WASHINGTON (July 23, 2014)—Congressman Luke Messer is gearing up for the second 6th Congressional District Job Fair of the summer.  The Job Fair will take place Thursday, August 7, 2014, at Ivy Tech Community College in Lawrenceburg.     More than 50 employers have now signed-up to attend.  The Job Fair is open to the public from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m. and will open one hour early, at 1 p.m., for veterans only.     “Thanks to strong leadership in our state, Indiana’s unemployment rate is less than 6-percent,” said Congressman Luke Messer.  “But, that’s still too high.  In this struggling economy too many hard-working Hoosiers are having a difficult time finding good-paying jobs.  That’s why I’m glad we’re able to partner with some great local organizations to host two job fairs this summer with dozens of regional employers looking to hire.  The job fair in Muncie in July was a big success, and I look forward to seeing everyone in Lawrenceburg!”   Employers scheduled to attend Lawrenceburg job fair: Southeastern Indiana Economic Opportunity Corporation (SIEOC) MSW Packaging Advantage Resourcing Caring First Home Health Strategic Talent Connections Two Hawk Employment Services Dearnborn County Government Securitas Security Services Forethought, a Global Atlantic Company Hill-Rom Company, Inc. ClearPoint Federal Bank & Trust Army National Guard AWS-Benchmark Proteus, Inc. Baylor Trucking, Inc. NVIC - North Vernon Industry Corp. Staffmark Transportation Batesville Casket Company McLane Foodservice Grote Industries ECU Staffing Multi Services, Inc. Hubert Company, LLC SMX Gardens Alive Belterra Casino Resort Indiana Wesleyan University Speedway, LLC Experience Works, Inc. SIILC Home Care The Waters of Dillsboro-Ross Manor Trustaff Personnel Service New Horizons Rehabilitation Diversco Family Connections Disability Employment Initiative/Southeast Indiana Workforce Investment Board Trillium Driver Solutions Western & Southern Life Insurance Honda MFG of Indiana, LLC Interim Healthcare RidgeWood Health Campus DHL Shady Nook CTS Driving Academy at Ivy Tech/Center for Transportation Safety Kelly Services, Inc. River Valley Financial Bank Silver Memories Healthcare East Indiana Area Health Education Center (EI AHEC) AccuDoc Urgent Care Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Staff Mark Admission to the 6th Congressional District job fair is free.  No pre-registration for attendees is required. The number of participating employers is subject to change. If you need additional information on the job fair, please contact Tim Hawkins at timothy.hawkins@mail.house.gov or 317-421-0704.  If you are a member of the press and have questions regarding the job fair, please contact Liz Hill at liz.hill@mail.house.gov or 202-225-3021. The 6th Congressional District Job Fair in Lawrenceburg is being held in cooperation with WorkOne Southeast, Ivy Tech Community College and Dearborn County Commissioners. Read More

[[{"fid":"475","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":""},"type":"media","attributes":{"height":"488","width":"325","style":"float: right;","class":"media-element file-teaser"}}]]The Batesville Bulldogs and the Greensburg Pirates are big rivals on the basketball court, but two competitive alumni are ready to play for the same team in Congress.  This week, proud Pirate, Congressman Luke Messer (IN-06) welcomed the newest member of Congress, Curt Clawson, to Washington.  Congressman Clawson represents Florida’s 19th District but has Hoosier roots.  He was raised in Batesville and played on the Bulldogs basketball team in high school.   “As a 5’ 11” power forward, my basketball career ended on the freshman ‘B’ team,” said Congressman Luke Messer.  “But, the lessons I learned from sports—lessons like team work, executing a plan and playing hard until the final buzzer—have stayed with me throughout my life.  I’m sure Curt learned some of those same principles, and I look forward to working with him and playing for the same team here in D.C.” Although Congressman Clawson no longer lives in Indiana, he looks back fondly on his days as a Bulldog. “I loved playing for Coach Ehrman and with my teammates, and I have stayed in touch with several of them for all these years,” said Congressman Clawson.   “My family quickly adopted Batesville as their hometown and living there was a wonderful experience for my parents, brothers and sisters.  Since 1993, my parents have made Southwest Florida their home, where I have since moved and am honored to represent.  It’s been great getting to know Congressman Messer, and I look forward to getting to work here in Washington for the people of Florida’s 19th District.” Congressman Clawson was sworn into office on June 25th.  He serves on the House Committees on Foreign Affairs and Homeland Security. Congressman Messer currently serves on the House Committees on Education and the Workforce and Financial Services. Read More

