Katie Britt and Marsha Blackburn introduce legislation to prevent traffickers from defrauding taxpayers
On Wednesday. U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Marsha Blackburn, and Cindy Hyde-Smith introduced legislation to ensure that persons charged with human and drug traffickers cannot continue to draw federal benefits while they await prosecution and conviction. The Senators introduced the Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act following their recent visit to the Del Rio Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border. Britt said that the amount of fentanyl seized in Birmingham alone last year reportedly was enough to kill every single person in the state of Alabama. During the first two months of the 2022 school year, Alabama schools had to administer Narcan 15 times because a student had overdosed on an opioid. “American taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to subsidize the monsters who are taking advantage of the Biden Administration’s border crisis to traffic vulnerable people and deadly drugs,” said Senator Britt. “These criminals are causing untold suffering in every corner of our country — stealing lives, destroying families, and devastating communities at record rates. It is time to seal and secure the border and end the incentives and loopholes that are fueling the crisis. I am grateful for Senator Blackburn’s continued leadership on this critical topic.” “For two years, President Biden’s open border policies have emboldened the cartels and caused human trafficking to grow to a $13 billion industry, with criminal cartels earning up to $14 million each day,” said Sen. Blackburn. “Last year alone, law enforcement seized over 14,000 pounds of fentanyl at the border, enough to kill over 3.3 billion people. We cannot continue to incentivize this blatant criminal activity. This legislation ensures that hardworking American taxpayers – already crushed by inflation – are not forced to fund the lifestyles of offenders who are making our country more dangerous.” .@SenKatieBritt blasts Biden admin for “gut-wrenching” humanitarian crisis along southern border pic.twitter.com/0xd32JL7Ah — Connect to Congress (@SinclairC2C) February 16, 2023 “Entire communities are destroyed at the hands of drug and human traffickers, and it’s appalling that some of those very communities’ tax dollars go toward putting up these criminals in government housing,” said Senator Hyde-Smith. “This legislation would ensure that traffickers can’t enjoy such government benefits after they’ve been charged for drug or human trafficking offenses.” Sen. Mike Braun is a co-sponsor of the legislation. Congresswoman Kat Cammack led the legislation in the U.S. House of Representatives. “Over the last two years, we’ve seen the horrific consequences of the Biden Border Crisis, including the devastating toll on our communities nationwide from drug and human trafficking,” Cammack said. “In Marion County, Florida, our sheriff’s department has recovered bricks of fentanyl with stamps from border cartels, alongside pill presses and sophisticated distribution plans. Our first responders gear up each day to save lives from fentanyl overdoses occurring almost daily, putting their own lives at risk,” said Representative Cammack. “Those responsible for trafficking drugs and people into our country at our borders and in our waters should not receive federal assistance after violating our laws—not only is it wrong, but it rewards those who have perpetuated this deadly crisis. I’m pleased to join Senator Blackburn on this effort and look forward to growing this legislation’s support with my colleagues.” Mark Dannels is the Sheriff of Cochise County, Arizona, on the U.S. southern border. “As a border Sheriff, I have witnessed the senseless tragedies on our southern border at the evil control of ruthless and violent criminal transnational organizations, i.e., cartels,” said Dannels. “These cartels exploit their criminal enterprise based on fear, violence, and greed. I support and commend [the] efforts to pass legislation for those directly responsible in these types of criminal acts that violate Public Safety – National Security and Humanitarian offenses.” Even after offenders are charged with federal drug and human trafficking offenses, many of them continue to live in government housing and receive other government benefits while they persist in exploiting and trafficking women and children or smuggling drugs across the border. The Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act would prohibit anyone charged with drug or human trafficking at our international borders or in our territorial waters from receiving federal government benefits. It would define “drug trafficking offense” as any federal offense that includes as an element the distribution of a controlled substance. It defines “human trafficking offense” as a range of offenses, including smuggling, transporting, and harboring individuals. The legislation would define “federal benefit” to include the issuance of any grant, contract, loan, professional license, or commercial license provided by an agency of the United States or by appropriated funds of the United States, as well as any retirement, welfare, Social Security, health, disability, veterans, or public housing benefit. If the charges are later dismissed, or the accused is found not guilty by a jury of their peers, then the legislation provides for back payment of benefits to any individual deprived of benefits under this section. Britt was named as the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville opposes Biden Administration’s efforts to expand abortion access by mail
