Hartzler: We are grateful to the men and women who fight for our freedoms

In her weekly newsletter, Fourth District Congresswoman Vicky Hartzler praised the team that executed the successful raid on the compound where Osama bin Laden was hiding:

It was an eventful week that began with word that Osama Bin Laden, the mastermind of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, had been shot and killed by U.S. forces in Pakistan. This action brought to an end the nearly ten-year search for justice for the families of the 9/11 victims and for our country as a whole. Justice has, indeed, been served. Nothing can compensate for the loss of loved ones who were taken on that fateful September day almost a decade ago, but at least there's now some resolution for the families and we are all grateful for that.
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I had the opportunity to participate in classified briefings dealing with the details of this historic mission. While I can't share the specifics of what I learned, I can say unequivocally, that all of us cannot commend enough the brave individuals who carried out this mission for their dedication, professionalism, and courage. They are to be praised as are all the branches of the service that participated in this joint mission to stop the number one terrorist in the world intent on doing us harm. Our world is safer today as a result of their brave efforts. There is a phrase about America that is so appropriate at this time: “Home of the free because of the brave.” Today we are all grateful there are men and women who are willing to fight for our freedoms. We all owe them a debt of gratitude as they remain vigilant.
In other news, the House voted this week on important legislation to save taxpayer dollars by putting an end to government funding of abortions. As a co-sponsor of the “No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act” I was pleased to see the bill pass with such a solid majority, 251-175. This legislation would establish a permanent, government-wide prohibition on taxpayer subsidies for abortion and abortion coverage. It also closes certain loopholes that give tax-preferred status to abortion through health savings accounts and itemized deductions. While everyone recognizes that abortion is legal in this land, it doesn't mean that taxpayers should subsidize it with their hard-earned tax dollars. An April, 2011 poll by CNN confirmed that over 61 percent of Americans do NOT support their tax dollars going to pay for abortions. As I said on the House floor, "This isn't controversial; it's common sense!" When the government is borrowing 42 cents out of every dollar it spends, now is the time to reduce unnecessary spending wherever we can find it. This is one issue a vast majority of Americans agrees on. The measure now goes to the Senate.
This week the House also took action to address our nation’s skyrocketing fuel prices. Pump prices are hovering around the $4 per gallon mark in many communities throughout the Fourth District and steps must be taken to deal with this burden that negatively impacts the budgets of families in all corners of our state and throughout our country. We passed H.R. 1230, the Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act. It would require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct certain offshore oil and gas lease sales within four months of the date of the law taking effect. It would also ensure that projects must be up and running or completed in a timely manner. The Obama Administration has been denying permits to drill in American waters at a time when gas prices are skyrocketing.  It makes no sense to do this. It's time to reverse course and use the natural resources our country is blessed with. I spoke on the House floor about this issue: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6qvXHtNr1hc
In the coming weeks we’ll be presenting more legislation aimed to reduce our dependency on foreign oil and provide relief from budget-busting pump prices. Washington needs to get out of the way and support energy production in the United States.  It's time to begin now!