Quote of the Day

"Amazing! Obama had no trouble calling the Marines for help when he needed to keep a few drops off of him, but he just couldn't find them on the night our ambassador and three other brave Americans were attacked and killed in Benghazi."

Gary Bauer

Cheetahs Never Prosper!

Tony Perkins
Family Research Council

In all fairness to the IRS, its softball team was named the "Cheetahs" long before this latest scandal! But it seems especially appropriate now, after what many are calling the worst corruption case since Watergate. Leading up to the 2012 elections, the IRS engaged in some of the most vicious ideological censorship in U.S. history, systematically silencing almost 500 conservative groups.

In more than two years (since February 2010), the IRS hasn't approved a single tea party application for nonprofit status. Individuals who had ties to conservative causes were targeted for audits. Donor rolls of entire organizations were leaked to the press. And all of it was done with the agency's full knowledge--if not approval. One by one, the IRS tried to pick off the President's opponents, using one of the most powerful tools in the President's shed: the revenue-collecting arm of the federal government.

Even Democrats seem stunned at the depth of misconduct. Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), who called ObamaCare a "train wreck" earlier this month, thinks this is just the tip of the iceberg. "I have a hunch that a lot more is going to come out, frankly," he said on Bloomberg.

Yesterday, his hunch was right. ABC News reported Thursday night that the chief of the IRS's tax-exempt division, the one who oversaw the heckling of Christian and conservative groups, is none other than Sarah Hall Ingram. Ingram, who raked in more than $103,000 in bonuses (probably for her exemplary targeting of right-wing groups), was recently promoted. She now oversees the largest power expansion in IRS history, as head of the agency's ObamaCare program office. That's right. The person who now administers the ObamaCare mandate and penalties, the one enforcing the IRS's 47 new regulatory powers, is a woman with a history of political bullying.

Rep. Tom Price (R-Ga.) can add that to the reasons why members should support his new bill, "Keep the IRS off Your Health Care Act" (H.R. 2009). Under the legislation, theIRS would be barred from enforcing the health care law. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) added to the slate of legislative reaction with a measure to ban the discriminatory scrutiny of taxpayers by the IRS and other government agencies. Congressman Randy Forbes (R-Va.), meanwhile, wants to freeze the IRS from hiring new employees to implement ObamaCare. And our friends at the National Organization for Marriage, whose confidential donor lists were leaked in the heat of the election, got a boost when Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) joined House Republicans in calling for an investigation into the criminal activity that would have led to the breach.

Democrats, of course, refuse to be left out of the bill-writing party. But instead of drafting legislation that would address the crises, liberals seem content to make them worse. Senate Democrats are lining up behind a bill that's similar to (and in some ways worse) than the DISCLOSE Act, which would significantly clamp down on groups' free speech rights. And who do they want to tap to police this campaign effort? The IRS! Honestly, you can't make this stuff up! Under the bill, the IRS would be doing openly what it had been doing secretly through tax-exempt applications: regulating political speech. "The IRS, an agency with no campaign finance expertise, would be granted the authority to levy stiff tax penalties and strip nonprofit status from groups that violate--even unintentionally--the bill's provisions."

Like White House Press Secretary Jay Carney, who "dismisses the idea that these are scandals," liberals must be in denial about the enormity of the IRS's wrongdoing. Fortunately, the GOP is not. And if they can harness the momentum, Republicans can finally push for the tax code reform and thatAmerica's been waiting for!

A Stunning Development

Gary L. Bauer
Campaign for Working Families

For the past week the Obama Administration has been embroiled in a growing IRS scandal. The tax agency was involved in a massive effort to target the tax-exempt status of conservative organizations, including well-known Christian ministries like Samaritan's Purse and the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association.

Tea Party, pro-life and other conservative groups were denied IRS tax-exempt recognition, resulting in some groups literally shutting down. The apparent purpose was to intimidate and harass the administration's perceived political enemies. It worked.

Americans rightly resist Big Government -- and especially the IRS -- precisely because of this kind of abuse. It is also why so many Americans do not want the IRS involved in our healthcare. We've already seen partisan abuse, but just imagine having to deal with the IRS when it comes to the bypass surgery you need!

