Dr. Boozman's Check-up
KASU Interview April 16, 2015
Apr 16 2015
In case you missed our interview with Jonesboro’s KASU radio, you can listen to the interview here. We talked about foreign affairs issues including Iran, coalition efforts to defeat ISIS and the deteriorating situation in Yemen. We also discussed trade, our recent visit to Jonesboro, our efforts to get VA to reimburse Arkansas medical facilities for services they provide our veterans and the upcoming Senate Ag Committee on Cuba trade.
Arkansas hospitals and other healthcare providers are facing hurdles to getting reimbursed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) after providing medical care for veterans.
I’ve heard concerns from more than 60 health facilities around Arkansas about billing and payment issues with VA. Some claims have been pending for years.
As the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports “The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs owes Arkansas health care facilities approximately $24 million for care they've given to VA patients, according to the Arkansas Hospital Association.”
I’m concerned that the reimbursement times will have a negative impact on veterans healthcare. Working together to resolve billing and payment matters will ensure our veterans receive the healthcare they earned and our health facilities get the payments they are owed.
On Wednesday, my office hosted an event with Arkansas healthcare providers and VA officials from Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN 16) in Flowood, Mississippi, and the Veterans Health Administration Chief Business Office, Purchased Care in Denver, Colorado, to address issues that can influence the time it takes for reimbursement to Arkansas healthcare facilities including processing and coding.
Learn more about this issue and the meeting:
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette “$24M in claims still unpaid, Arkansas hospitals tell VA” (subscription required)
Arkansas Business Journal “John Boozman’s Staff Talks Reimbursement with Health Providers”
ICYMI: Boozman Visits Jonesboro
Apr 09 2015
Jonesboro – U.S. Senator John Boozman toured Northeast Arkansas and heard from business owners, service organizations and veterans program organizers how federal laws, rules and regulations are impacting their growth and services.
Boozman, toured the Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas. The facility opened in 2013 and serves more than 90 nonprofit agencies in 12 counties in the region. As a member of the Congressional Hunger Caucus, Boozman is committed to promoting public-private partnerships to combat hunger and food insecurity.
Boozman also toured Hytrol Conveyor Company, Inc. Hytrol designs and manufactures some of the most advanced conveyor systems in the material handling industry. In 1962 the company relocated to Jonesboro and today it employs more than 700 people.
The Senator discussed Second Amendment issues at the Black Iron Shooting Range with the owners, including the recent attempt by the Obama Administration to reclassify common rifle ammunition as “armor-piercing.”
As a member of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Boozman is committed to providing our veterans with the benefits and services they earned for their service to our country. Boozman toured ASU’s Beck Pride Center to discuss veteran issues including legislation introduced and passed by Congress to improve VA mental health services and the VA’s recent expanded eligibility for veterans to qualify for the Choice Act.
Learn more about his visit:
Jonesboro Sun - Boozman discusses Iran, gun rights (subscription required)
Talk Business & Politics - Sen. Boozman Tours Hytrol Factory In Jonesboro
The Paul Harrell Program – John Boozman interview 4-8-15
Mountain Home – U.S. Senator John Boozman toured Mountain Home’s Eaton Corporation on Tuesday, April 7. Eaton, a world leading power management company, employs more than 400 people in the Mountain Home area. The north Arkansas facility is one of the world’s largest producers of synthetic rubber and hydraulic hose for commercial construction. Following the tour, Boozman visited with KTLO about ways Washington can help create an economic environment that encourages job growth.
KFFB Open Mic
Apr 03 2015
There is a lot going on in Washington. I joined KFFB’s Bob Connell to talk about the debates underway in the nation’s capital and some of the issues that are concerning to Arkansans. If you missed our conversation earlier this week you can listen to the interview here where we talk about preventing a nuclear Iran and protecting our Second Amendment and the second part of our interview when we discussed improvements to veterans health services and our efforts to prevent illegal immigrants’ ability to claim the Earned Income Tax Credit.
I wrote the following piece for the Jonesboro Sun (subscription required) about the EPA's overreaching efforts to exert federal control over almost all state and local waters.
Let Arkansans Have a Say in Environmental Protection
by U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR)
Jonesboro Sun
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) bureaucrats in Washington, DC want you to think there are only two options: either give them wide-ranging power to control how we protect our environment, or live with dirty air and dirty water.
Arkansans know better. State and local work to protect the environment makes sense. It empowers citizens to speak up and be heard, and it allows us to weigh the costs and benefits of new rules. The frustration shared by many Arkansans is the direct result of an agency that often abuses its authority, forcing unnecessary costly mandates on them. And to add insult to injury, many times these mandates fail to provide honest environmental protection.