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville joined other lawmakers in two separate letters last week to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland and U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf, urging the officials to revoke guidance that removes what Tuberville called key safeguards required by law to protect expectant mothers and their babies. “The reckless distribution of abortion drugs by mail or other carriers to pregnant mothers who have not been examined in person by a physician is not only dangerous and unsafe, it is criminal,” said Sen. Tuberville. ‘Through its decision to permit no-test, mail-order abortions after a telemedicine visit, the FDA has abandoned its dual obligations to protect the public and vulnerable populations from harm and to comply with Federal law, including Federal requirements to protect patient safety and longstanding Federal criminal laws which expressly prohibit the mailing and shipping of abortion drugs.’ Tuberville has been a leading voice on pro-life issues in the U.S. Senate. Additionally, just last week, Senator Tuberville cosponsored a bill to establish a permanent ban on using federal taxpayer dollars for abortion. On January 3rd, 2023, the FDA released new guidance removing in-person dispensing requirements for chemical abortion drugs such as mifepristone, making self-administered abortion drugs permanently available by mail or through certain pharmacies. Tuberville and the other lawmakers sent a detailed letter to Commissioner Califf explaining their view on the policy and legal faults in the FDA decision, citing it as “dangerous, reckless, and illegal.” They claim that the new policy: · Threatens the health and safety of pregnant mothers by eliminating the requirement for in-person dispensing, increasing risks of potentially life-threatening complications without an in-person screening. · Violates the FDA’s legal obligations to protect the safety of women and girls. · Violates longstanding federal criminal laws barring the mailing and shipping of abortion drugs. · Imperils the conscience rights of pharmacists by failing to provide protections for pharmacists who do not want to participate in the practice of abortion. “Through its decision to permit no-test, mail-order abortions after a telemedicine visit, the FDA has abandoned its dual obligations to protect the public and vulnerable populations from harm and to comply with Federal law, including Federal requirements to protect patient safety and longstanding Federal criminal laws which expressly prohibit the mailing and shipping of abortion drugs,” Tuberville and the other lawmakers wrote. “We therefore insist that the FDA pull the deadly drug mifepristone from the market, or, at minimum, promptly restore and further strengthen the initial basic health and safety requirements for abortion drugs, and comply with Federal criminal law.” The positions outlined in the letter have been endorsed by the SBA Pro-Life America, Americans United for Life, CatholicVote, March for Life, U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, National Right to Life, Concerned Women for America, Heritage Action, Students for Life of America, Family Research Council, Scholars with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Family Policy Alliance, and Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission. Tuberville was joined in the letter to Commissioner Califf by U.S. Senators Cindy Hyde-Smith, James Lankford, Steve Daines, Jim Risch, Mike Crapo, Marsha Blackburn, John Hoeven, J.D. Vance, Marco Rubio, Rick Scott, Roger Marshall, Kevin Cramer, Roger Wicker, Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, John Thune, Bill Hagerty, Todd Young, Markwayne Mullen, Mike Braun, Deb Fischer, Ted Budd, Josh Hawley, along with 54 members of the U.S. House of Representatives. Last December, the Office of Legal Counsel of the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) released an opinion saying the U.S. Postal Service is legally allowed to deliver abortion drugs, even to mailing addresses in states that decided to prohibit access to chemical abortion pills by mail as a result of the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in Dobbs versus the Jackson Women’s Health Organization that reversed the controversial Roe v. Wade decision. The letter to Garland claims that the DOJ’s memo violates existing laws. “It is disappointing, yet not surprising, that the Biden administration’s DOJ has not only abdicated its Constitutional responsibility to enforce the law but also has once again twisted the plain meaning of the law in an effort to promote the taking of unborn life. The OLC memo should be immediately rescinded or, at minimum, redrafted to articulate an accurate application of the law,” Tuberville and the members wrote. The second letter is supported by the Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Students for Life, Family Policy Alliance, Americans United for Life, CatholicVote, Scholars with the Ethics and Public Policy Center, Heritage Action, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, Family Research Council, March for Life, and SBA Prolife America. Senator Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. He is serving his first term in the Senate after unseating incumbent Sen. Doug Jones in the 2020 election. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt believes Alabama taxpayers do not want taxes paying for elective abortions