Well, guess what? News broke last night that Sarah Hall Ingram, the commissioner who led the department at the center of the IRS scandal while the abuses were taking place, is now the director of the IRS' Affordable Care Act Office. And get this -- she received more than $100,000 in bonuses when these abuses took place!

When told about Ingram's new job, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell said, "Stunning, just stunning."

Meanwhile, Joseph Grant, Commissioner of Tax Exempt Organizations and Government Entities, announced he is retiring next month. Grant was the deputy commissioner under Sarah Hall Ingram when the politically-motivated abuses occurred. But more heads may roll soon as Hamilton County Prosecutor Joe Deters announced that he is looking to see if any Ohio state laws were violated by "rogue" IRS agents in the Cincinnati office.

Was There A Cover-up?

Acting IRS Commissioner Steven Miller and IRS Inspector General J. Russell George testified under oath this morning before the House Ways and Means Committee. Based on his opening statement alone, members of the committee should consider charging Miller with perjury. Just consider this comment:

"Partisanship or the perception of politics has no place in the IRS. I do not believe that partisanship motivated the people that engaged in the practices described in the inspector general's report. Foolish mistakes were made by people who were trying to be more efficient in their work."

Only conservatives were targeted and tied in knots while progressive groups were rubber-stamped. Groups were targeted based on names like "Tea Party" or "Patriot." Pro-life groups were ordered not to protest Planned Parenthood. But none of that is political, just a mistaken attempt at better efficiency. Give me a break!

When pressed to identify the individuals involved in the abuses, Miller could not offer any names. He had to know that question would come up today. But Miller either walked into that hearing room willfully ignorant or he again misled members of Congress.

More importantly, several Republicans ripped into Miller for the fact that top IRS officials knew about these abuses back in 2011, knew about the inspector general's report and never informed Congress until this year.

Again, as happened with the infamous Benghazi talking points, was there a cover-up by officials within the Obama Administration to keep a lid on these abuses during last year's election? The answer seems obvious, and some in the media are now asking that very question.

Watergate's Woodward: Don't Dismiss Benghazi

While the IRS scandal has taken center stage, famed Watergate reporter Bob Woodward said this morning that the Benghazi scandal is still a very potent issue that has not been put to rest. His remarks are worth repeating:

"You were talking earlier about kind of dismissing the Benghazi issue as one that's just political and the president recently said it's a sideshow. But if you read through all these emails, you see that everyone in the government is saying, 'Oh, let's not tell the public that terrorists were involved, people connected to al Qaeda. Let's not tell the public that there were warnings.'

"…this is one of the documents with the editing that one of the people in the State Department said, 'Oh, let's not let these things out.' And I have to go back 40 years to Watergate when Nixon put out his edited transcripts to the conversations, and he personally went through them and said, 'Oh, let's not tell this, let's not show this.'

"I would not dismiss Benghazi. It's a very serious issue … four people were killed. You look at the hydraulic pressure that was in the system to not tell the truth… we use this term and the government uses this term, talking points. Talking points, as we know, are like legal briefs. They're an argument on one side. What we need to do is get rid of talking point and they need to put out statements or papers that are truth documents."

Rep. Robert Hurt Amendment Strengthens Legislation To Increase Federal Regulatory Accountability

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 1062, The SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, an initiative by the House Committee on Financial Services to ensure that the Securities and Exchange Commission is being held accountable to the American people in its rule-making. To increase federal regulatory accountability, Congressman Hurt offered an amendment to H.R. 1062 that was adopted by the House of Representatives and requires that all organizations under the purview of the SEC abide by the same more stringent standards of cost-benefit analysis set forth in H.R. 1062. Hurt's amendment was adopted with bipartisan support:

 

"With the SEC playing a critical role in facilitating capital formation and protecting investors, the Commission is at the forefront of ensuring that our Main Street Businesses across the 5^th District and the country have access to the capital they need to start, hire, and expand their businesses. However, like all federal agencies, too often the costs of the rules promulgated by the SEC far outweigh the potential benefits to the American people. Too often, SEC rules serve to discourage investment, stall markets, and serve as a barrier to capital formation and job creation.

