Rep. Mike Rogers optimistic about reaching NDAA agreement
On Wednesday, Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03), the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, expressed optimism that the conference committee can reach an agreement on the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The U.S. Senate passed a bipartisan version of the NDAA. The House Armed Services Committee did the same, but when the bill got to the floor of the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, Republicans added a number of amendments, including one overturning President Joe Biden’s controversial Defense Department abortion policy. The conference committee is tasked with passing a compromise NDAA that both Houses can pass, and the President will sign. “I am honored to chair the conference committee on the FY24 National Defense Authorization Act,” Chairman Rogers said. “And I am very pleased we have returned to regular order and are holding a formal conference. I commend Chairman [Jack] Reed and Ranking Member [Roger] Wicker for getting a bill through the Senate for the first time in two years and for all the work they did to get us into conference.” “The NDAA is one of the most consequential bills Congress considers,” continued Rogers. “All Members should have an opportunity to have their proposals fairly considered. Regular order guarantees that. It also sends an important signal to the men and women defending our freedom that Congress can function and will prioritize their needs above all else.” “Enacting an NDAA has never been more vital than it is today,” Rogers stated. “America and our allies face unprecedented and rapidly evolving threats from China. As well as ongoing threats from Russia, Iran, North Korea, and terrorist organizations throughout the world. These threats are real. We all just witnessed terrorists act on their threats against one of our closest allies. We all pray for Israel as it counters the most vile attack on its people since the Holocaust. All of these adversaries are aligned in their desire to weaken our allies and end American dominance. To stay ahead of these threats, DoD comes to Congress each year requesting critical new authorities and changes to existing law.” “This year, both the House and Senate NDAAs include critical new authorities to ensure our warfighters have what they need to deter our adversaries and prevail on future battlefields,” Rogers said. “These include: Provisions to expedite the delivery of new capabilities to the warfighter and enable the DoD to better partner with innovators in private industry. Provisions in both bills to revitalize our industrial base, secure our supply chains, and distribute our logistics are vital to ensuring we prevail in conflict with our adversaries, especially China. Provisions that implement AUKUS and expand military cooperation and expedite weapons transfers to Israel, Taiwan, and other allies and partners are needed now to deter our adversaries. And important new authorities that increase servicemember pay and allowances and expand benefits available to military families.” “Over 50 percent of our discretionary budget is spent on defense,” Rogers explained. “The House bill includes several provisions to require accountability from this administration and to end the woke policies being forced on our servicemembers by left-wing bureaucrats. Everyone here appreciates that we have a divided government. That enacting legislation as critical as the NDAA will require compromise. But compromise means we both have to swallow some things that we may not like.” One of the key sticking points has been the Biden administration’s abortion policy. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) has been holding up senior military promotions for nearly a year. Tuberville and Republicans hope that House GOP provisions overturning the President’s abortion policy remain in the final version of the NDAA that comes out of committee. Democrats and the Whitehouse would prefer a bill that does not address abortion. As chair of the conference committee, Rogers is under pressure from both sides. Mike Rogers has represented Alabama’s Third Congressional District since 2002. He is seeking a twelfth term but faces two GOP primary challengers. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and colleagues want to redesignate Iran-Backed Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization
On Monday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined in a letter urging the Biden Administration and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken to redesignate Ansarallah, more commonly known as the Houthis, as a foreign terrorist organization (FTO). Sen. Britt cited their longstanding acts of terrorism, actions to destabilize the Middle East, the security threat they pose to the United States, and most recently, their involvement in the ongoing conflict in Israel, including missile and rocket attacks on Israel last week. The Houthis control a large swath of war-torn Yemen. In 2021, the Trump Administration designated the Houthis as an FTO. However, the Biden Administration inexplicably reversed that following Biden’s inauguration. The Houthis are longtime Iranian clients who, thanks to that relationship, have amassed one of the most sophisticated arsenals of ballistic missiles and drones in the region. This has become apparent in their frequent attacks on Israel as well as U.S. partners and interests. “An ongoing posture of appeasement by the Biden Administration only emboldens the Iranian regime to continue its barbaric proxy attacks on innocent children, women, and men, and this is evidenced in the Houthi’s recent terrorist attacks that have been intercepted by defensive actions by the United States and Saudi Arabia,” said Senator Britt. “It is imperative that America sends a message of complete condemnation of Iran and its proxies’ violence, as well as unwavering support toward our allies in the region. The Houthis are a terrorist organization, and this Administration should treat them as such while reimposing a comprehensive, maximum pressure sanctions campaign on all Iranian terror proxies. In order to achieve peace, now is the time for strength.” Last week Sen. Britt joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) and 12 of their Senate colleagues in introducing the Standing Against Houthi Aggression Act. This legislation would redesignate the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization and impose certain sanctions on the group. The legislation has also been cosponsored by Senators Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Susan Collins (R-Maine), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Marco Rubio (R-Florida), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), and John Kennedy (R-Louisiana). Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Rep. Mike Rogers and colleagues comment on Russia’s de-ratification of Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
