Tommy Tuberville introduces amendment to secure the border and stop the flow of fentanyl
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) introduced the Border Safety and Security Act as an amendment to the SUPPORT Act. Tuberville said that it is impossible to address the drug overdose problem in the United States without addressing border security. Tuberville claimed that this legislation is needed to address the opioid crisis until the southern border is secure. HELP Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders (I-Vermont) opposed the amendment, effectively blocking it from consideration. “I’d like to take this opportunity to discuss an issue that I believe is directly related to everything we’ve talked about in here,” said Sen. Tuberville in the hearing. “I believe it’s impossible to discuss our nation’s opioid epidemic without discussing the crisis at the southern border. You know, back in March, I introduced the Border Safety and Security Act. This legislation requires the Secretary of Homeland Security to suspend the entry of illegal immigrants into the United States until we have control of our border again – because we’ve lost it. 6.5 million illegal immigrants have been apprehended by the [Customs & Border Protection] since January 2021. In fiscal year 2023 alone, CBP seized 1,000 pounds of fentanyl at the border. Imagine how much fentanyl made it into the U.S. without being caught by law enforcement. Imagine how many lives we’ve lost – over 100,000 a year in this country – eight to ten in my state a day in Alabama, not counting the cost of health care. Mental illness – I keep hearing about people training new mental health professionals – and that’s great. If we don’t stop this drug coming across the border, we’re not gonna fix anything. We’re wasting our time.” “I’m offering this bill as an amendment to the SUPPORT Act today because I think we must take a good hard look at this,” Tuberville continued. “We’ve got to do it. Find[ing] ways to address substance abuse disorders is worthwhile and should be seriously considered by this committee. But unless we do something to address the supply, addiction will only continue and get worse. We will never get out of this epidemic without it. So, every day we leave it open, it’s becoming the biggest disaster of our lifetime. And we’re in here talking about mental health people working. It is a disaster. I’ve taught for 40 years, and I’ve never seen the influx of what’s happening. Not just in our communities but in our schools. We wonder why we have problems. It’s an absolute disgrace. Therefore, I’d like to offer and withdraw this amendment, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.” Tuberville originally introduced the Border and Security Act in March 2023 as part of his continued push to tighten border security and address the humanitarian crisis created by President Joe Biden’s immigration policies. Tuberville’s legislation puts more responsibility on the secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and gives increased authority to state attorneys general in holding DHS accountable if the department fails in its duty to restrict entry and detain illegal immigrants. 2.76 million illegal immigrants crossed the southern border in fiscal year 2022 alone – that is equal to 55.1% of the population of the state of Alabama. That was followed by a record-breaking 3.2 million in fiscal year 2023 – equivalent to 64.5% of the population of the state of Alabama. The open border is also contributing to the deadly fentanyl epidemic, which kills 107,000 Americans a year. 69.5% of the deaths are males. Drug overdose is now the leading cause of death for adults aged 18-45. If enacted, the Border Safety and Security Act would: · Authorize the DHS Secretary to suspend the entry of illegal immigrants at the U.S. border should the secretary determine it is necessary to do so to regain operational control of the border. · Require the secretary to suspend the entry of illegal immigrants during any period of time in which DHS cannot detain such individuals or place them in Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP) or a similar program. · Authorize state attorneys general to bring legal action against the DHS should the secretary fail to suspend entry without detention or use of MPP, continuing to place strain on communities, so as to obtain injunctive relief. Original cosponsors in the Senate include U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Mike Lee (R-Utah). The legislation is supported by the America First Policy Institute, NumbersUSA, the Federation for American Immigration Reform (FAIR), and the Texas Public Policy Foundation. Sen. Tuberville said he supports common-sense policies that strengthen our border and national security, like building the wall and reinstating the Migrant Protection Protocols, also known as the Remain in Mexico policy. Tuberville has spoken about his concerns on the floor of the U.S. Senate and called on the Biden administration to act. In September 2023, Senator Tuberville helped introduce the Secure the Border Act of 2023, the Senate companion passed by the U.S. House of Representatives earlier this year, commonly known as H.R. 2. It was blocked in the Senate. Tuberville has served in the Senate for three years. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville and J.D. Vance write letter to the editor regarding Ukraine Aid