 

"At a time when our Main Street businesses are drowning in a sea of red tape, it is especially critical that Congress exercises its constitutional responsibility to ensure that the bureaucratic rules are not unnecessarily burdening our job creators and our economy. The SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, now expanded to require all organizations under the SEC to undergo a more stringent cost benefit analysis and filter out unnecessary rules, is one more step toward doing just that. I was proud to support this commonsense legislation as the House took one more step today toward reining in excessive federal regulations, holding the federal government accountable, and removing the federal government as a barrier to job creation for the people of Virginia's 5^th District and all Americans."

___________________________________________________________________

H.R. 1062, The SEC Regulatory Accountability Act: A recent report released by the Administration indicates President Obama's regulatory agenda in 2012 imposed more costs on the economy than the previous two administrations combined. However, some agencies, like the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), are not currently required to conduct cost benefit analysis on their proposed rules. As an independent agency, the SEC is not currently subject to President Obama's Executive Order No. 13563 which directs non independent executive branch agencies to perform a cost benefit analysis on proposed regulations, tailor those regulations to impose the least burden on society, and retrospectively analyze old rules to identify those ripe for repeal. H.R. 1062 would codify President Obama's Executive Order No. 13563 with regard to the SEC. It would require the SEC to:

 

·         Perform a cost benefit analysis of proposed regulations

·         Identify and assess alternatives to those regulations

·         Tailor regulations to impose the least burden on society

·         Choose the regulatory approach that maximizes net benefits

·         Review existing regulations within one year of enactment

 

*Congressman Robert Hurt's Amendment improves H.R. 1062 to ensure that all organizations under the SEC's purview abide by the same more stringent standards listed above.

 

Rep. Robert Hurt Delivers Remarks In Support Of The SEC Regulatory Accountability Act

"Indeed, I believe that all taxpayer funded federal agencies should be held accountable by the Congress to ensure that the cost of the rules that they promulgate will not be greater than the benefit of those rules to the American people. Congressional oversight is our Constitutional responsibility and I am proud to support this legislation to ensure that excessive federal regulations are not unnecessarily hindering job creation at a time when people across Virginia's Fifth District need jobs most."

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) today delivered the following speech in support of the SEC Regulatory Accountability Act, an initiative by the House Committee on Financial Services to ensure that the Securities and Exchange Commission is being held accountable to the American people in its rule-making:

Clicking Above Or HERE

 

Floor Speech Text

 

"I thank the Chairman for yielding. I thank him for his leadership on this issue.

 

"Mr. Chairman, I rise today in strong support of the bill that's being offered by Mr. Garrett.  This is a bill that will ensure the SEC will abide by simple cost benefit analysis requirements.

 

"All federal agencies – but especially the SEC – affect the efficiency and success of our Main Street businesses across Virginia's Fifth District and all across this country. The SEC primarily exists to protect investors, maintain fair and efficient markets, and facilitate capital formation. This positions the Commission as a critical component of our small businesses' ability to access the capital they need to grow jobs. If access to capital continues to be constrained by overly burdensome regulations, we will not see the economic growth and the jobs that we need in my district and across the United States.

 

"While it is critical that the SEC be able to promulgate certain rules to implement congressional legislation, it is also critical that Congress clearly set forth its legislative prerogatives. As members of Congress, we must ensure that the rules that the SEC adopts are made with good purpose, and that they are not unduly adding more burdens on hardworking Americans at a time when our economy is struggling.

 

"Indeed, I believe that all taxpayer funded federal agencies should be held accountable by the Congress to ensure that the cost of the rules that they promulgate will not be greater than the benefit of those rules to the American people.

 

"Congressional oversight is our constitutional responsibility and I am proud to support this legislation to ensure that excessive federal regulations are not unnecessarily hindering job creation at a time when people across Virginia's Fifth District need jobs most.

 

"I urge passage of this good bill and I yield back the balance of my time."

 

Tweet of the Day

Brent Martin ‏@BrentLt15 46m

So libs want socialism? That's what Venezuelans have and guess what? They can't even wipe their asses. #NoToiletPaper

Rep. Robert Hurt Votes For Full Repeal Of Flawed Health Care Law

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 45, a bill to fully repeal the President's health care law, which is driving up costs, jeopardizing jobs, and making it harder for small businesses to hire:

 

"At a time when the American peoples' trust in the federal government is at all-time lows, the last thing we need is another federal program that expands its size and scope and further threatens individual freedoms. Not only does the President's health care law overtly extend the federal government into the lives of all Americans by increasing premiums, raising taxes, and requiring all Americans to purchase health care – but it does so inadvertently as well by harming our small business owners and families by forcing employers to choose between providing coverage for their workers or – in many cases – closing their doors. A federal government takeover is the wrong way to go about true health care reform and I stand by House initiatives to repeal this misguided law and replace it with patient-centered solutions that will improve access to care without putting our small business owners out of business and causing 5^th District Virginians to lose their employer-based coverage or their jobs."