United States Senators Katie Britt and Roger Wicker joined 45 other Senators in introducing the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act. This legislation would establish a single, government-wide standard to permanently prohibit the flow of federal funding for abortion. “The vast majority of Alabamians do not want their hard-earned dollars funding elective abortions in California and New York,” Britt stated. “The Hyde Amendment has saved an estimated 2.5 million lives – approximately half the population of Alabama,” said Sen. Britt. “Sadly, radicals in the Democratic Party continue to trumpet their calls for abortion at any time, for any reason. They have now targeted the long-standing, bipartisan Hyde Amendment, annually passed by Congress since 1976, which ensures federal taxpayer dollars are not used to fund abortions. It is time to make the Hyde Amendment and its lifesaving protections permanent so the far-left does not attempt to hold the nation hostage every year. The vast majority of Alabamians do not want their hard-earned dollars funding elective abortions in California or New York. I will continue to fight to defend life, support parents, grow opportunities for hardworking families, and preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.” “Most Americans do not want their hard-earned tax dollars being used for abortion-on-demand, but our current patchwork of regulations has brought years of uncertainty,” stated Sen. Wicker. “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would simplify federal rules, ensuring that American tax dollars are never used for the destruction of innocent, unborn life.” This legislation would make permanent the restrictions on funding for elective abortion and elective abortion coverage, including the Hyde Amendment, which currently relies on yearly approval. It would also eliminate Obamacare’s taxpayer subsidies for elective abortion coverage on the Affordable Care Act exchanges through refundable tax credits. U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) also co-sponsored the legislation. “Millions of hardworking Americans believe that life begins at conception and don’t want their taxpayer dollars inadvertently funding abortions,” said Sen. Tuberville. “As a Christian and as a conservative, I share their belief that every life is sacred and every American has a right to life. That’s why I’m proud to sign on to this legislation that will solidify abortion funding restrictions that have been in place for decades and better protect the unborn.” Britt, Tuberville, and Wicker joined Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis, (R-North Carolina), John Thune (R-South Dakota), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Todd Young (R-Indiana). With Democrats in control of the Senate, it is unlikely that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer will allow this bill to even be introduced on the Senate floor. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt joins bill to prioritize military, veterans, and seniors when federal debt ceiling is reached
The United States’ debt is already in excess of $31.5 trillion and is approaching the debt ceiling. U.S. Senator Katie Britt and Senator Rick Scott have proposed legislation to keep defense spending, veterans benefits, social security, and Medicare payments coming if there is a partial government shutdown and the debt ceiling is not raised. Scott and Britt were joined by Sens. Marsha Blackburn, Mike Braun, Ted Budd, Kevin Cramer, Ron Johnson, Mike Lee, Cynthia Lummis, and Jim Risch in reintroducing the Full Faith and Credit Act to address the federal debt crisis. This legislation would ensure that the federal government prioritizes funding for the military, veterans, and seniors should the federal debt ceiling be reached due to the inability of Congress and the Biden Administration to reach a deal on either cutting federal spending or raising the debt ceiling. “Our ballooning national debt is an economic and security crisis,” said Sen. Britt. “We can’t continue to recklessly pile this burden on the backs of our children and our children’s children. The American people deserve accountability over wasteful spending, and we accomplish that by prioritizing taxpayer dollars in a responsive and responsible manner. It is crucial that we maintain the full faith and credit of the United States, meet our obligations to Social Security and Medicare beneficiaries, maintain a strong national defense, and support our incredible veterans and servicemembers. This legislation would do exactly that.” “The last two years have made crystal clear that the left, the big government crowd, and even Wall Street have found a very clever way to keep America forever stuck in a vicious tax-and-spend cycle where spending always goes up, debt always goes up – and if you dare to disagree – they say you want a default,” said Sen. Scott. “For them, it is a false choice: embrace overspending and massive debt, or be the one who destroys the American economy. That is nonsense and a lie. While Democrats want to maintain the status quo where a default threat looms over Americans every time their reckless spending hits our debt ceiling, I’m fighting to eliminate the threat of default and protect the federal government’s core responsibilities to the American people even while the Biden administration refuses to acknowledge we are in a time of fiscal crisis. Since the Treasury refuses to do what it can and must, it is time to pass the Full Faith and Credit Act. This bill would require the government to fulfill critical payments to the debt to avoid default and full fiscal calamity while Democrats refuse to take accountability for their wasteful spending. It would require Congress to ACTUALLY address the debt ceiling crisis. It also ensures Americans depending on important programs like Social Security, Medicare, and veteran benefits, as well as our service members, are not punished for Washington’s dysfunction. If Democrats reject this proposal, they are rejecting the protection of the full faith and credit of the United States and REJECTING a solution to the possibility of a default. It’s time for Washington to start living within its means, just like every family and business across the nation does, and preserve the American dream—this bill is a great start.” The Full Faith and Credit Act is endorsed by Club for Growth, Americans for Prosperity, and FreedomWorks. The Full Faith and Credit Act would require the following to take priority over all other federally incurred obligations in the event that the federal debt reaches the debt ceiling: · The Department of the Treasury to pay the principal and interest on debt held by the public · Social Security payments