If you are like most Americans, you probably have heard of the Federal Reserve.  But, you may not know much about what the Fed actually does or the very real ways its decisions impact your day-to-day life.  The Federal Reserve was founded by Congress in 1913 to ensure a safer, more flexible, and more stable monetary and financial system. What that means today is that the Fed has broad authority to set monetary policy and regulate the American financial system.  Its policies have broad economic implications for the nation, and they impact Main Street just as much as Wall Street.  The Fed helps set interest rates.  It makes rules banks and other financial institutions must follow.  It provides credit to banks in emergency situations.  It uses monetary policy to make sure the economy doesn’t grow too quickly or too slowly.  It encourages maximum employment and controls inflation.  The Fed even has the power to print money.  This means the Fed’s policies and decisions partly determine how much money you can borrow, how much it will cost to borrow that money, the value of your investments, and the regulations governing many of your financial transactions.   This extraordinary power comes with great risk.  Years of Fed policies—that kept interest rates artificially low, allowed big financial institutions to make risky investments with your money, and permitted lax lending policies—enabled the housing crisis that brought our economy to its knees.  That left many with homes worth much less than they paid for them.  Many lost their jobs.  Small towns across rural America were devastated.  Our economy still hasn’t fully recovered.  Unfortunately, without a change in law, Congress can’t police the Fed properly.  Current law allows the Fed to operate in virtual secrecy, not justifying its actions to Congress like most federal agencies are required to do. The Fed also has so much discretion that it often appears its decisions are reached arbitrarily and subjectively instead of in an objective and systematic manner.  That has to change. As a member of the House Committee on Financial Services, I recently participated in a hearing with the Fed’s new chairman, Janet Yellen.  I came away from that hearing believing more than ever that Congress needs to make the Fed more accountable to the American people.  That’s why I have cosponsored the Federal Reserve Accountability and Transparency Act (H.R. 5018), which will require the Fed to operate more transparently and be more responsive to the people’s representatives.  The bill establishes a framework within which the Fed must operate so its deliberations are more open and understandable and its decisions are reached more systematically.  Specifically, the legislation requires the Fed to conduct a cost-benefit analysis when it adopts new rules; provide more information to Congress more regularly; open its rulemaking process; and adopt a more standard rules-based approach to monetary policy or be audited.   The measure also requires disclosure of the salaries of highly-paid employees and requires those employees to abide by the same ethical requirements as other federal financial regulators. Together, these reforms will empower Congress to provide better oversight of the Fed on behalf of the American people.  We cannot continue to allow a largely unaccountable Central Bank to exert such enormous influence over our economy and our lives in such a secretive manner.  I am committed to shining a light on the Fed and its operation so it is more open and accountable in its management of the American people’s money and guidance of our economy. Read More

WASHINGTON--Today, Congressman Luke Messer delivered a speech from the House floor urging for a child, stuck in the Congo, to be released to his adoptive parents in Muncie, Indiana.  Ashley and Jonathan Riegler legally adopted Chiza, who is HIV positive, on August 27, 2013.  Nearly a year later, he has not been able to come home to be with his parents and two siblings. While stuck in the Congo, Chiza has not been receiving the proper care or life-saving medication he so desperately needs. Just last week, Congressman Messer sent a letter to Ambassador Susan Jacobs who is with the Department of State’s Office of Children’s Issues.  The letter urged for the expedition of Chiza’s field investigation, which has taken far longer than the typical three to six months.  While field investigations are critical to ensuring transparency and accountability in intercountry adoptions, this process has taken far too long.  “All children, regardless of where or the circumstances into which they are born, deserve loving families,” said Congressman Luke Messer from the House floor. “I’ll continue working to make that dream a reality for the Riegler’s and others like them who simply want to love and care for their adoptive children who desperately need both.” For video of Congressman Messer’s speech click here.  The full text of the speech is below.   "There’s a loving family in my congressional district who has a safe home for a little boy who needs a lot of love and care.   "The Riegler’s, who live in Muncie, adopted their son Chiza last August.  "This adorable little boy is stuck in the Congo for political reasons that have nothing to do with his specific situation.  "As a nation, we should refuse to accept the continued separation of Congolese children from their adoptive American parents—especially children, like Chiza, with urgent medical needs. "All children, regardless of where or the circumstances into which they are born, deserve loving families. "I’ll continue working to make that dream a reality for Chiza and the Riegler’s and other families like them who simply want to love and care for their adoptive children who desperately need both." Read More