On Tuesday, Russia announced that Russia has de-ratified the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CNTBT). Congressman Mike Rogers (R-AL03) and senior GOP Armed Services Leadership members released a statement in response to the Russian announcement. “Russia’s ‘de-ratification’ of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty lays bare Putin’s disdain for anything that might interfere with his nuclear ambitions,” Rogers and the other Congress members wrote. “The CTBT, rejected by the Senate in 1999, is a hollow, fatally-flawed regime. Despite this obvious truth, the Biden administration continues to waste time and money looking for ways to prop up this irrelevant treaty in hopes of reducing the role of nuclear weapons in U.S. defense. The administration should not allow a single additional U.S. taxpayer dollars to go towards implementing ineffective agreements. Instead, it should focus on holding our adversaries accountable for their actions and modernizing an aging nuclear deterrent that is increasingly not fit for the growing 21st-century threats.” In addition to Rogers, the letter was also signed by House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas), Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and Senate Foreign Relations Committee Ranking Member Jim Risch (R-Idaho). The House Armed Services Committee said Russia’s “de-ratification” of the CTBT is the latest in a series of Russian moves that demonstrate just how ineffective the treaty has been in curbing Putin’s nuclear ambitions. Rogers claims that Russia consistently ignores the primary purpose of the agreement, conducting multiple nuclear tests at the Novaya Zemlya Test Site to inform its development of new and novel nuclear weapons. Rogers also accused Moscow of exploiting its control of the CTBT’s International Monitoring System by deactivating radiation sensors to hide evidence of a failed test of its dangerous SKYFALL nuclear-powered cruise missile. Rogers claimed that even with these actions, the Biden administration continues to waste taxpayer money looking for ways to prop up the treaty, which failed Senate ratification in 1999. Rogers claims that these efforts have amounted to nothing more than attempts to undercut support for our Department of Defense and Department of Energy efforts to rebuild our aging deterrent as well as signal to our adversaries that we will ignore their violations of arms control agreements to the detriment of our own national security. Rogers said that the administration’s actions come at a uniquely dangerous time, highlighted by the bipartisan Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States’ conclusion that the U.S. faces “the unprecedented existential challenge of facing two nuclear-armed peer adversaries.” Rogers is in his eleventh term representing Alabama’s Third Congressional District. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Senators Katie Britt, Marco Rubio, and colleagues demand answers on Iran’s nuclear program violations following attacks on Israel
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) joined Senator Marco Rubio (R-Florida) and 13 colleagues in sending a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken requesting an update on U.S. action to hold Iran accountable for multiple violations of nuclear program restrictions. The letter comes after this weekend’s multi-pronged attacks on the people of Israel by Hamas fighters that killed over 1300 Israelis and wounded 3,200 more. According to Secretary Blinken, at least 25 Americans are among the dead. Hamas has taken well over 100 hostages, and the White House believes that Americans are among the hostages. Republicans believe that the government of Iran financed and likely helped plan those attacks. “We respectfully request that the U.S. Department of State provide information regarding the status of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) investigation into Iran following the recent IAEA’s Board of Governors meeting,” the Senators wrote. “The Iranian regime is intent on fomenting terror across the region, as evidenced by its proxies, Hamas and Hezbollah’s, brutal attacks this weekend on our ally, Israel. Now more than ever, you must ensure that you hold the regime accountable for its failure to comply with obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). Further, we were disappointed that the administration did not call for a formal censure of Tehran given its continued non-compliance with the IAEA.” “The Biden Administration has failed to press for concrete action against Iran in Vienna,” the Senators continued. “We are especially disturbed by reports that the United States led efforts to oppose a censure of Iran. As Iran violates its commitments and refuses to comply with the IAEA, your business-as-usual approach to resolving the situation is tantamount to an endorsement of the Iranian regime’s activities.” “It is regrettable that the September 11-15, 2023, IAEA Board of Governors meeting achieved no progress in resolving key questions related to the Iranian regime’s nuclear program,” the Senators wrote. “Once again, Iran was able to escape any shred of accountability. As you know, since 2018, the IAEA has been investigating Iran’s