Rep. Scott Garrett's blog
Posted at 12:39pm on Apr. 24, 2008 The Administration’s Recent Shift Towards Sudan
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Yesterday, I joined several of my colleagues to condemn the Bush Administration’s recent shift in policy towards Sudan.
I am proud that the United States was one of the largest international humanitarian and peacekeeping supporters in Sudan and Darfur, but the recent actions by the Administration are completely unacceptable. The United States should not be meeting with Nafi Ali Nafi, the man responsible for many of Sudan’s domestic atrocities and a link to international terrorism. Meetings like this send the wrong message to the international community and terrorist organizations.
Posted in Archived — Comments (6) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:55pm on Apr. 15, 2008 Tax Day: Kill the Alternative Minimum Tax
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Today is Tax Day, and in light of that, I wrote an op/ed in one of my districts local papers which discusses the importance of abolishing the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT).
To read this article click here: Kill the Alternative Minimum Tax
Posted in Archived — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 2:49pm on Apr. 9, 2008 China and the Summer Olympics
By Rep. Scott Garrett
I’m a fan of the Olympic Games. My family and I look forward to watching individuals from all over the world compete for the gold in Beijing, China. I'm always proud of our nation’s athletes; they have worked tirelessly for the chance to participate. But recently I have been frustrated with the Chinese government’s detestable human rights decisions.
I believe it is horrific that China supports Sudan’s genocidal regime, persecutes citizens for practicing religion, and denies basic freedoms to their own people. These oppressive actions must be stopped.
I recently signed onto HR 5668, a bill that would require President Bush and other American politicians to boycott the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. I believe this sends a crucial message to China, and other nations—the United States will not tolerate oppressive actions that prohibit freedom. This bill does not punish the athletes who have spent hours upon hours training for various events. And it does not prohibit them from competing.
For the victims in China, I hope President Bush hears us.
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Posted at 10:57pm on Mar. 5, 2008 A Victory for the People of Israel
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Today, the United States House of Representatives scored a big victory for the people of Israel. My resolution, H.Res 951, had the overwhelming support of over 260 bipartisan cosponsors and passed the House floor with a vote of 404- 1. This resolution condemns the ongoing Hamas orchestrated terrorist attacks on Israeli civilian communities.
H. Res 951 calls for President Bush to direct the United States Permanent Representative to the United Nations to introduce a resolution within the UN Security Council condemning Palestinian Rocket attacks against innocent Israel civilians. It also asks that U.S. allies in the Middle East officially and publicly condemn these attacks and other terrorist actions against Israel.
I am pleased that Congress stood up for the people of Israel by sending a message to terrorists, and those countries that aid them. Rocket attacks and intentional violence against innocent civilians will not be tolerated. Israeli communities like Sderot and Ashkelon have sustained egregious damages, and citizens have suffered from serious injuries and even fatalities. Often times Palestinians who do not support violence are victims of the crossfire. It is time that the brutality comes to an end.
Passing this resolution is a stepping stone to helping end the aggressive acts of Palestinian terrorist and ensuring innocent civilians in Israel live together peacefully. Violent Palestinian groups and terrorist organizations must be held accountable for their horrific acts. Organizations like Hamas, the Islamic Jihad, and the Popular Resistance Committees (PRC), need to understand that when they attack the people of Israel, the United States and other countries will not remain silent. Unjust actions must not go unpunished.
Rest assured that I will continue to ensure that Islamic radicals are held responsible for launching these attacks, and that countries like Iran, Egypt, and Syria, which support terrorists, are also held accountable. Too many countries foster violence and thereby hinder the peace process in the region. I will continue this fight until the global community joins the U.S in condemning terrorism and its violent acts.
Posted in Congress — Comments (24) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:37pm on Feb. 26, 2008 My Trip to Afghanistan
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Last week, I traveled to Afghanistan on a congressional fact-finding mission to inspect the United States’ efforts in securing the Afghan communities. The trip was helpful in learning more about America’s role in fighting Islamic radicals. The servicemembers I met with reinforced my belief that our nation is committed to protecting the freedoms valued in a democracy.
I believe that it is imperative that Congress work to support our military service men and women. The readiness of our military and the Afghan forces is critical to securing and protecting the communities of the Afghan region. Our troops must be supplied with the means needed to complete their tasks at an exemplary level. They put themselves in harm’s way on a daily basis so that we can enjoy freedom at home. Their sacrifices are noble and they deserve the best possible support we can provide them.