toward monthly Old Age, Survivors and Disability Insurance benefits under title II of the Social Security Act · Pay and allowances for members of the Armed Forces on active duty and the United States Coast Guard; · Payment of compensation and pensions and medical services provided by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs · Medicare programs. The bill would also require the Secretary of the Treasury, if the Secretary determines that incoming revenue will not be sufficient to finance the priorities described above over the following two weeks, to notify Congress of the expected revenue shortfall; and would authorize the Secretary to raise the debt limit by the amount necessary to cover the difference between incoming revenue and the revenue needed to finance those priorities on a two-week basis. It would also prohibit such a debt limit increase from exceeding the difference between expected outlays for the listed priorities and expected revenue. The President and Senate Democrats favor raising the debt ceiling without cutting any spending. “We need to act,” President Joe Biden said on raising the debt ceiling. “These leaders know the need to act. The United States pays its bill. It’s who we are. It’s who we’ve been. It’s who we’re going to continue to be, God willing. That’s what’s called the full faith and credit of the United States.” “Let’s be clear: Raising the debt limit is paying our old debts,” Biden continued. “It has nothing to do with new spending or what may be coming this year or other years. It has nothing to do with my plans on infrastructure or building back better, both of which are paid for, but they’re not even in — in the queue right now. It’s about paying for what we owe and preventing a catastrophic event occurring in our economy.” Biden continued, “We had to raise the debt limit three times when Donald Trump was President. And the Republicans moved to raise it each time, and each time the Democrats supported the effort to raise the debt. But now Republicans won’t raise the debt limit despite being responsible for what the debt limit — why it has to be raised for the bills that are outstanding.” A partial government shutdown is possible if Congress and the President cannot reach a deal on raising the debt limit. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville supports bill to permanently ban taxpayer funding for abortions
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt joined 45 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act to establish a permanent prohibition on federal funding for abortion. Tuberville said in a statement, “Every life is sacred.” “Millions of hardworking Americans believe that life begins at conception and don’t want their taxpayer dollars inadvertently funding abortions,” said Sen. Tuberville stated. “As a Christian and as a conservative, I share their belief that every life is sacred and every American has a right to life. That’s why I’m proud to sign on to this legislation that will solidify abortion funding restrictions that have been in place for decades and better protect the unborn.” “Most Americans do not want their hard-earned tax dollars being used for abortion-on-demand, but our current patchwork of regulations has brought years of uncertainty,” Sen. Roger Wicker said. “The No Taxpayer Funding for Abortion Act would simplify federal rules, ensuring that American tax dollars are never used for the destruction of innocent, unborn life.” The bill seeks to change 40 years of inconsistent policies that have regulated federal funding for abortion. It would make funding restrictions permanent for abortion and elective abortion coverage, including the Hyde Amendment, which requires annual approval. The legislation would also eliminate taxpayer-funded subsidies for elective abortion coverage currently offered on Affordable Care Act exchanges through refundable tax credits. Tuberville, Wicker, and Britt joined Sens. Mitch McConnell (R-Kentucky) John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Steve Daines (R-Montana), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Josh Hawley (R-Missouri), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Rand Paul (R-Kentucky), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Thom Tillis, (R-North Carolina), John Thune (R-South Dakota), J.D. Vance (R-Ohio), and Todd Young (R-Indiana). Swing Republican Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins did not sign off on the legislation, and neither did any of the 52 Senate Democrats who hold the majority in the body. U.S. Representative Christopher Smith (R-New Jersey) has introduced similar legislation in the House of Representatives. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt warns that southern border is an “unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis”
U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Cindy Hyde-Smith, and Katie Britt are on an inspection tour of the troubled U.S. southern border. Following her trip, Britt said that the southern border “is an unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis.” “What we witnessed these past 24 hours was gut-wrenching,” said Sen. Britt. “The raw numbers alone tell us that there is an unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border. However, seeing it up close was truly eye-opening, underlining the historic magnitude of the problem and giving faces to the very real human cost of the reckless policies that have caused this disaster. This trip was an important opportunity for me to listen to and learn from the people who are facing this every single day, from boots-on-the-ground law enforcement officers to courageous survivors of the cartels’ human and drug trafficking. Now, my team and I will be hard at work formulating and advancing tangible solutions that will help seal and secure the border and defend America’s future.” Sen. Hyde-Smith shared a video from the trip. “Unless you have been here, you don’t