Paul Broun RSS Articles

Broun Votes to Authorize Our Armed Services, Passes Amendment Restricting Drone Use

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) today released the following statement after voting in favor of H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

“I reluctantly supported the NDAA because it is critical that we provide for our national defense and give our men and women in uniform the resources they need. However, I am deeply concerned that the bill doesn’t go far enough to protect U.S. citizens from government overreach, and I plan to continue to work with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to ensure that Americans’ rights are protected.

“I am pleased that two of my amendments were included in the House-passed bill. The first prohibits the Department of Defense from using drones to kill Americans. The second will help my constituents who served abroad get the benefits that they’ve earned.

“At the same time, I am disappointed that an amendment I cosponsored to sunset the Authorization for Use of Military Force – a bipartisan effort with Congresswoman Barbara Lee of California – was not included. The AUMF is the root of some of the most egregious overreaches of the federal government, including warrantless surveillance, indefinite detention, and extra-judicial killing operations.

“The AUMF, as utilized by our federal government, is an affront to our liberty and it must go. If additional war authorizations are needed, they should be narrow and clear - as our Founders intended.”

H.R. 1960 passed by a 315-108 vote.

Broun to Host ‘Coffee with the Congressman’ in Oconee County

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) today announced that he will host a ‘Coffee with the Congressman’ event at Jittery Joe’s Coffee in Watkinsville, GA. All residents of the 10^th Congressional District are invited to join Congressman Broun at this free event which is open to the media as well.

“I am excited to be hosting this ‘Coffee with the Congressman’ in my hometown,” said Broun. “I hope to see new faces as well as some of my Watkinsville neighbors as we enjoy a cup of coffee and talk about the issues that matter most to you. I invite y’all to come ready with questions, suggestions and comments so that I can learn how to better serve you.”

What: Coffee with the Congressman

Who: U.S. Congressman Paul Broun and

10^th District Residents

When: Monday, June 24th,2013 at 8:00 AM

Where: Jittery Joe’s Coffee

27 Greensboro Hwy

Watkinsville, GA 30677

Broun Letter Urges House Leadership to Remove SNAP from FARRM Act

Tue, 11 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) today sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor urging them to take steps to remove the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and other nutrition programs from the upcoming Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management (FARRM) Act. The letter, signed by 25 Republican members of Congress and supported by Heritage Action and Americans for Prosperity, focused on the fact that over 80 percent of legislation ostensibly meant to authorize federal farm programs is instead devoted to SNAP, pushing the total cost of the bill close to $1 trillion.

“Combining the reauthorization of federal agriculture programs and nutrition programs into one bill has resulted in a battle of competing interests, and it represents a major reason why reauthorization – and much-needed reform – of these programs have been unsuccessful thus far. It is my hope that Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor will work to divide these unrelated programs into two distinct bills so that the House may engage in an open and transparent debate on both issues.”

The FARRM Act is expected to be considered by the House of Representatives next week.

Read full text of the letter to Speaker Boehner and Majority Leader Cantor below:

Broun Offers $230 Million in Cuts to 1st Appropriations Bill

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) today released the following statement after offering two amendments to the Fiscal Year 2014 Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bill. The amendments totaled more than $230 million in targeted cuts which would then be transferred to the spending reduction account.

“As a Marine and a member of the Navy Reserves, I believe it’s absolutely critical for us to have a strong national defense, to support our troops, and to take care of our veterans,” said Rep. Broun. “That’s why I plan to support this legislation. But, there are still areas in this bill where we can save taxpayers money. My two amendments would cut out funding for a program that bolsters NATO as well as funding for their new headquarters in Brussels which features a price tag of more than $1 billion. Frankly, I believe we need to be winding down our involvement in NATO altogether, and we certainly shouldn’t be paying for a new, state-of-the-art monument to bureaucracy overseas. I hope these amendments give the American people a glimpse of the kinds of targeted cuts that we can implement if we band together this appropriations season and make our first goal identifying and then cutting wasteful spending in Washington.”

Broun Applauds Passage of Keystone Pipeline Bill

Thu, 23 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10), an original cosponsor of H.R. 3, the Northern Route Approval Act, today released the following statement after the House of Representatives passed the legislation by 241 to 175 votes.

Broun said, “The debate about the Keystone Pipeline has gone on for way too long – let’s get this bill signed into law, let’s break ground, and let’s put thousands of Americans back to work. The Senate and the Obama Administration must do their part in helping House Republicans secure an energy-independent future by acting immediately on this critical piece of legislation.”

Broun Announces June Constituent Service Days

Mon, 20 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

Field representatives from the office of Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) will set up mobile offices in multiple communities beginning Monday, June 3^rd. These meetings will serve as opportunities for people to ask questions and see what services his office provides. For more information, constituents may call the Athens District Office at (706) 549-9588 or visit his website www.broun.house.gov.

“One of my most important jobs as your Congressman is to provide direct assistance to you – whether that means helping secure a tour while visiting Washington, or advising you in dealing with a government agency.” said Rep. Broun. “My staff and I are here to serve you in any way we can, so please come out to any of these locations with your questions or suggestions for ways we can help.”

