In the United States, more than 900,000 officers serve and protect our citizens every day, many times putting their own lives at risk. This week marks National Police Week, a time during which we recognize the service and sacrifice of these law enforcement officers.

Congress established National Police Week in 1962 and named May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day. This Memorial Day, the highlight of National Police Week, pays tribute to law enforcement officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.

This year, during the 31^st annual Peace Officers’ Memorial Service, Georgia-native Probation Officer Tiffany Bishop was among the fallen who were honored. Officer Bishop was fatally wounded August 31, 2011, during a training exercise at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison in Jackson, Georgia. At the time of her death, she had served the Georgia Department of Corrections with distinction for six months.

A probation officer from Waycross, Georgia, Tiffany attended Union Grove High School.  She graduated with honors from Georgia College and State University, where she earned a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in criminal justice.

Officer Bishop’s death serves as a reminder of the dangers our law enforcement officers face each day. They are the cornerstone of our communities and deserve our gratitude.

To learn more about National Police Week and the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial fund, visit http://www.nleomf.org/officers/.

U.S. Senators Tom Coburn, M.D. (R-OK), John Barrasso (R-WY) and House Representatives Phil Gingrey (R-GA) and Phil Roe (R-TN) released a report today warning that Medicare may not be able to pay health care providers as early as 2016 when the Medicare Trustee’s estimate the Hospital Insurance could become insolvent.  As the Congressional Research Service notes, “[T]here are no provisions in the Social Security Act that govern what would happen if that [insolvency] were to occur. For example, there is no authority in law for the program to use general revenue to fund Part A services in the event of such a shortfall.”

“As a physician, I have seen time and time again that access to a government program does not equal access to health care.  We are already seeing providers refuse to accept Medicare patients because the reimbursement process is broken.  We can expect more providers to drop coverage if Congress and the administration do not take steps to shore up the program,” said Dr. Coburn, who has authored a Medicare reform plan, the Seniors’ Choice Act, with Senator Richard Burr (R-NC). “Congress and the administration’s refusal to reform Medicare are putting our patients, providers and economy at grave risk,” Dr. Coburn added.  “We can expect further credit downgrades if Washington continues to pretend there is not a crisis.  As this report makes clear, insolvency would end Medicare as we know it since there is no legal means for the program to continue to pay all of its bills.  The status quo, not reform, is the biggest threat to seniors’ health care.”

“It’s clear now that the President’s health care reform was not the entitlement reform that the White House promised. Instead, it raided over $500 billion from Medicare in order to create a brand new entitlement program for people who aren’t seniors.  This bad law put Medicare one step closer to bankruptcy under President Obama’s watch,” said Barrasso.  “If Washington doesn’t act, seniors will have a much harder time finding a doctor. It’s time for President Obama and Congress to put politics aside and work with us on a solution to save Medicare.”

“This is a looming crisis that many in Washington are choosing either to ignore or politicize,” said Congressman Gingrey. “The longer politicians block efforts to reform Medicare, the higher the stakes for our seniors. They deserve more, and so do America’s future generations. Simply put, the time to act is now.”     

“The demand for Medicare services is expanding at a very high rate, making the program insolvent and future costs unaffordable, which is putting our health care security at risk.  As a physician and a lawmaker, I believe our common goal should be to save, protect and preserve Medicare,” said Congressman Roe. “Instead of dramatically cutting Medicare dollars through programs such as the IPAB, which will lead to decreased quality and access to care, we should be looking at ways to save the program and improve the quality of care we are providing our seniors.”

The report can be found HERE.

During last week’s constituent work period, I was honored to help commemorate one of the most famous events of the Civil War, and indeed of northwest Georgia’s history—the Great Locomotive Chase.

This “chase,” as it has come to be known, commenced 150 years ago when more than 20 Union soldiers, led by civilian scout James J. Andrews, commandeered the passenger train General at Big Shanty, Georgia. Today, we know Big Shanty as Kennesaw.