On Monday, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) wrote a letter to the editor of the Washington Post detailing their arguments for not supporting more aid for Ukraine. The letter is a rebuttal to a Washington Post columnist who argued that giving weapons to Ukraine makes America stronger. Sen. Tuberville has strongly opposed U.S. foreign policy supporting Ukraine in its war against Russia. “The Biden administration’s new message fails to account for grave shortages in our stockpiles,” said Sens. Tuberville and Vance. “Thanks to nearly two years of mission in Ukraine, the United States is perilously unready for any additional contingency. Anything with a solid rocket motor is in short supply, including the SM-6s that would be needed in the Pacific.” “If we are expected to oblige every request for weapons “Made in the U.S.A.,” there would be no conflict from which we abstain,” Tuberville and Vance continued. “Why not send weapons to Myanmar and take a side in the Ethiopian civil war?” “Polling from Morning Consult showed that only 41 percent of Americans support further aid for Ukraine,” the conservative Senators continued. “Political spin cannot obscure that Americans no longer support aid for Ukraine. Neither should the Senate.” Tuberville does support efforts in Congress to separate legislation for aid to Israel and funding for securing the southern border. “Democrats want to tie aid to Israel to Ukraine,” Tuberville said recently in a press call with Alabama reporters. “These two wars have nothing to do with each other. Israel is our formal ally. Ukraine is not. I support the Ukrainian people, but leadership means setting priorities. What’s our goal?” “The Senate will be voting on more money for Ukraine,” Tuberville said. “You know we have already given them more than $100 billion. There has been very little transparency about where all this money has gone. $100 billion is more than enough. We need the money and the weapons here in our country.” Washington Post Columnist Mark Thiesen wrote: “As in any geopolitical or local conflict, we need to know which side we are on and support it with the best available options. Military aid improves our options to protect populations under siege and prevent more deaths while buying time until cooler heads prevail. In Ukraine, our security assistance is preventing more deaths in its cities and on its battlefields and preventing Russia from spreading into Europe.” Thiessen wrote that the anti-war aid Senators and Representatives are voting against their own interests because of the jobs created in their states and districts making the weapons that the U.S. supplies Ukraine with. Tommy Tuberville has represented Alabama in the United States Senate since 2020, where he is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville urges China travel ban to prevent spread of a new mystery illness
On Friday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and colleagues in sending a letter to President Joe Biden, urging the President to restrict travel between the U.S. and China until U.S. health experts have more information regarding the mysterious respiratory disease that is rapidly spreading throughout China. “[W]e should not wait for the WHO to take action given its track record of slavish deference to the [Chinese Communist Party],” the senators wrote. “We must take the necessary steps to protect the health of Americans and our economy. That means we should immediately restrict travel between the United States and the [People’s Republic of China] until we know more about the dangers posed by this new illness. A ban on travel now could save our country from death, lockdowns, mandates, and further outbreaks later.” “In light of an unknown respiratory illness spreading throughout the People’s Republic of China (PRC), we call on you to immediately restrict travel between the United States and the PRC,” the Senators wrote. “As you know, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has a long history of lying about public health crises. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the CCP’s obfuscation of the truth, and lack of transparency, robbed the United States of vital knowledge about the disease and its origin.” “At this moment, the world faces another unknown pathogen emanating from the PRC that could spread to other countries, including the United States,” the Senators continued. “The PRC has reported an increase in this mystery illness—which it claims to be pneumonia caused by known pathogens—since mid-October. This illness reportedly is a special hazard for children and has overrun hospitals in the north of the country. The World Health Organization (WHO) says it is unclear if the disease is due to an overall increase in respiratory infections or separate events. If history is any indication, we have cause to be concerned.” Joining Sens. Tuberville and Rubio on the letter were Senators J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Rick Scott (R-Florida), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana). The sudden rise in respiratory illnesses in children has sparked concern from hospitals in northern China. The virus has been called “walking pneumonia.” It is continuing to spread through parts of China and severely affect health services, as cases of “white lung pneumonia” continue to rise. The WHO has asked China to share information on the outbreak. Officials in China insist it is not a new disease but rather a combination of different respiratory illnesses that occur during the winter. China was previously criticized for failing to share information about COVID-19. Tuberville has represented Alabama in the United States Senate since 2020. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville objects to combining aid to Israel in spending package with aid for Ukraine