know it firsthand,” Sen. Hyde-Smith told Fox News. “The human trafficking industry, the drug industry, they are invading this country. It has been so informative.” “The bad guys that are coming through are wreaking havoc on this country,” Hyde-Smith continued. “We can no longer allow this to happen. It is so amazing that we have laws against this, and they are not enforced.” The trip was led by Sen. Blackburn. “The cartels are in charge of that border – the Mexico side of the border,” Blackburn told Fox News. “Human smuggling has gone from being a half-billion business in the last few years to a $15 billion business.” The senators arrived in the Del Rio Sector Monday evening and immediately attended an operational briefing with leaders from the National Border Patrol Council and officials from the Texas Department of Public Safety. They then went on a nighttime visit to trafficking hotspots along the border, including an area along the banks of the Rio Grande. Early Tuesday morning, the senators went on an additional tour of several border hotspots. In this leg of the trip, they witnessed migrants crossing the Rio Grande and another group of migrants attempting to cross the river. This latter group included several children and a pregnant woman. Afterward, the senators participated in a roundtable on human trafficking that included a survivor, as well as Rosa Maria de la Garza, a former member of the Mexican Congress. That was followed by a tour of a working Texas ranch whose livelihood has been threatened by the influx of migrants traveling across the property. Next, the senators stopped outside of a temporary CBP migrant processing facility that is costing the American taxpayer $16 million per month to operate. The day concluded with a roundtable comprised of local elected officials and law enforcement officers. “The Biden Administration stopped construction of the border wall, halted deportations, suspended ‘Remain in Mexico,’ and stopped enforcing border security policies,” Britt, Blackburn, and Hyde-Smith said in a joint statement. “The first thing President Biden must do is enforce the immigration laws that are currently on the books.” Britt was sworn into the Senate less than a week before the trio’s border visit. She was recently elected to the seat held for decades by Sen. Richard Shelby. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt to join Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Cindy Hyde-Smith in visit to Southern Border
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn will lead an all-female delegation to the Del Rio Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border on January 9 and 10. Sen. Blackburn will be joined by U.S. Sens. Cindy Hyde-Smith and Katie Britt to examine what Blackburn called “the disastrous effects of [Joe] Biden’s border crisis” firsthand. “President Biden created a humanitarian and national security crisis at our southern border. He ended Remain in Mexico, terminated the safe third country agreements, and pushed to end Title 42. All the while, deportations have dropped to the lowest levels in ICE history,” said Senators Blackburn, Hyde-Smith, and Britt in a joint statement. “Under the Biden Administration, drug cartels have been emboldened to take advantage of innocent women and children for sexual and monetary gain. Human trafficking has skyrocketed from a $500 million business in 2018 to a $13 billion complex industry. President Biden’s failure to secure the border is resulting in countless innocent victims being sexually abused and killed. Over the last two years, drug overdose deaths – largely driven by fentanyl – have become the leading cause of death for adults 18 – 45 years old. It’s time to enforce the rule of law and secure our border.” Blackburn came to Alabama to campaign for Britt during the general election. Britt and Blackburn both spoke about the chaos on the southern border at that event and pledged to journey there if Britt was elected to the Senate. “It’s an honor to have Senator Marsha Blackburn on hand to outline how important this upcoming General Election is,” Britt said. “We are looking forward to visiting with everyone and discussing what’s at stake on November 8. It’s time to send a message loud and clear to Washington, D.C. that we’ve had enough of President Biden’s radical agenda that puts hardworking Alabama families last, whether it is generationally high inflation, a historic border crisis or the devastating flood of fentanyl into our communities. This is the Year of the Parent, and people across our great state know that our future is on the ballot. Together, we will preserve the American Dream for our children and our children’s children.” Also on Thursday President Joe Biden announced that he was going to the southern border for the first time in his presidency. Biden said he will visit El Paso, Texas, “to assess border enforcement operations, meet with the local officials and community leaders and the folks at the border sending me what they need that they don’t have.” The Senators will meet with federal, state, and local law enforcement to see the impact of the border crisis firsthand. The Senators will also meet with local landowners and those who have been victimized by the Mexican drug cartels and human traffickers. Katie Boyd Britt was sworn into office on the Senate floor on Tuesday. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Republicans call for impeachment of DHS head, cite surge at border
