During this National Police Week, I introduced H.R. 5860, the Putting Our First Responders First Act. This bi-partisan bill would tremendously aid first responders who become permanently disabled in the line-of-duty.

Under a current IRS Ruling, if a law enforcement officer becomes permanently disabled in the line of duty, they can receive their disability compensation tax-free. Unfortunately, this tax-free status goes away once they reach their “retirement” age. Although their injuries remain and the individual’s retirement compensation level has been limited due to prematurely leaving the workforce, they are required to pay taxes – in some cases, years after they have not paid taxes on this compensation. This legislation would expand to include all first responders such as officers, firefighters, paramedics, etc., and would also set-in-stone that the tax-free status does not go away.

When I found out that these heroic public servants lose their tax-free status, I was shocked. It’s simply not right to allow someone, who put their lives on the line, to receive tax breaks and then start taxing them when they reach, what would’ve been, their retirement age.

I am so proud to have introduced this legislation with my colleagues in the House, and Sen. Daines’  (R-MT) office in the Senate, that will ensure these first responders are not burdened later on in life.

• #WastefulWednesday Initiative: I introduced a bill  a bill that would eliminate the Global Climate Change Initiative (GCCI) within the US Agency for International Development (USAID). 

  In 2016, the final year of the Obama Administration, $1.5 billion was committed to the GCCI. In 2017, $160 million was appropriated for the GCCI. Instead of using such funds to help other countries address climate change, even while many of them plan to increase their emissions, the U.S. should invest in our own economic growth.

  For example, GCCI funds have been used to work with communities around the globe to adopt more sustainable forestry and land use practices. 31% of GCCI funds have been spent in Asia, 25% in Africa, 21% in Latin America, 4% in Europe, and 19% elsewhere. These funds are simply used to teach people better land practices around the world, and to fund clean energy programs.

  We must put the energy and economic needs of American families and businesses first through a plan that ensures energy security and economic vitality for decades to come, including by promoting development of our nation's vast energy resources. In contrast to that goal, GCCI is intended primarily to help other countries mitigate the impacts of climate change.

• H.R. 5860, the Putting Our First Responders First Act: Under a current IRS Ruling, if a law enforcement officer becomes permanently disabled in the line of duty, they can receive their disability compensation tax-free. Unfortunately, this tax-free status goes away once they reach their “retirement” age. This legislation, I introduced, would expand to include all first responders such as officers, firefighters, paramedics, etc., and would also set-in-stone that the tax-free status does not go away.

• H.R. 5674, the VA MISSION Act: By passing this legislation, the House has allowed the VA’s community care programs to be consolidated into one program, ensures veterans can access care in a reasonable amount of time, expands the VA’s Post 9/11 Caregiver Program to all eras, and provides further funding for the VA Choice Program.

  I am proud to have voted in favor of the VA Mission Act. For far too long, the VA has failed to live up to their promise to always and adequately take care of the brave men and women who have sacrificed everything to defend and protect this nation. Our veterans deserve the best.

  The VA MISSION Act is a great step in the right direction for the VA to start fulfilling their promises. These reforms will drastically help ensure that our veterans are getting the care they need and have earned, and in a timely manner too.

  Change will be coming to the VA and it will improve the lives of our veterans. It is the least we can do for them.