Congressman Steve Knight, CA-25, spoke with KHTS on Wednesday to discuss his office’s accomplishments in 2017, as well as his goals for 2018.

“Our biggest accomplishment (in 2017) is improving our constituent services: veteran services, IRS, INS, Medicare or anything federal that affects our constituents,” said Knight. “Our No. 1 accomplishment has always been how many people we help.”

Knight spoke on his support for Women’s Business Centers across the country that provide services for women entrepreneurs; helping small businesses with change orders when dealing with government contracts; streamlining the process for employees who work on “secret projects” involving the government to receive DOD clearance; as well as a number of services that assist both active and former military.

“One of the big things we were working on last year, and we’re hoping to have finalized by the end of January, is the ‘Med Treat and Go’ program for veterans,” said Knight. “Veteran patients can get care at local, private facilities as opposed to needing to go through the VA hospitals and network.”

Currently, veterans using their military medical coverage are generally required to go to, or at least begin at, VA hospitals for treatment if that veteran lives within a 40-mile radius of the Veterans Administration medical centers; those outside that radius are allowed to visit private care facilities while still utilizing their government medical coverage.

However, the “Med Treat and Go” Program would allow all veterans, even those within the 40-mile radius, to seek treatment and care at private facilities without needing to go through the VA.

“This is not only new for the district, but new for the country, and we’re piloting it here,” said Knight. “And after I’ve talked to people in Santa Clarita, Simi Valley and Antelope Valley, I want to have this program up and running in a month.”

In addition to working to improve veterans health care, Knight is looking to pair former Army personnel with Lifton Institute for Media Arts and Sciences (LIMS) in Santa Clarita, a 12-week program that provides students with professional skills and experience within the film industry.

“This Army program that we piloted with LIMS studio will be putting former soldiers in the program, and getting (them) training and working in the movie industry the moment they leave the military,” said Knight.

In regards to the future and national policy, Knight had stated that although the GOP Tax Plan has already passed, this does not mean the conversation and changes to the tax code are over in Congress.

“We still have a lot of issues regarding taxes, but what many people are missing is that this tax plan softened and lowered the tax brackets,” said Knight. “I’ve talked to a number of (certified public accountants) who have said that changing the brackets have helped so much, that come next April, people are going to see a lot of tax savings right off the top.”

However, when asked about how the GOP Tax Plan disproportionately affected homeowners in high-tax states, the Congressman stated that he’ll look into addressing those issues, but that the State legislatures played a role.

“People need to write their state legislators, because in places like California, we’re getting taxed to death,” said Knight.

Furthermore, Knight acknowledged that the GOP Tax Plan did have individual provisions that would expire in 2025 if not extended, but that he would work to maintain the longevity of those protections.

“As long as I’m in Congress, those will be permanent,” said Knight.

Additionally, California District 25’s Congressman expressed that he had been “troubled” by a number of President Trump’s recent Tweets, especially those posts that had a military implication or attacked his colleagues.

“We don’t want him talking about nuclear weapons or going against congressmen and senators in Tweets,” said Knight. “Tweets are for providing information, not being accusatory or challenging.”

Knight also stated that he supported the independent investigation being conducted by Robert Mueller in regards to Russia’s interference in the 2016 election, and that it should “continue on.”

In conclusion, Knight said that his big focus in office will continue to be helping create programs and assistance for the local community.

“We need to take care of as many people (as possible), and us continuing to do that will always be our No. 1 accomplishment,” stated Knight.

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