It seems like September came and went in the blink of an eye. Fall has officially begun and even though the weather has cooled off in central and eastern Missouri, there was plenty of heated debate in Congress.
One difficult topic that we shed some light on is suicide prevention. September is recognized as National Suicide Prevention Month and, each day, 20 of our nation's veterans commit suicide. This is a tragedy.
Now, the Department of Veterans Affairs has a crisis line to counsel veterans in distress, but, I soon learned from a number of constituents that veterans have been placed on hold for long periods of time or even disconnected when attempting to get help. This is unacceptable.
There are some commonsense improvements to the crisis line that have been recommended by the VA's Office of Inspector General, but it sure doesn't seem like they have been implemented. So, this week, I spearheaded a letter with several of my House colleagues to the VA to ensure these updates and improvements are made being made, so that veterans seeking assistance get the help they need in their most critical hour. I will make sure to update you with the secretary of the Veterans Affairs response to my questions that were asked in the letter.
On the House floor, there was a historic vote held. The House and Senate overwhelmingly overturned the president's veto of a bill that ensures 9/11 victims' family members and survivors have the opportunity to pursue justice against the Saudi Arabian government for its alleged role in the Sept. 11 attacks. With a very strong supermajority, bipartisan vote in Congress, this bill became law, despite the president's attempts to stop it. The survivors of 9/11 and the family members of the victims who perished that day deserve the opportunity to have their day in court and present a case against the Saudi government.
The House also passed another bill that is meaningful to many Missourians: the Regulatory Relief for Small Businesses, Schools, and Nonprofits Act. Earlier this year, the Department of Labor finalized a rule that would double the salary threshold for overtime pay eligibility. This rule hurts not only small businesses but also schools, non-profits, local governments, and their employees.
In meetings that I have had with many constituents, I have heard the consequences that this bill will have on their business and day-to-day work life: employees will be moved from salary to hourly, hours will be reduced, and in some cases, positions will be eliminated altogether. I was proud to support this legislation that delays this rule. It's a misguided proposal and bureaucrats in the Labor Department are trying to rush it through before the Obama Administration leaves office.
Lastly, I want to make sure everyone knows about the upcoming October Constituent Service Days hosted by my office. My staff will be in each of the 13 counties of the 3rd Congressional District throughout the next several days and are ready and willing to meet with you to assist with any questions you may have regarding various agencies like the IRS, VA, Labor Department or questions about Medicare. Please visit my website for the full list of locations, dates, and times or call any of my offices for the information.
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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