On Monday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined Senator Roger Marshall (R-Kansas) in writing a letter to Senate Leadership requesting that any federal assistance to Israel not be leveraged for more Ukraine funding. President Joe Biden recently requested $61.4 billion more for Ukraine paired with $14.3 billion for Israel. Sen. Tuberville said that he stands unequivocally with Israel but does not support one more dime in assistance for Ukraine. “We write today in the wake of over 1,400 Israeli civilians and at least 30 American citizens having been killed over the last week after brutal Hamas terrorists invaded Israel,” the Senators wrote. “In response to these developments, it is critical we give prompt consideration to any request for financial aid or other material support requested by Israel. Based on the breadth of responses from members of Congress, there is a shared urgency to consider such a request.” “That being said, we know there will no doubt be efforts to attach any funding to Israel to more aid to Ukraine, in excess of the already $113 billion Congress has provided to Ukraine,” the Senators continued. “These are two separate and unrelated conflicts, and it would be wrong to leverage support of aid to Israel in attempt to get additional aid for Ukraine across the finish line.” “Furthermore, it would be irresponsible, and we should not risk a government shutdown by bundling these priorities together and thus complicating the process and lessening the likelihood of a funding package,” the Senators wrote. “We urge you to keep separate attempts to provide military aid to Israel from additional funds to Ukraine or other matters.” The letter was also signed by Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), and Ted Cruz (R-Texas). Because neither House of Congress has passed a budget, the federal government is operating on a continuing resolution (CR) to give the parties time to finish their work and negotiate a bipartisan budget that can pass both Houses. Little work has been accomplished on that, though, and the current CR will run out on November 14 at midnight. The Hamas attack on Israel, a longtime American ally, has created a need not anticipated in the CR or any budget package. The Ukrainian offensive has broken through some Russian lines, but at significant cost to the Ukrainians, both in men and material costs. Tuberville has long urged a negotiated settlement of the Ukraine war and has not supported past Ukraine aid packages. “The war in Ukraine is a disaster for the United States,” Tuberville told Alabama Today in April. “We jumped in all four feet, knowing that we didn’t have enough munitions to help Ukraine. We don’t want to put boots on the ground. I am all for Ukraine, but you have got to have an opportunity to win, and we don’t have one person that has any insight in terms of diplomacy from this White House or this administration. Secretary [Antony] Blinken has done zero.” In his address to the nation on Thursday, the President tied the two emergency appropriation requests together. “American leadership is what holds the world together,” Biden said. “American alliances are what keep us, America, safe. American values are what make us a partner that other nations want to work with. To put all that at risk if we walk away from Ukraine, if we turn our backs on Israel, it’s just not worth it. That’s why, tomorrow, I’m going to send to Congress an urgent budget request to fund America’s national security needs, to support our critical partners, including Israel and Ukraine. It’s a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations, help us keep American troops out of harm’s way, help us build a world that is safer, more peaceful, and more prosperous for our children and grandchildren.” U.S. arms stockpiles are low due to 32 months of supplying the Ukrainian army with weapons and munitions. Arms manufacturers are struggling to keep up with the demand. Hamas has started a war with Israel – a U.S. ally- so they will be buying arms and munitions. Iran appears to be behind the Hamas and Hezbollah attacks and appears to be promoting a wider Middle East war – which could potentially lead to U.S. involvement, and the U.S. pullout from Afghanistan means that the U.S. lacks that foothold on the Iran border to threaten Tehran. Meanwhile, Taiwan – which the U.S. has promised to defend – is trying to build up its armed forces due to a heightened risk of a Chinese invasion. A Russian attack on any NATO border, whether that be Romania, Poland, Finland, or the Baltic States, would require an American troop response. Meanwhile, the U.S. is struggling to keep up with the Russians and Chinese in hypersonic missile and anti-satellite warfare technology, China has surpassed the U.S. in naval ships and intercontinental ballistic missile launchers, and the all-volunteer force is not meeting its recruiting goals. And with $33 trillion in debt, the U.S. is not fiscally in a place where it could fight a prolonged war without severe changes to the economy and U.S. entitlement programs. Tuberville is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
U.S. Senator Katie Britt joins colleagues to support ban on mask mandates
