Walorski’s Backbone Earns ‘Spine Award’
“To have a spine, you have to have the backbone to stand up for your convictions,” stated Tim Berry, Indiana’s Republican Chairman, in introducing U.S. Rep. Jackie Walorski. Berry and Walorski were in Syracuse Thursday night for the Fourth Annual Spine Award presented by State Rep. Rebecca Kubacki.
“I’m going to put it on my wall in my Washington Office and with my big 5-0 birthday, I feel I’m going to need one of these someday in my lower back. Thank you so much you guys, it’s beautiful,” said Walorski, who was the recipient of the Spine Award. She was recognized for her backbone and spine to stand up for what she believes in and for her constituents.
The freshman representative shared what is happening in Washington and her experiences over the past seven months. Repeal of the medical tax device, defunding Obama Care and the need for a balanced budget were her main topics.
In his introduction, Berry noted Walorski stands up for her convictions “for children, families, community, state and, most importantly, her country.” He said she did not sit back as some freshmen congressmen, but instead introduced “legislature which was unanimously passed in the house to extend the whistle blower protection to victims military sexual assaults, standing up for families, standing up for people …”
Walorski, who fought hard to be elected and be on the armed services committee, veterans affairs and budget committees, stated she believes in a strong national defense, relaying her feelings when she and husband, Dean, were in Romania when 9/11 occurred. She said she vowed at that time to do “everything humanly possible to protect the greatest nation in the world.”
Recently she and other congressmen with their spouses were in Israel and, while having dinner at a restaurant on the Sea of Galilee, a cruise boat backed to the dock and began shooting off fireworks. A band began playing “God Bless America.” “We all stood and embraced arms, with tears running down our checks … greatest country on the face of the earth and to stand there with Allies who were thanking us for standing with them.”
Walorski noted her desire to make a difference while in office. She reported on leading the efforts to reduce the Veterans Affairs a two-year back log. “I’m a freshman, I have to wait my turn to ask questions, but I’m prepared … very articulate what they are going to do to help the veterans of this country,” she said. Walorski noted her district has 54,000 veterans, that it takes 443 days to get claims resolved and she recognized the atrocity of how veterans are having to wait.
“Washington has a spending problem,” said Walorski, noting the federal government’s $16.7 trillion debt, if divided among each household in America, would be $145,000 each. Hoosiers understand a balanced budget creates jobs, that’s why I wrote the balanced budget constitutional amendment as my first piece of legislation in the 113 congress. “Spend no more than we take in. That’s what we’re doing in Indiana.”
She noted how the government is always on the edge of an international crisis, with the Pentagon facing cuts which threaten the military. While she realizes there is a lot of government waste and fraud, the national debt is the greatest threat. She noted the House budget plan is to have a balanced budget in 10 years.
“The fiscal year ends Sept. 30,” Walorski said. “There will be fireworks … continue with resolutions to keep programs in operation to paying veterans and our soldiers who are oversees fighting … a practice in Congress since the 1970s … big bill at the end.”
She discussed the medical device tax, which has created $1.7 million in additional taxes over seven months with 43,000 jobs at risk. She did note there is a bi-partisan effort to support an overturning of that tax and said she will pursue repealing the tax until it is repealed. The tax has a ripple down effect increasing device cost. The VA reports if the prices increase, it may have to purchase lower quality products.
“The U.S. is the greatest country on the face of the earth. I’m committed to do my part to continue to work hard on a bi-partisan level with anyone who wants to work with me to free us from this debt that’s shackled small businesses. At the end of the day, I need to keep hearing from you.”
Rep. Kubacki has presented the Spine Award for the past four years to individuals who have a backbone to take a stand in their beliefs. Past recipients have included Former Gov. Mitch Daniels, Gov. Mike Pence, The Grossnickle family and now Walorski.