Ridgewood NJ, Earlier this month Rep Scott Garrett meet with 9/11 activist Jon Stewart to discuss the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act, created to help fist responders and survivors of the 9/11 terror attacks.
Garrett had remarked on 9/11 ,” It has been 14 years since a horrific Tuesday morning in September forever changed the lives of every American. While the scars will always remain, we will never forget.
We will never forget those we lost. We will never forget those who ran into danger to help their fellow man and woman. We will never forget that evil forces still conspire to destroy our very way of life. And we will never forget those who sacrifice everything to defend our freedom.”
Garrett went on , “In the midst of chaos, in our hour of need, brave first responders saw the horrors of the September 11th terrorist attacks unfold before them, and they ran toward the danger to help their fellow man and woman. Today, they need us, and I’m proud to once again extend my gratitude to these heroes by urging my colleagues to support the James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act.
Thanks to Jon Stewart, a longtime advocate for this cause, my Congressional colleagues, and the 9/11 first responders who came to Washington, D.C. today to spread the word about this important legislation.
By Jonathan D. Salant | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
WASHINGTON — U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett and other members of the conservative Freedom Caucus said Friday that they would not vote for a spending bill that includes funding for Planned Parenthood, a position that could lead to the second federal government shutdown in three years.
Garrett (R-5th Dist.) is a founding member of the caucus of House Republicans and opposed the re-election of House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio).
“Given the appalling revelations surrounding Planned Parenthood, we cannot in good moral conscience vote to send taxpayer money to this organization while still fulfilling our duty to represent our constituents,” the caucus said in a statement. “We must therefore oppose any spending measure that contains funding for Planned Parenthood.”
Garrett Introduces Bill to Hold FSOC Accountable to the American People
Sep 18, 2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, today introduced H.R. 3557, the Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) Transparency and Accountability Act, to bring much-needed transparency and accountability to the FSOC.
“The Financial Stability Oversight Council (FSOC) is one of the most notorious examples of the kind of secretive and unaccountable government bodies that could only be a creation of Washington, D.C. The Dodd-Frank Act vested the FSOC with the authority to designate nonbank financial institutions as “too big to fail,” essentially giving them unprecedented authority over an entire sector of the U.S. economy without adequate checks and balances.
“The Council continues to hold closed-door meetings, refuses to publish substantive transcripts, and stonewalls requests from the people’s representatives when we need more information about its operations. No agency should be allowed to operate above the law in this way, and my bill will shed some much-needed light on this shadowy government body.”
Garrett’s legislation would:
Subject the FSOC to the Government in the Sunshine Act
Subject the FSOC to the Federal Advisory Committee Act
At all FSOC meetings, allow for the participation of all members of the Commissions and Boards represented
Require that any vote taken by the principal of a Commission or Board represented must first be taken by that Commission or Board and the principal must then in turn vote that same decision at the Council
Allow for Members of Congress on the Congressional oversight committees of FSOC to be able to attend all FSOC meetings
A previous version of the legislation passed the House Financial Services Committee in June, 2014.
Ridgewood NJ, Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement as the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) begins their September meeting:
“As the ridiculous amount of attention on this week’s FOMC meeting proves, the performance of our economy and the financial markets is increasingly dependent on a group of unelected bureaucrats at the Federal Reserve. Chair Yellen and her predecessors claim that the Fed’s monetary policy decisions are based upon objective criteria, yet traders, lenders, economists, and other market participants anxiously wait to probe and dissect every word in the FOMC statement.
“There is a problem when more Americans are looking to a secret Fed meeting for economic indicators than the actual financial markets. We need to scale back the undue influence that the Federal Reserve and other central bankers have on our economy by following what has worked in the past: a rules-based monetary policy that fosters greater certainty and leads to longer periods of sustained economic growth.”
PJ Blogger at Independence National Historical Park
On this date two-hundred and twenty-eight years ago, the delegates to the Constitutional Convention completed their arduous work and signed the document designed to restore liberty to the citizens of a new nation.
The American Republic was born out of a struggle against British tyranny and a monarchical system that our forefathers deemed incompatible with the rights of free men and women. Consistent with the principles espoused by the Spirit of ’76 and enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, the United States Constitution was not imposed on the people. It was humbly submitted to the people for their approval.
A great national debate followed. If the people were to judge the Constitution, they were expected to understand the Constitution. The Federalist Papers, a series of 85 essays written by Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison, responded to Antifederalist critics by serving as an invaluable guide to the Constitution’s provisions. Their arguments proved decisive and, eventually, the requisite number of states ratified the Constitution. Education was integral to the Constitution’s ratification.