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined her Republican colleagues on the Senate floor in support of legislation authored by Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) that would ban future federal mask mandates. Sen. Britt is a cosponsor of Senator J.D. Vance’s Freedom to Breathe Act. It would prohibit any federal official, including the President, from issuing mask mandates applying to domestic air travel, public transit systems, or primary, secondary, and post-secondary schools. The legislation would also prohibit air carriers, transit authorities, and educational institutions from refusing service to individuals who choose not to wear a mask. “During the COVID-19 pandemic, draconian shutdowns and mask mandates inflicted immense damage across our nation,” said Britt. “Just look at the consequences our children faced, from devastating learning loss that put students years behind to deteriorating mental health in kids and teenagers. Enough is enough. More than three years later, it’s clear we need to embrace individual liberty and facts rather than a society gripped by fear. Democrats have claimed that mask mandates and lockdowns are not coming back – however, their objection to this legislation reveals their true intentions.” “We cannot repeat the anxiety, the stress, and the nonstop panic of the last couple of years,” said Sen. Vance. “That’s what this legislation is about. End the mandates, end the panic, and let’s get back to some common sense.” The Senate considered the legislation on Thursday under unanimous consent, which allows for a measure to be considered passed and sent to the House of Representatives unless another senator raises an objection. During consideration of the Freedom to Breathe Act, Senator Ed Markey (D-Massachusetts) objected to the passage, meaning that the bill would have to go through the regular order to get out of the Senate. COVID-19 is making a small resurgence in some parts of the country. Earlier this week, an elementary school in Montgomery County, Maryland, reimposed a mask mandate for students. In addition to Senators Britt and Vance, this legislation is cosponsored by Senate Republican Conference Chairman John Barrasso (R-Wyoming) and Senators Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee). Mask mandates were widely adopted during the COVID-19 global pandemic at the urging of public health officials. The effectiveness of a piece of cloth stopping an airborne virus has been widely debated. Some see the masks as sensible precautions, while others object to them being required by the government. Over 6.9 million people have died from COVID-19, including 1,174,588 Americans – though that is fewer than some of the projections were showing early in the global pandemic. There have been 52,803 American deaths credited to COVID-19 in 2023. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. She previously worked as an attorney, the President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama, and as former Senator Richard Shelby’s chief of staff. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and colleagues demand answers after Biden Administration hands over $6 billion to Iran
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined a letter by Sen. Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), the ranking member of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs, and 24 of her Republican colleagues in demanding answers from the Biden Administration about the approximately $6 billion reportedly paid to Iran in exchange for Americans wrongfully being held as political hostages by the Iranian regime. “Handing $6 billion to the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism is a reckless and disastrous decision that threatens the lives of Americans and our allies across the globe,” said Senator Britt. “Once again, the Biden Administration has chosen to appease our adversaries and set a dangerous precedent. President [Joe] Biden’s weakness will only embolden hostile actors to engage in further aggression around the world. We must achieve peace through strength, and I will always fight to hold this Administration accountable for putting American families at risk.” In a letter to Secretaries Antony Blinken and Janet Yellen, the senators wrote, “When the Obama administration released $400 million in liquidated assets to Iran in 2016, we warned that this dangerous precedent would put a price on American lives. Seven years later, the current administration is providing a ransom payment worth at least fifteen times that amount to the world’s largest state sponsor of terror, in yet another violation of the United States’ long-standing ‘no concessions’ policy. In the release of Executive Order 14078 on July 19, 2022, the White House admitted that ‘terrorist organizations, criminal groups, and other malicious actors who take hostages for financial, political, or other gain—as well as foreign states that engage in the practice of wrongful detention, including for political leverage or to seek concessions from the United States—threaten the integrity of the international political system and the safety of United States nationals and other persons abroad.’ The release of such a significant sum to the Iranian regime runs entirely counter to that claim and will only serve to encourage additional hostage-taking for financial or political gain.” Joining Senators Britt and Scott on the letter were Senators Jim Risch (R-Wisconsin), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Todd Young (R-Indiana), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), and Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia) After more than two years of quiet negotiations, Iran has released five Iranian American dual citizens into house arrest, according to original reporting by the New York Times – quoting officials at the State Department and the National Security Council. “This is just the beginning of a process that I hope and expect will lead to their return home to the United States,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Thursday. “There’s more work to be done to actually bring them home. My belief is that this is the beginning of the end of their nightmare.” The prisoners are Siamak Namazi, Emad Sharghi, and Morad Tahbaz, who had all been jailed on unsubstantiated charges of spying, as well as two others whose families have withheld their names. One of the unnamed Americans is a scientist, and the other is a businessman, according to sources. In addition to releasing the $6 billion in seized oil funds, the U.S. has agreed to hand over imprisoned Iranians as part of the prisoner swap. Britt and her colleagues had objected to paying the ransom before the deal had been finalized. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville and colleagues concerned about government using corporations to censor Americans
