National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition Endorses McClintock

(Roseville, CA)  Today Congressman Tom McClintock received the endorsement of the National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition for re-election to California’s 4th Congressional District.

“I am truly honored to have earned the endorsement from one of the nation’s leading veterans coalition. In my tenure in Congress, the care of those who have served and sacrificed for our country has been one of my top priorities,” said Congressman Tom McClintock.

In their letter endorsing Congressman McClintock, the Coalition stated: “Your leadership and patriotism are especially needed in the House of Representatives at this particular time in our history when our beloved country is at risk, not only from foreign terrorists, but from domestic advocates of extreme social and economic ‘reform’ and the weaklings who fail to confront them.”

“I personally wish to thank you for your efforts to ensure that the American people learn the truth about Benghazi and for your vote against giving aid to the ‘free Syrian rebels’,” said John J. Molloy, Chairman of National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition,

The National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition consists of 70 veterans organizations and veterans advocacy groups, which represent over 250,000 veterans and their families.

Congressman Tom McClintock has represented California’s 4th Congressional District since 2009 and serves on the Natural Resources and Budget Committees.

Interview with 4th Congressional District candidate Congressman Tom McClintock

Why are you running? 
To restore those uniquely American principles of individual liberty, constitutionally limited government and personal responsibility that built the most prosperous republic in the history of the world.

What do you believe are your qualifications for this office? 
People know where I stand and can trust that I will stand firm.  The National Taxpayers Union has rated me the best vote for taxpayers in the House of Representatives two years running.

What is your top priority currently? 
Restoring the economy by reducing the burdens that excessive government taxation and regulations have placed on it.

McClintock meeting with local vets brings rural veteran issues to light - Op-ed

Prior to the McClintock Town Hall meeting held August 7, 2014 at 6 pm in the Copperopolis Armory, Congressman McClintock held a meeting with local veterans to hear the concerns facing rural veterans.

The veterans who attended, did so with the knowledge that they were meeting with someone who could potentially help them in their ongoing plight to obtain help for rural veterans.

Combat veterans of Korea, Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan were present.

Though many issues were addressed, the issue most stressed was the lack of services readily available to the veterans within the Congressman's congressional district.

Congressional District 4 includes Alpine, Amador, Calaveras, Mariposa and Tuolumne Counties as well as sections of Fresno, Madera, Nevada and Placer Counties.

According to the CalVet 2013 veteran population numbers, there exists 130,265 veterans within this district. (Though these numbers include the total populations of veterans in the full counties of Fresno, Madera, Nevada and Placer.)

With a comparative analysis, the population of veterans within this district is approximately equal to that of Orange County with 132,529 veterans.

Orange County boasts 5 facilities for veterans; North County Vet Center, South County Vet Center, VA Long Beach, Anaheim Veterans Clinic, and VA Laguna Hills Outpatient Clinic.              

District 4 offers two facilities; Sonora Outpatient and Fresno Vet Center.

Questions were also raised about:
Access to prescriptions- use of a non-VA clinic to pick them up, Rite Aid, CVS, etc. One vet pointed to the turmoil of mail order scrips...when a vets prescription gets lost in the mail he can't just head up to CVS and get a refill.

Access to housing: there isn't any.

Inability to use Mather as opposed to Palo Alto- apparently the two VA hosptials do not "talk" to one another causing delays in treatment, services and care.

Excessive miles to travel for basic service - from some locations in Calaveras County the travel time to the closest clinic can exceed 80 miles and a trip to Palo Alto can be an almost three hour trip...one way. Try doing that with PTSD or a back injury.

VA backlog - in order to reduce backlog Oakland VA sent their claims out to less backed up VA's. One veteran's claim is back east after being bumped to three separate claims offices in three different states along the way.

'Proof of service' claim and care denials -  many who served in wars that our government did not want the public to know about are not able to receive care through the VA. For instance, a DD214 (separation document) will not list Cambodia or Laos....supposedly we were not there. But for many vets the reality is very different. The fight to receive care for these veterans is a web of unfathomable bureaucracy and though they fought, they are refused care.

Possible use of HR3230 funds for a clinic in Calaveras or Amador - HR3230 recently signed into law by the President allows for some funds to be used for building and or leasing of building for outpatient clinics.

