The month of July has proven to be very busy in America's new Congress. Whether it was meeting with folks from the 3rd District, going to the several Small Business and Financial Services Committee hearings, or tracking the incessant rain throughout the state - there is a lot to recap this month.
Having been in the financial services industry for many years and now a member of the Financial Services Committee, the five-year anniversary of Dodd-Frank which occurred this month hit home to me. What have we seen throughout the past five years?
The economy has been stagnant, not lifted and unelected bureaucracies such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Financial Stability Oversight Council have raised serious doubt that any meaningful steps have been taken to protect taxpayers and consumers. The Financial Services Committee has held several hearing on Dodd-Frank and we will continue to offer solutions so American consumers can have restored faith in their financial system.
This month, the House also took the first step in reforming the outdated No Child Left Behind with the Student Success Act.
This reform bill would reduce federal influence in education as well as empower state and local education programs. I am a firm believer that top-down, single-size performance standards hurt students.
This legislation eliminates 65 duplicative programs and protects states and local schools over decisions in the classroom by preventing the secretary of education from coercing states into adopting Common Core standards.
The Senate passed its own education reform bill and now the House and Senate will need to go to conference to find common ground between the two pieces of legislation.
Last, in light of the horrific murder by an illegal immigrant in San Francisco this month, the House passed the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act.
Sanctuary cities have created havens for illegal immigrants and this practice is completely unlawful. This legislation would prohibit federal funding to state or localities that restrict or prohibit their officials from properly enforcing federal immigration law.
Dodd-Frank, the Student Success Act, and the Enforce the Law for Sanctuary Cities Act are just three examples of what the House has debated and worked on this month.
Throughout the next few weeks, I will continue to monitor the investigations into Planned Parenthood, review the Iran nuclear deal, and talk with individuals around the 3rd District about additional issues that are on your mind.
With July behind us, it's time to look ahead and what we will accomplish next.
U.S. Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer, R-Mo., represents the state's 3rd District, which includes Jefferson City. His local office can be reached at 573-635-7232.
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