Last March, the EPA proposed the “Waters of the United States” (WOTUS) rule that could impose federal mandates over ditches, puddles and other waters that have never been controlled by Washington. This EPA power-grab violates the intent of the Clean Water Act (CWA), which provides water quality protection through partnerships between the federal government and the states. CWA does not provide unlimited power to the federal government.
Earlier this week, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge testified on this topic before the Senate Agriculture Committee. As a member of the Committee, I appreciated her testimony. She highlighted the “questionable legal basis for the proposed rule.” While displaying a printed copy of the massive rule, she explained that it “fails miserably at offering any clarity” for farmers and other land owners.
Over one million comments have been submitted to the EPA. Unfortunately, the Obama administration has doubled down on this rule, despite the opposition of more than 160 agricultural organizations and more than 70 non-agriculture organizations, including Arkansas groups like the Arkansas Associated Builders and Contractors and Arkansas Cattlemen’s Association.
For the past year, thousands of Arkansas farmers, ranchers, foresters and landowners have shared their concerns with me about the impact of the proposed WOTUS rule. The costs of permits and extended delays would add up quickly. We all pay these costs when we go to the grocery store or the lumber yard. As a voice for the Natural State, I am fighting against this agency overreach.
My colleagues and I have questioned the head of the EPA, Gina McCarthy, at several hearings. We have urged the Obama Administration to withdraw this harmful proposal. Despite what the proposed rule says, during our hearings, the head of the EPA has testified that the agency does not intend to take additional control of water. Since the EPA says it does not want to grab more power, at a minimum Congress should vote to hold the EPA to the commitments made in these hearings. Ultimately, I believe Congress must pass legislation to completely reject this rule and protect the role of states, local communities and citizens.
We must protect water quality, but we can do this without giving all power to Washington. Local citizens, including farmers and landowners have rights we must defend. I will continue to stand for Arkansas as long as I serve as your Senator.
Week in Review: March 23-27
Mar 27 2015
Ag Committee examines the impacts of the EPA’s proposed overreaching water rule, Arkansas veterans getting a new state veterans home, Franklin and Yell counties improving first responders capability and the Senate approves a budget. Read more about this busy week in Washington in this Week in Review.
- Senate Approves Budget to Rein in Spending: The Senate voted to balance the federal budget in ten years, without raising taxes, while strengthening our national defense and creating economic growth and opportunity for hardworking Arkansans. Included in the budget resolution approved in the unusually late night of votes was an amendment I introduced to cut waste, fraud and abuse across Washington. I also cosponsored an amendment to improve prevention and treatment measures that would mitigate the impact of virus outbreaks—such as the avian flu—on agriculture and the economy.
- Preventing EPA’s Water Power Grab: I appreciated hearing testimony from Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge about the potential impact the EPA’s proposed Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) rule and its impact on our state. The Senate Ag Committee held a hearing about the agency’s overreaching proposal.
- Rein in the IRS: As Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee I'm working to rein in the IRS and hold the agency accountable to the taxpayers. Read my blog post.
- Obamacare Anniversary: On Monday, we recognized the fifth anniversary of Obamacare becoming law. It’s not an anniversary worth celebrating. With a price tag in the trillions, the law creates more problems than it solves. It drives up health care costs, busts our budget, stifles job growth and raises taxes on hardworking Arkansans.
- Iran Nuclear Talks: The United States is in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program. What I’m hearing from Arkansans is that we need to be working to ensure that Iran does not become nuclear. I am especially concerned about this development as reported by the Associated Press.
- North Little Rock State Veterans Home: We received great news for Arkansas veterans. The Secretary of the Department of Veterans Affairs approved a 30 acre land transfer. This is a critical step in building a new veterans home in central Arkansas.
- Veterans Choice Program Update: VA updated criteria eligibility for the Veterans Choice Program to now allow veterans to see non-VA providers if a veteran lives 40 miles driving distance or more from a VA health facility.
- Golden Triangle Video: Members of the Golden Triangle Economic Development Council updated me on the economic improvements and needs of South Arkansas. I appreciated hearing about their efforts and how we can help create an environment that encourages job growth and development. MyArklaMiss highlighted a video of the group’s visit.
- Grant Funds for Emergency Response Equipment: Our first responders need the necessary tools to keep the community safe. USDA Rural Development awarded Franklin and Yell counties grants that will make it easier for first emergency personnel to respond and protect residents in emergency situations.
