Joe Wilson RSS Articles

Wilson Statement on Committee Passage of the National Defense Authorization Act

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC) issued the following statement after the House Armed Services Committee completed the markup of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2013.

“This Administration has placed a target on the Department of Defense as a source of discretionary spending to be cut in order to shift to other programs. Over the past few months, House Armed Services Chairman Buck McKeon has tirelessly worked to put together a bipartisan bill preventing the President’s suggested cuts from occurring while ensuring fiscal responsibility to protect those who serve, military families, and veterans.

With the passage of this bill, as Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, I am pleased that the Committee has rejected the Administration’s proposal to unfairly increase TRICARE enrollment fees for veterans and their families. Our military families have dedicated their lives to serve our country and deserve the care they have earned. It is our responsibility to protect the brave men and women in uniform who have fought to protect us.

Additionally, the bill provides leave time for our military personnel who choose to adopt a child. As an adoptive parent myself, I am familiar with the challenges the adoption process possess. I am encouraged to see that these individuals are given the same opportunity as those who have children naturally.

I look forward to working with Chairman Buck McKeon and other colleagues to ensure the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act.”

Wilson Applauds Passage of Reconciliation Bill

Thu, 10 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement after the passage of H.R. 5652, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012.

“The President’s decision to lower our growing national deficit by cutting the Department of Defense is irresponsible. Our primary responsibility as a governing body is to provide for a strong, superior national defense. If the sequester were to occur, our national defense capabilities would result in the smallest ground force since 1940, the smallest number of ships since 1915, and the smallest Air Force in our history. Not only would this cut leave our nation more vulnerable to our enemies, it also endangers our military personnel and their families.

“Over the past three years, the President has contributed over five trillion dollars to our national debt, more than all previous presidents combined, by spending our hard-earned taxpayer dollars on unnecessary programs and increasing government involvement in our everyday lives. Today’s legislation attempts to regain fiscal responsibility while continuing to protect our national security. With the passage of this bill, House Republicans are sending a clear message to the Administration: We will not put our national security at risk by allowing the President to shift money away from the Department of Defense in order to advance his liberal agenda.”

Wilson Statement on Latest Unemployment Report

Fri, 04 May 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) issued the following statement today regarding the latest unemployment report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“The latest jobs report marks the thirty-ninth consecutive month our nation’s unemployment rate has remained above eight percent. With the passage of the nearly one trillion-dollar stimulus plan, the President assured Americans that unemployment would not exceed eight percent. It is blatantly clear that the President’s failed policies are not working, but instead are contributing to our fifteen trillion-dollar debt.

Americans are beyond frustrated with the President’s inability to support policies that will turn our nation’s hurting economy around. During the month of April alone, 342,000 discouraged people removed themselves from the work force and stopped looking for a job. If the labor force remained the same size as January 2009 when President Obama was sworn into office, our nation’s unemployment rate would rest at eleven percent. This fact is absolutely unacceptable.

House Republicans have remained focused on stopping the President’s reckless spending and helping to put hardworking Americans back to work. We have passed dozens of job-creating bills, most with bi-partisan support, that remain stalled due to inaction by the liberal-controlled Senate. As more and more Americans are giving up on finding employment and losing faith in the government, I urge the President to encourage the Senate to pass legislation encouraging private sector growth which will put America back on the path to prosperity.”

COLUMN: Protecting South Carolina's interests at Yucca Mountain

Mon, 30 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Shortly after the conclusion of the Second World War, scientists across America began studying possible commercial uses of nuclear materials. By 1958, the first nuclear power plant was up and running outside of Pittsburgh, Pa. Today, there are 104 nuclear power reactors in the country with four more under construction in Georgia and South Carolina.

The same technology that brought such a swift end to WWII now powers 20 percent of our nation. In the Palmetto state, nuclear power provides more than 50 percent of our electricity and has for more than 30 years. However, this power source does come with certain restrictions; namely, the spent fuel which is produced as a by-product of the generated power.

In 1982, Congress addressed the issue of storing our country's high-level radioactive waste by passing The Nuclear Waste Policy Act. This legislation assigned the Department of Energy with developing a national repository for high-level radioactive waste. After taking into consideration the environmental studies of numerous locations, Congress amended the Nuclear Waste Policy Act in 1987 and designated Yucca Mountain, Nev. as the location for our country's national nuclear repository, which later was approved by President George W. Bush in 2002. The licensing process for Yucca Mountain was under way until President Obama cut the funding for the project in 2010. At that time, he directed a Blue Ribbon Commission to develop a plan to dispose of our country's radioactive waste.

After nearly two years of fact-finding missions and deliberation, the Commission issued its final report. The report highlighted several key findings. It strongly urged the Department of Energy to move forward in locating a nuclear waste repository and that the repository should be managed by a federally chartered corporation, not by politicians or bureaucrats. Finally, the panel urged that an interim storage facility should be developed to house the spent fuel until a permanent site is determined.