Upon taking control of the locomotive, the soldiers headed north, but not without the train’s conductor, William Allen Fuller, and two others in hot pursuit. As the General traveled through Acworth, Allatoona, Cartersville, Adairsville, and Calhoun, the Union soldiers destroyed telegraph wires, bridges, and rail lines in their wake. All the while, Fuller and his men raced after them, first in a handcar, then on foot. Finally, the men flagged down and reversed the southbound train Texas and continued chase.

Just shy of Ringgold, the General ran out of steam and the raiders abandoned the train, escaping into the woods. Quickly recaptured, their fates differed. Some were charged as spies and executed. Others made a jail break and made it to Union lines. These men came to be known as Andrews’ Raiders, and some became the first Medal of Honor recipients.

The “chase” became so famous—or infamous, depending on how you view it—that it’s been the subject of Hollywood films, including Walt Disney’s 1956 “The Great Locomotive Chase.”

This bit of history did not occur in a far-flung corner of the world, or even several states away, but right through our backyards (and as a matter of fact, throughout our entire 11th District). Celebrating and preserving Georgia’s rich history is so important—and I was proud to take part in this event.

This week the Supreme Court is reviewing the constitutionality of President Obama’s health care law.

The justices will hear the following arguments (H/T CQ Today):

Monday, March 26

• Anti-Injunction Act (90 minutes)
• Does the Anti-Injunction Act prohibit challenges to the individual mandate until the first penalty is collected in 2015?

Tuesday, March 27

• Individual mandate (two hours)
• Can Congress require individuals to maintain a minimum level of health insurance or else pay a penalty?

Wednesday, March 28

• Severability (90 minutes)
• Can the individual mandate be severed from the rest of the law when considering its constitutionality?
• Medicaid (one hour)
• Can Congress condition federal Medicaid assistance to the states on their adoption of new eligibility and coverage thresholds?

As a physician with more than 30 years of experience, it is paramount that health care decisions remain between patients and their physicians. Obamacare takes that away. What it gives Americans instead is less access, more taxes, and an unsustainable $1.8 trillion in spending.

I am hopeful that in the wake of these hearings, the law is struck down in its entirety and Congress may then repeal and replace it with patient-centered health care reform.

When people think in terms of the “Rust Belt,” cities like Gary, Indiana, Detroit or Milwaukee spring to mind. But the rust is not confined to the Northeast and Midwest. Rust can be found here in Atlanta and across Georgia.

Consider the General Motors plant in Doraville or the Ford Motors operation in Hapeville. A local Peachtree City resident recently recalled that during the GM factory’s peak, its parking lots were full day and night. Today, the steady stream of workers and cars have disappeared. The company that employed thousands, including four of his brothers—as welders, machinists or power tool repairmen—closed its doors, leaving the sprawling facility a ghost town.

The United States was once a great producer, and manufacturing, a great equalizer. If you possessed a skill or could work with your hands, a college degree was not a prerequisite to success.

Contrast that to today. In the last two decades, Georgia has lost more than 160,000 manufacturing jobs. During the 1970s, one in four Americans were employed in manufacturing. In recent decades, however, these industries have entered a free fall, with a 40 percent decline from their 1979 peak.

There are those who’ve written off American manufacturing, but I’m confident this sector can thrive again. It’s not U.S. workers that have caused this industry to crumble—we have the highest-skilled workforce with the deepest pool of knowledge in the world—it’s stifling regulations, burdensome economic policies and antiquated union practices.

Our oppressively high corporate tax rate is a major factor in overseas outsourcing. At 39.2 percent, it is the highest in the developed world. President Obama’s proposal of reducing the rate to 28 percent is welcome news, but still comes up short. Studies have found that, in order to have a lasting economic impact, rates must be lower.

The president has called for revival of manufacturing jobs repeatedly, particularly during this year’s State of the Union speech. However, in his attempts to address this problem, many of his policies have only served to perpetuate it.

For example, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) said in February that the President’s FY13 budget is full of “one job-killing tax increase after another.” According to NAM, the proposed taxes on energy producers, small businesses and other job creators would be devastating.

Another obstacle U.S. manufacturers face are crippling federal regulations. Passed quietly, often in lieu of failed legislation, regulations from agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) add crushing burdens on our nation’s job creators.

