Rep. Bruce Poliquin: My First 60 Days in Congress

Over the last 60 days, I have finally settled in to all my offices and am working hard to help create more jobs, reduce the national debt, lower our heating costs and protect our freedoms.

My first week on the job, I spoke on the House floor in support of the Balanced Budget Constitutional Amendment. Our hard-working families in the Second District gather around the kitchen table and balance their budget, so why can’t Washington do the same? This Constitutional amendment will require the federal budget to be balanced and put a limit on annual spending. Finally, Washington will be forced to live within its means.

Another priority for me is to help solve the problem of unaffordable electricity and heating costs in Maine. To that end, I voted to; finally, approve the construction of the Keystone XL Pipeline. Once completed, with all environmental safeguards in place, this energy pipeline will help increase the supply and hold down the price of heating oil, gasoline and diesel. Our hard-working taxpayers will keep more of their own money, and more jobs will be created.

I have also been a proponent and have urged my colleagues, in the House and Senate, to support the Natural Gas Permitting Reform Act. This law will expedite the construction of new natural gas pipelines throughout America, especially in the Northeast. More natural gas flowing into Maine will lower the cost of electricity which is produced by burning this clean, abundant source of American energy. Furthermore, I sent a letter to the President and Senate leaders, urging them to act quickly on these job creating, cost-savings and energy independent bills.

Thirdly, I have supported several bills to help protect our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. First, I became an original cosponsor of the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act of 2015. This bill allow Mainers, who have a valid concealed carry permit, to cross state borders and have their permit be valid as long as that state allows concealed carry permits/licenses. Our law-abiding taxpayers should be able to defend themselves and their property as they travel the country.

I also became a cosponsor of the Recreational Lands Self-Defense Act. This bill will allow our sportsmen to possess firearms and State-issued concealed carry permits on lands owned and operated by the United State Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). With over 7 million acres of land owned by the USACE, our taxpayers should be able to defend themselves and their property as they legally fish, hunt and camp.

Last week, I joined my colleagues in sending a letter to the Director of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives expressing my concerns on a recent proposal to ban one of the most popular ammunition cartridges for Maine hunters. The President has no right to use his federal agency to restrict our Constitutional right to keep and bear arms. I will continue to protect our freedoms and remind the President, which he should already know, that our government is a system of checks and balances.

I have also been working to help remove Washington and its bureaucrats from our health insurance industry.

For example, one of my first votes in office was to repeal ObamaCare’s penalizing 30-hour mandate. The Save American Workers Act will restore the definition of a full-time employee to someone who works 40-hours per week. This will help our small businesses to expand, hire more hard-working employees and create a better business climate.

Furthermore, I became a cosponsor of the Patient Freedom Act which will repeal ObamaCare’s individual mandate. Our hard-working families should not be fined for opting not to pick a healthcare plan that does not fit their needs. I will continue to repeal the parts of ObamaCare that are hurting our families and killing job growth in the Second District.

Our hard-working families deserve a government that works for them, not against them.  One that helps build a healthy economy with more jobs, more opportunities, and more freedom.

I’m honored and humbled to represent the hard-working people of Maine’s Second Congressional District in Congress. Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me.

Please know that all my offices are open and feel free to call if we can be of assistance to you:

Bangor Office (6 State Street, Suite 101): 207-942-0583

Lewiston Office (179 Lisbon Street): 207-784-0768

Presque Isle Office (631 Main Street, Suite 2): 207-764-1968

Washington Office (426 Cannon HOB): 202-225-6306