undeclared nuclear material and activities related to a secret 2003 effort to produce atomic weapons called the Amad Plan. Despite the IAEA’s repeated requests to access several Iranian sites, it has not been able to determine whether Tehran retains covert nuclear weapons activities, nor has it investigated all sites, personnel, and documentation related to the Amad Plan and its successor entities, such as Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research (SPND).” Joining Senators Britt and Rubio in signing the letter were Senators Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Jerry Moran (R-Kansas), Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), Tim Scott (R-South Carolina), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), and Susan Collins (R-Maine). In 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed by the Obama Administration. Iran and other countries agreed to place restrictions on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief. One condition included the JCPOA tasking the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to ensure the regime in Tehran adheres to nuclear restrictions. The Senators claim that even with the signed agreement, Iran has remained non-compliant and continues its nuclear programs. Senator Britt has been an outspoken critic of the Biden Administration’s controversial decision to free up $6 billion of seized illicit oil sales revenue to Iran to facilitate a prisoner exchange with Iran. The five Iranian-Americans appear to have been wrongfully jailed solely because they were American citizens. Britt warned at the time that the ransom payments would only result in more Americans being taken hostage. When the Administration formally notified Congress of the deal on September 11th, Britt warned, “This irresponsible, weak appeasement sends a terrible message across the globe and only incentivizes further hostage taking in the future.” Today, countless Israeli hostages have been taken into Gaza by Hamas. Senator Britt this week joined a letter led by Senator Blackburn (R-Tennessee) calling on the Biden Administration to re-freeze the $6 billion. Sen. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Pete Ricketts want Senate to remain in session until all appropriations bills are passed
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) announced that she has joined Senator Pete Ricketts (R-Nebraska) and 15 of their Senate colleagues in sending a letter urging Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) to keep the U.S. Senate in session until all 12 of the appropriations bills have been debated on the floor and passed. To this point, Schumer has resisted bringing the appropriations bills to the floor even though they have all passed out of the Appropriations Committee. The federal government narrowly averted a shutdown at the end of the fiscal year last weekend with a 45-day continuing resolution (CR) that will run through November 17. “We urge you to modify the Senate calendar so that we remain in session Monday through Friday every week until all 12 fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills are passed in the Senate and House and signed into law by President Biden,” the Senators wrote. “The House of Representatives has already taken the step to forgo their October recess, and the Senate must follow suit. While valuable work is done while Senators are back in their home states, it is imperative that we remain in D.C. until our appropriations work can be completed. That is what the American people expect and deserve of us.” “The continuing resolution extended government funding until November 17,” the Senators continued. “That allows seven weeks for the Senate to consider the fiscal year 2024 appropriations bills. The past nine weeks make it clear that we cannot afford to take a weekday off, much less a weeklong recess, with so much work to be completed in such a condensed time.” “My colleagues and I have worked hard this year to advance all 12 individual appropriations bills out of committee through regular order,” the Senators continued. “However, in order to enact judicious, strategic, transparent, and accountable spending measures that benefit the American people, it’s incumbent on Senator Schumer to utilize a novel concept – actually making the Senate work,” said Senator Britt. “Alabamians know this is simply common sense, but that is unfortunately uncommon in Washington, D.C.” Joining Senators Britt and Ricketts in sending the letter were Senators Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), John Barrasso (R-Wyoming), Marsha Blackburn (R-Tennessee), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), Shelley Moore Capito (R-West Virginia), John Cornyn (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tennessee), Ron Johnson (R-Wisconsin), Roger Marshall (R-Kansas), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri), John Thune (R-South Dakota), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). The 2023 fiscal year ended on September 30, and Congress still has not passed the 2024 budget. If the current 45-day CR runs out without Congress having passed a budget or another CR, then the federal government will have to shut down non-essential services. Majority Leader Schumer has scheduled the Senate to be in recess until October 16. The Senate was also not in session the entire month of August, even though budgets had not been passed. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com
Katie Britt and Bill Cassidy introduce legislation to prevent administrative actions to shut down offshore energy development
