President Trump Signs Legislation to Rebuild Our Military

Congressman Paul Cook applauded the bill signing by President Trump that begins to fix our long-underfunded military. The bill provides a roughly 10 percent increase in defense spending to meet critical military needs and ensure we keep pace with global threats to our national security. This critical funding ends 8 years of diminishing military strength and readiness due to Obama's cuts to national defense.

The bill includes several important provisions:

* Provides a 2.4% pay increase for our troops

* Increases troop levels across all services

* Increases readiness funding by $20.4 billion for training, operations and maintenance

* Increases Missile Defense spending by over $3 billion

* Provides a 21 percent increase in defense research and development

* Increases F-35 Stealth Fighters by 20 aircraft to 90 total

* Buys 10 additional Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets

* Includes $23 billion for Navy shipbuilding

Congressman Cook said, "This bill is a critical step in funding the military's immediate needs while reversing years of underfunding by the previous administration. For too long we've asked our troops to do more around the world while cutting their funding. Our troops deserve the best training, the best equipment, and a pay level that matches their commitment and sacrifice to our nation. "

Cook Statement on U.S. Actions on Venezuela and Meeting with Venezuelan Opposition Leaders

Congressman Paul Cook,Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee's Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, met with Venezuelan opposition leaders Julio Borges, Carlos Vecchio, and Francisco Marquez to discuss this week's announcements of new U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan officials, $2.5 million in assistance from USAID to support Venezuelan refugees in Colombia, and how the U.S. can further help address the ongoing humanitarian and economic crisis in Venezuela:

Chairman Cook: "The Trump Administration's actions this week escalate pressure on the Maduro regime, which continues to starve its people and block needed medicine from entering the country. Restrictions on purchasing Venezuelan petro cryptocurrency and new U.S. sanctions on four corrupt regime officials, combined with financial assistance to support food and health needs of Venezuelan refugees fleeing a humanitarian disaster, send a clear message that the U.S. stands with the Venezuelan people. We must intensify those efforts. I am encouraged to hear that Venezuela's democratic opposition is united in their boycott of the illegitimate presidential elections in May, but continued unity in the days ahead is critical. I also urge President Trump and leaders in the European Union and Lima Group to call on the Cuban regime to cease its interference in Venezuela and do more to cut off the illicit funding streams propping up the Maduro regime."

Congressman Cook Announces 2018 Congressional Art Competition

The Congressional Art Competition began in 1982 to provide an opportunity for members of Congress to encourage and recognize the artistic talents of their young constituents. Since then, more than 700,000 high school students have been involved with this nationwide competition. The deadline for submissions is April 20, 2018.

The Artistic Discovery Contest is open to all high school students in the 8th District. Students will work through the art teachers at their high school to submit works to the competition. The winning artwork will be displayed in the U.S. Capitol complex for one year. In addition, second place will be displayed in Congressman Cook's Capitol Office, and the third place selection will be on display in the Apple Valley District Office.

Art work entered in the contest may be up to 26 inches by 26 inches (including the frame) and may be up to 4 inches in depth.

The submission may be:

Paintings - including oil, acrylics, and watercolor

Drawings - including pastels, colored pencil, pencil, charcoal, ink, and markers

Collage

Prints - including lithographs, silkscreen, and block prints

Mixed Media

Computer Generated Art

Photography

All entries must be an original in concept, design, and execution.

If you would like more information on the annual Congressional District Art Competition, please contact Wasey Noori ([email protected]) in Congressman Cook's District Office at 760-247-1815.

For more information, go to: https://cookforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=2749-211.

4th Annual Ignite High Desert

Join the Hesperia Chamber of Commerce for their 4th Annual Ignite High Desert Event on Thursday, March 29 at the Holiday Inn in Victorville, located at 15494 Palmdale Road.

For more information, go to: https://cookforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=2750-211.

Mobile Office Hours in Lake Arrowhead

My staff will host office hours in the Lake Arrowhead Chamber of Commerce Office located at 28200 Highway 189 Suite O-270 on Tuesday, April 3 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. We encourage residents to schedule appointments by calling our district office at (760) 247-1815.

Victor Valley Rescue Mission Egg-Stravaganza!

My office is here to help you. If you or someone you know needs help with the Veterans' Administration please call my Apple Valley District Office at (760) 247-1815.

Veterans Who Received Military Disability are Due Tax Refunds

This month the Pentagon will begin sending notifications to more than 133,000 veterans who may qualify for a refund of federal taxes paid on disability severance pay dating back to January 17, 1991.

Under federal law, veterans who suffer combat-related injuries and who are separated from the military are not supposed to be taxed on the one-time lump sum disability severance payment they got from the military.

For years the Defense Department (DoD) improperly withheld taxes on these payments from thousands of unsuspecting veterans, who were typically unaware that their benefits were being improperly reduced.

In 2016 Congress passed the Combat-Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act which directed DoD to identify veterans who have been separated from service for combat-related injuries and had taxes improperly withheld from their severance payments.

The law also required DoD to determine how much these veterans are owed so they can recover the withheld amounts, notify them of their eligibility for a refund, and tell them how to get that refund from the IRS.

Eligible veterans will have a year after they receive the notice from DoD to file a claim for the refund.

DOD says that more than 133,000 disabled veterans may be eligible for a refund of federal taxes under the Combat Injured Veterans Tax Fairness Act.

For more information, go to: https://cookforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=2752-211.

Apply to the HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration Today

The HIRE Vets Medallion Program Demonstration is now accepting applications! The Hire Vets Medallion Program is the result of legislation introduced by Rep. Cook and signed into law by President Trump last year. To learn more about the legislation, go to: https://cookforms.house.gov/components/redirect/r.aspx?ID=2753-211.

The Program Demonstration will recognize job creators for their investments in recruiting, employing, and retaining our nation's veterans.

The Program Demonstration will allow the Department of Labor's Veterans' Employment and Training Service (DOL VETS) to initially run applications, raise awareness of the HIRE Vets Medallion Program, and enable more employers to prepare to successfully garner recognition when the Program launches in 2019.

The Program Demonstration will use the same criteria the HIRE Vets Medallion Program will use in 2019. The Program Demonstration has no application fee and is limited to the first 300 applicants.

Job creators of all sizes can apply online at www.hirevets.gov.

For more information, visit www.dol.gov/vets, follow @VETS_DOL, and join the conversation #HIREVets.

Sent from the Office of U.S. Representative Paul Cook

Read this original document at: https://cook.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/congressman-paul-cooks-newsletter-march-27-2018