A group of U.S. House Republicans on Tuesday called for the impeachment of Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. The lawmakers, led by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., made their remarks during a news conference outside the Capitol Building, calling for Mayorkas’ impeachment amid the soaring number of illegal immigrants crossing into the U.S. “Every day he remains in office, America is less safe,” Biggs said. U.S. Customs and Border Protection have released a steady stream of figures showing that the number of illegal immigrants entering through the southern border has soared to record levels since President Joe Biden took office. Those numbers are poised to get worse. Trump-era Title 42 protections that allowed feds to expel migrants more quickly because of COVID-19 concerns are set to expire later this month, and experts predict a surge of illegal immigrants are awaiting that expiration. Some areas, like El Paso, are seeing thousands of migrants cross over each day. Those larger numbers of migrants have also brought large quantities of fentanyl, a deadly drug that is trafficked in the U.S. via cartels. Fentanyl overdoses have soared in recent years as well. Some in the Senate have echoed the criticism of Mayorkas. “The southern border has been an issue for a long time,” said Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn. “Secretary Mayorkas only showed back up when the mainstream media caved and reported on the issue.” Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Tommy Tuberville works to undo vaccine mandates for military
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville joined colleagues in an effort to secure a provision in the 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to protect servicemembers from the Biden administration’s controversial COVID-19 vaccine mandate. The NDAA was passed last night in the Senate. Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) led a group that included Sens. Tuberville, Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Joni Ernst (R- Iowa), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Steve Daines (R-Montana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), and Jim Risch (R-Idaho) in a joint statement after helping to successfully secure the provision protecting the servicemembers from the mandate in the 2023 NDAA. “In the United States, the number of new servicemembers joining the military is reaching a near record low,” the Sens. wrote in a joint statement. “The United States needs a strong military to protect our country against the growing threats facing our nation. We are pleased that the final conferenced bill includes language mirroring our amendments’ efforts to protect troops from being fired due to Biden’s COVID vaccine mandate without fair appeal and to the harm of service readiness.” Tuberville has expressed concerns about the historically low military recruitment numbers; and how the COVID-19 vaccination requirements for service members is affecting the military’s ability to recruit and retain personnel. Tuberville has repeatedly addressed these concerns to top U.S. Department of Defense officials and called for hearings on the issue. “Only nine percent — only nine percent — of young people even want to serve,” Tuberville said in a recent Senate hearing with DoD officials. “That’s a small, small pool. Faith in our military has collapsed. I’ve reviewed the list of speaking engagements for senior leaders at the Pentagon and could find no trace — zero — of anyone speaking publicly about recruiting. The leaders of our military. But there were plenty of speeches on climate change, pride month, and global water security. What is going on here?” Additionally, Sen. Tuberville has helped introduce two pieces of legislation, Preserving the Readiness of Our Armed Forces Act and Stop Firing Our Servicemembers Act, to push back against the Biden administration’s mandates. The Preserving the Readiness of our Armed Forces Actwould prohibit the involuntary dismissal of a service member for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine until each military service achieves its authorized end strength; while the Stop Firing our Servicemembers Act would prohibit federal funds from being used to require a member of the National Guard to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The NDAA is a bipartisan bill that sets the goals for the U.S. military each year. Tuberville is in his first term representing the state of Alabama in the U.S. Senate. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Marshall applauds ruling upholding religious exemptions for Covid-19 vaccine mandate for Air Force service members
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall hailed a federal appeals court decision on Tuesday in a case supported by the State of Alabama that upheld the right of service members to seek religious exemptions to the U.S. Air Force’s COVID-19 vaccination mandate. “An Airman may sacrifice much serving his country,” said Marshall. “That sacrifice should not include his right to religious liberty. We have protections in place to ensure that an Airman enjoys largely the same rights to religious liberty as his fellow citizens. Those include the Free Exercise Clause and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This appeals court ruling underscores that the religious liberty of Air Force personnel cannot be trampled by the government.” President Joe Biden wanted the COVID-19 vaccine more widely adopted by Americans. Congress would not pass vaccine mandates, so the President claimed broad executive powers to order Americans to take the vaccine. Many of these, including an unprecedented OSHA rule, were later blocked by the courts. One area where the mandates were enforced was in the U.S. military, as the President is constitutionally the commander n chief of the American armed forces. Biden’s Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin, followed the President’s orders by ordering all DoD employees and service members to get the vaccine. The public was told that service members with a medical reason or a religious objection to the vaccine would not have to get the vaccination. The services, including the Air Force, routinely turned down those requests. “After the Air Force ordered all their personnel receive COVID-19 vaccinations, nearly 10,000 service members sought religious exemptions,” Marshall said. “However, the Air