At a time when the globe was dominated by kingdoms and empires, a skeptical world believed that a republic devoted to the ancient cause of liberty would inevitably fail. But the test of time has proven the wisdom, effectiveness, and durability of our great charter.
It has guaranteed our natural rights and preserved our cherished liberties.
It has inspired foreign peoples shackled by tyranny to seek to replicate what the Americans have accomplished.
It has resisted the waves of totalitarian ideologies that claimed human liberty to be a relic of antiquity.
On Constitution Day, Americans follow in the footsteps of the Founders, not only by recommitting ourselves to the Constitution’s enlightened provisions, but also by accepting the duty to provide the education necessary for the survival of a free people.
I commend all those that take the opportunity this day provides to promote the American ideals of human liberty and renew our commitment to the preservation of the Constitution of the United States.
Scott Garrett is the U.S. Representative for New Jersey’s 5th congressional district
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, delivered the following opening remarks at a Joint Oversight & Investigations/Capital Markets Subcommittee hearing entitled “Preserving Retirement Security and Investment Choices for All Americans”:
Congressman Scott Garrett’s opening remarks as prepared for delivery:
Every day, millions of Americans look to a broker dealer or investment adviser for guidance on what to do with their hard-earned savings and to help them achieve a secure and prosperous retirement
Once a privilege enjoyed only by the super-wealthy, personalized investment advice and access to the financial markets is now something that can be enjoyed by Americans of all income levels
The 2008 financial crisis and the current market turmoil have highlighted the importance of such advice, as numerous studies show that investors who work with a financial professional receive better and more consistent returns on their investments, while those who invest on their own often times make the mistake of “buying high and selling low”
In fact, the Department of Labor estimated in 2011 that people who invest without the benefit professional advice make errors that can cost them $114 billion every year
That makes it all the more curious that this same Department of Labor is now marching forward with a regulation that will upend the ability of Americans to receive such guidance and which threatens the retirement security of the most vulnerable within our society
When President Obama announced the rulemaking earlier this year, a release from the White House stated that the rule “…is taking a step to crack down on those…Wall Street brokers…who don’t put the best interest of working and middle class families first.”
But in looking down our panel of witnesses today and in reading through some of the 2,300 comment letters received by the DOL, it’s pretty clear that the biggest impact of this rule is going to be felt far from Wall Street – and millions of middle or lower income households may ultimately have no place to go for advice
Moreover, the SEC continues to contemplate implementation of a uniform fiduciary standard under Section 913 of the Dodd-Frank, a rulemaking that remains unsupported by empirical data and which could directly conflict with a DOL rule
So it’s clear that the time for Congress to act is now – and I want to commend Mrs. Wagner of Missouri for her continued leadership on this issue and for again putting forth a thoughtful piece of bipartisan legislation that will help preserve access to financial advice for Americans of all income levels
I thank our witnesses again and look forward to the discussion today
AUGUST 26, 2015 LAST UPDATED: WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY JOHN C. ENSSLIN
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
Rep. Scott Garrett told a Tea Party audience in Wyckoff on Tuesday that he opposes the proposed nuclear arms agreement with Iran but said stopping the deal will be difficult under the rules that the Senate has adopted.
Garrett, R-Wantage, said he considers the agreement reached by the Obama administration to be a treaty that ought to require two-thirds approval by the Senate.
But he said a majority of his colleagues still consider it an executive action by the president.
Under the rules adopted, it would require a two-thirds majority of both the Senate and the House to disapprove the deal after a 60-day review period.
“The burden of proof has shifted from them to us,” Garrett said of the rules.
As an executive action, the agreement could be undone by the next president, Garrett said.
“But the problem with that is that the next president will not be here for another 16 or 17 months,” Garrett told a crowd of about 70 people gathered at a forum hosted by the West Bergen Tea Party.
While talk of the Iran deal dominated most of the evening, the mostly receptive audience also peppered Garrett with other questions on topics ranging from the GOP leadership in the House to trade agreements and housing discrimination legislation.
None of the questions dealt with presidential politics or the race for the Republican nomination.
Wyckoff NJ, Its been asked over and over by every New Jersey editorial board ,will voters remember N.J. Rep. Scott Garrett’s supposed, anonymously sourced Speaker Bohner planted gay comments next fall?
The answer was heard loud and clear today and in meetings like it all over the state. Garrett spoke before a packed house at the WBTP and question after question was about a Nuclear Iran, TPP, TPA, and so on but not one single question about the anonymously attributed “gay ” comments , not one. Apparently Iranians shouting death to America and being handed nuclear weapons by our government , held sway over silly Republican intramural politics .
