Meet Kevin McCarthy

When the House returns on Monday, it will be under the leadership of Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). In this Issue Spotlight, we want to share with you the bills he has sponsored in this Congress as a Representative. (We previously spotlighted the issues he identified as priorities after he became Majority Leader: jobs and economic growth; lowering costs on gas and groceries; and healthcare.) But first, some fun facts…

About Kevin McCarthy

On July 31st, Congressman Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) of California’s 23rd District became the Majority Leader in the House of Representatives. He was first elected to Congress in 2006 and is a native of Bakersfield. He previously served two terms in the California State Assembly, including two years as the minority leader. 

1. Birthdate: Jan. 26, 1965 (He’s 49)
2. Attended: California State University, Bakersfield; Graduated 1989 (B.S.), 1994 (M.B.A.) — Go Roadrunners! — 
3. First job: At 19, he opened a deli called Kevin O’s Deli.
4. Married to Judy McCarthy; has 2 kids
5. Find him on Facebook or Instagram

Fun Facts

1. “House of Cards.” He has a connection to the popular Netflix series “House of Cards.” Not only is McCarthy a fan of the show, but lead actor Kevin Spacey spent time with him to prep for his performance as the ruthless Frank Underwood. Spacey and McCarthy are even friends.
2. Lottery. McCarthy also has some luck with playing the lottery; he won the California state lottery when he was 19. $5,000 is a lot of money for a 19 year-old, and with it he opened his deli.
3. Other Kevins. He is at times confused with two other Kevin McCarthys: one happens to be a well-known movie reviewer and the other was an Academy-Award nominated actor. Turns out, staying true to his Los Angeles roots, McCarthy is a movie-lover himself, notably screening a clip from the film “The Town” during a meeting with fellow Republicans. Wonder if there are McCarthy movie nights at the Capitol?
4. What’s he wearing? During a FOX interview, unbeknownst to viewers, McCarthy was wearing shorts and flip-flops under his suit and tie. Makes you wonder who else does this when being interviewed on TV!?
5. 4th Gen. He is the son of a firefighter, and his family has been in the same California county for four generations.

About CA’s 23rd

Congressman McCarthy represents California’s 23rd Congressional District, which includes most of Kern andTulareCounties — and encompasses the Sequoia and Los Padres National Forests. Over 700,000 people reside in the district, in Bakersfield, California City, Frazier Park and other cities.

Bills Rep. McCarthy Introduced

• HR 4697
  

  Small-Cap Access to Capital Act

  “Would require the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to revise the definition of a Well- Known Seasoned Issuer (WKSI) to reduce the dollar amount relating to the worldwide market value of outstanding common equity from $700 million to $250 million.” Also prohibits an emerging growth company from qualifying as a WKSI. Prevents the undermining of reforms critical to helping millions out of poverty and into the workforce. (Source: Financial Services Committee memo) (Introduced 05/21/2014)

• HR 4458
  

  Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake Security Enhancement Act

  Would permanently transfer the public land located within the boundaries of the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, in Inyo, Kern, and San Bernardino Counties, California, but are currently administered by the Bureau of Land Management. (See video of Majority Leader McCarthy testifying.) (Introduced 04/10/2014)

• HR 3576
  

  SENTRI Act

  — *Bipartisan* — (And S 1728 in the Senate.) “This legislation will seek to ensure that the Department of Defense implements important reforms that will expand access and assistance for voting for those who defend our nation overseas,” according to Congressman McCarthy. Improves voter registration and voting opportunities for service members through use of online system and by requiring voter assistance as a routine part of service members’ annual training. Ensures requests for absentee ballots are valid for one full Federal election cycle. Strengthens protection of voting rights of military and overseas voters. Requires reporting on implementation and effectiveness of new voter assistance obligations. (Introduced 11/21/2013)

• HR 3038
  

  SOARS Act

  Would “streamline the regulatory process for commercial spacecraft, ensuring that the commercial spaceflight industry can continue to innovate quickly and safely, creating high-quality American jobs in the process,” according to Congressman McCarthy. Ensures that innovative launch and reentry vehicles have a “one-stop shop” for regulatory oversight, instead of dealing with two or more separate sets of regulatory requirements. Fixes a technical issue with current law to allow vehicle manufacturers to use individual vehicles as test platforms while other individual vehicles are being used in commercial service. (Current law requires all vehicles of the same design either to be used for one purpose or the other.) Creates a demonstration project to evaluate the benefits of using experimental aircraft to support launch and reentry activities. These provisions promote safety and innovation by unifying regulatory oversight, allowing companies to test safety improvements rapidly, and providing opportunities to develop new approaches to supporting launch and reentry activities. (Introduced 08/02/2013)

• HR 2661
  

  Veterans Access to Timely Medical Appointments Act

  — *Bipartisan* — Requires the VA to schedule primary care appointments within 7 days and specialty care appointments within 14 days — goals used internally by VA supervisors and identified within the GAO report. Specifically, it addresses the GAO-identified factors contributing to unreliability of appointment wait times by mandating the VA improve its medical appointment scheduling policy within 180 days of the bill’s enactment, according to Congressman McCarthy. (Introduced 07/11/2013)

• HR 2138
  

  Ending VA Claims Disability Backlog and Accountability Act

  Would implement the nonpartisan Government Accountability Office’s recommendations, which are a result of an audit that Congressman McCarthy requested based on the persistent and intolerable backlogs that local veterans face at the VA Los Angeles Regional Office and at VA facilities across the country, according to him.  (Introduced 05/23/2013)

• HR 667
  

  Renaming the Dryden Flight Research Center

  — *Bipartisan* — To redesignate the Dryden Flight Research Center as the Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center and the Western Aeronautical Test Range as the Hugh L. Dryden Aeronautical Test Range. (Introduced 02/13/2013)

You can find all the bills Majority Leader McCarthy has introduced and cosponsored on his profile page on POPVOX. And, you can learn about his Congressional District, CA-23. 

Please keep in mind that highlighting a bill doesn’t imply a POPVOX endorsement in any way. Rather, we’re simply trying to offer one more way to stay informed of an overwhelmingly complex legislative system.