Benghazi Email Dump

Gary L. Bauer

AMERICAN VALUES

 

Responding to demands from major media outlets for more details on the Benghazi talking points, the White House released nearly 100 pages of emails yesterday. But once again, the emails raise nearly as many questions as they answer.

For example, the released messages begin 67 hours after the attacks. The parallels to Nixon just keep coming. One of the things that brought down Nixon was an 18-minute gap of Oval Office tape recordings. Here we've got two days of missing information!

Do the emails exonerate the administration from charges it tried to manipulate the talking points? Not at all. The Weekly Standard writes: "Benghazi Emails Directly Contradict White House Claims," while ABC News declares, "Talking Points Changed at State Dept.'s Request." And the emails reinforce how much the Obama White House and State Department watered down the talking points with then-CIA Director General David Petraeus concluding, "Frankly, I'd just as soon not use this."

Taken together, President Obama's counterattack was enough to cause some of his media allies to back down and insist it was time to move on. I'm not convinced.

Every day we learn more. Like the fact that the IRS was running interference for Planned Parenthood, targeted as many as 500 organizations and even went after a Catholic professor over a few columns she had written.

Again, something like this didn't happen by accident. Some liberal apologists are trying to suggest that there is no scandal here because there is no "smoking gun" connecting it to the Oval Office. But you don't need one.

Consider the IRS "rogue employees." Think back to 2009 and 2010 and all the horrible things that were said about the Tea Party or religious conservatives being bigots, accused of spitting on members of Congress, and referred to as the "American Taliban."

If a group applies for tax exempt status and the group has been compared to the Taliban and smeared as racist and dangerous, is it surprising that leftists at the IRS would harass it and prevent it from getting tax-exempt status?

The White House did not have to send official orders to discriminate against conservatives. As Senator Marco Rubio said, it is all part of a bigger "culture of intimidation."

We Need Real Healthcare Reform Not Government Mandates

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) today delivered the following speech in support of the full repeal of the President's healthcare law which is driving up costs, jeopardizing jobs, and making it harder for small businesses to hire:

View Robert's Remarks By Clicking Above Or HERE]

 

Floor Speech Text

 

"Mr. Speaker, today I rise in support of the full repeal of the President's healthcare law.  I believe we must repeal this law and replace it with patient-centered market-oriented reforms that will improve patient care - broaden patient access - and reduce patient costs.

 

"From the beginning the President promised that his healthcare law would improve the quality of healthcare for all Americans.  He said if you wanted to keep your doctor, his plan is for you.  He said that if you wanted to keep your healthcare plan, his law was for you.  He said that if you wanted lower insurance premiums, his law was for you.

 

"Well, the bill passed and the people of Virginia's Fifth District are getting a full dose of it. And they don't like what they see.

 

"As I have traveled across Virginia's 5th District, I have heard from our constituents, our Main Street businesses, our local governments, and our healthcare providers that this law is not living up to the President's promises.  In fact, people are not able to keep the healthcare plans they have always counted on, people are being hit with spikes in insurance premiums.  And people are having to take second jobs because they can't afford to live on a 29-hour work week.

 

"This repeal bill is important because it is an expression of the sentiment of the people I represent.  They want real healthcare reform, not government mandates. I encourage my colleagues to support the rule and support this bill. I thank the gentleman for yielding."

 

Rep. Robert Hurt Opening Statement At Committee On Financial Services SEC Oversight Hearing

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) today delivered the following opening statement at the House Committee On Financial Services oversight hearing with Securities and Exchange Commissioner Mary Jo White. The Committee today continued to exercise oversight over federal agencies to protect taxpayers from wasteful bureaucratic spending:

 

Click here or above to watch the opening statement

Robert Hurt Opening Statement Text

 

"Mr. Chairman, thank you Chairman for holding today's Committee hearing. I too join in welcoming Chairman White to this Committee.

