Issues

Health Care

I opposed the massive expansion of the government’s role in our private health care system and education system. After months of meetings about possible changes to our health care delivery system with constituents and business leaders, as well as hosting town halls and roundtable discussions, I can say that the American public has clearly stated their opposition to this government takeover of health care.

I agree that improvements need to be made to our system currently in place. However, a solution should be built upon the principle that when individuals – not the government, insurance companies, or employers – are given control and ownership, we will achieve full access to coverage and see the entire system move in a more positive, patient-centered direction.

Levee Certification

An issue quickly gaining national attention is the current state of our levee systems.

Approximately 700 counties and parishes contain levees made to secure residents from temperamental Mother Nature. Not long ago, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers reported nearly 150 levees were unsatisfactory across the U.S. What’s more is that residents living within the walls of levee protection could soon be forced to buy costly flood insurance at a time when they can least afford it.

Currently, levees in the U.S. are required to provide certification from a registered professional engineer that they meet the standards of the National Flood Insurance Program of withstanding the one-percent annual chance flood. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has already determined that numerous levees throughout the country do not meet the new regulations of withstanding a 100-year flood level and will not be certified. Without the required certification, FEMA will not provide accreditation to those levees; thus, leading FEMA to redraw the flood insurance rate maps as if the levees never existed.

As a result, countless residents, many of whom are already struggling during this tough economic climate, will be forced to pay even higher premiums and purchase costly insurance through the National Flood Insurance Plan (NFIP). Representing rural parts of the country, we know that few residents will be able to afford the price tag of this mandatory insurance. Before the federal government imposes yet another penalty on American households and businesses, I propose stalling the updates to the flood insurance map rates allowing local governments time to work with the corps to correct design deficiencies in levees.

We need to take critical precautions today to make sure our communities are not vulnerable to the storms of tomorrow. Congressional precedence must be given to guarantee that the integrity of the levees, the safety of the people, and the sustainability of the towns are protected.

Energy

EnergyOur nation cannot keep depending on foreign countries for oil. By relying on other countries and areas of the world, America’s security is vulnerable. It is my strong belief that the federal government should encourage policies that both promote the use of natural gas and the exploration of other avenues of energy development.

One commonsense approach to the energy crisis is to allow greater access to federal lands containing natural gas and oil resources and the removal of barriers to development on lands we have already leased. We must continue exploration efforts of domestic oil supplies in a safe and reliable manner.

I fully support expanding offshore drilling. With development, the Outer Continental Shelf could provide over 86 billion barrels of oil for our nation, which we desperately need to alleviate high gasoline prices and energy prices.

Our natural resources should be viewed as assets, not as a liability which has become the staple view of many liberals.

Taxes

America is currently facing serious economic hardships. Too many people in Louisiana, and across the country, are hurting. Job creation and rebuilding our economy should take center stage in any plan Congress considers.

I believe that the most effective way to resolve the issues we face today is to put money back into the pockets of hard working citizens. I am working to ensure that businesses and individuals across our state and nation have the necessary means to move forward and build a strong future for themselves and for others.

To promote and protect our future, Congress must provide immediate tax relief for our families and businesses. Americans should be able to keep more of the money they earn. This is why I have fought hard to make tax cuts permanent and for many other tax relief measures. Lower taxes stimulate economic activity and growth by keeping your hard-earned paycheck in your pocket instead of Uncle Sam’s hands.

War on Terrorism

National security should not be an issue of politics. Our homeland defenses are not working as they should, and I believe Congress and the administration must to reinforce and repair these defenses immediately. The implications of inaction are something this country and our people cannot afford to risk.

Terrorist detainees must be kept off American soil and out of our courts. I will continue to work to protect our nation and our communities from the world’s most dangerous terrorists. We need to address these issues today so that we do not have to react to the fulfillment of these threats tomorrow.

Veterans

American FlagAmerica’s heroes – our veterans – are the men and women who embody the principles on which our nation was founded. Their love of country, love of freedom, and love for their fellow Americans drive their commitment to serve, and without their service our nation would have never overcome the many challenges we have faced throughout history.

We can never return fully to them what they have so bravely and selflessly given to us, but we can demonstrate our deep sense of gratitude by ensuring their needs are met and that they receive the benefits they so rightly deserve.

I regard supporting our veterans as a fundamental part of my job as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, and I vow to continue serving them with the same unwavering dedication they have shown to us.

Illegal Immigration

With a staggering 13 million illegal aliens living in our nation today, illegal immigration is steadily draining our resources and weakening our national security.

As a member of House Immigration Reform Caucus, I have opposed legislation that would grant amnesty to illegal immigrants and worked with my colleagues to push forward legislation that bring about the fair and just solutions for immigration reform.

The United States must secure its borders and enforce the immigration laws that are put into place to maintain order and security. We cannot continue to allow those who have no respect for our nation’s laws to steal the rights and privileges granted to legal citizens of our country.

2nd Amendment Rights

Safeguarding the 2nd Amendment is core value of mine, stemming from my respect of and belief in the U.S. Constitution. Fighting against the liberal sect seeking to take this right away from our nation’s citizens is an essential part of my job as a United States Congressman.

We have the right as Americans to own guns as a means of protecting ourselves and our families, and I will continue to fight to preserve and defend this freedom.

Family Values

FamilyThe 5th district is a magnificent area to live and raise a family, and I strive to protect the values and way of life of our region.

I believe in the sanctity of marriage and support a Constitutional amendment defining marriage as a union between one man and one woman. I understand the importance of protecting the Christian values that our nation was founded on.

I am staunchly pro-life and believe that life begins at conception. I have always valued life and will continue to work to protect the life of an unborn child by supporting legislation that seeks to protect the most precious members of our society. My membership in the Congressional Pro-Life Caucus is an excellent forum in which to work to save unborn lives.