July 30, 2013, Aderholt Address

Statement

Dear Friend,

Here is a quick update with the latest in what is happening in Washington. As always, please let me know whenever I can be of assistance. Keep in touch and remember to follow me on Twitter and Facebook. Also, for updated information check out my virtual office and encourage your friends and family to sign-up for my monthly e-newsletter, the Aderholt Address.

Sincerely,

Robert B. Aderholt
Member of Congress

Administration Delays Obamacare Mandate For Employers, But Not For Individuals
In the face of growing pressure from big business, the Administration announced its plans to delay the controversial Obamacare mandate that is set to take effect in 2014 and would require businesses to provide health insurance to their employees or pay a fee (known generally as the "employer mandate"). There is also a similar mandate for individuals, families and small businesses (known generally as the "individual mandate"), but the Administration does not seem to think they should be treated the same. Many of us in Washington disagree with this.

Like so many other provisions of Obamacare that have been delayed, or declared unworkable, the mandate provisions are another example that the President and his Administration simply cannot make Obamacare work the way they promised. However, it is unfair for the Administration to only shelter big business from their mistakes, without giving the same relief to individuals, families and small businesses.

That's why House Republicans introduced H.R. 2267, the Authority for Mandate Delay Act and H.R. 2668, the Fairness for American Families Act, legislation that would delay both the employer mandate and the individual mandate. Since Obamacare became law, the American people's opposition to it has only grown. We are starting to see premiums skyrocket for some individuals, many are losing their employer-sponsored health insurance, and employers are cutting jobs, hours and wages. We need to do what is fair and protects all Americans from a law that most disagree with. Both bills passed in the House with my support. I hope our colleagues in the Senate will join House Republicans in doing what is fair and stand up for all Americans.

Government Working the Way it Should
Too often bureaucratic red tape and needless federal regulations keep America's innovators and small businesses from doing what they do best, creating jobs. Unfortunately, that was the case for a company in Cullman, HH Technologies, that engineered and manufactured innovative energy-efficient doors called RollSeal. These doors are used for walk-in coolers, like those used in grocery stores.

I toured their facility during one of my agriculture and industry tours and learned of the challenges they were facing with an out-of-date federal rule that would render their product obsolete. We began the process of working with the Department of Energy to see if we could update the rule's narrow material requirements, so that any and all products that met the efficiency standards could be included. It was really just plain common sense to do this.

I introduced and the House passed H.R. 6582, the American Energy Manufacturing Technical Corrections Act, which passed the House by a vote of 398 to 2. The bill was also passed by the Senate and signed in to law. Because of the updated law, HH Technologies' RollSeal doors were given the Department of Energy's stamp of approval so the company can continue to sell these walk-in cooler doors and keep jobs in our district.

What began with an innovative small town company having to let workers go because of federal red-tape, concluded with government working the way it should and an Alabama small business doing what it does best, creating jobs. HH Technologies hopes to hire at least 30 more employees over the next six months.

Budget Discussions
There are only nine scheduled legislative days in September before the fiscal year ends on September 30th. It seems that President Obama and Senate Democrats want higher taxes which will likely lead to more government spending as a solution to our nation's budget concerns, at a time when businesses across the country are already struggling due in part to Obamacare and other job killing regulations.

Meanwhile, House Republicans continue to lead the charge on getting Washington's fiscal house in order by making real cuts. Over the last two years, the House of Representatives has cut over $100 billion from the federal budget. However, with our national debt well over $16 trillion, there is clearly more work to do.

While getting Washington living within its means is one of House Republicans driving forces, it is also one of our biggest challenges--especially with so many in Washington who seem to be looking for opportunities to raise taxes, in order to pay for more government spending.

History has proven time and time again, higher taxes are not the answer to economic success and stability, but unfortunately that notion does not seem to resonate with many in Washington. Please know that as budget discussions continue, House Republicans remain committed to cutting federal spending, protecting American families and small businesses and doing what we can to restore our economy to a prosperous state.

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