Congressman McHenry Weekly Update

May 1, 2016

Congressman McHenry Weekly Update

Enhancing Your Email Privacy

Did you know that under current law, the government can access any of your emails that are over 180 days old without a warrant? Furthermore, the current federal law addressing American's digital privacy was passed three decades ago in 1986. It is long past time Congress acted to update our digital privacy laws and this week we did just that with House passage of H.R. 699, The Email Privacy Act. This vital legislation updates our digital privacy laws to reflect the vast technological changes we've seen over the last 30 years while also ensuring our law enforcement has the resources they need to protect public safety in the digital age. I am a proud cosponsor H.R. 699 and joined with a unanimous majority in the House to pass it on Wednesday. Learn more about this important bill here.

Ensuring America's Economic Competitiveness

In the global marketplace in which we live it is imperative that America's manufacturers remain competitive with rivals overseas. But far too often, misguided Washington regulations handcuff American companies thus empowering their foreign competitors. On Wednesday, the House passed H.R. 4923, the American Manufacturing Competitiveness Act of 2016 which cuts tariffs American businesses are currently forced to pay. These tariffs or taxes cause the cost of American produced products to rise thus making our manufacturers less competitive globally. You can learn more about how H.R. 4923 will help American manufacturers remain competitive here.

Making It Easier for Startups to Raise Capital

Since seeing my investment crowdfunding legislation signed into law as part of the JOBS Act of 2012, I've continued to work tirelessly to help small businesses and startups access the capital they need to grow and create jobs. That work continued this week with House passage of H.R. 4498, the HALOS Act. This bipartisan bill deals with angel investing--investors who help businesses at their earliest stages, investing which has helped grow large companies like Google and Facebook. The HALOS Act will reduce regulations on these angel investors making it easier for them to invest in job-creating businesses around the country. Learn more here.


	What I Have Been Reading
	From beer to beef: Farmers make use of spent brewery grain *Asheville Citizen-Times* Interesting article from the Citizen-Times on what becomes of the spent grain from Asheville's breweries. Spent grain is produced in the brewing process and is frequently donated to local farmers for use as feed for cows. In 2014, the FDA attempted to regulate spent grain, an effort I worked against as detailed in my Citizen-Times op-ed here. Obamacare disaster will be Obama's enduring domestic legacy *The Washington Post* Strong opinion piece on what many consider to be President Obama's paramount domestic legacy: the disaster that is Obamacare. As the op-ed above outlines, Obamacare has driven up healthcare costs, limited access to doctors, and forced many Americans off the plans they like. I've voted numerous times to repeal this broken law and will continue those efforts so we can give Americans what they deserve: a healthcare plan that actually works. Former Panther Steve Smith takes teen with rare disorder to prom *WBTV* A few weeks ago, I shared the news that former Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith would help a Gaston County teen realize her dream of being escorted to prom by an NFL player. The story above is a heartwarming update on Bessemer City's Aubrey Bridges memorable night which was capped off by her being named prom queen.

WASHINGTON, D.C. OFFICE
2334 Rayburn HOB
Washington, D.C. 20515
Telephone: 202.225.2576
Fax: 202.225.0316

GASTONIA DISTRICT OFFICE
Suite 115
Gaston Co. Administrative Bldg
128 West Main Avenue
Gastonia, NC 28053
Telephone: 704.833.0096

HICKORY DISTRICT OFFICE
87 4th St. NW, Ste A, PO Box 1830
Hickory, NC 28603
Telephone: 828.327.6100
Toll-Free in NC: 800.477.2576
Fax: 828.327.8311

BLACK MTN. DISTRICT OFFICE
160 Midland Avenue
Black Mountain, NC 28711
Telephone: 828.669.0650

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