notice some supporters of Obamacare are realizing that this approach is a financial failure in two ways. First, it costs the government way too much for way too little. Second, people are finding they can't afford their premiums and deductibles and so either they cannot afford to use the insurance they have or they simply drop it."

"People need health insurance and they need a system that actually does increase access and affordability," Hartzler said.

"Some people, when they hear the word reform immediately think you want to abolish their pet project," said Hartzler. But by enacting serious reform now on the programs we do need, we can not only preserve Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid but we can make them stronger and better."

Besides serving on the House budget and armed services committees, Hartzler also serves on the agriculture committee.

"Farming and farm related goods and services comprise the number one industry in the state of Missouri," said Hartzler.

"The 5-year farm bill enacted in 2014 is a bill that I'm really proud to have played a small part in shaping," noted Hartzler. "While it cut some of the direct payments to farmers it left a strong safety net in place. That way, in times of say, extremely low prices or a drought, farmers will get the help they need so that this country can continue to feed the world."

The fourth district representative said that, "Eighty percent of the farm bill has nothing to do with farming. It consists of SNAP, WIC and other programs such as grants which support rural housing and development."

The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program was formerly known as the Food Stamp Program and in 2014, assisted more than 46 million-low income Americans in the purchase of food.

The Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children is a federal assistance program of the United States Department of Agriculture for healthcare and nutrition of low-income women, breast-feeding women, as well as infants and children under the age of five.

Asked about the focus of her current work in the United States House of Representatives, Hartzler said, "My colleagues and I are looking seriously at the Trans Pacific Partnership. This is a trade pact among 12 nations in the Pacific Rim. This country has made some bad trade deals where the other parties were free and we were not. Free trade can be good but only if there is a truly level playing field that is observed by all the parties."

"As I said at the outset, all of the issues we've been discussing make up one thing, security. It's enabling our military, providing good education and the financial strength that comes from a job, insurance, and a pension. I am in Washington on behalf of the people of Missouri's fourth district so that all of us can have that security."

The interview concluded by asking the congresswoman if she would support the Republican nominee, whoever it is.

Hartzler gave an emphatic "Yes!" and headed off with her aide to the next event on her busy schedule.

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