Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick last week in Philadelphia.
Credit: Petty Officer 1st Class Seth Johnson/ Coast Guard
Republican Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has voted on two important pieces of legislation that will have an impact abroad and at home.
On Tuesday, Fitzpatrick voted to increase sanctions against Russia, Iran and North Korea. The bi-partisan vote was 419-3.
“Restoring global stability where peace and liberty can flourish is predicated on American leadership. Both abroad and at home, our nation and its leaders must speak with one voice when opposing those who wish to do us harm or seek to delegitimize the shared values of sovereignty, human rights and the rule of law. These sanctions are vital to sending that message,” Fitzpatrick said.
In addition to the sanctions, the bill includes a measure that would allow Congress to block easing of those sanctions by the president. The Washington Post reported that members of the Trump administration had lobbied to get Congress to “scale back the congressional review power in the bill.”
The bill next moves to the Senate for a vote.
Fitzpatrick’s office noted that he is a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee while adding he had pushed for added sactions against North Korea and a review of the controversial Iran nuclear agreement that was agreed to under President Barack Obama’s administration. The freshman congressman has also spoken in support of Ukraine and against Russian aggression in Eastern Europe.
On Monday, Fitzpatrick voted in favor of bipartisan legislation that would extend benefits in the GI Bill.
The charges brought forward by H.R. 3218 (The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017) include making the GI Bill into a single program, remove time restrictions for service members using government program, increase funding for military Reservists and Guardsmen and lend support to veterans who take certain technical coruses.
Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08) joined the House Monday in passing bipartisan legislation to strengthen veterans’ educational benefits. The Harry W. Colmery Veterans Educational Assistance Act of 2017 [H.R. 3218] – cosponsored by Fitzpatrick – improves and extends GI Bill benefits by removing time restrictions for service members using the GI Bill, consolidating the GI Bill into a single program over time to reduce administrative costs, increasing GI Bill funding for Reservists and Guardsmen, and supporting veterans who eventer certain technical courses.
Fitzpatrick said on the floor of House of Representatives that the upgrade to the bill will help to “ease the transition from active duty to civilian life by paving the way with new career opportunities and technical education.”