Editor's note: Rep. Luke Messer, R-Indiana, is the head of the freshman class of House Republicans and is a member of the House Subcommittee on Higher Education and Workforce Training. Other members of the subcommittee who have also signed on to this include: Rep. Virginia Foxx, R-North Carolina, chairwoman; Rep. Thomas E. Petri, R-Wisconsin; Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, R-California; Rep. Glenn Thompson, R-Pennsylvania; Rep. Tim Walberg, R-Michigan; Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Arizona; Rep. Brett Guthrie, R-Kentucky; Rep. Lou Barletta, R-Pennsylvania; Rep. Joseph J. Heck, R-Nevada; Rep. Susan W. Brooks, R-Indiana; Rep. Richard Hudson, R-North Carolina; Rep. Luke Messer, R-Indiana. The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the authors. (CNN) -- These are tough times for hard-working families. Too many Americans are either unemployed or underemployed. Families are juggling bills they can't pay. Many believe they are working harder but only falling farther and farther behind. Worse yet, some Americans have given up looking for work altogether. According to the June unemployment report, the number of Americans actively searching for a job is at a three-decade low. Of those who found a job, nearly one in three had to settle for part-time work. So, it may be surprising to learn that more than 4.5 million open jobs went unfilled the month before. Although several factors contributed to these numbers, in this weak economy, many Americans are not equipped with the necessary knowledge and training for high-demand careers in the changing 21st century job market. Fifty-two percent of adults have not been trained with the literacy skills needed for success in the workforce. And two-thirds of Americans with disabilities do not participate in the workforce at all. The status quo isn't working. There are more than 50 workforce development programs spread across nine federal agencies meant to help people find meaningful employment. These programs are well intended, but unfortunately, even with a price tag of nearly $18 billion each year to taxpayers, very few have been evaluated to determine if the programs even work. Simply put: Our nation's job training system is overly complex and terribly failing those who need it most. That's why we are proud to support the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (H.R. 803) which renews our nation's workforce training laws for the first time in more than a decade. This overwhelmingly bipartisan bill, which passed the House earlier this week, will improve our nation's workforce development system, improve job opportunities for the underemployed, and, most importantly, help put millions of unemployed Americans back to work. In this stagnant economy, it is more important than ever that we create a system to prepare workers for 21st century jobs and help businesses find the skilled employees needed to grow a healthy economy. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act improves the workforce development system by eliminating 15 duplicative programs, empowering local boards to tailor training services to their region's specific needs, and supporting access to real-world education and development through on-the-job training. This bipartisan bill also aligns workforce development programs with economic development and education initiatives. Furthermore, it lets businesses identify in-demand skills and connect workers with the opportunities to build those skills. By demanding more effective and more accountable government programs, the act will reform the workforce development system in a way that will provide real results to those searching for jobs at a lower cost to taxpayers. The bill is a great example of what Congress can accomplish when both sides come to the table to work toward the common good. While it took a more than a year for the Senate to get on board, once implemented, the act will help Americans -- from recent college graduates to veterans to dads looking for work since the recession began -- find good-paying jobs that build a foundation for easier lives and more opportunities. So, what's next? The bill is headed to the President's desk because Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid chose to finally work with Republicans. We hope he will do the same with dozens of other jobs bills collecting dust in the United States Senate. After all, while this legislation is a step in the right direction, there is much more work to do to build a healthy economy. Read More

