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Fox News' Special Report Features Sen. Moran's Remarks on Administration Comments on "Random" Paris Attack
Feb 11 2015
Last night, Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier highlighted U.S. Senator Jerry Moran’s (R-Kan.) remarks addressing President Obama’s deeply concerning comments describing the January hostage taking and murder of four Jews in a Kosher supermarket in Paris, France, as “randomly shoot[ing] a bunch of folks in a deli.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), both members of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, today introduced the Veterans TRICARE Choice Act of 2015, S. 448, which would give TRICARE-eligible veterans the ability to pause TRICARE benefits and contribute to a Heath Savings Account (HSA). The bipartisan bill addresses the inequities of current federal law which prevents retired veterans from participating in their employer’s HSA program due to their eligibility for TRICARE benefit.
“Veterans and their families deserve the highest-quality health care for their service to our country,” Sen. Moran said. “They should not be denied the opportunity to select the best health care option for their needs just because of their service to our country. Our legislation would make certain veterans, as well as members of the National Guard and Reserves, are given the same opportunity as their coworkers to select the health care plan they want. Our nation’s heroes should not have to opt out of the TRICARE benefits they earned just because they want to participate in an HSA program offered by their employer.”
“This legislation will help ensure that military retirees have access to affordable, quality health care and the opportunity to select the best plan from a wide range of options,’ Sen. Blumenthal said. “Military retirees should not be required to forfeit TRICARE benefits they earned while serving our nation just so they can receive benefits that best fit their family’s needs.”
Health Savings Accounts have proven to be an effective way to pay for medical costs and proactively save for future medical expenses. Employees invest and save tax-free money in HSAs, which are then used to pay for qualified medical expenses. Providing retired veterans with the option to either participate with their employer’s health plan and HSA or continue their TRICARE health plan not only benefits veterans, but also saves taxpayers money when their benefits are voluntarily paused.
The Veterans TRICARE Choice Act of 2015 is supported by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), The Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), and The National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS). The House companion is led by U.S. Reps. Chris Stewart (R-Utah) and Tulsi Gabbard (D- Hawaii).
Click below to read the full bill text.
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Ahead of AUMF, Sen. Moran Questions Obama Administration's Comments on "Random" Paris Attack
"The stakes are way too high to operate under anything but a clear understanding of the significant challenges that our country faces. It makes no sense to describe something different than reality."
Feb 10 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) tonight spoke on the U.S. Senate Floor to address President Obama’s deeply concerning comments describing the January hostage taking and murder of four Jews in a Kosher supermarket in Paris, France, as “randomly shoot[ing] a bunch of folks in a deli.”
When asked to clarify the President’s comments today, the White House stated that the Jewish victims of this attack were “killed not because of who they were, but because of where they randomly happened to be.” Spokespersons for the White House and U.S. Department of State later attempted to clarify their previous clarifications via Twitter.
Reuters has reported that the perpetrator of the attack had called into a French television station to declare his allegiance to Islamic State (ISIL) and stated his intention to target Jews.
Highlights from Sen. Moran’s remarks may be found below, along with links to the video download:
(1:03) “The White House today suggested that because there were non-Jews in the kosher supermarket named ‘Super Kosher,’ the attack did not target Jews specifically. The State Department restated this explanation today, refusing to say that an attack on a Kosher supermarket that killed four Jews could be anti-Jewish.
(1:29) “The absurdity of this logic is apparent – let me give you a hypothetical…(2:02) if somebody who happens to work in the American Embassy who is not an American is killed in an attack, would we reach the conclusion that an attack on our Embassy is not an attack on America?
