Tommy Tuberville says Biden Administration is ignoring Supreme Court ruling on student loan cancellation
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) blasted the Biden administration as the U.S. Department of Education moves forward with debt cancellation negotiations despite the U.S. Supreme Court’s recent ruling that the plan is illegal and unconstitutional. Tuberville joined four of his colleagues in a letter to U.S. Department of Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, reminding him of the plan’s unconstitutionality and of the monetary burden the plan would place on millions of taxpayers who did not receive four-year degrees or who paid for their own education. “Your choice to conveniently exclude the interests of taxpayers who paid their loans, did not take student loans, or did not attend college removes any pretenses of fairness from this panel,” Tuberville and the other senators wrote. “The 87 percent of Americans with no student loan debt have no input, instead they are left with the $400 billion projected price tag of the program—or over four times the Department of Education’s fiscal year 2023 budget.” “We are gravely concerned that the Department is undertaking a blatant political process with a predetermined outcome to achieve one of the President’s campaign promises at all costs,” the Senators wrote. Joining Senators Tommy Tuberville and Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) in introducing the letter are U.S. Senators John Cornyn (R-Texas), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and presidential candidate Tim Scott (R-South Carolina). “At the rate this administration is burning through taxpayer cash and borrowing money, Americans will be paying off Biden-era economic decisions for generations,” Sen. Grassley said. “The president must shift gears and start cutting costs.” According to information provided by Grassley’s office, the 2023 deficit of $1.7 trillion is 76 percent greater than the CBO had projected when President Joe Biden took office. Absent an accounting anomaly stemming from the Biden administration’s failed attempt to ram through its unconstitutional student debt transfer plan, the recorded deficit would have been over $2 trillion. The Senators assert that using the regulatory process this way “not only makes a mockery of negotiated rulemaking under the [Higher Education Act] but also of the separation of powers.” In August 2022, President Biden announced he would use his executive emergency powers to forgive billions of dollars in student loans by adding the debt to the national debt, requiring taxpayers to pay for other people’s student loans over the coming decades. In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the President has no authority to make such an appropriation without being first passed as an act by Congress. Thus, the President’s plan was unconstitutional. Following the Supreme Court’s decision that the President did not have that authority, the U.S. Department of Education announced its intention to pursue an “alternative path to debt relief.” The department later announced it would be holding discussions to find a workaround to the SCOTUS ruling. As part of this process, the Department of Education assembled a 14-person panel to negotiate a new proposed rule to force taxpayers to pay for other people’s student loans. The agency’s selections excluded the 87 percent of taxpayers who have either already paid off their loans, did not take out loans, or chose not to attend college. If the Biden administration finalizes its latest student debt transfer plan, individuals belonging to those groups will incur the estimated $ 400 billion cost for other people’s student loans. Tuberville has repeatedly warned of the dangerous impacts of the Biden administration’s student loan plan, which could cost taxpayers as much as $559 billion over the next ten years. A non-partisan student loan expert has warned the plan could cost $1 trillion. “Left-wing activists have fundamentally shifted higher education to become a vehicle to further their political agenda — and now they’re set on [forcing]American taxpayers to pay for the overpriced indoctrination and taking athletic opportunities away from those who have worked so hard to compete,” said Tuberville. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Thousands of flight cancellations, 1.1 million lose power as strong storms hit eastern U.S.
Thousands of U.S. flights were canceled or delayed, and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses lost power Monday as destructively strong storms, including potential tornadoes, hail, and lightning, moved through the eastern U.S. Rain began falling in the Washington area shortly after 5 p.m., and the skies gradually turned an ominous dark gray, a precursor to the severe weather and mass power outages that were predicted. The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area, lasting until 9 p.m., as well as a flood warning extending through Tuesday morning. A special Weather Service statement warned, “There is a significant threat for damaging and locally destructive hurricane-force winds, along with the potential for large hail and tornadoes, even strong tornadoes.” The storms’ spread was massive, with tornado watches and warnings posted across 10 states from Tennessee to New York. The National Weather Service said more than 29.5 million people were under a tornado watch Monday afternoon and that the area of greatest concern centered in the Washington-Baltimore region. By late Monday afternoon, about 1,500 U.S. flights had been canceled and more than 7,000 delayed, according to flight tracking service FlightAware. More than a quarter of the cancellations were at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, which was digging out from disruptions caused by Sunday storms. The Federal Aviation Administration said it was rerouting planes around storms heading to the East Coast and warned it would likely start pausing flights in and out of the New York City area, Philadelphia, Washington, Charlotte, and Atlanta. The White House pushed up by 90 minutes President Joe Biden’s departure on a four-day trip that’s taking him to Arizona, New Mexico, and Utah. The White House also canceled a back-to-school cybersecurity event that was to feature first lady Jill Biden, who is a teacher, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and school administrators, educators, and education technology providers from around the country. The Office of Personnel Management announced Monday that all non-emergency employees would have to depart before 3 p.m., when all federal offices closed. “This does look to be one of the most impactful severe weather events across the Mid-Atlantic that we have had in some time,” National Weather Service meteorologist Chris Strong said in a Facebook live briefing. Also concerning forecasters was the timing of the storms. They were expected to strike major population areas in late afternoon and early evening, prompting federal workers to be sent home early so they wouldn’t be in their cars amid wind, hail, and tornadoes. Strong advised residents: “Have yourself in a strong shelter. Be at home or be at work.” By early evening, more than 1.1 million customers were without power across Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, West Virginia, and Virginia — all states along the storm system’s path, according to poweroutage.us. The Knoxville Utilities Board tweeted that the damage across its service area in Tennessee was “widespread and extensive” and will likely take several days to repair. A row of utility poles were toppled in Westminster, Maryland, WJLA-TV reported. Republished with the permission of The Associated Press.