Last night Garrett spoke before the West Bergen Tea Party meeting in Wyckoff which looked like a who’s who in North Jersey Republican Politics including Bob Yudin of BCRO and Paul DiGaetano .
Garrett took some heat for Republican failures to achieve any meaning for change in the disastrous direction the country is headed ,after which he reminded the crowd that he was just one person and will vote against the Iran Nuke deal , had voted against Obamacare, voted to with hold TPA from the president , and had voted against speaker Bohners leadership .
Garrett took it one step further when explained that he and 8 other house members, now grown to 50 that had started a caucus in the house which looked to push a more constitutional based agenda for the house. Garrett seemed even more frustrated than members of the audience with the current political situation and suggested the House could use the power of the purse to defund the Iran deal .
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (R-NJ), Chairman of the Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government-Sponsored Enterprises, issued the following statement after the SEC announced a finalized pay ratio rule as required by Dodd-Frank:
“The pay ratio rule will do nothing to provide useful information to investors, improve our economy, or help struggling Americans find a job. What it will do is impose substantial costs upon American businesses and their shareholders, and make our capital markets less attractive for growing companies. We need to work to grow our economy and expand opportunity for all Americans—not create new red tape and regulations that do nothing to achieve those goal.
Garret also offered a special thanks to Ciaran, Jonathan, Michael, Allison, Catherine, Joe, and Kayla,all interns from his Washington, D.C. office, Garret said “for all of your hard work this summer! You did a great job, and I hope you learned a lot during your time on Capitol Hill.”
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) today introduced H.R. 3273, the Prohibiting Assistance to Nuclear Iran Act, to ensure that no U.S. funds or resources would ever be used to help and defend Iran’s nuclear program. Garrett’s bill would prohibit U.S. assistance to Iran to develop, use, or protect their nuclear technology as requested in the nuclear agreement President Obama delivered to Congress earlier this month.
“Among its many flaws, President Obama’s nuclear deal with Iran requests that the United States and the other negotiating nations help develop, modernize and protect Iran’s nuclear program. This is unacceptable,” said Garrett. “Iran is a danger to the United States and its allies, and therefore should not be allowed to continue their nuclear proliferation—especially with U.S. support. My bill would ensure that no U.S. resources will help Iran develop nuclear capabilities that could someday be used against us or our allies around the world.”
Background:
The nuclear arms agreement with Iran that the Obama Administration delivered to Congress calls for the E3/EU+3 (China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom and the United States) to have civil nuclear cooperation with Iran. These measures are defined in Annex III of the agreement and they include cooperating with Iran to modernize reactors, acquire fuel, exchange technology, and assist with additional research. Rep. Garrett’s bill would ensure that no U.S. resources—including military assistance—will be used to help Iran’s nuclear program.
Media Generated Controversy ? How far will GOP press Garrett?
GOP insiders
JULY 26, 2015, 11:16 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JULY 28, 2015, 7:39 AM
BY HERB JACKSON
RECORD COLUMNIST |
THE RECORD
Rep. Scott Garrett’s decision to stop supporting a key Republican campaign fund did more than raise questions about his attitudes toward gay people — it highlighted an often-obscured reality about the political machinery that ties congressional power to cash.
Party leaders — for both Democrats and Republicans — know that certain committee assignments give members of Congress access to lucrative streams of contributions from industries that those committees oversee.
And the pressure applied to Garrett to contribute to his party shows that when someone who needs to pay for an election every two years is put in a position to tap those streams, leaders expect loyalty and a piece of the action.
Garrett, a Republican from Wantage whose district is dominated by Bergen County voters, is resisting pressure to do both. He has a long record of going his own way when voting on the House floor, and in an interview with The Record last week indicated he will continue to do so if he believes a matter of principle is at stake.
He also has reportedly told colleagues he will not pay his “dues” to the National Republican Congressional Committee’s campaign fund because it has supported gay candidates and because of differences with the leadership of House Speaker John Boehner, whose reelection Garrett opposed in January.
It’s an unwritten rule in Congress that dues to the party committee are tied to a member’s position in the chamber. And Garrett is chairman of a subcommittee that handles legislation affecting stock markets and the mortgage industry, a post that could be in jeopardy because of his resistance.
