The Debt is Too Big to Wait
On May 16, 2012, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) spoke to Fox News' Neil Cavuto about the national debt and the upcoming debate over the debt ceiling. From: RepMicheleBachmann Views: 21 2 ratings Time: 04:20 More in News & Politics

Cravaack Grills TSA Officials: "Sources tell me security around the aircraft is a joke"
The Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Transportation Security held a hearing entitled "Access Control Point Breaches at Our Nation's Airports: Anomalies or Systemic Failures?" From: RepChipCravaack Views: 43 2 ratings Time: 06:06 More in News & Politics

U.S. Debt Leads to Uncertainty
On May 15, 2012, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) sat down with Fox News' Greta van Susteren to discuss the coming debt ceiling battle and the importance of reducing national debt. From: RepMicheleBachmann Views: 54 8 ratings Time: 06:30 More in News & Politics

Cravaack: Bring the Red Bulls all the way home, protect the promises made to our patriots
Madame Speaker, I rise today in support of the very common-sense bill, of which I am an original cosponsor, offered by my fellow member of the Minnesotan Delegation. The Post Deployment Mobilization Respite Absence Program is an important program that allows service members the opportunity to readjust after deployments and spend more time with their families. This paid leave further provides returning service members with more time and a less-stressful environment in which to seek employment in a time where the job-search has become increasingly challenging. All of these benefits will help combat the high stress experienced by those who have returned home from pro-longed deployments. The Minnesota National Guard, and the tens of thousands of other Guardsmen and Reservists impacted by this PDMRA change, deployed to the Middle East, charged with the promise to defend our country. They have more than lived up to their end of the bargain to keep that promise. Now it is time for the Department of Defense to live up to their end of the deal and provide these individuals with the full benefits they were promised at the time of their mobilization and deployment. As Chairman Kline addresses in his support for this bill, some of the service members affected by this policy change have performed multiple deployments in excess of 12 to 24 months since the beginning of the Iraq war. That is one to two full years that these service members have been away from their families, half-way across the world in a combat environment. Some of these same service members, specifically the 2005-2007 Iraq deploying service members, could stand to lose up to 24 days under the changes in the PDMRA policy. I do not think it is too much to ask that that those who were promised 24 days of extra leave for up to two years of deployed service should receive that paid leave. Therefore, it is imperative that we respect and honor the promises made to these individuals and families who have sacrificed so much in defense of our nation. Recently, I had the great privilege of welcoming the Minnesota National Guard 'Red Bulls' home from their deployment in Iraq and Kuwait. When I attended their deployment ceremony last year in Pine City, Minnesota, one of the Commanding Officers in the brigade, Lt. Col. Eddie Frizell said to the families "I'll bring them all home." True to his word, the first thing Lt. Col. Frizzell said in a hand salute to Major General Rick Nash, the Adjutant General of the Minnesota National Guard, when his feet touched the ground in Minnesota was "I brought them all home." Madame Speaker, It is now time to bring them all the way home. I urge my colleagues to support our troops and support H.R. 4045, which will protect the promises made to our National Guard and Reserve, including members of Minnesota's "Red Bulls," by grandfathering these service members into the original Pentagon PDMRA policy in which they mobilized and deployed. From: RepChipCravaack Views: 47 2 ratings Time: 02:54 More in News & Politics

Kline's Bill Ensures Promises Kept to our Troops
Congressman John Kline's legislation ensuring the Minnesota National Guard and more than 49,000 men and women in uniform across the country receive the benefits they earned passed the U.S. House of Representatives Tuesday, May 15. From: RepJohnKline Views: 16 0 ratings Time: 04:54 More in News & Politics

Paulsen: We Must Keep The Promises Made to Our Servicemen and Women
Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) took to the floor of the House of Representatives to discuss legislation to ensure members of the Minnesota National Guard receive the benefits they were promised. "In October of last year the DOD significantly reduced the amount of earned leave for our troops and began providing less respite for service members after a long deployment. But they failed to take into account those reservists who were currently deployed, including 2,000 members of our Minnesota National Guard." "If we don't do something about it now, some of the members of Minnesota's famed Red Bulls stand to lose more than 27 days of leave under this new policy. Let's do the right thing, and keep the promises we made to our servicemen and women." www.paulsen.house.gov From: reperikpaulsen Views: 21 0 ratings Time: 01:23 More in News & Politics

Mother's Day and the Family
On May 12, 2012, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) spoke to Fox News' Mike Huckabee about family values, education reform and Mother's Day. From: RepMicheleBachmann Views: 159 8 ratings Time: 05:42 More in News & Politics