(2:14) “The Obama Administration’s logic here challenges common sense and is truly difficult to understand what they are trying to convey. It is also contrary to open source media reports about this attack… (2:41) Given this information, the Obama Administration's now repeated comments that chalked this up to randomness, that's just amazing to me… It's dangerous for our government leaders to reach such a conclusion and for us to be operating [under that assertion] as we make a determination on how to proceed next in the ‘war on terror’…
(3:53) “…the Administration is soon to present to Congress for approval an authorization for the use of military force against Islamic State fighters. Authorizing war is a decision that should be made with the fullest information and most complete understanding possible. The Obama Administration should be doing everything it can to clearly describe the threat America faces and the strategy to be employed under a potential AUMF. The stakes are way too high to operate under anything but a clear understanding of the significant challenges that our country faces. It makes no sense to describe something different than reality.”
ISIL Attacks and the AUMF
Feb 10 2015
Mr. President, I want to comment on an interview that was published yesterday, quoting the President. In an interview published yesterday, the President spoke about a number of issues facing the United States. During that interview he had commentary on terrorism and he referenced the January attacks in Paris, France, in what I would describe as a very concerning way. The President addressed the attacks in Paris as “randomly shooting a bunch of folks in a deli.”
The President's stated perception of the hostage taking and murder of four Jews in a kosher supermarket in that way--we ought to all be concerned. When asked to clarify the President's comments today, the White House stated that the Jewish victims of this attack were “killed not because of who they were, but because of where they randomly happened to be.”
The White House today suggested that because there were non-Jews in the kosher supermarket named Super Kosher, the attack did not specifically target Jews.
The State Department restated this explanation today, refusing to say that an attack on a kosher supermarket that killed four Jews could be anti-Jewish. The absurdity of this logic is apparent. Let me give you a hypothetical. If an attack occurs in a synagogue or in a church or in the American Embassy, are we really to accept the idea that on the chance that there were diverse people there, that that somehow disqualifies the possibility that members of the group who would predominantly frequent that place might be targeted? In other words, if somebody who happened to work in an American embassy but is not an American is killed in an attack, would we reach the conclusion that the attack on the embassy is not an attack on America?
The Obama administration's logic doesn't make sense and it is difficult to understand what they are trying to convey. It is also contrary to the open source media reports about the attack. Reuters reported that the perpetrator of the attack called a French television station to declare his allegiance to the Islamic State and stated his intentions to target Jews. Given this information, the Obama administration's now repeated comments that chalked this up to randomness--that is just amazing to me, that it is just random, this attack in Paris. The fact that four Jews were killed at a kosher supermarket, it is just random.
It is dangerous for our government leaders to reach such a conclusion and for us to be operating as we make a determination of how to proceed next in the war on terror to reach the kind of conclusions the President, his spokespersons, and the State Department are reaching.
The Islamic State, the organization the perpetrators of the Paris attack claim allegiance to, has made a point to persecute various ethnic and religious minorities. The denial of anti-minority or anti-Semitic motivations in this case gives me hesitation about whether the President understands the true nature of the threat we now face. This comes in the context of a report that the administration is soon to present to Congress for approval an authorization for the use of military force against Islamic State fighters.
Authorizing a war is a decision that should be made with the fullest of information and the most complete understanding possible. The Obama administration should be doing everything it can to clearly describe the threat our country faces--in fact, that people around the globe face--and a strategy that will be employed under this potential authorization to use force. If we don't know who we are fighting, how can we have a strategy to prevent the death and destruction those enemies will cause? The stakes are way too high to operate under anything but a clear understanding of the significant challenges our country faces. It makes no sense to describe something different than reality.
Sens. Moran and Heitkamp Introduce Bipartisan Legislation to Streamline Financial Protections for Consumers
Legislation would make certain privacy policies are available on the financial institution’s website, allow banks to opt out of annual written notices
Feb 10 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) today introduced the Privacy Notice Modernization Act, S. 423, bipartisan legislation that would streamline financial privacy notifications that banks provide consumers. The legislation would require banks to alert customers when their privacy policies and information-sharing practices change, while eliminating duplicative, annual, legalese-ridden notifications that are often neglected by consumers.
