Our Representatives in the News

Congressman Reid Ribble

Ribble visited Tactical Base Gamberi in Afghanistan in late November. Ribble was accompanied by Rep. Rob Wittman from Virginia, Rep. Madeleine Bordallo from Guam, Rep. Bill Flores from Texas, Rep. Mike Coffman from Colorado and Rep. Dave Loebsack from Iowa. The members of Congress went to visit the troops for the holidays and assess the situation in Afghanistan. The representatives sat and ate with members of 3rd Cavalry Regiment and 3rd Infantry Division. Soldiers had opportunities to talk to their own state representatives. Ribble discussed a myriad of different topics, from hunting back home to foreign affairs and the State of the Union. The Wisconsin citizens soldiering in Afghanistan left with a better understanding of the political situation back in the U.S. Congressmen Ribble had the opportunity to reach out and see what the concerns of the Wisconsin-born soldiers are in Afghanistan.

Source:  3^rd Cavalry Public Affairs Office

Sen. Tammy Baldwin

U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin joined a group of 40 Senate colleagues in supporting the Department of Defense’s (DOD) plan to update the Military Lending Act (MLA) and close existing loopholes in order to better protect soldiers and their families from abusive financial practices. The letter expresses strong support for the proposed new rule to help prevent lenders from charging excessive fees and taking advantage of military families. Following a 2006 Pentagon report that found that “predatory lending undermines military readiness, harms the morale of troops and their families, and adds to the cost of fielding an all-volunteer fighting force,” Congress passed the MLA. This law capped the annual interest rates for consumer credit to service members and their dependents at 36 percent while giving DOD the authority to define what loans should be covered. The comment period for the proposed rule was recently extended and ends on Dec. 26, 2014.

Source:  Baldwin press release

President Barack Obama

The president’s remarks regarding Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel’s resignation:  “Chuck came to me to discuss the final quarter of my presidency and determined that having guided the department through this transition, it was an appropriate time for him to complete his service. Let me just say that Chuck is and has been a great friend of mine. I’ve known him, admired him and trusted him for nearly a decade since I was a green-behind-the-ears, freshman senator, and we were both on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. If there’s one thing I know about Chuck, it’s that he does not make this or any decision lightly, this decision does not come easily to him, but I consider myself extraordinarily lucky to have had him by my side for two years. And I am grateful that Chuck has agreed to stay on until I nominate a successor and that successor is confirmed by the Senate. Which means that he’ll continue to guide our troops at this challenging time.”

Source:  White House press release