Cravaack Passes Amendment to Eliminate Duplicative Obama Global Warming Program
U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack (MN) offered an amendment to end the duplicative Climate Change Education (CCE) program at the National Science Foundation (NSF). Currently, the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reports that 13 agencies fund 209 different Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education programs and that 173 of them overlap with at least one other program. "This week, I introduced legislation to return Minnesota's school trust lands to Minnesota students. As someone who supports education, amid a deficit of $1.3 trillion and debt of $15.7 trillion, a redundant global warming program can hardly be justified. The recently created CCE duplicates the already inherent ability of the NSF to fund worthy proposals through its rigorous, peer-reviewed process," said Rep. Cravaack. He added, "We need to keep NSF focused on research and innovation while we work to eliminate duplicative education programs that do nothing to improve our economic outlook. However you feel about global warming -- that is not the debate today. This amendment addresses a duplicative program costing us money we simply do not have." Last year, the President's Budget requested $10 million for the CCE Program to form "partnerships among K-12 education, higher education, the private sector, related non-profit organizations, and relevant education and/or climate related policymakers." This year, the program morphed into the Sustainability Research Network, "creating new interdisciplinary learning experiences for graduate and undergraduate students as well as literacy programs. The ongoing CCE that is directed toward K-12 levels will be included in this portfolio beginning in FY 2013." NSF already spends $1.3 billion on education activities and $333 million on climate research. Rep. Cravaack serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee -- where he is Vice Chair of the Aviation Subcommittee -- the Homeland Security Committee, and the Science, Space and Technology Committee. The 8th Congressional District covers 18 counties in Northeast Minnesota. From: RepChipCravaack Views: 17 0 ratings Time: 03:53 More in News & Politics

Cravaack Introduces Minnesota Education Investment and Employment Act
U.S. Representative Chip Cravaack (MN-8) introduced federal legislation required to execute the Minnesota state-passed land swap. H.R. 5544, the Minnesota Education Investment and Employment Act, would end 30 years of inaction, return over 86,000 acres of state-owned school trust lands trapped within the Boundary Waters area to Minnesota school children, and bring well-paying jobs to Minnesota's Eighth District. "This land ultimately belongs to Minnesota's children -- our public schools have been waiting decades for this funding. I am happy to support the efforts of the Minnesota legislature and the Governor by introducing a bill that will direct the secretary to implement the state-passed land swap plan," said Rep. Cravaack. "As we move forward, I will continue working with Minnesotans at the local level, as well as the DNR, the Forest Service, involved stakeholders, and my colleagues across the aisle in putting Minnesota students first." Learn more: http://cravaack.house.gov/the-minnesota-education-investment-and-employment-act From: RepChipCravaack Views: 35 0 ratings Time: 00:30 More in News & Politics

Sen. Franken's Statement on College Affordability
Sen. Franken went to the floor of the Senate to speak in favor of freezing the federally subsidized student loan interest rates at 3.4%. From: SenatorFranken Views: 44 1 ratings Time: 17:25 More in News & Politics

On Terrorism and Keeping Americans Safe
On May 8, 2012, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) went on Fox News' America's Newsroom to discuss the CIA's recent action to thwart a terrorist plot in Yemen. From: RepMicheleBachmann Views: 235 12 ratings Time: 04:13 More in News & Politics

Klobuchar and Student Loan Rates
Klobuchar Calls on Senate Colleagues to Pass Critical Bill to Prevent Student Loan Interest Rates from Doubling for 200,000 Minnesota Students From: SenatorKlobuchar Views: 56 0 ratings Time: 08:33 More in News & Politics

Rep. Paulsen Questions Experts During Hearing on Tax Fraud
Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) questioned experts during a Ways and Means Committee hearing on tax fraud. Today, along with Mr. McDermott and both the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Oversight Subcommittee, Rep. Paulsen introduced the Fighting Tax Fraud Act which essentially doubles the current penalty, giving greater incentive for prosecution against this type of theft. www.paulse.house.gov From: reperikpaulsen Views: 14 0 ratings Time: 04:44 More in News & Politics

Paulsen Recognizes Minnesota Teacher of The Year Jackie Roehl
Rep. Erik Paulsen (MN-03) took to the floor to congratulate Minnesota Teacher of The Year and Edina 10th grade English teacher Jackie Roehl. Jackie was chosen on Sunday from more than 300 teachers nominated. www.paulsen.house.gov From: reperikpaulsen Views: 119 0 ratings Time: 00:58 More in News & Politics

Choir Sings in Bachmann's Washington Office
Representatives from the 100-member Azusa Pacific University Men's Chorale were in town for the National Day of Prayer. They stopped by the Washington Office of Congresswoman Michele Bachmann (MN-06) to share their gift with those present. From: RepMicheleBachmann Views: 875 14 ratings Time: 04:19 More in News & Politics