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined Sen. Rand Paul (R-Kentucky) and Congressman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) in introducing the Free Speech Protection Act to prohibit federal employees and contractors from using their positions to censor and otherwise attack speech protected by the First Amendment. The bill will impose severe penalties for individuals violating this rule. “Our government should actively protect our First Amendment rights, not promote censorship,” Tuberville said on Twitter. “I am proud to join @SenRandPaul in the Free Speech Protection Act.” Sen. Paul is the Ranking Member of the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. “Americans are free people and we do not take infringements upon our liberties lightly. The time has come for resistance and to reclaim our God-given right to free expression,” said Dr. Paul. “Under my Free Speech Protection Act the government will no longer be able to cloak itself in secrecy to undermine the First Amendment rights of Americans.” Rep. Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “Censorship is a major threat to freedom today,” said Chairman Jim Jordan. “It is clear that Big Government must be more transparent and that bureaucrats must be held accountable for censorship. The Free Speech Protection Act accomplishes that and gives individuals remedies for censorship to protect vital First Amendment freedoms.” The bill is cosponsored by U.S. Senators Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana). In addition to protecting Americans’ First Amendment rights, the bill would mandate frequent publicly accessible reports from the heads of executive branch agencies detailing the communications between an executive branch agency and a content provider, as well as prevent agencies from employing any FOIA exemption to prevent disclosure of prohibited communications. The legislation also ensures that federal grant money is not received by any entity that seeks to label media organizations as sources of misinformation or disinformation. The legislation has been endorsed by the Heritage Foundation. “Recent revelations have exposed the lengths to which the Biden administration continues to take to censor the online speech of Americans who speak out against the Left’s agenda,” said Acting Director of Heritage Action Ryan Walker. “When federal employees make content moderation requests, the administration is effectively using the coercive power of the federal government to turn Big Tech companies into enforcement arms of their censorship policies. While the courts may eventually rule that this type of behavior is unconstitutional, Congress should codify these prohibitions into federal law by passing legislation like Senator Paul’s to ensure the long-term protection of Americans’ right to free speech online.” U.S. District Court Judge Terry Doughty ruled that the federal government was using its relationships with private corporations, including Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook, to censor Americans who hold views that the government does not like. Judge Doughty also issued a sweeping preliminary injunction barring numerous federal officials and agencies — including Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and all employees of the Justice Department and FBI — from having any contact with social media firms for the purpose of discouraging or removing First Amendment-protected speech. The Biden Administration is appealing the ruling. Senator Tommy Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. Tuberville was elected in 2020 after a successful forty-year career as an educator, coach, and sports broadcaster. A native of Arkansas, Tuberville was the head football coach at Ole Miss, Auburn, Texas Tech, and Cincinnati. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Katie Britt and Senate colleagues introduce a bipartisan bill to cut compensations from failed bank executives
U.S. Senator Katie Britt on Friday joined Senator J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), and a bipartisan group of colleagues in introducing the Failed Bank Executives Clawback Act. This legislation would enable federal regulators to claw back compensation from bank executives who are responsible for the reckless decisions that resulted in their institution’s failures. “When executives drive financial institutions into failure with reckless business practices, they shouldn’t be allowed to use their golden parachutes to escape responsibility while their customers, their employees, and hardworking American families are left footing the bill for the failure of their bank,” said Sen. Britt. “This commonsense legislation will dissuade risky bank mismanagement and ensure that bad actors are held accountable.” “The executives responsible for running their banks into the ground are sitting on millions of dollars in compensation and bonuses. Meanwhile, the American people are bearing the financial burden for their excessive risk-taking and gross mismanagement,” said Sen. Vance. “This legislation would right that wrong and ensure that failed bank executives are held accountable for the collapse of their institutions – not the American taxpayer.” “Nearly three months after the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, a