Posted in National Security — Comments (2) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 2:49pm on Feb. 21, 2008 We Hear You Sderot!
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Yesterday, residents of the Israeli community of Sderot organized a peaceful protest in Tel Aviv. Individuals set up tents in the Rabin Square to raise awareness of the continued rocket attacks they have been forced to endure. The protesters have already been visited by Israeli mayors and council heads, and more officials are expected to attend. The Sderot residents have pledged to continue protesting until they get the attention of local and world leaders. We hear you Sderot. Read more...
Posted in Foreign Affairs — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 7:30pm on Feb. 4, 2008 The Plight of Israel's Sderot and Ashkelon
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Since January 1st of this year, terrorists have fired more than 420 rockets and mortar shells at Israeli communities like Sderot and Ashkelon. It’s time that Congress take a stand against these horrific and violent acts in the Middle East. We cannot stand idly by as the number of rockets rises.
Residents of these areas have suffered egregious damage and casualties. The quality of life of the Israeli people has dramatically decreased in these targeted areas and it’s only getting worse. It’s critical that Congress work to help the peace-loving people of Israel and the Palestinian territories end these aggressive actions.
Posted in Foreign Affairs — Comments (3) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 9:01pm on Dec. 12, 2007 A Win for Small Business
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Today, with the Democrat majority continuing to accomplish nothing for the American people, I was at least able to score a win for small business.
Over the course of this year, I have been working to protect small businesses from the looming deadlines of Section 404 of the Sarbanes Oxley (SOX) Act. SEC Chairman Christopher Cox has now announced that he will extend the deadline, just as I’ve been working towards. Small business is the engine of the American economy and the current Sarbanes Oxley regulations are choking them with red tape and paperwork. In fact, Sarbanes Oxley has a stranglehold on American financial markets as well.
Earlier, this year I offered an amendment to HR 2829, the FY 2008 Financial Services Appropriations Act, with Rep. Tom Feeney to delay these small business paperwork deadlines. Our amendment passed with broad bipartisan support of 267- 154, making it the first successful effort to protect American markets and good faith efforts by American businesses from the excessive SOX regulations. Ranking Republican on the House Financial Services Committee, Spencer Bachus, has also worked to seek a delay in these onerous requirements. Like me, he recognizes that it is essential we not heap burdensome new costs on our nation’s small businesses but rather work to help them so they don’t go overseas.
By delaying this SOX requirement we are giving our small businesses more time to ensure that they are not unfairly hurt without jeopardizing the accountability goals of the initial SOX legislation.
This is a step in the right direction and a win for small business.
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Posted at 5:42pm on Nov. 14, 2007 Do-Nothing Congress
By Rep. Scott Garrett
With two weeks left in November, this is the last week that the House is scheduled to be in session and to no one’s surprise, Congress continues to earn the title of “do-nothing Congress.” In fact, over the past 10 months, it has become crystal clear that the Democrat majority is doing absolutely nothing for the American people – except trying every which way to raise taxes.
Last week was Veterans Day and what did Congress do for our service men and women who daily sacrifice their lives for our country?
Nothing.
Read on. . .
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Posted at 4:41pm on Nov. 8, 2007 Taiwan and the UN
By Rep. Scott Garrett
For far too long, the people of Taiwan have been ignored by the international community. We can no longer look upon those millions as an inconvenient truth. Today, I introduced a resolution calling on Congress to work to admit Taiwan to the United Nations. Currently, the 23,000,000 people of Taiwan are represented at the UN only by Communist China, not the government that they have elected.
I and several of my colleagues strongly believe that the Taiwanese deserve a seat at the international table. In 1994, the United States made a commitment to the Taiwanese people that we would actively support their membership in appropriate international organizations and today is the day to fulfill that commitment and let them have a voice in the United Nations.
Posted in Foreign Affairs — Comments (8) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 4:16pm on Oct. 29, 2007 A Mother of All Tax Hikes is Unveiled
By Rep. Scott Garrett
This year the Democrats have already introduced the largest tax increase in American history, demonstrating utter disregard for our hard-working taxpayers. Now they want to reach deeper into the pockets of the American family to feed their addictive tax and spend habits with Rep. Rangel’s “Mother of All Tax Hikes” bill which plans to raise taxes by over $1 trillion. This destructive legislating must be stopped.
