With a 24-year old daughter and a 22-year-old son, Congressman Barry Loudermilk represents Georgia’s 11th district in the U.S. House of Representatives with future generations in mind. He spoke to a room full of constituents at a town hall meeting in Bartow County last Thursday, Feb. 19 on a variety of current issues affecting all Americans.
“The millennial generation is more interested in safety and security and individual liberty and freedom,” Loudermilk said. “A lot of the issues are driven by those factors.”
The congressman believes that paying attention to details like these is pertinent to serving those in his district. “Understanding the differences in the different generations is one thing that has been important to us.”
The demographic that encompasses traditional college students has a history of not showing up to the polls, but Loudermilk points out that this is the exact age group that needs to provide the input.
“A lot of the issues we’re dealing with now are going to be the ones that affect the millennial generation coming up…what we do now is going to affect your generation.”
National Debt – currently over $18 trillion
“One of the things that we’re working on is a balanced budget amendment to the Constitution, which I think we have to have, with some exceptions carved out for wartime spending, emergencies.”
Net Neutrality – concept that the government does not need to interfere with internet and service providers do not have the right to discriminate and charge more to certain customers based on internet usage
“No, the government doesn’t need to be involved in the internet whatsoever.”
Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act – would ban abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, unless deemed necessary to save the woman’s life or in a rape situation
“I’ve championed most of the pro-life legislation at the state legislature…we are being told the bill is going to come back up.”
Religious Freedom Restoration Act – currently states that governments should not burden religious exercise without justification, but presently does not apply to states
“[To] Chief Cochran, we offered a letter [we] got some of our members to sign on, basically asking the mayor: he needs to hire the guy back. He was fired for his believes, not for his actions.”
“The language of [Religious Freedom Restoration Act] is already federal law, but the state does need to pass that.”
Veterans’ Affairs
“We will repay [a] portion of the education cost if a doctor will come and work in the VA to try to bring more doctors in the VA – it’s passed the House, it’s still in the Senate.”
Common Core – educational standards imposed from kindergarten through the 12th grade
“We’re still looking at it…but it [the bill] does de-fund any aspect of the federal Department of Education funding Common Core, so opposed to Common Core.”
American Laws for American Courts – concept of protecting American citizens’ constitutional rights against the infiltration of foreign laws and legal doctrines into U.S. court cases
“Making sure Shariah Law doesn’t happen – any foreign law.”
Dodd-Frank Act – currently imposes major regulations on the financial industry and enforces strict guidelines on banks to force them to remain prepared for a shutdown if they run out of money
“One of the things we’re working on…is passing a bill that exempts smaller banks from some of the more onerous [effects] because those are the ones that are hurting the small businesses.”
“It’s the small banks, the community banks, the ones that are suffering.”
