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The beginning of a new Congress is typically a time of great excitement and an opportunity for lawmakers to refocus their priorities as we look ahead to the next two years. I remain optimistic about what can be accomplished in the 113th Congress, which began on January 3rd, however much of our business from the previous Congress remains unfinished.
Monica Jirik has been promoted to Chief of Staff. Jirik has served as Congressman Smith’s Deputy Chief of Staff and Legislative Director since 2007.
Joshua Jackson has been promoted to Legislative Director. Jackson has served as Congressman Smith’s Senior Legislative Assistant since 2008. In his new role, Jackson will assist in the development of policy positions and legislative initiatives, as well as managing and supervising Smith’s legislative staff.
The House, Senate and President all recently agreed to last-minute legislation to stop automatic tax increases and delay arbitrary defense spending cuts known collectively as the “fiscal cliff.” The President had consistently said the fiscal cliff must be resolved through a “balanced approach” to deficit reduction including new tax revenues as well as spending cuts. However, the agreement passed by Congress only addressed the issues of taxes, which is neither good policy nor a balanced approach.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) made the following statement after voting against the Senate’s fiscal cliff agreement:
“This debate is not over. My concerns about spending remain and I will continue to fight to reduce the deficit and pass commonsense tax reform to put our country on a more sustainable and prosperous path. We must find an alternative to arbitrary defense cuts, but simply delaying these difficult decisions without replacing the spending reductions is the wrong approach.”
Background:
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) sent a letter to Speaker John Boehner (R-OH) requesting the inclusion of farm policy in any year-end legislative package considered by the House of Representatives. Smith’s letter also was signed by Congressman Lee Terry (R-NE).
I have the honor of representing Nebraska’s Third District, which is one of the largest and most rural districts in the country. I love rural America, but oftentimes Congress and bureaucratic agencies in Washington make decisions without fully considering how laws, rules and regulations will affect rural populations differently from other Americans.
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) joined Congressman Todd Young (R-IN) and other Members of Congress in sending a letter to the Conferees of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) supporting inclusion of language from the Base Redevelopment Indemnification Correction (BRIC) Act in the bill.
Congressman Adrian Smith (R-NE) sent a letter to Acting Administrator Marilyn Tavenner of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) expressing concern about the effect of stricter physician supervision requirements on rural health care providers, especially critical access hospitals (CAHs).