Tommy Tuberville opposes biological males competing in women’s sports
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville authored an op-ed in National Review outlining his reintroduction of the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act to preserve Title IX protections and keep biological males from competing in female sports. The reintroduction of this legislation comes as the U.S. Department of Education is moving forward to implement new rules in May that would allow biological males to compete in girls’ and women’s sports beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. “50 years ago, we discovered a winning strategy for all of America’s female athletes: Title IX. Signed into law in 1972, the 37 words of this relatively simple legislation empowered women to win by leveling the playing field and providing them access to the same athletic opportunities that their male counterparts enjoyed,” Tuberville wrote. “That level playing field is now under attack by activists who care more about politics than what’s best for female athletes.” “We must protect women’s sports. That is why I reintroduced the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act yesterday to push back against the far left’s attempts to destroy women’s sports and preserve the opportunities they have provided female athletes for half a century,” Tuberville explained.” My legislation would require institutions to recognize an athlete’s gender as what it was at birth and stop giving federal funding to any program or institution that allows biological males in women’s sports.” “Last year, on the 50th anniversary of Title IX, the Department of Education proposed a new rule to allow biological males to compete in women’s sports, citing the change as more ‘inclusive.’” Tuberville continued. “I submitted a public comment to the proposed rule change and discussed seeing the positive impacts of Title IX firsthand, four years after its enactment, while coaching girls’ basketball at Hermitage High School in Arkansas. But like those of many other athletes, coaches, educators, and parents, my concerns were ignored by Secretary Miguel Cardona as the Department of Education charged ahead with plans to finalize this change in May.” “There is nothing inclusive about forcing female athletes who train all their lives in hopes of achieving first place to instead compete for second, third, and fourth place because the top spot is invariably taken by athletes who have obvious physical advantages associated with their gender,” Tuberville said. “Biological men have won 28 women’s sports titles since 2003. This number will only increase when the boundaries are completely removed.” Tuberville appeared on Fox and Friends to defend women’s sports. Specifically, the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will: Ensure Title IX provisions treat gender as “recognized based solely on a person’s reproductive biology and genetics at birth.” Ban recipients of federal funding from operating, sponsoring, or facilitating athletic programs that permit a male to participate in a women’s sporting event. The legislation is endorsed by Independent Women’s Voice, Concerned Women for America, and Heritage Action for America. Carrie Lukas is the vice president of Independent Women’s Voice. “More than 50 years ago, Congress enacted Title IX to ensure equal opportunity in all aspects of education, including athletics,” said Lukas. “But without single-sex teams and single-sex competition, equal athletic opportunity is but a farce. Forcing female athletes to compete against biological males is unfair. But it’s also discriminatory. Allowing biological males to take awards, roster spots, scholarships, or spots at a school from female athletes violates Title IX’s prohibition of discrimination ‘on the basis of sex.’ The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act will help preserve equal athletic opportunity for both sexes. IWV is thankful for Senator Tuberville’s leadership on this important issue.” Penny Nance is the CEO and President of Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee – the largest women’s policy organization. “We have championed the cause of a fair playing field for female athletes for years,” said Nance. “Understanding the importance of sports, Coach Tommy Tuberville has proven to be a leader on the issue. It’s time for Congress to stop injustice and discrimination against female student-athletes in their own sports. Our Young Women for America leaders have experienced the embarrassment of competing against men and are fighting this battle on their college campuses. Passing the Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act is a top priority. Never again should female athletes lose their trophies, their scholarships, and their dignity to males.” Jessica Anderson, executive director of Heritage Action for America, stated. “By ignoring the biological differences between men and women and forcing women to compete against men in sports, the Left is threatening to limit women’s opportunities on and off the field. The Protection of Women and Girls in Sports Act protects women’s physical safety and scholarship opportunities by making it illegal for a recipient of federal funds who operates, sponsors, or facilitates athletic programs to allow men to participate in women’s athletic teams or programs. Heritage Action supports the passage of this essential legislation and thanks Senator Tuberville for leading the fight in the Senate to protect women’s safety, privacy, and opportunities.” Joining Tuberville as original cosponsors are U.S. Senators Mike Lee (R-Utah), James Lankford (R-Oklahoma), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Roger Marshall, M.D. (R-Kansas), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Steve Daines (R-Montana), and Josh Hawley (R-Missouri). Tommy Tuberville spent decades as a teacher and coach prior to his election to the Senate in 2020. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Barry Moore appointed to House Judiciary Committee