bipartisan group of Senators is demonstrating a serious commitment to pass legislation requiring financial regulators to claw back pay from executives when they implode their bank,” said Sen. Warren. “Congress must answer the President’s call for stronger laws to hold failed bank executives accountable, and I’m determined to work with lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in the Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee to deliver change.” The bill would expand the existing authority of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) to claw back the compensation of bank executives when they are found to have substantially contributed to the collapse of a financial institution by engaging in reckless business practices. Any funding that is clawed back will be directed to the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund. This legislation was introduced in light of the recent collapses of Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) in California and Signature Bank in New York. Sponsors claim that considering the cost of the institutions’ collapse to the FDIC’s Deposit Insurance Fund and impact to the broader banking sector, this legislation is needed to deter future bad actors. Sen. Britt questioned former SVB CEO Greg Becker at a recent Banking Committee hearing, demanding answers about his responsibility in the bank’s collapse and his plans to give back the $1.5 million bonus he received. “If the team would have known it was going to be the fastest rate in history, I believe they would have considered different decisions,” Becker testified. “Senator, I was the CEO of Silicon Valley Bank. I take responsibility for what ultimately happened.” Co-sponsors of the bill also include U.S. Senators Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey), Mark Warner (D-Virginia), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), John Fetterman (D-Pennsylvania.), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri.), and Mike Braun (R-Indiana). To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville and GOP Colleagues urge Joe Biden to negotiate on debt limit
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt joined U.S. Senator Mike Lee and dozens of Republican colleagues in calling for fiscal responsibility and spending control measures in debt ceiling negotiations. Tuberville joined a GOP letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declaring broad Republican opposition to any debt ceiling legislation that lacks significant spending control measures. “It is now clear that Senate Republicans aren’t going to bail out Biden and Schumer. They have to negotiate,” said Sen. Lee. “I thank my colleagues for joining my effort to emphasize this point in the clearest possible terms.” “The Senate Republican conference is united behind the House Republican conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling,” wrote the senators. “This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms.” The letter emphasizes the GOP senators’ united front with the House Republican conference, advocating for spending cuts and structural budget reforms as prerequisites for any negotiation on raising the debt ceiling. “Dear Leader Schumer, The Senate Republican Conference is united behind the House Republican Conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling. Our economy is in free fall due to unsustainable fiscal policies. This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms. Moreover, recent Treasury projections have reinforced the urgency of addressing the debt ceiling. The House has taken a responsible first step in coming to the table with their proposals. It is imperative that the president now do the same. As such, we will not be voting for cloture on any bill that raises the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms,” the Senators wrote. Senators Tuberville, Britt, and Lee, current signatories include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Mike Crapo, Ted Budd, Mike Braun, James Lankford, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, M.D., Ron Johnson, James Risch, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, John Cornyn, Kevin Cramer, Markwayne Mullin, Roger Wicker, Steve Daines, Lindsey Graham, John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, Tim Scott, John Hoeven, Thom Tillis, and J.D. Vance. The debt limit — commonly called the ‘debt ceiling’ — is the highest amount the government can borrow under federal law. The federal government hit the debt limit in January 2023. Since then, the U.S. Treasury has employed ‘extraordinary measures’ to continue making payments on debt and new expenses. According to the U.S. Treasury, the United States is on track to exhaust those measures and run out of financial liquidity in a matter of weeks, meaning the federal government would no longer be able to make all of its payments. The debt is continuing to rise. The debt ceiling will have to be increased in the coming weeks. Democrats have advocated for an increase in the amount of money the federal government is allowed to borrow without any reduction in federal spending. Republicans say they will not support any debt ceiling increase without significant reductions in spending. President Biden has repeatedly refused to negotiate a debt ceiling deal with Republicans even though the GOP controls the U.S. House of Representatives. The House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 — a debt ceiling increase paired with spending cuts — on April 26, 2023. In Fiscal Year 2022, federal tax revenue hit a record high of $4.9 trillion. However, in the same year, the federal government had a deficit of more than $1.38 trillion even though the country is not at war and the economy is at full employment. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katies Britt joins bipartisan group of colleagues questioning Federal Reserve’s actions in Silicon Valley Bank crisis