 

"I believe that a foremost responsibility of this Committee is to provide the appropriate oversight and scrutiny of the federal agencies' budgets under our jurisdiction.  At a time when our nation is approaching a national debt of 17 trillion dollars, federal agencies must learn to work smarter and do more with less.

 

"As we have seen from this budget request, the SEC has requested a 33% increase in funding. Undoubtedly, Washington, D.C. has piled new responsibilities onto the SEC as a consequence of Dodd Frank. I remain concerned, however, that the SEC has not made the necessary changes to its internal operations and structure, nor prioritized much-needed technology upgrades to oversee our capital markets. 

 

"Additionally, it is important that we ensure that the SEC is committed to completing the rulemakings required by Congress on time, such as those implementing the JOBS Act.  I think we can agree that properly functioning capital markets will lead to the real jobs that Americans need – that the people in my Virginia district need. 

 

"I'd like to thank you again for your appearance here, thank you, Mr. Chairman, for holding this hearing, and I yield back my time."

 

Family Research Council Condemns Human Cloning in Oregon

Family Research Council Condemns Human Cloning in Oregon
May 15, 2013

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Scientists in Oregon announced today that they had created cloned human embryos, and then destroyed the embryos to extract embryonic stem cells. The cloning technique is essentially the same one used to create Dolly the cloned sheep, with some modifications to make cloning work using human eggs and human cells. This is the first claim of growing human embryonic stem cells from cloned human embryos since the fraudulent claims in 2004 and 2005 of Korean scientist Hwang Woo-Suk. The report, published online in the journal Cell, also highlights the fact that women are a target for raw materials for the cloning technique, since "premium quality" eggs are required to make their human cloning technique work.

Of this announcement Family Research Council (FRC) Senior Fellow Dr. David Prentice said:

"It's a grave concern that some scientists are still pursuing human cloning, a technology that will open the door to human engineering and a brave - but highly dangerous - new world. Human cloning by this technique requires the specific creation of a new individual, albeit cloned, at the embryo stage, using human eggs and human tissue cells.

"Modern science has passed this by, especially in regards to stem cells. Creating and destroying cloned human embryos to extract their embryonic stem cells is unethical, and the entire faulty concept of using the cloning technique has been superseded by uncontroversial techniques.

"Induced pluripotent stem cells (iPS cells), when done ethically, are more easily and inexpensively created from skin, or any tissue, and have already shown the advantages as laboratory models to study disease and development.

"Adult stem cells have already proven to be superior at achieving treatments for patients. Over 60,000 people a year around the globe now receive adult stem cell transplants, for dozens of diseases and conditions. Adult stem cells provide not only an ethical source of stem cells but proven practical advantages in terms of patient-specific transplant matching. They also avoid problems with tumors, which are commonly seen with embryonic stem cells.

"Cloning also requires subjecting young women to the significant health risk of ovarian hyperstimulation, juicing them up with hormones to harvest numerous eggs and risking their health and life in the process. This turns women into providers of a biotech commodity, and makes them a target for exploitation.

"Given that science has passed cloning by for stem cell production, this announcement seems simply a justification for making clones, and makes reproductive cloning and birth of human clones more likely," concluded Prentice.

To see a few examples of the continuing success of adult stem cells, see the Stem Cell Research Facts website: http://stemcellresearchfacts.org/

To read the FRC pamphlet on cloning and stem cells, click here: http://www.frc.org/stemcells

IRS Actions Deeply Troubling

Congressman Robert Hurt

Reports from last week that the Internal Revenue Service singled out conservative groups for heightened scrutiny in tax filing prior to the 2012 election is deeply troubling. At a time when Americans€™ trust in our federal government is at historic lows due to failures of the Obama Administration like Solyndra, Fast and Furious, unconstitutional political appointments, and Benghazi, this disturbing news of the IRS abuse of government power is cause for grave concern.

Our democracy was established upon consent of the governed - where inherently we as Americans trust that our government will govern by way of the public good and devoid of any partisan agenda. As the Washington Post Editorial Board writes, "€œA bedrock principle of U.S. democracy is that the coercive powers of government are never used for partisan purpose."€ Yet, the actions of the IRS in levying its power it is afforded by the American people to unequally and unfairly target the Administration'€™s political opponents challenges the principles upon which our great nation was founded and calls into question the integrity of this Administration.

