By JOSEPH G. LARIOSA

(© Journal Group Link International)

Steve Austria is the First Second-Generation American of Filipino Descent to Become a Member of the U. S. House of Representatives

C HICAGO (jGLi) – Like President Barack Obama, the incoming Speaker of the House John Boehner (pronounced BAY-ner) of the 8th Congressional District of Ohio is relying on his friend and a neighbor to lead a team in the upcoming 112th Congress that opens on Jan.3rd.

The House Republican leader handpicked Filipino-American Steve Austria, his neighbor in Ohio, Beavercreek's 7th Congressional district, as a member of the clout-heavy House Appropriations Committee.

The first second-generation Filipino American congressman said, “I am honored that after just one term in Congress, Speaker-Designate John Boehner and the members of the Steering Committee have put their confidence in me to serve on the Appropriations Committee.

“My work on this committee will allow me to better serve Ohio, including Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, the Springfield Air National Guard Base, Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base and The Defense Supply Center, Columbus, as well as the other military facilities across the country.”

The newly re-elected congressman in his second term was one of the 13 congressmen, who supported H.R. 3030, the "Save Our Industries Act of 2009" (SAVE Act), that is pending in the U.S. Congress. It is a bi-partisan bill sponsored in the Senate by his fellow Republican Sen. Christopher S. Bond of Missouri, who introduced it as S. 3170.

It envisions recovering $1.32-billion of trade between the US and the Philippines in the second year of its implementation and up to $3-billion in the fifth year, generating "50,000 jobs in year two and 200,000 in year five."

The House Appropriations Committee is one of the most influential committees in the U.S. Congress as it wields control over all discretionary spending.  In addition to other areas of jurisdiction, the committee and its subcommittees oversee funding for the Department of Defense.

The Committee has become a key part of the House Republican strategy to bring fiscal responsibility back to Washington. The committee is expected to reduce spending levels by conducting important oversight of government agencies and eliminating wasteful spending.

“I am deeply concerned, as I believe most Americans are, about our nation’s economic future and difficult spending decisions are going to be necessary to return our nation to a sound financial footing,” Austria, 52, commented. “This committee will play an important role in the next Congress, changing the course of our nation by taking the lead in reining excessive government spending that has added up to a national debt of more than $13 trillion.”

The Constitution provides Congress the power to authorize government spending.

O riginally created in 1865, the House Appropriations Committee is charged with carrying out this constitutional responsibility. Today, the committee’s 12 subcommittees hold hearings and make decisions on all government spending.

Congressman Steve Austria is currently serving his first term in the United States House of Representatives and represents the 7th Congressional District of Ohio. The district is comprised of Clark, Fairfield, Greene, Fayette, Pickaway and Perry counties, as well as parts of Ross and Franklin counties. Mr. Austria is only the 35th person to represent this portion of Ohio.

Representative Austria serves on both the House Budget and Homeland Security Committees. The House Budget Committee is primarily responsible for setting the overall spending and tax priorities for the federal government and will give Austria the opportunity to work on the important issues of creating jobs and restoring economic growth.

The House Homeland Security Committee was created in 2002 after the tragic events of September 11. Serving on the committee will allow him to address head-on issues such as global counterterrorism, intelligence, cyber security and immigration reform.

A Decade of Service in the Ohio Congress

U pon his election to Congress, Mr. Austria was elected president of his incoming Congressional class by his Republican colleagues, where he is working with both Republican and Democrat freshmen to promote the legislative priorities of the new class.

Previous to serving in U.S. Congress, Congressman Austria served eight years in the Ohio Senate and two years in the Ohio House of Representatives. While in the Ohio Senate, Steve Austria was elected to the post of majority whip, where he helped advance legislation such as tax reform and tort reform. He also championed legislation to protect Ohio’s children and families by introducing and passing into law Jessica’s Law and the Adam Walsh Child Protection Safety Act. Prior to his time in public service he was a small-business entrepreneur and financial advisor.

The oldest of nine children, Mr. Austria grew up in Xenia, Ohio. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Marquette University. The Filipino-American congressman has resided in Beavercreek for the past 20 years, where he currently lives with his wife, Eileen, and their three sons Brian, Kevin and Eric.

Austria is the son of the late Filipino-American veteran, Dr. Clemente G. Austria of Tiaong, Quezon in the Philippines.

Both U. S. Rep. Bobby C. Scott, a Democrat from Virginia, and John Ensign, Jr., now a Republican Senator from Las Vegas, Nevada, are “30-percent Filipino American” legislators. # # #

Editor’s Note: To contact the author, please e-mail him at:  (lariosa_jos@sbcglobal.net)