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt joined Senators Kyrsten Sinema, Thom Tillis, and a bipartisan group of Senators questioning the Federal Reserve its’ oversight of troubled Silicon Valley Bank before the bank’s failure. The Sens. claim that the Federal Reserve missed clear warning signs – including bank leadership’s failure to appropriately manage customer deposits. That it missed as part of its responsibilities to conduct oversight and examinations ahead of Silicon Valley Bank’s collapse. “SVB is a clear case of regulators refusing to do their job despite the fact that all of the red flags were there,” said Sen. Britt. “The Fed failed to use the tools in their toolbox to prevent what we saw in recent weeks, and I want to know why. Alabamians don’t just want answers, they deserve answers. And I, for one, will not stop until we get them.” “It is gravely concerning that retail participants, utilizing only publicly available information, were able to identify clear and compelling examples of financial mismanagement and asset over-concentration at SVB, while the Fed, which can draw even deeper from non-public supervisory information, was unable to ascertain a similar conclusion,” the Sens. wrote in their letter. “The fact that the San Francisco Fed, among other regulatory agencies, found no reason to take appropriate regulatory action or even investigate SVB further in the months, weeks, and days prior to the bank’s collapse must be addressed in a manner that restores public confidence in Fed supervision.” “Safety and soundness is the cornerstone regulatory principle of the U.S. banking system, and it is important we assess what went wrong at SVB to ensure future stability in the U.S. financial services sector. Specifically, we support any efforts that will provide further information on all relevant risks, actions, and inactions – taken by SVB and by regulators, supervisors, and examiners – that contributed to this failure,” the Sens. wrote. “It is gravely concerning that retail participants, utilizing only publicly available information, were able to identify clear and compelling examples of financial mismanagement and asset over-concentration at SVB, while the Fed, which can draw even deeper from non-public supervisory information, was unable to ascertain a similar conclusion. The fact that the San Francisco Fed, among other regulatory agencies, found no reason to take appropriate regulatory action or even investigate SVB further in the months, weeks, and days prior to the bank’s collapse must be addressed in a manner that restores public confidence in Fed supervision. We look forward to evaluating the results of your review, particularly with respect to the robustness of Fed supervision and examination of SVB.” Britt joined Sinema and Tillis in cosigning the letter. Also cosigning were Sens. John Hickenlooper (D-Colorado), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Chris Murphy (D-Connecticut), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Catherine Cortez Masto (D-Nevada), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Michael Bennet (D-Colorado). There are media reports that federal regulators knew about the problems at SVB for more than a year, and yet they hesitated to act. The Wall Street Journal reported that federal bank regulators knew Silicon Valley Bank was a troubled bank as early as 2019. In 2021, the Federal Reserve cautioned the bank about significant vulnerabilities in the bank’s containment of risk. SVB had a uniquely concentrated customer base of venture capital funds, venture investors, and start-ups, many of whom have or have had financial relationships or business partnerships with one another. That customer base includes a significant level of financial interdependency that potentially increased risk. The Fed identified the risks to the bank, yet SVB did nothing to mitigate any of the risks. The Federal Reserve has already announced an internal investigation into its regulatory oversight, supervision, and examination of Silicon Valley Bank. The Senators urged that as part of this investigation, the Fed should focus on the role of concentration risk in the bank examination process and review the financial arrangements between Silicon Valley Bank and its customers to determine their impact on the bank’s collapse. Katie Britt is a member of the Financial Institutions and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Tom Cotton lead bipartisan letter to Biden Administration about surge of Mexican steel
U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tom Cotton, along with a bipartisan group of 11 of their Senate colleagues, sent a letter to Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo and U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai urging them to take action against the surge of Mexican steel imports, which they claim is unsustainable. The Sens. claim that the rising steel imports from Mexico raise grave concerns in America’s steel industry and steel communities such as those in Alabama. They also claim that this surge violates a 2019 agreement between the United States and Mexico negotiated by the Trump Administration. The letter contends that the United States deserves and should demand fair treatment from all trading partners, including its friends. “We urge the Biden administration to immediately begin consultations under the 2019 agreement to address this surge of Mexican steel and return imports to ‘historic volumes of trade,’ with