Dear Supporter,

As hard as it is to believe, I recently marked the end of my first 100 days representing Pennsylvania's 7^th District in Congress. I'd like to take this opportunity to share with you a brief update on the progress we've made in these first 100 days.

Since I was sworn in three months ago, the 112^th Congress has taken a series of dramatic steps to create jobs, cut spending and bring our debt under control.

The House passed a landmark appropriations bill that cut over $30 billion in spending for the remainder of this fiscal year and more than $300 billion in spending over the next ten years - the largest discretionary spending cut in American history. As important as this measure is, it's just the first step in setting our nation on a fiscally sustainable path. In the coming weeks, Congress will continue to debate the 2012 budget and work to cut spending and balance our budget.

I voted in favor of a 2012 budget resolution that will serve as the framework for the debate over our country's fiscal future. This budget will save Medicare -- currently predicted to go bankrupt in just ten years -- by strengthening the program and putting it on a path to long-term sustainability. For more information about the 2012 budget, click here.

More than one year after the passage of the 2010 Health Care Law, we're just now beginning to feel the disastrous effects of this job-killing law on our health care system. Already, this 1,000 page law has spawned nearly 7,000 additional pages of federal regulations. Insurance premiums are up, and thousands of businesses have petitioned for waivers to avoid the staggering costs of compliance.

That's why I cast one of my first votes in the House to repeal the health care law. Although this measure was blocked by the Senate, I remain committed to rolling back and replacing this law with a series of common-sense reforms that will lower health care costs without sacrificing the high quality of health care Americans enjoy.

The House successfully repealed a provision of the health care law that would have forced small businesses to submit an IRS Form 1099 to every vendor to which it paid more than $600 in a calendar year. This requirement would have greatly increased compliance costs for small businesses and forced small business owners to spend far more time preparing their tax returns. The repeal of this provision was signed into law by President Obama on April 14, 2011.

Much of the day-to-day business in Congress is handled by the many committees and subcommittees with jurisdiction over critical issues. Click here to learn more about my committee work in the 112th Congress.

In the 7^th District, I continue to tour small businesses, meet with constituents and hold regular town hall meetings to give residents a chance to voice their concerns about issues that affect them in Washington. Our District Office staff is advocating on behalf of constituents in disputes with federal agencies.

Earlier this month, I was proud to announce that with your help we raised over $335,000 in the first quarter of 2011. This strong number ranks us among the top freshman Republican fundraisers in the House, and it shows that I have a broad base of committed supporters as we enter the 2012 election cycle. Your dedication and commitment made our success possible, and I am truly grateful for your support.

Best Regards,

Congressman Pat Meehan