“Finding the right regulatory balance is vital as we seek to untangle American homes and businesses from a complicated and duplicative regulatory structure,” Sen. Moran said. “In Kansas and across the country, community banks are important to the families they serve, small businesses and economic growth. Unfortunately, Community banks are being disproportionately hurt by rules and notification requirements because they are less able to absorb compliance costs. Resources that would otherwise be directly applied to serving clients and the community are now being spent to comply with annual privacy notices requirements and other regulations. Smarter regulation of financial privacy notifications will better protect and inform consumers while removing the excessive burdens placed on financial institutions. The House of Representatives has passed similar measures multiple times over the past several years, and I look forward to swift Senate passage of this commonsense legislation.”
“In North Dakota, we understand the importance of being cost-conscious, and so do our local banks,” said Sen. Heitkamp. “But for years, local banks – which many North Dakotans use – have been forced to send out privacy notices each year that can be hundreds of pages long – putting an undue financial burden on them and providing redundant updates filled with legalese that often only confuse consumers. My bipartisan bill would make commonsense changes by making sure consumers are only informed when policies and practices are really changing. As a result, these changes would better support consumers and eliminate costly and redundant annual updates filled with legalese, but not a lot of news. I’ll keep fighting for commonsense solutions to see to it that our financial institutions aren’t wasting money and are instead investing in ways to responsibly inform hardworking Americans on how to best plan for their futures – and to make sure our federal priorities mirror our local values.”
Under the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA), banks are annually required to alert consumers about their information-collection and information-sharing practices in writing. Unfortunately, these annual privacy notices have become so long, cluttered, and routine that most consumers are either confused by them, or they simply do not read them at all. The requirement is also costly for small institutions like community banks and credit unions.
The Privacy Notice Modernization Act would allow banks that do not share customer information the option to forego delivery of the annual written notice unless there has been a change in the bank’s privacy policy. An institution’s privacy policy will still be available to customers on the institution’s website. The bill is cosponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), Tim Scott (R-S.C.), Jon Tester (D-Mont.), Pat Toomey (R-Penn.), Mark Warner (D-Va.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.).
Sens. Moran and Heitkamp’s bill is supported by the American Bankers Association (ABA), the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA), the Credit Union National Association (CUNA), and the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU).
Click below to read the full bill text.
Sen. Moran Introduces Bill to Give Tax Credit to Military Spouses
Legislation would defray cost of renewing or transferring a professional license
Feb 09 2015
Washington – U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) recently introduced the Military Spouses Job Continuity Act, legislation that would help military spouses more easily re-enter the workforce by offering a tax credit to any military spouse who has to renew or transfer a professional license due to a military Change of Station order. It was announced that Sen. Moran’s bill will be considered by the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance during a mark-up this Wednesday.
“Our men and women in uniform are only as strong as the families who support them,” Sen. Moran said. “Military spouses deserve the opportunity to seamlessly transition employment and continue working in their licensed career fields when moving across state lines. The Military Spouse Job Continuity Act reduces military families’ financial burdens due to relocation by offering a tax credit to military spouses who must renew or transfer professional licenses.”
With the frequency of Change of Station orders, most military spouses already face challenges in their careers because of the frequent need to move. This legislation decreases this barrier for military spouses after relocation and helps them more easily re-enter the workforce by providing a tax credit of up to $500 when a military family moves across state lines.
The tax credit would be applicable for the renewal or transfer of a professional license in a range of fields including child care, nursing and health services, all of which are frequent occupations of military spouses. Approximately 85 percent of military spouses either work, or desire to work, outside the home and nearly 35 percent of these require licenses or certification.
The bill is endorsed by the National Military Family Association, the Military Officers Association of America, and the National Guard Association of the United States.