Congressman Barry Moore was appointed to the House Judiciary Committee. Moore said that it was an “honor” to be appointed to serve on the “prestigious” committee. “It is a great and humbling honor to be appointed to serve on the prestigious House Judiciary Committee and serve alongside my friend and our chairman, Jim Jordan, to defend our foundational American freedoms,” said Rep. Moore. “The Judiciary Committee will be the tip of the spear this Congress fighting to ensure that the American people’s government works to protect their civil liberties, not undermine them to advance a political agenda. With President Biden in the White House, we have a big task ahead, but I’m ready to get to work.” Congressman Jordan is the Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. “We’re excited to welcome all new and returning members of the House Judiciary Committee to the 118th Congress,” Chairman Jordan said in a statement. “House Judiciary Republicans are ready to get to work on the important issues facing the American people by passing legislation that will secure the southern border, investigating the weaponization of the federal government against the American people, and reining in Big Tech’s censorship of free speech.” Chairman Jordan sent letters on Tuesday to White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain, Attorney General Merrick Garland, FBI Director Christopher Wray, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, ATF Director Steve Dettelbach, and DEA Administrator Anne Milgram renewing outstanding requests for communications and documents. Jordan claimed that for two years, the Biden Administration has stonewalled Congress, refused to comply with basic document requests and avoided transparency and accountability for its failures. Jordan said that House Judiciary Republicans are committed to holding each agency accountable under the new majority and will use compulsory processes, if necessary, to get answers for the American people. “Since the beginning of the Biden Administration, we have made several requests for information and documents concerning the operations and actions of the Department of Homeland Security,” Jordan wrote in the letter to Mayorkas. “These requests remain outstanding. As we begin the 118th Congress, we write again to reiterate our outstanding requests and ask that you immediately comply in full.” Mayorkas faces heavy criticism from House Republicans for his handling of the southern border situation and the documented chaos there. “Mayorkas swore an oath to “well and faithfully discharge the duties of [his] office.” Look at the border and the terrible numbers on his watch,” Moore said on social media. “Can anyone make the argument he is discharging the duties of his office well? He has to go, and if Biden won’t hold him accountable, House Republicans must.” Moore was just re-elected to his second term representing Alabama’s Second Congressional District. Moore previously served in the Alabama House of Representatives from 2010 to 2018. He was elected to Congress in 2020, after his second run for office. Moore is a veteran. He owns a garbage collection business in Enterprise. He is a graduate of Auburn University. To connect with the author of this story, or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville criticizes student loan debt forgiveness
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville warned, “Left-wing activists have fundamentally shifted higher education to become a vehicle to further their political agenda,” in a speech on the floor of the Senate on Tuesday. “American higher education became the envy of the world,” Tuberville said. “Our colleges and universities produced new research, technologies, and medicines — and molded the talented minds to use these new developments to make our country a better place. But this trend is changing. Left-wing activists have fundamentally shifted higher education to become a vehicle to further their political agenda — and now they’re set on [forcing] American taxpayers to pay for the overpriced indoctrination and taking athletic opportunities away from those who have worked so hard to compete.” “Let’s start with the price tag associated with higher education,” Tuberville continued. “The cost of attending college has skyrocketed. But these institutions have done little to ensure their value has increased along with their price, the increase of tuitions and bloated school administrations continually drive budgets and tuition bills up. President [Joe] Biden recently decided to throw gasoline on this fire by attempting to use executive authority to — as he calls it — ‘forgive’ student loan debt for millions of Americans.” Tuberville criticized President Biden’s plan to forgive billions in student loan debt. “His plan will forgive up to $20,000 in student loan debt for Pell Grant recipients who make $125,000 or less a year, and $10,000 in student loan debt for all others under the same salary cap,” Tuberville said. “Think about that: a college-educated person making a six-figure salary would essentially get a $10,000 handout from hardworking Americans, the majority of whom did not go to college themselves and are struggling to provide for their families thanks to soaring inflation driven by Democrats’ reckless spending. Despite the administration’s attempts to convince the country they are focused on fighting inflation, this debt transfer scheme will do the exact opposite.” Tuberville expressed his concern that student loan forgiveness will do nothing to reduce the cost of college education. He also spoke out against a Biden administration rule that would allow biological males to compete in athletics against actual women and girls. “This fiftieth anniversary of Title IX was in June,” Tuberville said. “But, this anniversary comes at an important and challenging time for female athletes. Their ability to train and compete fairly is under attack from activists and this current White House.” “In July, the Department of Education published and proposed a rule to change how Title IX is implemented in order to better align with the administration’s progressive agenda,” Tuberville continued. “These proposed changes would require schools to allow… biological males to compete in women’s sports. Last week, I submitted a public comment to Secretary [Miguel] Cardona that clearly and strongly condemns this new proposed rule… The change to Title IX would be a monumental setback for the generations of women who have benefited from the law over the last fifty years.” “Instead of making our colleges more expensive and less fair, Congress should be focused on reforms that get to the root of the cause,” Tuberville stated. “Our country cannot thrive without allowing young adults to freely and fairly learn, grow, develop, and create — on and off the field. We must protect that fair playing field while encouraging college students to take responsibility for their own actions and financial decisions — something all of us here in Congress should learn to do as well.” Tuberville has represented Alabama in the United States Senate since January 2021 and 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.