Garrett raised nearly $1 million in both the 2012 and 2014 election cycles from employees and PACs tied to banking, insurance, securities and real estate interests, according to the Center for Responsive Politics. His latest campaign finance report showed Garrett had $2.2 million available on June 30 and nearly a year and a half to raise more for his 2016 reelection.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the following statement on the nuclear arms agreement with Iran:
“As I’ve said since the beginning of these negotiations, any agreement that allows Iran to acquire, build, or proliferate nuclear weapons—now or in the future—is a threat to the United States and its allies. The Iranian regime has done nothing to prove that it has earned the trust or respect of the international community, and therefore should not be rewarded with good faith gestures or sanctions relief.
“With this deal, a timetable is set where Iran can organize, increase military capabilities, raise funds, and prepare for deadlines where they will be able to acquire ballistic weapons and continue their nuclear proliferation. This could create a nuclear arms race in the Middle East and further destabilize an increasingly volatile region. Congress must ensure the terrorist state of Iran never has a chance to threaten the world with nuclear weapons.”
RIDGEWOOD, NJ , Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) honored Korean War Veteran and Wanaque resident Thomas Falato, during today’s flag raising ceremony, which traditionally starts the Annual Ridgewood 4th of July Parade. Reaching the rank of Corporal, Mr. Falato served in the Second Korean Winter of 1951-1952, where his many medals included the Korean Service Medal with two Bronze Stars. He served in the U.S. Army from 1951-1953 and the U.S. Army reserves from 1953-1957.
“What better time of the year to be reminded of what great country we live in, then to pay tribute to our veterans, especially those who fought in the dangerous and often inhospitable battle conditions of Korea,” said Garrett while presenting a congressional resolution to Mr. Falato, which recognizes his dedicated and unselfish service to his country.
Born and raised in Hackensack, Mr. Falato has stayed active in veteran activities, serving as Post Commander of Korean War Veterans Association Taejon Chapter #170 in Saddle Brook. He is also a retired manager from Verizon.
“Today’s Trade Promotion Authority bill doesn’t do enough to ensure proper congressional oversight of future trade deals, strengthen middle class New Jersey families, or protect American jobs; and therefore I could not support it. Trade requires trust, and many New Jerseyans find it difficult to trust a White House that gave us unconstitutional amnesty, maintained the broken tax code, and implemented a massive government takeover of our health care system. While I believe there is a path to trade agreements that strengthen our country and protect American jobs, today’s bill falls short of the mark.”
Rep. Scott Garrett (NJ-05) issued the above statement after he voted against the Trade Promotion Authority bill:
Garrett was target of crackdown by House Speaker Boehner, report says
JUNE 25, 2015, 5:16 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, JUNE 25, 2015, 5:21 PM
BY HERB JACKSON
WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT |
THE RECORD
Rep. Scott Garrett’s penchant for bucking the Republican House leadership and voting his own way almost cost him his chairmanship of a House subcommittee, according to a report by Politico.
But Garrett told The Record he hasn’t been approached about his voting by either Speaker John Boehner or Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, the chairman of the Financial Services Committee. But he also went out of his way to mention he was pleased another conservative who did lose his chairmanship got it back on Thursday.
Politico reported Wednesday night that Garrett was one of the targets of a crackdown Boehner had begun on on conservatives who oppose the party on major legislation, especially those in privileged spots as subcommittee chairmen.
Prefering to handle discipline through committee chairmen, Boehner had House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy approach Hensarling, and he vouched for Garrett, Politico said.
JUNE 9, 2015 LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JUNE 9, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY SCOTT GARRETT
THE RECORD
By reducing funding to the program that gives grant money to transit agencies for new projects by 4 percent, Congress could have fully funded our nation’s rail safety and operations.
WHAT WOULD be your top priority if the roof on your house was caving in? Would you build a new addition? Renovate the kitchen? Put in a swimming pool? Of course not — you would fix the roof, because it protects your home and your family.
Just as you wouldn’t add a new addition before fixing your home, Congress shouldn’t prioritize new transit over the immediate safety needs of our freight and passenger rail lines.
The number of train accidents is a growing concern among all Americans. Just this year we have seen oil train derailments in West Virginia and North Dakota, and more than a dozen Amtrak-related accidents. Most recently, a tragic crash in Philadelphia claimed eight lives and injured dozens more.
In New Jersey alone, we have more than 1,000 miles of commuter railroad tracks and 2,400 miles of freight railroad tracks. Furthermore, New Jerseyans travel more than 100 million miles on commuter trains every year. Americans both here and across the nation need assurance that Congress and the rail industry are taking the appropriate steps to ensure rail safety.
The Federal Railroad Administration’s Safety and Operations Account funds safety projects for both freight and commuter trains across the country. In light of the recent concerns over train safety, I was disappointed that the FRA’s safety account did not receive an increase in funding in the Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development Appropriations Bill.