This Blue Ribbon Report was issued on Jan. 26. Since that date, the president has taken no steps to find a new repository, create a non-partisan federally chartered corporation or address an interim storage facility for spent nuclear fuel.

All of the extensive work and findings of the Blue Ribbon Commission appear to be ignored. The president never had any intention of listening to and adhering to their findings. The commission simply was a political ploy to avoid following the 1987 Law of the Land and providing Yucca Mountain the opportunity Congress demanded it have to prove itself qualified to be our country's national repository.

To make matters worse, as part of the original Nuclear Waste Policy Act of 1982, nuclear powered utility companies are required to pay into a newly created trust fund that would pay for the development of the repository. These entities derived the funds from fees placed on consumer's monthly bills. For the past 29 years, South Carolinians have paid more than $1.3 billion into this fund, making our state the third highest contributor.

Unfortunately, regardless of South Carolina's exorbitant contributions, we still have nothing to show for it. Spent nuclear fuel and defense waste still are being stored at the Savannah River Site and seven additional nuclear facilities across our state. This is unacceptable. Our citizens have paid for a service and the federal government must honor its part of the deal.

In an effort to keep the government accountable, I recently introduced companion legislation to Sen. Lindsey Graham's "Nuclear Waste Fund Relief and Rebate Act." This bill requires the president to certify Yucca Mountain as the designated site for our country's high-level radioactive waste repository. If the administration fails to follow through, it enacts the following penalties:

1. Utility Companies across the country will no longer be forced to make payments to the Nuclear Trust Fund.

2. The utility company will receive the deposits it has contributed to the Nuclear Trust Fund (75 percent of those funds will be used to reduce rates for ratepayers, and 25 percent will be used for infrastructure improvement).

3. No later than Jan. 1, 2017, Defense Waste must begin to be moved to Yucca Mountain. If this requirement is not met, the DOE will be required to pay up to $100 million a year to the states holding the waste.

The citizens of South Carolina have done their part in financing a national repository, and Congress has illustrated due diligence by declaring Yucca Mountain as the site.

If the president chooses to play politics with nuclear waste, the citizens of South Carolina deserve reimbursement.

I will fight to ensure that South Carolina has a voice in Washington. For too long, we have been given the runaround.

The message is now very clear: Abide by the law, or pay the price.

Wilson Opening Statement for the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel Markup

Thu, 26 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

The Military Personnel subcommittee met today to mark up its portion of H.R. 4310, the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act. Chairman Joe Wilson made the following opening statement:

"The Chairman’s mark in front of you is the product of an open, bi-partisan process.

"The mark provides our war fighters, veterans and their families the care and support they need, deserve, and have earned; while ensuring that proposed drawdown plans do not cut to the heart of the Army and Marine Corps. Specifically, this year's proposal will:

(1) Authorize a troop pay increase of 1.7% and extend bonuses and special pay for our men and women in uniform;

(2) Limit end strength reductions for the active Army and Marine Corps;

(3) Provide significant new regulations and procedures for combating and prosecuting sexual assault within the military;

(4) Extend access to family housing for six months and Commissary and Exchange benefits for two years for troops who are involuntarily separated;

(5) Extend some TRICARE benefits to members of the Selected Reserve who are involuntarily separated.

(6) Make clear that non-monitary contributions to health care benefits made by our troops and their families through a career of service to America represents pre-payment of health care premiums in retirement.

"In conclusion, I want to thank Mrs. Davis and her staff for their contributions and support in this process. Of course, we are joined by an active, informed, and dedicated group of subcommittee members. Their recommendations and priorities are clearly reflected in this mark.

"Additionally, I appreciate the dedication of the Subcommittee majority staff: John Chapla, Debra Wada, Jeanette James, Mike Higgins, Craig Greene, and Jim Weiss."

Wilson Introduces Legislation to Force Action on Yucca Mountain Project

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Today, Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) introduced H.R. 4625, the Yucca Utilization to Control Contamination Act (YUCCA).

In 2002, President George W. Bush approved Yucca Mountain, Nevada, as the location for our nation’s nuclear repository, which was previously authorized by Congress in 1987. In 2010, President Obama zeroed out the funding for the project. The proposed legislation requires the President to certify Yucca Mountain as the designated site for our country’s high-level radioactive waste repository. If the Administration fails to follow through, it enacts the following penalties:

1) Utility Companies across the country will no longer be forced to make payments to the Nuclear Trust Fund.

2) The utility company will receive the deposits it has contributed to the Nuclear Trust Fund (75% of those funds will be used to reduce rates for ratepayers and 25% will be used for infrastructure improvement).

3) No later than January 1, 2017, Defense Waste MUST begin to be moved to Yucca Mountain. If this requirement is not met, the Department of Energy will be required to pay up to $100 million a year to the states holding the waste.