On Monday, U.S. Senators Katie Britt (R-Alabama) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana) in introducing legislation to prevent the Biden administration from using administrative actions to shut down offshore energy development. Britt and colleagues recently joined Sen. Cassidy and four of her Senate colleagues in introducing the Warding Off Hostile Administrative Lease Efforts (WHALE) Act to prevent the U.S. Departments of Commerce and the Interior from issuing maritime rules related to the Rice’s whale that would impede offshore energy development and military activities. “The Biden Administration is continually putting a leftwing agenda ahead of common sense and the wellbeing of hardworking American families,” Sen. Britt said. “Prioritizing partisan activism over economic opportunity and domestic energy dominance is irresponsible and further fueling persistent inflation. I’ll continue to fight back against President Biden’s reckless regulatory regime.” “At the last minute, the Biden administration imposed additional mitigation measures the Department of the Interior previously said were unnecessary and removed six million acres offshore for Rice’s whales at the request of their environmental donors. Is there really no way for the whale to swim away from and around the area?” Senator Cassidy said. “We can protect wildlife, military activities, and vital energy production in the Gulf of Mexico at the same time.” Joining Senators Britt, Tuberville, and Cassidy in cosponsoring this legislation are Senators Cynthia Lummis (R-Wyoming), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi), and Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi). The WHALE Act prevents the Secretaries of Commerce and Interior from issuing rules or offshore oil and gas lease requirements or recommendations that establish vessel speed or vessel operational restrictions. The legislation is partially in response to administrative actions to reduce the speed of ships to protect endangered whales from collisions. The WHALE Act would require the Departments to complete a study demonstrating that any mitigation protocols developed to protect Rice’s Whales (RWs) in the Gulf of Mexico will not hurt supply chains, United States offshore energy production and generation, military activities, including readiness, and United States commercial and recreational fishing or maritime commerce. Sen. Tuberville has already spoken out on this issue. “Designating a Critical Habitat for the Rice’s whale throughout this expansive area will impose undue burdens and restrictions on all vessel traffic, especially in and out of the Port of Mobile in Mobile, AL,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The Port of Mobile covers over 4,000 acres, generates nearly 313,000 jobs, provides approximately $2 billion in state and local tax impacts, and $85 billion in economic value to Alabama as a whole.” The legislation also requires the Secretary of Commerce to develop mitigation protocols that make use of real-time location monitoring and location information, prohibits mitigation protocols, and forbids evening transit or vessel speed or vessel operational restrictions. Environmentalists have filed a petition with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to establish year-round vessel speed restriction zones and other mitigation measures for Rice’s whales—a species of whale that was only recognized by NOAA as a distinct species two years ago. NOAA also proposed a rule to establish critical habitat for the species where they acknowledged critical oil and gas and military activity occurs. The Senators are also concerned by the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) reaching a sue and settle agreement with environmentalist groups to establish vessel transit restrictions and other obligations for offshore oil and gas leaseholders only, including removing millions of unleased acres from leasing. Although a federal district court recently ruled that BOEM could not do so, it’s expected these stipulations and the effort to withdraw acreage will appear in the next 5-year offshore oil and gas leasing plan. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Rep. Mike Rogers and Sen. Roger Wicker issue letter questioning details about speaking engagement with Iranian propagandist
U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL03) and U.S. Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) issued a joint letter to United States Strategic Command (STRATCOM) demanding a full accounting of why an Iranian propagandist and former regime official participated as a keynote speaker in a STRATCOM-sponsored event. Rogers is the Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, while Wicker is the Ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Press reports and a STRATCOM official statement indicate that Seyed Hossein Mousavian, a former spokesman for the Iranian nuclear negotiating team and a former senior staffer for the regime’s Supreme National Security Council, was a featured participant in the August 2023 STRATCOM Deterrence Symposium. “Providing Mousavian with an officially sanctioned U.S. Government platform for spreading historical falsehoods and Iranian regime propaganda is profoundly ill-advised,” Rogers and Wicker wrote. “The decision to invite Mousavian to address its Deterrence Symposium calls into question the judgment of any personnel involved in such a decision, and leads us to question whether the command is appropriately focused on meeting the rapidly growing strategic threats to the United States and its allies.” In addition to Mousavian’s former posts supporting the regime, Rogers claims that he continues to demonstrate sympathy and support for the adversarial government. In 2020, Mousavian termed Iranian terrorist Qassem Soleimani a “hero fighting terrorism” and has repeatedly mocked American officials living under the threat of assassination by Iranian-backed actors because of their role in formulating tough-on-Iran policies. The GOP’s two most powerful Armed Service Committee leaders criticized the decision to allow Mousavian to engage in the forum, expressing concern that it suggests an insufficient focus on the increasingly pressing nuclear threats from American adversaries. “We write with deep concern regarding the appearance of a notorious Iranian propagandist and former senior regime official, Seyed Hossein Mousavian, as a keynote speaker to the 2023 STRATCOM Deterrence Symposium on August 17, 2023,” Rogers and Wicker wrote. “A propagandist of the regime since 1980, Mousavian served as the Iranian regime’s Ambassador to Germany