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Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today voted to repeal a costly mandate for small businesses created in the health care overhaul law last year. H.R. 4, the Small Business Paperwork Mandate Elimination Act, passed the U.S. House of Representatives today by a vote of 314-112. H.R. 4 was one of the first pieces of legislation Wittman signed onto in the 112th Congress.
Just a few short weeks ago, Washington, DC was brought to a standstill by an ill-timed, quick-hitting snowstorm that blanketed the region in just a few inches of snow but revealed a mountain of issues in its aftermath. Thousands of commuters in the Washington Metropolitan Area were stranded by a weather event mimicking an emergency evacuation of the Capital city. I myself had a seven hour commute that night to my home in Montross, VA (normally an hour and a half drive), and I had plenty of time to think about how things might be different if more folks tele-commuted.
The announcement of an "Efficiency Initiative" by Defense Secretary Robert Gates last August still resonates in the Commonwealth as we continue to monitor the prospective changes that will be implemented as a result of the Secretary's proposal. Initial reports suggest significant effects upon military installations, programs, and private contractors within the Commonwealth. With a large military and contractor presence, Virginia must be assured that these decisions are in the best interest of the defense of this nation.
On February 19, Congress passed historic legislation to cut over $100 billion from government spending in the last seven months of the current fiscal year. The debate on the spending bill lasted for five days and included hundreds of amendments and I voted in favor of this legislation to further support crucial efforts to rein in the out-of-control spending in Washington, DC. For some, cuts of this magnitude can be hard to swallow as they will directly impact many Americans, but we must face the reality of what will happen if we do not make these hard decisions.
This past week, I introduced legislation to ease the burden on individuals and families taking advantage of telework, by proposing an annual tax credit for qualified teleworking expenses.
More and more, folks have acquired equipment and upgraded technology to create a work environment in their homes, and the expenses can add up quickly. With all of the benefits of telework, I believe it's important to make it easier for working individuals to benefit from the flexibilities of today's technologies.
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today voted for legislation to cut over $100 billion from government spending in the last seven months of the current fiscal year. Wittman released the following statement:
Washington, DC – On the occasion of national Telework Week, Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) introduced the Telework Tax Incentive Act (H.R. 710), which provides eligible taxpayers with an annual tax credit for qualified teleworking expenses paid or incurred by the taxpayer that year, up to $1,000. Telework Week, recognized February 14-18, 2011, is a nationwide effort to encourage agencies, organizations, and individuals to telework.
This week in Washington, DC, the critical discussion on the economy and spending continued. The Appropriations Committee began its work to craft legislation to continue the federal government's operations after March 4, 2011, when the current law expires. As we see the proposals come out, there are tough decisions to be made within the next few weeks about what we need to do to get government spending under control. Simply continuing at current levels is not acceptable. We are where we are today with the current deficit and the highest debt in U.S.
My week started with a trip to the USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH (CVN 77), the Navy's newest nuclear powered aircraft carrier, and a true modern marvel. I flew down to the ship as a guest of Admiral Kirkland Donald, the Director of Naval Nuclear Propulsion. We flew from Washington, DC, to Mayport, Florida, where we boarded an aircraft flown by the pilots from the BUSH where she was conducting operations of the coast of Florida.