When asked what he had learned from the veterans in attendance, McClintock stated, "The sooner we go to a VA choice system the better (allowing veterans to use local facilities with VA reimbursing the facilities)...VA care is dramatically different from one area of the district to the other; there are clearly overcrowding issues in this area....we need to expand civilian services to veterans." He also stressed the importance of communication and that congressional inquiries into VA claims would be a top priority.

The hour was up too quickly and the vets could only hope that they had enlightened Congressman McClintock to their plight. Veterans thanked him for his time and his willingness to hear their concerns as well as his seemingly clear desire to see some action take place for services for veterans.

While I do not profess to be a veteran, I am a veteran advocate, and as such many veterans entrust their feelings and thoughts to me. This being said, it is very important to note that many of the veterans in attendance (about 98%) had been 'burned' by the VA at some point in their life. Some had given up accessing care through the VA and were simply trying to exist, others have opted to fight for something that is rightfully theirs. Either way, it is important to understand that their very presence at this meeting showed remarkable strength. They have learned over the years to not trust the very government they fought for; not to expect any help. But they did come and they did speak and hopefully their voices were heard.

This type of meeting was not taken lightly by the veterans. Some went home that night and suffered flash backs. Others went home feeling exhausted, spent, and still helpless against the bureaucratic machine. But they all came before their representative with one goal; "to fix the system for those coming home."

I hope Mr McClintock heard their simple requests for help they, and those coming home, so badly deserve and so desperately need. I hope he saw them for what they truly are....heroes.

by
Charity Maness

Kevin Reimman OIF vet read a prepared speech to McClintock covering subjects from access to prescriptions to access to care and praised McClintock for his voting record attendance.

McClintock holds Copperopolis town hall - Calaveras Enterprise

Calaveras County residents had the ear of Rep. Tom McClintock during a town hall meeting held Aug. 7 at the Armory in Copperopolis, where he addressed various issues raised by questions from the public ranging from timber harvesting to water issues to health care changes to Iraq.

To read more pick up a copy of the Calaveras Enterprise or visit   http://www.calaverasenterprise.com/news/article_6851d7be-21ad-11e4-b5f5-001a4bcf887a.html

Congressman McClintock town hall meeting in Copperopolis TONIGHT 8-7-14

Congressman Tom McClintock represents the Copperopolis area in Congress, and is inviting all constituents to a town hall meeting. The Congressman will make brief remarks on the state of national and international affairs, and then take questions from the audience.

The meeting will be held Thursday, August 7, 6:00 PM at the Copperopolis armory, 695 Main Street.

Congressman Tom McClintock was elected in November 2008 to represent the 4th Congressional District in the United States Congress. Rep. McClintock is the Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, and is a member of the Budget Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.   He is also a member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. 

Congressman Tom McClintock to hold Town Hall in Copperopolis

Congressman Tom McClintock represents the Copperopolis area in Congress, and is inviting all constituents to a town hall meeting. The Congressman will make brief remarks on the state of national and international affairs, and then take questions from the audience.

The meeting will be held Thursday, August 7, 6:00 PM at the Copperopolis armory, 695 Main Street.

Congressman Tom McClintock was elected in November 2008 to represent the 4th Congressional District in the United States Congress. Rep. McClintock is the Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, and is a member of the Budget Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.   He is also a member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. 

Congressman Tom McClintock to hold Town Hall meeting in Copperopolis

Congressman Tom McClintock represents the Copperopolis area in Congress, and is inviting all constituents to a town hall meeting. The Congressman will make brief remarks on the state of national and international affairs, and then take questions from the audience.

The meeting will be held Thursday, August 7, 6:00 PM at the Copperopolis armory, 695 Main Street.

Congressman Tom McClintock was elected in November 2008 to represent the 4th Congressional District in the United States Congress. Rep. McClintock is the Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, and is a member of the Budget Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.   He is also a member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. 

Congressman Tom McClintock to hold Town Hall meeting in Copperopolis

Congressman Tom McClintock represents the Copperopolis area in Congress, and is inviting all constituents to a town hall meeting. The Congressman will make brief remarks on the state of national and international affairs, and then take questions from the audience.

The meeting will be held Thursday, August 7, 6:00 PM at the Copperopolis armory, 695 Main Street.

Congressman Tom McClintock was elected in November 2008 to represent the 4th Congressional District in the United States Congress. Rep. McClintock is the Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, and is a member of the Budget Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.   He is also a member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. 