- Leading the Global Fight Against Human Trafficking – Our nation is a leader in the global fight to end human trafficking. However our efforts are hurt by the actions of few bad apples in the State Department who contribute to the demand for the human sex trade. That’s why I recently joined bicameral efforts urging the State Department to resolve the situation.
Troubling News from the Negotiations
Mar 26 2015
Secretary of State John Kerry once said, that when it comes to negotiating with Iran about its nuclear weapons program, “No deal is better than a bad deal.”
Now it appears he is negotiating for any deal.
The Obama Administration is considering what was once unacceptable—allowing the Iranians to maintain the capacity to continue enrichment activities at Fordow. This is no ordinary site. It is a fortified, underground military bunker built into the side of a mountain. It was constructed in secret and serves one purpose—to covertly produce weapons-grade highly enriched uranium.
The Associated Press reports that “[I]n return, Iran would be required to scale back the number of centrifuges it runs at its Natanz facility and accept other restrictions on nuclear-related work.”
Citing officials involved in the talks on background, the Associated Press story indicates that instead of uranium, any centrifuges at the Fordow facility “would be fed elements such as zinc, xenon or germanium for separating out isotopes used in medicine, industry or science.”
Any agreement of this nature would rely on Iran’s commitment to allow international inspectors to verify compliance. This is far too much trust to place in a regime that regularly deploys double-talk, delay tactics and manipulation when it comes to dealing with the international community. There is absolutely no reason, given the regime’s history, to believe that international inspectors will have the ability to honestly see what is going on at Fordow. None.
This troubling report shows the negotiations have moved a long way from the Obama Administration’s original position that Fordow must be shuttered. We have reached a point in the negotiations where the U.S. and our allies have conceded the upper-hand to the Iranians.
If this report is accurate, we will not achieve what the President promised at the onset of these talks. If President Obama is unwilling to walk away from a bad deal, once the guiding principle of the negotiations, Congress must have the authority to reject it.
Reining in the IRS
Mar 25 2015
It’s clear why Americans distrust the IRS. From abusing its enforcement of tax laws to paying millions of dollars in bonuses to employees, this agency is known for misusing taxpayer dollars.
The American people deserve better.
Instead of making taxpayers its number one priority, it’s clear that IRS Commissioner John Koskinen’s primary focus is IRS employees. Last week he sent an email to more than 80,000 IRS workers touting his ability to cut the budget to protect the priority of the IRS’ union – no furlough days this year.
Instead of working to regain the public’s trust, the IRS wants more money and more authority over the speech of political groups.
The President’s budget requests a $2 billion increase for the IRS in the next fiscal year. This is unrealistic and busts the budget cap established by the Budget Control Act.
And what exactly does the agency need this money for?
Koskinen says the agency is considering expanding “a yet-to-be-released rule governing 501(c)(4), “social welfare” groups, to include political groups known as 527s, which focus on elections” according to Politico. It appears that he has yet to learn lessons that cost his predecessor her job.
The IRS has a history of overreach. Two years ago we learned the agency targeted political groups, singling them out for additional scrutiny because of their ideological views. Now it wants authority to police political non-profits.
The agency needs to focus on regaining the trust of the American people, but I’m concerned this potential rule will continue to erode the already fragile relationship that the public has with the IRS.
An Anniversary Unworthy of Celebration
Mar 23 2015
The White House is celebrating five years of Obamacare today. The President’s website calls it a “historic law that has transformed the lives of millions of Americans.” I would agree with his claim that it has changed the lives of millions. I would disagree with his assessment that this change was for the better.
With a price tag in the trillions, the law creates more problems than it solves. It drives up health care costs, busts our budget, stifles job growth and raises taxes on hardworking Arkansans.
In its brief five years of existence, Obamacare has managed to point every indicator the wrong direction. Access to care went down. Cost of care went up. Coverage options shrunk. New taxes were created.
I remain hopeful that the case currently before the Supreme Court will end Obamacare. While the President’s law has survived a challenge in front of the Supreme Court before, the latest challenge taking on the law’s subsidies has his supporters rightly worried. If the Court rules against the President, Congress has to be prepared to have an immediate replacement in place.
This week, the Senate is considering a budget resolution that will clear the way for the repeal of Obamacare and reserve funds for programs that will strengthen the doctor-patient relationship, expand choice, and lower health care costs. We are prepared to address this crisis with market-based reform that puts patients in control and forces insurance companies to compete for their business. An approach that emphasizes flexibility, portability and fairness, not government mandates.
In the previous session of Congress, I voted to repeal, defund, and chisel away at parts of Obamacare. I will continue to support these efforts as we move forward in this session of Congress. We need to make this anniversary Obamacare’s last.