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FORT RILEY, KAN. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after his meeting with U.S. Army and Fort Riley Officials including Acting Senior Commander and Deputy Commanding General, Brigadier General Eric Wesley and Brigadier General Roger Cloutier:
“During my visit to Fort Riley, I had a valuable conversation about the impact of potential Army force reductions. My impression after visiting with the U.S. Army Leadership is that it is evident to them that Kansans support, care and respect those serving our country at Fort Riley. As plans for force reductions are reviewed, the infrastructure and investment that has already been made in housing, medical care and education would be difficult to walk away from. Additionally, the land and airspace available make it invaluable for training our servicemen and women. I will do everything I can to reduce the impact of sequestration and make certain Fort Riley receives the support it deserves from the Pentagon, so the Armed Forces and the Big Red One can continue to defend our nation.”
Fort Riley is one of 30 U.S. Army installations across the country that could face force reductions as the Army is preparing to reduce personnel to 420,000 due to sequestration. The worst-case scenario is Fort Riley could lose 16,000 civilian and military personnel.
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Sen. Moran-Sponsored Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act Heads to President's Desk
Legislation would improve mental health care and suicide prevention resources
Feb 03 2015
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.), a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, announced that the U.S. Senate unanimously passed the bipartisan Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act by a vote of 99 to 0. The legislation, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives on Jan. 12, 2015, will provide critical measures to improve mental health care and increase suicide prevention resources for American service members. It will now head to the President’s desk for his signature.
“The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act will be instrumental in developing a VA system capable of offering first-rate mental health care services, as well as utilizing the expertise of outside organizations to provide support for those struggling with the invisible wounds of war,” Sen. Moran said. “It is critical that the VA follow through on its commitment to our nation’s veterans – especially so families who have lost loved ones may take comfort in knowing the VA is committed to suicide prevention. I am proud to have sponsored this legislation and will keep working to find solutions and to hold the VA accountable when it comes to providing our nation’s veterans with the timely, high-quality and specialized care they earned.”
The Clay Hunt Suicide Prevention for American Veterans Act, introduced by U.S. Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), will require third-party evaluation of existing suicide prevention programs at the Department of Defense (DoD) and Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to gauge their effectiveness and make recommendations for consolidation, elimination or improvement. It will also provide for a new website that offers veterans information regarding available mental healthcare services; create a pilot loan repayment program for VA psychiatrists; and improve the exchange of training, best practices, and other resources among the VA, Veteran Service Organizations (VSO), and nonprofit mental health organizations to enhance collaboration of suicide prevention efforts.
The bill was named for Clay Hunt, a Marine veteran who committed suicide in March 2011 at the age of 28. Clay enlisted in the Marine Corps in May 2005 and deployed to Anbar Province, near Fallujah, in January 2007. He was shot in the wrist by a sniper’s bullet that barely missed his head, earning him a Purple Heart. Clay recuperated at Twenty Nine Palms, Calif., and then graduated from Marine Corps Scout Sniper School in March 2008. He redeployed to southern Afghanistan a few weeks later. His unit returned in late October 2008 and he was honorably discharged from the Marines in April 2009. After returning home, Clay suffered from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) for many years and struggled with inadequate care at his local VA hospital before taking his own life.
The legislation is supported by the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.
During a Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on Nov. 19, 2014, Sen. Moran pressed the VA on the importance of supporting veterans struggling with mental health issues. Sen. Moran was moved to hear from Clay’s mom, Susan Selke, who testified before the committee. Susan shared her son’s story of reliving the traumatic experiences of war and his disappointment when the VA failed to offer the care he needed to treat his despair. To address the lack of mental health care professionals in the VA and improve suicide prevention over the last decade, Sen. Moran has asked the VA to utilize Community Mental Health Centers (CMHC) to address the shortfall. The Veterans Access, Choice, and Accountability Act of 2014, passed by Congress and signed into law in August, provides that a veteran can receive care from the doctor or provider of their choice if they live more than 40 miles from a VA medical center or Community Based Outpatient Clinic (CBOC.) Sen. Moran raised concerns that many times a veteran will live near a VA facility, but that facility will not offer the mental health services they need.
YOUTUBE LINK: Click here to watch Sen. Moran’s remarks on YouTube.
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