Congressman Tom McClintock to hold Town Hall meeting in Copperopolis

Congressman Tom McClintock represents the Copperopolis area in Congress, and is inviting all constituents to a town hall meeting. The Congressman will make brief remarks on the state of national and international affairs, and then take questions from the audience.

The meeting will be held Thursday, August 7, 6:00 PM at the Copperopolis armory, 695 Main Street.

Congressman Tom McClintock was elected in November 2008 to represent the 4th Congressional District in the United States Congress. Rep. McClintock is the Chairman of the Water and Power Subcommittee of the House Natural Resources Committee, and is a member of the Budget Committee and the Natural Resources Committee.   He is also a member of the Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands. 

McClintock - Putting fish before people, "The wildly frivolous and extravagant water releases from our dams last month make a mockery of the extraordinary sacrifices that our citizens are making to stretch supplies in this crisis. "

The New Year of Obamacare by Tom McClintock

The New Year of Obamacare

House Chamber
Washington, D.C.
December 11, 2013

Mr. Speaker:
A great tragedy is now unfolding across America as we prepare for the New Year.  Millions of Americans are losing their health plans; millions more are facing staggering price increases; millions more are having hours cut or seeing their salaries pared back at work because of Obamacare.
Sadly, this is just the beginning.  In coming days, millions of employer-provided plans face cancellation, multiplying this disaster many fold.
The administration recently held a contest for videos to promote Obamacare.  Its grand prize winner featured this message: “Don’t worry about the price tag.”
“Don’t worry about the price tag?”
Isn’t that helpful and compassionate advice to the millions of Americans who are struggling through the fifth year of Obamanomics and who are now also facing the reality of seeing their premiums double or triple?  Just “don’t worry about the price tag,” skip the house payment and cough up the extra cash.

Statement by District 4 Congressman Tom McClintock on HR 2775

 Statement by Congressman Tom McClintock on HR 2775

October 16, 2013

House Republicans have fought to protect the American people from the negative effects that Obamacare is already having on the accessibility, affordability and quality of American health care.  

Senate Democrats, backed by the President, refused to resolve the differences between the two houses through the process of negotiation and compromise that is essential to any bicameral legislative system.  As a result, the system seized up and produced a prolonged stalemate, a partial government shutdown and a looming debt crisis.  Worse, unlike previous presidents who acted to minimize the damage caused by such an impasse, this President cynically acted to maximize public suffering and threatened to default on the nation’s sovereign debt.

District 4 rep Tom McClintock letter to Speaker 10-2-13

Relief Until Resolution (H.J.Res. 70)
October 2, 2013

Mr. Speaker:
            Last night, the House attempted to re-open our national parks.  Twenty two Democrats defied their party leaders and joined with the majority to provide this vital relief.
            The little towns around Yosemite National Park depend on tourism for their economies.  They’re still reeling from the Yosemite Rim Fire that brought tourism to a near standstill last month.

Letter to the Speaker from District 4 rep Tom McClintock re:shutdown

Let Us Reason Together

October 1, 2013

 

 

Mr. Speaker:

 

This shutdown should not have happened.  

 

The framers of our Constitution designed our system to have tension and differences between the two houses of the Congress.  That’s a given.  

 

But after the House and Senate have exercised their best judgment, they are then supposed to then sit down and negotiate out their disagreements.  This is the way our bicameral system has worked for 225 years.  It is the only way that it CAN work.  

 

That hasn’t happened this time.  This time, the House proposed a compromise – nearly two weeks ago – to keep the government open and to defund Obamacare in order to address the epidemic of dropped health care policies, massive rate increases, and job cut-backs that we are now seeing as a result of its implementation.

 

Congressman McClintock - 4th District rep - comments on House floor re:budget

Resolving the Healthcare and Fiscal Dilemma - A Common Course for Common Goals

September 28, 2013 3:12 PM

House floor remarks by Congressman Tom McClintock, September 28, 2013 
Resolving the Healthcare and Fiscal Dilemma
A Common Course for Common Goals
September 28, 2013
 Mr. Speaker:

A crisis is not a good time for inflammatory rhetoric and ad hominem attacks.  I will simply say that yesterday, the President missed an opportunity to bring both sides together.  That responsibility now rests solely with us.
Nobody on the Republican side of the aisle wants to see a government shutdown or a credit default.  And I am confident that nobody on the Democratic side wants to see millions of Americans lose the health plans they were told they could keep; or see their healthcare costs skyrocket, or lose their jobs or work hours because of the unintended consequences of Obamacare.
       But these events -- that nobody wants to see -- are now unfolding.  They will do great damage to our nation that nobody on wants to see happen.
If we agree on these fundamental issues, our course should be clear and is only blocked by the kind of partisan division that we heard yesterday from the White House.
We can avert these calamities and redeem this institution if we can put aside the name-calling for a few days and get down to business.