Wilson stated, “Over the past twenty-nine years, South Carolinians have paid over $1.3 billion dollars for the establishment of a nuclear repository at Yucca Mountain, making our state the third highest contributor. The President’s decision to cut this project is another prime example of how this Administration continues to put party politics over sound policy. In efforts to keep the government accountable, I have introduced legislation requiring the President to follow through with the Yucca Mountain project. I look forward to working with my colleagues to ensure the people of South Carolina ‪receive the services they have already paid for with hard-earned taxpayer dollars.”

MEDIA ADVISORY: Wilson to Participate with Teach Children to Save Program

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

(West Columbia, SC) - Congressman Joe Wilson plans to join First Community Bank of Lexington on Monday morning and participate in the “Teach Children to Save Day” program. This program is a national campaign focused on the importance of teaching young people a lifelong savings habit. Since 1997, the Teach Children to Save program has brought saving education to more than five million young people across America. Studies have found that students with saving accounts are more likely to attend college than those without one. With a national unemployment rate of over eight percent for the past three years and a record debt of over fifteen trillion dollars, it is necessary for young people to learn how to become fiscally responsible at an early age.

Monday, April 23, 2012

8-9AM

Brookland-Cayce High School

1300 State Street

Cayce, SC 29033

Wilson Hosts Sequestration Roundtable Discussion

Thu, 05 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

This morning, Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) hosted a roundtable with military, business, and community leaders to discuss the potential impacts of sequestration on South Carolina. Due to the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Department of Defense is expected to suffer an automatic $600 billion budget cut. These cuts will not be used to reduce our growing national deficit, but instead will be shifted from defense to other departments and agencies.

“First of all, I would like to thank the tremendous leaders in our community for speaking today and expressing the impacts sequestration could have on each individual field within our economy. Because South Carolina has such a large military population, these budget cuts will put jobs at risk. In Fiscal Year 2013 alone, South Carolina could lose over $481 million in defense contracts, which will destroy thousands of jobs within the private sector. Additionally, if sequestration occurs, South Carolina’s military population may decline by almost 7,500 personnel. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has warned that such a drastic decrease will result in the smallest Navy since the beginning of World War I, smallest Army and Marine Corps since the beginning of World War II and the smallest Air Force in our nation’s history.

“The national government’s number one priority should be to maintain a strong and secure national defense by providing peace through strength. House Armed Service Chairman Buck McKeon is committed to preventing these drastic defense cuts from taking place and has proposed legislation blocking the implementation of these reductions entitled the “Down Payment to Protect National Security Act of 2011” (H.R. 3662). As Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, I look forward to working with Chairman McKeon to ensure this legislation passes the House of Representatives in order to protect our nation’s military capabilities and to keep our Armed Forces and their families secure.”

MEDIA ADVISORY: Wilson to Host Sequestration Roundtable Discussion

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) announced he will be hosting a roundtable discussion with military, business, and community leaders to discuss the potential impacts of sequestration on South Carolina. Due to the passage of the Budget Control Act of 2011, the Department of Defense is expected to suffer a $600 billion budget cut over the next ten years.

Thursday, April 5, 2012

8am – 10:00AM

Palmetto Room

Greater Columbia Chamber of Commerce

930 Richland Street

Columbia, SC 29202

Wilson has invited the following leaders to sit on the discussion panel:

Mayor Stephen Benjamin, City of Columbia

Donald Johnson, President, Johnson Food Services, LLC

Major General Robert Livingston, USA, Adjutant General of South Carolina

Richard Luber, President & CEO, Midlands Authority for Conventions Sports and Tourism

Dan Mann, AAE, Executive Director, Columbia Metropolitan Airport

Scott Nahrwold, Public Affairs, Fort Jackson

Rick Patel, President, Hotel and Lodging Division, South Carolina Hospitality Association

Milton Pope, Richland County Administrator

Major General Abraham Turner, USA, Ret., Executive Director, South Carolina Department of Employment and Workforce

*Congressman Wilson and the panel will be available for a question and answer session following the conclusion of the discussion.

Wilson Applauds Passage of Ryan Budget

Thu, 29 Mar 2012 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Joe Wilson (SC-02) released the following statement after the passage of the Path to Prosperity, the House Republican Budget for Fiscal Year 2013, by a vote of 228-191.

“The President’s policies are destroying jobs in America and making our economy much worse. Over the past three years, our national debt has grown by almost five trillion dollars. The President and his allies in the liberal-controlled Senate believe we must tax and spend our way to economic recovery, placing the burden of paying the bill on our children and grandchildren. It has been over 1,000 days since the Senate has passed a budget. With an unemployment rate of over eight percent for the past three years, it is absolutely necessary for Congress to work within a framework to ensure that our spending does not continue to spiral out of control.

“Today, House Republicans passed a pro-growth, solution oriented budget. This legislation protects our entitlements from going bankrupt, repeals the government takeover healthcare bill, and enacts policies allowing for job creation. With this vote, conservatives proved once again we are committed to stopping Washington’s out of control spending and putting our country back on a path to prosperity. “