Kay Ivey joins 17 other governors; send letter opposing federal charter school intervention
Gov. Kay Ivey joined 17 other governors in a letter calling on the Biden administration to remove a proposed rule that could limit charter school creation. The administration’s rule would require new charter schools to demonstrate sufficient demand for the proposed school. The governors believe that means a relevant school district would have to be “over-enrolled” for a charter school to be able to apply for federal funding. “We oppose any attempts by the federal government to act as a national charter school board, impose a top-down and one-size-fits-all approach, and undermine the authority of parents to choose the educational option best for their child,” the letter reads. The governors reminded Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona that charter schools are public schools, and 3.5 million students are enrolled in charter schools across the United States. Also, the letter says 7% of all public school students are served by charter schools, while those schools receive less than 1% of federal spending on K-12 education. “Despite this, the administration is choosing to place disproportionate burdens on the charter school sector, burdens that will ultimately harm the students from minority and low-income households,” the letter reads. The letter says the rule focuses on the number of seats rather than the number of high-quality sets, and it fails to consider a parents’ wishes for their children to attend a school that would meet their child’s unique needs. “It cannot be ignored that enrollment is down in many big-city school districts due to parents choosing to leave closed or persistently failing schools. The Administration’s proposed rule means that charters bringing high quality seats to areas in need would be routinely rejected for funds, despite offering parents a chance to stay in their community without sacrificing their child’s future,” the letter reads. The letter is signed by Ivey, along with governors from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Republished with the permission of The Center Square.
Congressman Mo Brooks takes legislative action opposing Critical Race Theory
This week, Rep. Mo Brooks solidified multiple efforts to counter Critical Race Theory implementation among education programs and federal training programs alike. While the semantics of Critical Race Theory is nitpicked and debated, the universal premise of the theory advocates for re-education through a racial lens. Advocated for by UCLA law professor and renowned critical race theorist Cheryl Harris, proponents of the theory widely accept the suspension and redistribution of economic means and private property among race-based lines. The ideology has been institutionally adopted into hundreds of schools across the nation, in addition to public agencies and federally funded facilities. Supplying strong opposition to the budding institutional ideology, Brooks cosponsored Rep. Chip Roy’s legislation, the Combatting Racist Training in Schools Act, this week. The act aims to prohibit American taxpayer dollars towards funding any K-12 school or institution of higher education, which promotes racist-based theories. Federal funding would be barred from any institution promoting theories describing any race as inherently superior or inferior to another, the U.S. as a fundamentally racist country, or the Declaration of Independence or Constitution as fundamentally racist documents, among other progressive ideals. Additionally, Brooks supported Rep. Dan Bishop‘s bill, the Stop CRT Act, to ban Critical Race Theory in all federal government training in an effort to reduce the inappropriate usage of government resources. More recently, Brooks sent letters, along with his colleagues, to both President Joe Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. These letters condemn Critical Race Theory to the fullest extent and urge the Biden Administration to reject the Department of Education’s proposed rule to subsidize American History and Civics Education programs that support Critical Race Theory instruction. In a concluding statement from Brooks, “The American people must understand that Marxism and freedom cannot coexist. The two are anathemas to each other. America was built on freedom and liberty for all, and any movement toward Marxism in America is a threat to freedom and liberty. As such, I fight in Congress to stop the spread of Socialism and its underlying Marxist ideology.” I joined @RepBurgessOwens and 33 of my colleagues in sending a letter to @usedgov @SecCardona condemning Critical Race Theory indoctrination in our schools. Nobody should be taught to treat people differently because of biological traits that no one has any control over. pic.twitter.com/DMD2SOducx — Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) May 18, 2021
