Keeping the Focus At Home

On Monday, August 4, 2014 I began my town hall tour of the 27th Congressional District. Over the span of four days I met with people from across the district to answer questions and to hear what you had to say. My staff and I began the journey in Rockport then on to Corpus Christi, Bay City, Wharton, El Campo, Hallettsville, Bastrop, Gonzales, and Victoria. We have another free town hall August 29th at the Aransas Pass Civic Center from 1-2 P.M. These town halls are important to me because this is an opportunity for me to hear directly from you. Your thoughts and opinions have helped me fight to protect our interests in D.C. and preserve the American Dream.

We covered an array of issues facing America during the town halls.

Hot Topics

  • I was not surprised at all that our border security was a hot topic during the town halls. President Obama’s policies have caused the humanitarian crisis at our southern border. The House GOP border package, H.R. 5230 and H.R. 5272, which I voted for on August 1, 2014 increases border security and allows Governors to call up the National Guard utilizing federal funds already appropriated. It will halt Obama’s failed policy of not enforcing our current immigration laws. The bill helps to quickly re-unite children with their families back in their home countries and prioritizes funding for border security to returning children. These targeted funding recommendations came from the House border security working group led by Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX). 
  • I’ve heard too many personal stories from Texas veterans and their families involving delays with the VA and how these delays are dramatically affecting their lives. I am gravely concerned that the problems being reported out of VA clinics throughout the country are also occurring right here at home. I expect veterans to receive the services they’ve earned. Congress has approved, and the President has signed the Veteran's Access Care THROUGH Choice, Accountability, and Transparency Act of 2014 authorizing broad reforms at the Department of Veterans Affairs including requiring the VA to conduct regular audits on the accuracy of care and staffing levels at each major medical facility. Also, I want to make sure veterans are aware that they could leave the VA system if they’re unable to receive an appointment within thirty days – the current VA wait-time goal, or if they live more than 40 miles from a VA facility. I support giving veterans the option to turn to private care when the VA can’t meet their needs within thirty days.
  • Many people brought up concerns over President Obama's executive overreach. The President is refusing to enforce the law and he's using his executive power to circumvent the legislative process as laid out in the Constitution. Quite frankly, I think the President is out of control. Earlier this year, I supported H.R. 4138, the Enforce the Law Act, to put a procedure in place for Congress to initiate litigation against the Executive Branch for failure to faithfully execute the laws. Recently, the House approved H.Res 676, a resolution authorizing the House to enter into litigation against President Obama's failure to faithfully execute the laws.

I learned that you are all just as concerned as I am with increasing economic growth and opportunity in our district and helping to unleash our potential by cutting regulation. We are doing much better than most of the rest of the country and I am seeing to it that we keep it that way. This Fall, in Washington, I will focus on protecting prospects for increased jobs growth by legislatively cutting through red tape. The Caller-Times in Corpus Christi published a piece titled Reaching out in His Own Way chronicling my town hall tour.

If you were unable to make it to the town halls please contact me through the email form on my website at Farenthold.house.gov or by calling my offices with your concerns and comments.

It is an honor and a privilege to serve as your congressman. I’m here to help you.

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