Now that the House leadership elections are over, it's time for another go-round. At least, that's how Rep. Luke Messer of Indiana sees it. On Thursday, he confirmed he's already running to become the next chairman of the House Republican Policy Committee—the fifth-ranking position in party's leadership ladder. Messer, who is currently the House GOP freshman class president, says he's telling Republican colleagues this week he wants their support this fall when internal party elections are again held—and has been encouraged by the responses. Why so early? "Time flies. We've got less than 25 legislative days this year," explains Messer, 45, "then there's the election." And it's during the lame-duck session after the Nov. 4 election that reelected members and new members-elect from both parties will choose their new team of leaders for the next session that begins in January. The job of Republican Policy Committee chair is now held by Rep. James Lankford of Oklahoma. But Lankford won his GOP Senate primary in that state, and will not be returning to the leadership post. The role of the committee's chairman is to oversee its preparation of issue and policy papers for the conference, work with rank-and-file members to develop their own legislation, and put those ideas in bill and amendment form. It's the House leadership post—below speaker, majority leader, majority whip, and conference chairman—for someone who can focus on minor details of political policy. "It's a job for a wonk. I consider myself a wonk," Messer said. Does he at all feel sheepish about running for a leadership post, while still serving in his first term of Congress? Messer says categorically "no." In fact, he says that at the end of the next election, "more than half of the U.S. Congress would be made up of people here less than five years." He said it will be important for these newer members to have someone on the leadership team. Messer says he hasn't heard yet about any other aspirants for the job. But then again, it's early. Read More

It's been a wild couple of weeks in Washington for the separation of powers. First, Speaker John Boehner announced that the House plans to sue the president for violating his oath of office by failing to enforce the law and making his own laws without the consent of Congress. Next, the Supreme Court ruled 9-0 that the president violated the Constitution by making illegal appointments to a federal labor board. Then, the Court ruled that the president’s health care law violates the religious freedom of pro-life family business owners. Finally, the president declared that he’s going to reform immigration on his own since Congress won’t agree with his plan to provide blanket citizenship to everyone who is in the country illegally. The cynic might think the president’s immigration pronouncement was meant simply to deflect attention from the Supreme Court’s rulings. But, perhaps more alarmingly, the president may really believe that he doesn’t have to respect constitutional constraints on his authority. As a senator, Barack Obama seemed to recognize the constitutional limitations of the presidency arguing, “[t]he biggest problems that we’re facing right now have to do with George Bush trying to bring more and more power into the Executive Branch and not go through Congress at all.” Today, President Obama vows to govern with his “phone and pen,” because “we are not just going to be waiting for legislation.” As a former constitutional law professor, the president should know better. Our founding fathers established three separate but equal branches of government, each with the ability to provide checks and balances on the others’ power. Many of us learned this basic civics lesson in elementary school. President Obama isn’t the first president to stretch the bounds of executive authority. Inherent tensions between the legislative branch, which makes the laws, and the executive branch, which enforces them, have existed since the earliest days of our Republic. But, this President’s blatant disregard for the law — and his willingness to act unilaterally on major issues without congressional authorization — have damaged our system of government more than any of his predecessors. On matters ranging from health care to energy to foreign policy to education, and now immigration, President Obama has repeatedly circumvented Congress through executive action — creating his own laws and excusing himself from executing statutes he is sworn to enforce. That’s not how laws are made in America. Our democratic republic demands spirited debate and a vigorous contest of ideas, carried out on behalf of the people by their elected representatives. The administration has attempted to circumvent Congress and muzzle that debate, threatening the fundamental idea of separation of powers and loosening the checks and balances by one branch of the government on the other. His disregard for our system of government — which has worked better than any other for 238 years — threatens to alter the fundamental relationship between Congress and the presidency in ways that could change the course of history. The president’s supporters dismiss these concerns by pointing to the fact that he has issued fewer executive orders than his predecessors. That argument misses the point; it’s about the consequences of those orders, not just the number. And this president, in many cases, has simply ignored the law — like secretly releasing five dangerous terrorists without consulting Congress — and not even bothered to issue an official declaration of his lawlessness. He also has bypassed executive orders in favor of less official ways of acting, like having staff issue agency-wide letters about stopping deportations or making blog posts about delaying key provisions of his health care law. The pending House lawsuit and the Supreme Court’s slap-down of his executive overreach should have served as a wake-up call to the president to stop speeding down the same partisan road he’s traveled for his entire presidency. Unfortunately, instead of acknowledging the limits on his power, the President doubled-down on his use of executive power, announcing in the Rose Garden that he’s going to “fix” immigration problems “without Congress.” Proponents of amnesty may cheer that choice today, though they may regret when future presidents are emboldened to run roughshod over the people’s representatives and exercise power in the same manner tomorrow. That’s the kind of change for which no one should hope.   Read More