Force has only granted 135 exemptions, with most of those involving personnel already scheduled to retire soon. In February, a lawsuit was filed on behalf of Air Force service members seeking religious-liberty exceptions to the vaccine mandate. In March, a federal district court ruled in their favor, placing a preliminary injunction barring the Air Force from disciplining any member for claiming a religious-liberty exemption to the vaccine mandate.” “After the Air Force appealed the federal district court ruling, I joined with 20 fellow attorneys general in supporting the statutory and constitutional rights of the Airmen who were denied their rights,” Marshall continued. “The victory this week in the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals ensures the injunction protecting religious exemptions will continue in effect for Air Force members, including those on active duty, in the reserves, in the Air National Guard, and in the Space Force.” In similar cases, Attorney General Marshall joined 22 attorneys general in filing a brief in April before the U.S. Supreme Court in support of U.S. Armed Forces service members challenging the U.S. Defense Department’s similar failure to grant religious exemptions for DoD personnel from COVID vaccinations. Marshall also filed a brief in August supporting U.S. Navy personnel’s right to seek a religious exemption from the Navy’s COVID vaccination mandate. In defense of Air Force service members, Marshall was joined by attorneys general from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming in filing a brief in September. U.S. Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Marsha Blackburn, and others have argued that this is having a tremendous impact on military readiness. “America’s military recruitment is at an all-time low, putting us further behind adversaries like China,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We should not be jeopardizing our national security by putting more restrictions on members of our military who wish to serve. I am proud to support legislation to bolster military readiness and support our men and women in uniform.” The Montgomery-based Foundation for Moral Law hailed the decision as a long-overdue victory for military personnel. Foundation Senior Counsel John Eidsmoe wrote in a statement, “The Sixth Circuit accepted our argument that the USAF failed to give its personnel the individualized determinations that the Constitution requires in Stanley v. Illinois.” “I love the Air Force, but I also love the men and women who wear Air Force blue, and I believe they are entitled to the protection of the Constitution they have sworn to defend,” Eidsmoe said. The Foundation filed an amicus brief in the case. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville and colleagues introduce legislation to strengthen military readiness
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville continued his drive to strengthen the armed forces and prevent COVID-19 vaccination requirements from impeding military readiness by adding his support to two pieces of legislation, the Preserving the Readiness of Our Armed Forces Act and the Stop Firing Our Servicemembers Act. “America’s military recruitment is at an all-time low, putting us further behind adversaries like China,” said Sen. Tuberville. “We should not be jeopardizing our national security by putting more restrictions on members of our military who wish to serve. I am proud to support legislation to bolster military readiness and support our men and women in uniform.” The Preserving the Readiness of Our Armed Forces Act would prohibit the involuntary dismissal of a service member for refusing the COVID-19 vaccine until each military service achieves its authorized end strength. The legislation would also require that members of the National Guard and reserves have access to pay and benefits while requests for religious or health accommodation are pending. Sen. Tuberville was joined in introducing this legislation by U.S. Sens Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), and Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina). “Every year, we come into this chamber and fight as hard as we can to make our military the most lethal fighting force in the world,” Blackburn said. “We authorize billions of dollars for aircraft and equipment and advanced weaponry. The NDAA represents an incredible investment in the future of this country. But it also represents the trust the American people put in this Congress to keep them safe and to keep the enemy at bay. So it is beyond me that Joe Biden and the Democrats would undermine their own military by gutting the ranks—just to make a point.” The Stop Firing Our Servicemembers Act would prohibit federal funds from being used to require a member of the National Guard to receive a COVID-19 vaccination and prohibit the Department of Defense from taking any adverse action against the member for refusing vaccination. Tuberville was joined in introducing this legislation by Sens. Blackburn, Crapo, Braun, and Cotton, as well as James Risch (R-Idaho), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Steve Daines (R-Montana). “While servicemembers now have to wonder if they’ll be able to continue serving our country, America’s adversaries are looking to exploit this new vulnerability of fewer troops able to deploy and fight,” Blackburn said. Tuberville has staunchly opposed the Biden administration’s vaccine mandate for service members and defense contractors, repeatedly warning that COVID-19 vaccine mandates pose a risk to military readiness. Tuberville spoke about the unconstitutional mandates on the floor of the U.S. Senate and in letters to top administration officials. Tuberville represents Alabama in the United States Senate and is a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans’ Affairs, and HELP Committees. He is in his first term as a U.S. Senator. Tuberville defeated incumbent Sen. Doug Jones (D-Alabama) in the 2020 general election. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt urges voters to vote for Republicans up and down the ballot