The outdated and onerous Alternative Minimum Tax disproportionately hurts the middle class and nation. It must be reformed but not by a party that seeks to punish hard work and prosperity to feed its excessive spending. I have joined several of my conservative colleagues at the RSC to introduce a commonsense approach to providing fair and significant tax relief to the middle class, hard working Americans called the “Taxpayers Choice Act.” This bill will actually eliminate the AMT and provides taxpayers with the option of a “transparent, simple and efficient” alternative.
The Taxpayers Choice Act actually helps our nation’s families and doesn’t burden them and their children with debt. Americans have paid drastically high taxes for far too long. It’s time that someone in Washington is looking out for them and their pocketbooks.
Posted in Archived — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 3:49pm on Oct. 22, 2007 Is Murtha Running a Corporation?
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Each time my conservative colleagues and I draw attention to the growing problem of earmarks we hear the retort that they represent only a very small portion of the total federal budget. That can’t be denied, but what is undoubtedly true is that Members and lobbyists also spend a disproportionate amount of energy and time attaining these earmarks.
This energy is misplaced as we face a growing storm of entitlement disaster. Imagine fitting out your house with the finest plumbing system, electronically controlled showers, gold-plated faucets, and a $10,000 dollar toilet with heated seats. You sit back to admire all your investments and then find out that none of it is going to work because you have nothing left to pay the water bill.
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Posted at 2:21pm on Oct. 16, 2007 Governor Corzine and SCHIP
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Because of the SCHIP veto override which is set to come to the House floor on Thursday, MoveOn.org is attempting to flood my office with phone calls to override the President’s veto. Even New Jersey Governor John Corzine personally called my office today in hopes of urging me to change my vote. Governor Corzine knows that overburdened NJ taxpayers are on the verge of a tax revolt after years of out-of –control tax-and-spend policies out of Trenton. He knows that unless he can get the infusion of additional federal tax dollars that the Democrats’ SCHIP entitlement explosion will add to the State coffers, he’ll be forced to make tough choices that he and the legislature are just not prepared to make.
Well, I hope he’s reading this now….
Let’s not forget that SCHIP was created to help children whose parents don’t have the means to help them alone. A comprehensive SCHIP reauthorization now should focus on that mission and not divert our attention and resources to illegal immigrants, able-bodied adults, or families that are making annually $70,000 or more. The Democrats knew this bill was heading for the President's veto pen and instead of working with House Republicans and the White House to support a reasonable extension of the SCHIP program, they gambled with these children's future for the sake of politics. Thankfully, President Bush stood by his veto threat.
Congress must return to the drawing board and develop a reasonable, bipartisan approach that actually helps our low-income children rather than create a new entitlement for families earning $72,000 per year. Until we address the issues that create barriers to care by artificially inflating the cost of care, our work won't improve and expand access to high-quality healthcare but will merely tinker around the edges, kicking the can further and further down the road.
Posted in Policy — Comments (9) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:52pm on Oct. 9, 2007 Let’s Scrap No Child Left Behind
By Rep. Scott Garrett
I have been increasingly outspoken about the negative impact that NCLB has had on our children’s education, and consequently on our children’s future. I will continue to speak out against the problems of NCLB until they are fixed and I will continue to speak out against NCLB until parents and educators are empowered to make the changes that will ensure an environment in which schools can teach and children can learn. More and more information is coming to light, attracting more and more supporters to the belief that not only should No Child Left Behind not be reauthorized at this time but it should be completely scrapped.
Read on...
Posted in Policy — Comments (23) / Email this page » / Read More »
Posted at 1:48pm on Oct. 3, 2007 Allegations Against Limbaugh Are Ludicrous!
By Rep. Scott Garrett
Like me, Rush Limbaugh has always been outspoken about his appreciation for our service men and women. This recent allegation that Limbaugh was bashing a war veteran is ludicrous. It’s clear to anyone that read the transcript that Limbaugh was just stating that he is sick and tired of Democrats using soldiers with phony stories to attack the Iraq war and discredit the hard work our men and women in uniform are doing.
Posted in Rush Limbaugh | War — Comments (4) / Email this page » / Read More »