Constituent Service Days

Monday, June 3

9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Powell Building @ Central State Hospital

620 Broad Street, Suite 401-C

Milledgeville, GA 31062

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Glascock County Farm Bureau

47 E. Main Street

Gibson, GA 30810

Tuesday, June 4

9:00 am – 12:00 pm

Crawfordville City Hall

110 Broad Street

Crawfordville, GA 30631

9:30 am – 12:30 pm

Mansfield City Hall

3146 Highway 11 South

Mansfield, GA 30055

1:30 pm – 4:30 pm

Walton County Courthouse

Conference Rm G1

303 South Hammond Drive

Monroe, GA 30655

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Thomson-McDuffie Senior Center

304 Greenway Street

Thomson, GA 30824

Wednesday, June 5

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Monticello – Jasper County Chamber of Commerce

Susan D. Holmes Council Chamber

119 West Washington Street

Monticello, Georgia 31064

2:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Henry County Government Annex Community Room

116 South Zack Hinton Parkway

Mcdonough, GA 30253

Broun on Obamacare Repeal: It’s May, and It’s About Time

Fri, 17 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Congressman Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10), a cosponsor of H.R. 45, Congresswoman Michele Bachmann’s legislation to repeal Obamacare, today released the following statement after the House passed the bill 229 to 195 votes:

“Today marks the third time that the Republican-led House has voted to fully repeal Obamacare since it was passed in 2010,” said Rep. Broun. “While I applaud action finally being taken for the first time in the 113^th Congress, this should have been our number one priority on the first day of the new session. The 113^th Congress began in January. It’s May – and it’s about time

“Every day premiums are going up. Every day a new part of this deplorable healthcare law goes into effect. Every day patients are finding that they can no longer afford their healthcare plans due to this law’s onerous new regulations. So I ask my colleagues, why are we not acting – every day – to protect Americans from this attack on their freedom?

“We’re starting to see the wheels truly fall off of Obamacare. We now know that it will cost double what the President originally promised, that you can’t keep your plan if you like it, and that CMS can’t scrape up the money to implement state-based exchanges. Even some of the original authors of Obamacare, like Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus, have admitted that this bill is ‘a huge train wreck.’

“We must continue to keep up the pressure on the Senate, the Administration, and the President to rip this healthcare nightmare out by the roots, and start over with healthcare reform that makes sense. We need to pass my Patient OPTION Act, which I am currently re-drafting, as a way to make healthcare cheaper for everyone, provide coverage for all Americans, and save Medicare from going broke.”

Broun to Host Grants & Small Business Expo in Walton County

Wed, 08 May 2013 04:00:00 GMT

U.S. Representative Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) will host a Grants and Small Business Expo at the Walton County Courthouse (lower level) from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 21^st. This event will provide individuals who are seeking grant funding and business loans the opportunity to talk with government representatives about the application process and their programs.

“My hope is that the benefits of this expo reach as many individuals and organizations as possible,” said Broun. “Whether you own a small business or are a representative for a nonprofit or municipality, you will have the chance to speak with state and federal representatives and gain valuable information on grant and loan procurement.”

Grants.gov will provide a webinar presentation. In addition, the following agencies will be in attendance to answer questions:

Appalachian Regional Commission
U.S. Department of Education
Georgia Department of Community Affairs
Office of Small Business Development Centers
U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
U.S. Small Business Administration

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Georgia Department of Community Affairs Housing Finance Division
Georgia Student Finance Commission
Georgia Tech Procurement Assistance Center
The Foundation Center

The Grants and Small Business Expo will be held at the Walton County Courthouse on the lower level, located at 303 S. Hammond Drive in Monroe. This event is free and open to the public; registration is not required. For more information, constituents may contact Congressman Broun’s Grants Coordinator Beth Blalock at Beth.Blalock@mail.house.gov .

WHAT: 2013 Grants and Small Business Expo

WHO: 10^th District Residents Seeking Funding for Applicable Projects

WHEN: Tuesday, May 21st from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Walton County Courthouse (lower level)

303 S. Hammond Dr.

Monroe, GA 30655

Henry County Student to Represent 10th District in 2013 Congressional Art Competition

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

On Saturday, April 27, 2013, U.S. Representative Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) unveiled the winning entry for the 2013 Congressional Art Competition. During a district ceremony at Georgia Square Mall, Congressman Broun announced that Sierra Manesh, a student at Union Grove High School, won 1^st Place with her piece, entitled Mexican Blanket. Sierra received a gift card to a mall store, an invitation to attend a national reception, and two airline tickets to Washington, D.C. Her artwork will be on display for one year in the Cannon Tunnel that leads to the U.S. Capitol, and she is eligible to receive a collegiate art scholarship.

Congressman Broun with Sierra Manesh, pictured in front of the winning entries from the 10^th Congressional District.

Additionally, Congressman Broun announced that Hannah Middlebrook from Union Grove High School won 2^nd Place, Laura Foxworth from Union Grove High School won 3^rd Place, and Maleah Monn from Union Grove High School won Honorable Mention. Art graduate students from the University of Georgia judged the entries.

“I’m extremely proud of all the students who contributed to this year’s Congressional Art Competition, especially Sierra Manesh,” said Broun. “She is a talented young artist, and I am excited to have her artwork represent the 10^th District among the nation’s best in the U.S. Capitol.”

Seventy-three high school students from the 10^th Congressional District participated in the 2013 Congressional Art Competition. Click HERE to view photos from Saturday’s ceremony.

Broun Honors Tenth District Veteran

Wed, 24 Apr 2013 04:00:00 GMT

On Monday, April 22, 2013, U.S. Representative Paul Broun, M.D. (GA-10) presented Mr. Marion Snider with the following military medals: The Good Conduct Medal, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal, Philippine Liberation Ribbon, Honorable Service Lapel Button for WWII and Marksman Badge w/ Rifle Bar. Mr. Snider misplaced his medals after returning from deployment and Dr. Broun and his caseworkers were able to replace them.

“It was a tremendous honor to present these medals to Mr. Snider, and my staff and I were very glad to assist with replacing them,” said Congressman Broun. “It was the least we could do for such a decorated war hero. Mr. Snider truly exemplifies the principles of sacrifice, duty, and humility that so many of our soldiers serve our country with today.”