I support House efforts to continue our independent investigation to bring the facts to light and to hold accountable those responsible for this travesty and it is my hope that an open, government-wide review will be conducted to ascertain that these misuses of power are not being carried out elsewhere in the federal bureaucracy. I call on President Obama to take responsibility for the actions of his agency and to ensure that all agencies fully cooperate with Congress to provide a full account of what transpired at the IRS. President Obama must uphold our Constitution and work with Congress to be sure this abuse of power is not still happening and will not happen ever again.

Communicating with the people of Virginia'€™s 5th District and hearing your feedback is very important to us. I encourage you to subscribe to our:  Facebook,  Twitter, and  YouTube pages to keep in touch.

Congressman Cantor: Working Moms & Dads Support #YourTime Bill

Congressman Cantor Remarks In Support of the Working Families Flexibility Act

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Last week, Congressman Eric Cantor (R-VA) delivered the following remarks on the House floor:

“Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the Working Families Flexibility Act.

“If you are a working parent in this country, you know from experience that there’s hardly ever enough time to spend with your family.

“Recently, I spoke with a constituent from Richmond her name is Nicole Lambert. She is a working mom who runs an early childhood education center. It is quite often that Nicole is approached by one of her employees requesting more flexibility with how they can use their overtime. Some of her employees need to take off to take their child to the doctor, some need to go meet with a teacher. But under the current law, Nicole is not able to present her hardworking staff with this option. She understands that this bill would give her employees more flexibility to balance both work, and their lives at home.

#YOURTIME

“For too long, working families in the private sector have not been able to choose a more flexible schedule when working overtime. But, for the past 30 years government employees have been afforded this luxury. It’s time to for all of us to present all parents in America with this option.

“As a father of three, I can tell you as a working parent, I know that it is very necessary to be there for your children. And I bet no matter who you are as a working parent, if you ask any mom and dad what they could use more of, it’s time. Washington should not stand in the way of any employer voluntarily offering this benefit or any employee choosing more time.

“That’s the bottom line. Washington should not be in the way of more freedom in the workplace.

“I know this policy will work from speaking with local government employees who already enjoy this advantage. Vicki, is a working mom and police officer in my district. She works long hours and she raises her children. She tells me her life is made a little easier because she is allowed to work a few extra hours and save it up in case there’s a sick day or after school event she must attend.

“It is simply unfair for those who work for Nicole, in the private sector, to be prohibited from receiving the same benefits that Vicki does as a government employee.

“This is a bill that should easily garner bipartisan support because frankly it puts parents before politics and will give people more freedom to make their lives work. There is simply no good reason to deny hardworking parents the opportunity to take their children to the doctor or to attend a parent teacher conference.

“I thank my constituents for relaying their stories to me about how this bill helps. Again, I am very grateful for the leadership and the role model that Representative Martha Roby and Chairman John Kline have set forth in this effort. This Act will help parents all across America and I urge my colleagues to support it.”

Watch Congressman Cantor's remarks HERE.

The House Will Find Answers To Prevent Future Failures Like Benghazi

Congressman Robert Hurt

Like all Americans across our country, I was disturbed by the attack on the U.S Consulate in Benghazi which claimed the lives of four Americans. Equally as disturbing was the Obama Administration's response to the attack. As the House of Representatives continues to uncover more information about the events in Benghazi last September, it is clear that the Administration has not been forthcoming with the American people.

The House of Representatives remains committed to finding answers about what led to this failure in intelligence gathering even as U.S. diplomats in Libya were warning the Administration of an anticipated terrorist attack. It is our Constitutional responsibility to ensure that this failure in properly defending Americans abroad does not happen again. However, we cannot prevent future failures if the Administration continues to withhold information about what occurred before, during, and after these failures that left Ambassador Stevens and three other Americans dead.

The American people and the victims' families have a right to have answers to the questions that still surround the attack. The House of Representatives remains committed to continuing the investigation to bring to light the cause of the attack and the Administration's prior knowledge of security concerns in Libya.

