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This time of the year in Washington is called "Appropriations Season". This is when Congress debates the 12 bills that fund the government and decides how much to spend.
This week, the House passed H.R. 2740. This bill funds the Department of Labor, Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Education, the Department of Defense, State Department and many other agencies. The final version of this bill increased spending by 6.5 percent over last year's levels.
America is over $22 trillion in debt and currently running a yearly budget deficit. Now, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats have decided the time is right to increase our spending, expand the deficit and add to the debt. I voted against this bill because it is unwise to borrow more money and increase spending at a time when the national debt has ballooned so high that it has become a national security threat.
We need to get our fiscal house in order so we aren't leaving mountains of debt to our children and grandchildren. That is why I offered several reasonable amendments to this bill, which can be found here, that would have reduced the amount of increase over last year's spending. Unfortunately, the Democratic majority said no to my suggestions and continued their sprint toward increasing the national debt.
Now, more than ever, is the time to have serious conversations about the direction of our country. Some of our problems can be solved with a new law, or an executive order or the elimination of a burdensome regulation. But, the national debt must be addressed by Congress. Before we solve anything, members of Congress who wish to spend more and more each year must come to the table and realize that this kind of reckless spending is unsustainable and will lead to the demise of America.
I will continue to fight for common sense cuts, but the ball is in their court. |
| Competency-Based Education |
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This week, at a House Education and Labor Committee hearing, I questioned experts about competency-based education (CBE).
A major concern in America is the amount of student loan debt students acquire when seeking a traditional four-year college degree. In Wisconsin, the average student graduates with nearly $30,000 of debt. CBE alleviates this by allowing students to learn at their own pace and often obtain the same degree in a much shorter amount to time. For example, under a CBE program, instead of waiting until the end of a semester to take an exam and complete a course, as you would in a traditional four-year college, if a student demonstrates mastery of the subject, they could take the exam early and complete the course ahead of schedule. This would leave the student time in the school year to begin another class and theoretically complete several classes in the CBE program in the same time it takes a student learning under a traditional education model to finish one. So, they would have less time to accumulate mountains of student loan debt.
One witness Ms. Charla Long, also asserted at the hearing that students learning under a CBE program master the skills taught in the classroom better than other models. Since it is the responsibility of the university offering the CBE program to certify the students' grades, she claims that in order for the school to remain reputable, there is a strong incentive for the university to make sure students are sufficiently grasping the material being taught.
The University of Wisconsin is a leader in CBE and has seen the program save students thousands of dollars, allow for flexible school schedules and deliver the same quality of results as traditional time-based education programs.
To read more on this subject and watch the hearing, please click here.
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| Congressional Pay Increase? |
Last week, during discussions on funding levels for next year, a group of lawmakers pushed for pay raises for members of Congress. This agreement came amidst comments made by Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) about the need to boost members’ $174,000 per year salary. I was one of 20 lawmakers to cosponsor an amendment to stop this pay increase.
The 116th Congress is reaching new heights of irresponsibility. As I mentioned previously in this newsletter, we are aiming at record levels of spending everywhere except for our border patrol and a physical barrier at our Southern border, which actually need more funding.
That Congress would consider this a fitting time for a raise is inappropriate. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Progressive Caucus Co-Chair, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, have shown just how strong the radical left wing of the party has become. Ocasio-Cortez goes so far to claim that a $174,000 salary can "punish members who rely on a straight salary, and reward those who rely on money loopholes and other forms of self-dealing". To me, it is absurd to think that she is being ‘punished’ with a salary that puts her in the top eight percent of earners and will force her to rely on illicit activities to survive.
Each interview Jayapal gives on this issue, which has been a lot, there is a different answer to why she wants more money. This media darling has pointed to everyone but herself to justify the pay increase, when the fact is, she wants a pay raise. Her constituents sent her to Washington to fight to increase their pay, not her own.
Ocasio-Cortez burst onto the national stage little more than a year ago and now, six months into her new job, is demanding a raise. She and Jayapal have three of service between them and boast initiatives such as publicly-funded elections, lowering the voting age to 16 and the “Green New Deal,” an environmental plan that would bankrupt the county.
It's a little nutty to think that this issue is the one that the progressive Democrats are taking a stand on. During my recent trip to our Southern border, border patrol agents told me that many of their colleagues were actively looking for other jobs due to the low pay. It is beyond belief that rather than focusing on raises for the men and women protecting our country, these Democrats are concerned with their own paychecks.
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Congrats to Gabriel Friederichs of Mequon for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout. You earned it!
This past Wednesday, we celebrated Juneteenth. Earlier this month, I attended a Juneteenth event with my friends at Fond Du Lac Ebony Vision.
I met with Mercury Marine about the skilled labor gap and how we can prepare the next generation for these jobs through career and technical education.
I met with the Patient Quality of Life Coalition to discuss ways to increase affordability and access to hospice and palliative care.
Thanks to the Zionist Organization of America for inviting me to speak to your members. With anti-Semitism still circulating worldwide, we must have honest discussions on how to triumph over those who wish Israel and the Jewish people harm.
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As your congressman, I’m here to serve you. If you have any questions please don’t hesitate to reach out to my offices in Fond du Lac and Washington. If you enjoyed this newsletter be sure to forward it to your family and friends so they can stay informed on what I’m doing in Washington and the 6th District.
You can also stay up-to-the-minute by following me on Facebook (Congressman Glenn Grothman), Twitter (@RepGrothman) and Instagram (@RepGlennGrothman)
Sincerely,
Member of Congress
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