Congressman Tom McClintock Issued the Following Statement Regarding Reports of Impending Military Action Against the Government of Syria

I am deeply concerned about reports that the President is preparing to order acts of war against the government of Syria without congressional authorization. 

 

The Constitution clearly and unmistakably vests Congress with the sole prerogative “to declare war.”  The President’s authority as Commander-in-Chief to order a military attack on a foreign government is implicitly limited by the Constitution to repelling an attack and explicitly limited under the War Powers Resolution to: “(1) a declaration of war, (2) specific statutory authorization, or (3) a national emergency created by attack upon the United States, its territories or possessions, or its armed forces.”  Unless one of these conditions is present, the decision must be made by Congress and not by the President.

 

Nor does our participation in NATO allow the President to order an unprovoked act of war.  The North Atlantic Treaty clearly requires troops under NATO command to be deployed in accordance with their country’s constitutional provisions.  The War Powers Resolution clearly states that the President’s power to engage United States Armed Forces in hostilities “shall not be inferred …from any treaty heretofore or hereafter ratified unless such treaty is implemented by legislation specifically authorizing the introduction of United States Armed Forces into hostilities…”  

McClintock - Oversight Field Hearing on "Stopping Federal Land and Water Grabs: Protecting Property Rights from Washington, DC Edicts" (National Blueways Order)

Opening Statement
Chairman Tom McClintock
Subcommittee on Water and Power
Monday, July 29, 2013
West Plains, Missouri
Oversight Field Hearing on “Stopping Federal Land and Water Grabs: Protecting Property Rights from Washington, DC Edicts”

 

At the request of Congressmen Jason Smith, Billie Long and Rick Crawford, the Water and Power Subcommittee meets today in West Plains, Missouri to hear first-hand of the dangers and potential impacts of the so-called “National Blueways Order” of the Department of the Interior, and other exclusionary federal land and water management policies.   

McClintock : Defending Freedom with Purse Strings

Defending Freedom with Purse Strings

July 23, 2013

 

Mr. Speaker,

 

This has been a summer of alarming revelations that suggest our government is drifting far from the principles of individual liberty and constitutionally limited government that defined the American Founding and that produced the most free and prosperous Republic in the history of mankind.

 

These developments include:

 

The use of the IRS and other government agencies to single out ordinary Americans because of their political beliefs with the apparent intention to discourage and intimidate them out of participating in the public policy debate;

 

The use of the Department of Justice to target reporters who are asking embarrassing questions of the administration – in one case with the threat of prosecution under the Espionage act;

McClintock speech - The Real Endangered Species: The Sierra Nevada Hard Working Family

July 18, 2013

 

Mr. Speaker:

 

I rise today to warn of the latest episode in a saga that can best be described as “Greens Gone Wild.”  It involves the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service proposal to declare two million acres in the Sierra Nevada Mountains as “critical habitat” for the Sierra Nevada Yellow Legged Frog and the Yosemite Toad under the Endangered Species Act.

 

That is essentially the footprint of the Sierra Nevada mountains from Lassen County north of Tahoe to Kern County just outside of Los Angeles.  This designation would add Draconian new restrictions to those that have already severely reduced productive uses such as grazing, timber harvesting, mining, recreation and tourism and fire suppression efforts.  

 

And for what?  Even the Fish and Wildlife Service admits that the two biggest factors in the decline of these amphibian populations are not human activity at all, but rather non-native trout predators and the Bd fungus that has stricken amphibian populations across the western United States – neither of which will be relieved by this drastic expansion of federal regulations.  

 

The species that will be most affected by this action is the human population, and that result will be tragic, severe, and entirely preventable.  

 

McClintock speaks out in defense of legal immigration

 In Defense of Legal Immigration

July 10, 2013
 

 

Mr. Speaker:

 

America is a nation of immigrants.  We are all either immigrants ourselves or we are the sons and daughters of immigrants.  America’s motto is “E Pluribus Unum” – from many, ONE.  From many nations we have created one great nation – the American nation.  

 

There is only one way to accomplish this remarkable feat and that is through the process of assimilation.