It is the responsibility of Congress to uncover the truth about Benghazi. To this end, I cosponsored House Resolution 36 which establishes a select committee to investigate and report on the attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi. There are still many unknowns from this tragic event including how many Americans were actually injured in the attack. With this investigative committee, Congress can finally get the full story and properly hold people accountable and honor the victims and heroes.

Additionally, just this past week, I attended the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee Hearing, led by Chairman Issa, to allow State Department officials involved in the attacks to testify about what happened before, during, and after the Benghazi terror attacks. The witnesses –career diplomats and life-long public servants who were previously silenced by the Administration – revealed further inconsistencies with what the Administration has disclosed to the American people.

Many questions remain surrounding the Administration's failure to respond to repeated requests for additional security in Libya. There are questions about the Administration's decision to communicate non-factual information to the American people. And there are also questions about the failure of the Administration to take steps to secure the consulate and prevent this attack.

Acts of terrorism against the United States will not be tolerated and the House of Representatives remains committed to finding answer to questions the American people and the victims' families have, holding those in the Administration accountable, and upholding our constitutional responsibility of working to prevent any further attacks.

If you need any additional information, please visit my website at hurt.house.gov or call my Washington office: (202) 225-4711, Charlottesville office: (434) 973-9631, Danville office: (434) 791-2596, or Farmville office: (434) 395-0120.

Staff Members From Robert Hurt's Office To Hold Local Office Hours In Fluvanna And Appomattox Counties

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Staff members from Congressman Robert Hurt’s (R-Virginia) office will be holding Local Office Hours in Fluvanna and Appomattox counties on Friday, May 17, to meet with constituents who need assistance with federal agencies. For more information, please visit our Local Office Hours Interactive Map.

Friday, May 17, 2013

 

9:00 – 11:00 AM

Local Office Hours In Fluvanna County

Fluvanna County Public Library

Conference Room

214 Commons Blvd.

Palmyra, VA

 

1:00 – 3:00 PM
Local Office Hours In Appomattox County
Appomattox County Administration Building
Board Conference Room
153-A Morton Lane
Appomattox, VA

Rep. Robert Hurt Announces Winner Of The 2013 Congressional Art Competition

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Hurt (R-Virginia) today released the following statement announcing the winner of the 2013 Congressional Art Competition for Virginia's 5th District. You may view all artwork entered into the competition HERE:

 

This spring, students from across Central and Southside Virginia submitted their artwork for the 32^nd Annual Congressional Art Competition for the opportunity to represent the 5th District in our nation's Capitol with their artistic gifts and talents. A panel of judges from the District, who ranged from professional photographers to college art instructors and art enthusiasts, decided the winner. The Honorary Co-Chairs of the Art Advisory Committee for 2013 are The Honorable and Mrs. Charles R. Hawkins.

 

I am pleased to announce this year's First Place winner is Finley Broaddus from Warrenton, Virginia. Finley is a junior at Highland School and submitted her artwork, completed with marker and colored pencil, entitled "Vint Hill Church." Her artwork will hang in the Cannon Tunnel of the U.S. Capitol until May of 2014, earning her the opportunity to have her talents witnessed by the thousands of people who visit our nation's Capitol each year. Finley will attend a reception in Washington, D.C., where she will be honored along with all first place winners from across the country.

 

Responding to the announcement of being selected First Place, Finley Broaddus said, "I'm so excited to have won the 5th District Art Competition. I was looking for a church with church bells in the steeple to draw for my music concentration for my AP Drawing class, but I chose to draw the Vint Hill Church steeple because I thought the contrast between the old church and the modern speakers was so interesting. I'm grateful for the support of Karen Stinnett, my art teacher at Highland School, who encouraged me to enter the Competition. It is an honor to have my art work hung in the Capitol."

 

Hannah Brock, a freshman from Madison County High School, won Second Place for her oil pastel & acrylic painting, "Road to America," and Third Place went to the oil painting "Out on the Farm" by Shanda Scolpini, a sophomore from Chatham High School. Ryan Jones, a junior at Western Albemarle High School, received Honorable Mention for his digital photograph, "Jackson Portrait."

 

Congratulations to Finley Broaddus on receiving First Place out of 35 submissions for this year's Art Competition. I was impressed with all of the art submitted and enjoyed seeing the creativity of each artist.

 

I would like to thank all of the students who participated in this great competition and who are contributing to the creative culture of our communities throughout the 5th District.