The importance of advancing sounds energy policies such as completion of the Keystone Pipeline

Greetings,

Below you will find legislative and news updates from Washington, D.C., and across the 5th District of Pennsylvania.

As always, if you have immediate questions or comments, or need assistance with a federal department or program, I encourage you to contact my office directly by clicking here.

Additionally, I am available on Facebook, Twitter, and online at www.thompson.house.gov.

Sincerely,

U.S. Representative Glenn 'GT' Thompson

Economic Growth Through Greater Energy Security: Approval of Keystone XL Pipeline Project: On April 24, 2013, I voted in favor of a bill to move forward with completion of the Keystone XL Pipeline. The measure, H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, was approved with bipartisan support by the House Natural Resources Committee. The State Department has projected the Keystone Pipeline would create 42,100 direct and indirect American jobs. The Northern Route Approval Act will advance this vital and environmentally sound energy project that is good for our economy and a step toward greater energy self-sufficiency.

Visit to the Clearfield County Career and Technical Center:

The following picture was taken with Brandon Condon, Aaron Kline, Andrew Hicks, Robert Barnett, Nicholas Bloom, and Bernard Folmar during my visit to the Clearfield County Career and Technical Center on April 8, 2013.

Spirit of Enterprise Award: On April 16, 2013, I was honored to receive the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's "Spirit of Enterprise Award" recognizing my strong pro-economic growth voting record in the 112th Congress, 2nd Session. I will continue work to improve the economy and create jobs in Pennsylvania and nationally.

The Chamber scored Congress on twelve votes in the U.S. House of Representatives, including the establishment of Permanent Normal Trade Relations with Russia, the reauthorization of surface transportation legislation, and my support for repealing onerous provisions of the President's health care law, the Affordable Care Act.

Thompson Subcommittee Examines National Forest System Management, Impact on Rural Economies:

On March 19, 2013, the Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, held a public hearing to examine how the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) is managing the National Forest System (NFS) and how this management affects rural communities.

USFS Chief Tom Tidwell and Ken Kane, McKean County, Pa., President of Generations Forestry, were among the witnesses testifying (See picture). I will continue to work with the Forest Service and local community stakeholders to improve both the ecological and economic health of our forests. (Click here to learn more...)

Related News:

Stars and Stripes Newspaper: Thompson-sponsored law offers hopes for better access to specialists, lower costs: "The Defense Department (DoD) is in the process of implementing the Service member Telemedicine eHealth Portability Act (STEP), which will make it easier for service members to get more virtual medical care, particularly mental health counseling. The act cuts through legal red tape and allows DOD-contracted healthcare providers to treat patients in other states and countries…Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pa., father of an Army staff sergeant deployed in Afghanistan, sponsored the bill…The STEP Act will increase the number of doctors and counselors available to active-duty service members, when the military's dense medical manual is changed to reflect the new law…" (Click here to view more...)

Testifying before the House Armed Services Committee: Last year the DoD issued a waiver to expand telemedicine and begin implementation of the STEP Act. In 2012, the Army was able to perform nearly 36,000 teleconsultations. Despite progress, TRICARE providers were not included in the waiver, limiting thousands of professionals from providing services. Additionally, the waiver does not allow service members to use telemedicine from their homes, instead only expanding access to additional facilities. I requested the Committee's assistance in working with the Pentagon to fully implement these provisions so our service member can reap the STEP Act's full intended benefit.

Over the last several weeks, I have received multiple communications from constituents and members of the military currently deployed in Afghanistan being denied hot meals on base. In times of war circumstances will dictate nights when troops will go to sleep hungry or may not go to sleep at all, but I was troubled to hear that the DOD would deny any deployed troops warm meals on bases we have occupied and provided meals at for years. I requested the committee's close oversight on this issue to ensure this and other mission essentials are provided to the men and women serving in harms-way.