Last year, the EPA mandated a combination of rules commonly referred to as “Boiler-MACT,” which are estimated to cost $14.4 billion and 224,000 jobs. In response, the House passed legislation delaying implementation and directed the EPA to develop less onerous regulations.

Another way to provide relief and a competitive edge to manufacturers is to enter into free trade agreements. Last year, I supported free trade bills with Panama, Colombia, and South Korea. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce estimates that opening up these markets could generate up to 250,000 jobs and billions of dollars in exports. Lowering or eliminating tariffs helps create an environment where American businesses can compete in the global marketplace.

There are also projects here at home, like construction of the Keystone Pipeline and the deepening of the Savannah Harbor, which would put manufacturers back to work immediately. Collectively, these infrastructure projects ultimately represent hundreds of thousands of jobs and billions in investment.

Both the pipeline and harbor would require the skill sets of those hardest hit by the recession—pipefitters, machinists, and welders. The economic “ripple effect” they would create locally and nationally are enormous. In fact, in anticipation of the Savannah port expansion, Caterpillar and Kia Motors have announced new operations in Georgia.

Along with Kia, other auto companies have opened plants in Right to Work states, including BMW in South Carolina and Volkswagen in Tennessee. Auto manufacturing jobs have also sprung up in Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Virginia, and Texas. According to one estimate, this has ultimately created 91,000 jobs in non-unionized states.

By altering our economic policies, deregulating job creators, reducing union influence, and approving vital infrastructure investments, the United States can reclaim its status as world leader in production. This puts Americans back to work, companies back in business, and allows rusted towns to return to prosperity.

In recent weeks, all eyes have turned to the skyrocketing prices at the gas pump. Gas prices have jumped eleven percent in Georgia over the past week—leaving families saddled with another strain on their wallets.

With the average price of gas in Georgia at $3.63 per gallon and the national average at $3.69 and rising, this is a problem which affects all Americans. Though some pundits claim to have a ‘magic bullet’ solution, in actuality there are several factors that contribute to the unpredictable price of oil. Civil unrest, weather, exchange rates, inventory, and OPEC production decisions all have an impact on oil prices. And that doesn’t take into account the varying levels of taxes imposed on gasoline in each state.

In addition to these taxes, gasoline purchases include the base price of crude oil and the price of refining, transportation, and retailing. This is why the price of a gallon of gas varies from state to state. In Georgia, 7.5 cents per gallon goes to excise tax, while sales and various additional taxes total 21.7 cents per gallon.

While taxes at the state level may vary, there are several steps President Obama can take today to ease the burden at the pump.

Reversing the President’s de facto moratorium on energy exploration would lower gas prices, create jobs, and cut the deficit through tax and royalty income. Unfortunately, President Obama has made it difficult to utilize our home grown resources. For instance, approval of an offshore drilling plan now takes 92 days—far longer than the historical average. In 2012, an average of 23 percent of drilling plans were approved, lower than the former 73.4 percent average.

Approving the Keystone XL Pipeline would also alleviate gas prices, create thousands of new jobs, and transport 830,000 barrels of oil a day to American refineries. Unfortunately, the environmental lobby has compelled the President to block its construction. On Tuesday, TransCanada announced it would begin construction on a part of the pipeline that does not require executive approval, and stated their intent to reapply for the cross-border Keystone permit. With more than 12 million Americans out of work, President Obama must allow this pipeline to be built.

Responsible for one-fifth of U.S. energy supplies, nuclear energy is also an important component of energy independence.

This month, Georgia welcomed news that the proposed expansion of Plant Vogtle had been approved by the Nuclear Regulatory Commission—the first approval granted in thirty years. This $14 billion investment will bring thousands of much-needed new jobs and economic revitalization to the Waynesboro area, and I encourage President Obama and Energy Secretary Chu to further invest in nuclear.

As always, I will continue to fight for an all of the above strategy—we must increase domestic energy production, approve the Keystone XL Pipeline, and support proven alternative energy needs to achieve energy independence.

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