quotas, if necessary,” the Senators wrote. “However, if the Mexican government refuses to remedy this breach, we regretfully urge the administration to consider other mechanisms to ensure compliance and protect American jobs, including the reapplication of Section 232 tariffs.” “The Administration has a responsibility to strongly enforce trade agreements to ensure fairness for hardworking Americans,” said Sen. Britt. “This unprecedented, unacceptable surge in Mexican steel imports is endangering good-paying Alabama jobs and negatively impacting communities across our nation. Additionally, our domestic iron and steel industry is critical for our national security. I will continue to fight to grow opportunities for families in every corner of Alabama and America, while keeping our homeland safe and strong.” Alabama still has a significant iron and steel industry. The iron and steel industry is an original economic engine for the state and supports approximately 15,000 jobs and indirectly supports more than 76,000 jobs, including subcontractors and suppliers. The average annual Alabama wage in the industry is nearly $100,000. Every two Alabama iron and steel industry jobs also supports ten additional jobs throughout the supply chain. Co-signing the letter are Senators Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Bob Casey (D-Pennsylvania), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisconsin), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Elizabeth Warren (D-Massachusetts), Tina Smith (D-Minnesota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio). The American Iron and Steel Institute (AISI) says that imports of finished steel increased by more than 18 percent in January compared with December. Mexico was the second-largest supplier (behind Canada) of finished and semi-finished steel to the U.S. in January. Mexico shipped 456,000 tons of steel to the U.S. in January – an increase of 10 percent from December. Britt is also a member of the National Security and International Trade and Finance Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville reintroduce bill to limit immigration paroles
U.S. Senator Katie Britt announced on Thursday that she joined Sens. Chuck Grassley, Tommy Tuberville, and six of their Republican colleagues in reintroducing the Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023, limiting the executive branch’s flexibility in choosing to offer immigration parole. “There is no doubt that there is an unprecedented humanitarian and national security crisis at the border, and it’s devastating families and communities across America,” said Sen. Britt. “In addition to the Biden Administration’s weak border agenda, the President’s continued abuse of our immigration system is only compounding the problem. The chaotic combination of lawless catch-and-release and expansive parole practices must end.” Senator Britt is the Ranking member of the Homeland Security subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, “The executive branch’s abuse of immigration parole is unacceptable and totally out of line with congressional intent,” said Sen. Grassley. “I’m proud to lead the fight to curb the abuse of immigration parole and restore order to our immigration system.” “The Biden administration is using dangerous loopholes to let more illegal immigrants into the country,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Giving parole to hundreds of thousands of illegal immigrants artificially decreases the number of apprehensions at the border and instead allows them right into the country. The American people are smarter than President [Joe] Biden thinks and can see through this abuse of power. I am proud to join this legislation that clarifies executive parole authority to ensure the Department of Homeland Security enforces our immigration laws. We shouldn’t have to pass a law requiring DHS to do its job, but I’m committed to doing what it takes to secure our southern border and hold our leaders accountable.” Immigration parole was first established in 1952. It allows the executive branch to temporarily grant individuals entry into the United States on a case-by-case basis for urgent humanitarian reasons or significant public benefit. Sen. Britt and her colleagues said that several presidential administrations have abused this authority to admit entire categories of individuals in circumvention of congressionally-established pathways to allow foreign nationals to enter the United States. Some of these parole programs were created even after Congress repeatedly rejected or failed to consider and enact legislative proposals that would have created an immigration pathway for those covered by the programs. This bill would make several reforms to ensure the executive branch complies with the original, long-standing congressional intent for the immigration parole authority. It would, among other changes, clarify that parole may not be granted according to criteria that describes entire categories of potential parolees and very clearly define what qualifies as an “urgent humanitarian reason” or “significant public benefit.” It would also provide clarity on the timing and extension of immigration parole, among other reforms. Sens. Britt, Grassley, and Tuberville were joined by Sens. Tom Cotton, Bill Cassidy, J.D. Vance, James Lankford, Mike Lee, and Joni Ernst in cosponsoring this legislation. Britt was elected to the Senate in her first run for public office. She is an attorney, former President and CEO of the Business Council of Alabama (BCA), and former Chief of Staff for former U.S. Sen. Richard Shelby. She and her husband, Wesley, live in Montgomery with their children. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