Rep. Steven Horsford (D-Nev.) has introduced a measure that would posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Maya Angelou. Angelou passed away on May 28 at the age of 86. The bill would present Angelou with Congress's highest civilian honor for her contributions to civil rights and American literature, including the impact of her 1969 autobiography, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings. "Maya Angelou was a larger-than-life hero who inspired our nation," Horsford said in a statement. "She was an icon of the Civil Rights Movement, and a champion for women, African-Americans, and all those struggling to find their voice." Reps. Joyce Beatty (D-Ohio), Luke Messer (R-Ind.) and Susan Brooks (R-Ind.) have endorsed the measure. "Maya Angelou’s life and legacy has left an indelible mark on American history and culture,” Messer said.  “It is fitting that a true renaissance woman — who used her many talents to be a voice for equality, tolerance and love - be awarded the highest civilian honor." The Congressional Gold Medal and the Presidential Medal of Freedom are the highest U.S. civilian awards for outstanding achievements. Angelou received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011, the Lincoln Medal in 2008 and the National Medal of Arts in 2000.     Read More

Congressman Luke Messer greeted dozens of Hoosier war veterans and their families at the World War II Memorial in Washington, D.C., over the weekend.  He presented flags flown over the Capitol to Gerald “Bush” White and Bob Briggs who served in World War II and to Tim Albright and Lutz “Bo” Schreiner— both of whom served in Vietnam and are Purple Heart recipients.    “Words cannot express my gratitude to these men and their families for the sacrifices they made,” said Congressman Luke Messer.  “It was a privilege to meet them and be able to give them a small token of appreciation on behalf of everyone in Indiana’s 6th Congressional District for what they have done to defend and preserve the freedoms we enjoy.”  The trip was organized by P.G. Gentrup, who is a veteran himself from Lawrenceburg.  He served in the 25th Infantry Division at Cu Chi, South Vietnam.  He’s been bringing Hoosier veterans to our nation’s capital several times a year since 2008.  “I really appreciated Congressman Messer coming to the World War Two Memorial to visit with us,” said Mr. Gentrup.  “It was his day off and yet he took the time to visit with some of America’s finest—our veterans.  His children coming with him was something special, too!”  For photos of the veterans at the WWII Memorial, please visit www.messer.house.gov/media-center/photos For a video of the flag presentation, click here. Read More

For many Americans, the Fourth of July will pass with little reflection on its historic significance. We’ll spend time with family and enjoy great food without really considering the underlying events that are the reason for our celebration.  That’s a shame because July 4, 1776, was a day for the ages. By renouncing their allegiance to the King of England and proclaiming the birth of a new nation, the brave signers of the Declaration of Independence started a chain of events that literally changed the world. Other than the Bible, the Declaration of Independence may be the most influential writing in the last 200 years. Thomas Jefferson wrote, “We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just Powers from the Consent of the Governed.”  These powerful words started a revolution in America that led to the fall of the European monarchies and motivated the human spirit to spread democracy all over the globe. What are these “revolutionary” concepts that changed history forever? First, the Founding Fathers believed citizens are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights and that governments derive their just powers from the consent of those they govern.  These were radical concepts in 1776.  Prior to that time, the Western monarchies were structured on a belief that all power flowed from God to a divine King who bestowed rights to the people. Our Founding Fathers instead argued that our rights are God-given, flowing from God to the citizens, who then may choose whether to grant certain rights back to the government.  This then-radical idea inspired the spread of legislative democracies around the world. Second, certain rights are “unalienable,” meaning they can’t be forfeited.  Our Founding Fathers believed that rights of “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness,” cannot be taken away under any circumstances.  This then-extreme idea led to the establishment of the Bill of Rights in our Constitution, which has served as the foundation of individual liberty in America for more than 200 years. Finally, “all Men are created equal.” It would be nearly another 200 years before this concept became a reality for all Americans. However, this then-revolutionary statement in 1776 was a foundation for the abolitionist movement that ended slavery, the suffrage movement that gave women the right to vote and the civil rights movement of the 1960s. The Fourth of July is an extraordinary day in our nation’s history.  So, fire up the grill and enjoy the fireworks.  Then, take a moment to remember the lessons of independence and remind your kids, or grandkids, why we are celebrating.  Read More