On Monday, the Republican nominee for U.S. Senate, Katie Britt, was joined at a rally in Madison by Republican leaders across the state of Alabama in Huntsville. U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee) expressed her support for Britt and urged everyone to encourage their friends to go to the polls to vote for Britt and other Republicans on November 8. Britt urged voters to vote “for Republicans up and down the ballot.” Speaker of the House Mac McCutcheon said, “We have a lot of great leaders here for our state and nation. Thank you, Sen. Blackburn, for being here. I want to thank everyone for coming here. We have an election coming up. I want to tell you that this is a very important election for this state and also for this nation as well. Go vote and take someone with you as well. Rex Vaughn with the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA) said he met with Katie Britt when she began her campaign. “We talked about what it would take to get the ALFA and Farmers Federation endorsement,” Vaughn said. “It was a tall order. She was down 40 points in name identification.” “I thought that Tommy Tuberville could not be surpassed (in working hard on the campaign trail), but she did,” Vaugh said. “We (the Farmers’ Federation) were told by many political experts across this state that we would regret our endorsement of her.” Britt defeated Congressman Mo Brooks and businessman and veteran Mike Durant in the Republican primary. She appears poised to take the Senate seat in one week. “I want you to leave here and contact ten and hopefully twenty people that you know and tell them to come out to vote,” said McCutcheon. McCutcheon urged voters to support the Republican nominees. “All of the (Republican) candidates are in unison to come together and move us forward,” McCutcheon said. “We are here on election eve, and I am so excited by what w are going to see here Tuesday,” said Congressman Robert Aderholt. “I am so happy to be here with people from both the Fourth and Fifth Congressional Districts. It is an honor to be joined here by Sen. Blackburn. I have watched her from a distance, and she is someone who both says she is a conservative and is a conservative. As Marsha and I know, there are some people in Washington who give lip service to being conservative but don’t walk the walk.” “I am so excited to be here,” Sen. Blackburn said. “What a great crowd for Monday morning. Alabama is going to help us to fire Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi. Once we do that, you are going to have Chairman Aderholt (House Appropriations). We are looking forward to that. I look forward to Dale Strong coming to Congress. I have gotten to meet him. We are so excited that Katie is running. We are so excited for all the energy and enthusiasm that she brings to this race.” “I fully believe that, and you believe, that America’s best days are ahead of us,” Blackburn said. “We cannot win if we do not get out the vote. We cannot send the message that North Alabama is not purple, but red if we do not get people out to vote.” Blackburn continued, “The message this year: people are all concerned about inflation, are all concerned about the crisis on the border. This year you have got such a great opportunity from the local level to the state level to the federal level to send that message.” Blackburn commented about Britt, “You are going to send an absolute fireball to the U.S. Senate. She is going to do a great job working with Sen. Tuberville. I cannot wait to have her in the U.S. Senate.” “Thank you for your continued service. I cannot wait to serve alongside you,” Britt said of Blackburn. “Look at this crowd. I cannot believe so many people came out on a Monday with Halloween and school and so much going on.” “If we are going to put this nation back on the right track, we are going to have to do it by putting in Republicans from the top to the bottom of the ballot,” Britt continued. “We knew that we believed in the state and the nation. If our generation at age 40 does not stand up, then we will be the first generation who leaves our children a worse nation than the one that we grew up in. We have to stand up and fight for our children and grandchildren, or they might not have much left to fight for.” “Under Joe Biden’s failed leadership, he has left our border open to human traffickers, drug traffickers, and terrorists,” Britt said. “Rest assured that when I am in the Senate, I will stand alongside Senator Tuberville, Senator Cotton, and Senator Blackburn to make sure that we will not let the Chinese government buy up our farmland.” State Senate Majority Leader Clay Scofield said that Alabama Republican leadership has been more positive than Democrat leadership. “The state was in terrible shape, our budgets were in terrible shape, our ethics laws were nonexistent,” Scofield argued. “Our schools were in terrible shape. Why would we go back to that? We have two Senators on the ballot in Madison County next week: Sen. Tom Butler and Sen. Sam Givhan. I serve with these two men not just in the State Senate but serving with them on the Madison County Delegation. They are effective for us in Madison County.” House Majority Leader Nathaniel Ledbetter urged residents of Madison County to support Republican candidates Dr. David Cole and Phillip Rigsby, who are in hotly contested races with Democrats. “November 8 is a big day for Madison County,” Ledbetter said. “One of two things are going to happen. Madison County is going to set the stake for the state, or it’s going to fail.” Britt urged voters to vote for Republican Greg Cooke for Alabama Supreme Court. Lieutenant Governor Will Ainsworth stated, “We are on fire with this economy. The talk was we were going to lose a congressional seat, then we were going to lose two congressional