in 1992 when the regime’s intelligence operatives assassinated four Iranian dissidents in Berlin. In response, German authorities forced Mousavian to leave the country along with several other Iranian “diplomats” and intelligence operatives.” “In the subsequent decades, Mousavian served as spokesman for the Iranian nuclear negotiating team and as a senior staffer for the regime’s Supreme National Security Council,” Rogers and Wicker continued. “Despite Mousavian’s past claims that he is an exile of the Iranian government, former Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif stated in 2016 that Mousavian has remained a loyal friend of the Iranian regime and “continued to, and continues to, work hard for the [Islamic Republic of Iran].” “Recent actions and remarks by Mousavian demonstrate his continued support for the Iranian regime.” Wrote Rogers and Wicker. “For example, in 2020, Mousavian attended the funeral in Iran of Qassem Soleimani, the Commander of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps – Qods Force that was responsible for the deaths of at least 603 U.S. servicemembers in Iraq. Mousavian claimed that Soleimani was “a hero fighting terrorism.” Mousavian has also repeatedly mocked U.S. officials under assassination threat from the Iranian regime. In a 2022 documentary paying homage to Soleimani, Mousavian smiled while referring to Iranian death threats against former Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook. He gleefully said [in Farsi]: “An American told me that Brian Hook’s wife can’t sleep, and she cries and trembles as they say they’ll kill Hook…that is how shaken they are!” “While we appreciate the importance of improving our understanding of adversary perspectives and motivations in formulating deterrence policies, providing Mousavian with an officially sanctioned U.S. Government platform for spreading historical falsehoods and Iranian regime propaganda is profoundly ill-advised,” Rogers and Wicker continued. “The decision to invite Mousavian to address its Deterrence Symposium calls into question the judgement of any personnel involved in such a decision, and leads us to question whether the command is appropriately focused on meeting the rapidly growing strategic threats to the United States and its allies.” Rogers and Wicker requested the names and positions of all officials responsible for approving the invitation to Mousavian and information about any compensation for transportation, lodging, or a per diem to Mr. Mousavian. Mousavian earned a Ph.D. in international relations from the University of Kent, United Kingdom, and is today on the faculty at Princeton. According to his bio, “Mousavian studies and makes proposals for policy initiatives and diplomatic solutions to the crisis over Iran’s nuclear program, to advance the goal of a Middle East Weapon of Mass Destruction Free Zone, improve U.S.-Iran bilateral relations and foster peaceful resolution of security crises in the Middle East so as to advance nonproliferation, peace, and stability in the region. To better understand and inform scholarship and policy debates on these goals, he participates intensively in public and private discussions with high-level policymakers, Track 1.5 processes, and public diplomacy focused on the United States, Europe, leading countries in the international system, Iran and other states in the Middle East.” 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 joins Republicans urging Defense Department to halt sales of border wall materials
On Tuesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) joined U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, and all the Republican members of the Senate Armed Services Committee, in a letter to the Department of Defense to halt the sale of border wall construction materials. The letter, addressed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, was in response to reports that the Defense Department was moving quickly to dispose of the unused border wall materials before the provisions of Wicker’s FINISH It Act could be implemented. “We are deeply disappointed to learn that rather than using construction materials that were purchased to secure the southwest border for that purpose, the Department of Defense has begun auctioning these materials off for other purposes,” the senators wrote. “These auctions represent a brazen attempt to circumvent the FINISH IT Act, which was included in both the House and Senate FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act.” As ranking member of the Armed Services Committee, Wicker worked with Republicans to insert the legislation, which would force the administration to allow the materials to be used to complete sections of the southern border wall, in this year’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). The NDAA passed the Senate with a broad bipartisan majority and the provisions of the FINISH It Act were also included in the House-passed version of the NDAA. However, Congress has not passed the final conference committee version of the NDAA. The Senators believe Austin and the Defense Department are taking the opportunity to auction all the unused border wall materials for scrap metal while Congress is still on its August recess. The Senators are calling to halt further auctions of border wall materials and requesting detailed information on the current sales. The letter calls for the administration to direct the Department of Defense Inspector General to investigate Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and Hemispheric Affairs Melissa Dalton for her failure to provide Congress with accurate and timely information about the use of these border wall construction materials. The Senate Armed Services Committee Republicans have pledged to never consent to a confirmation hearing for the nominee for Under Secretary of Defense for Policy until the senators’ concerns are addressed. The DOD’s combat support branch, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), confirmed to reporters with Power Corridor last week that the Pentagon is now moving ahead with the sale of the leftover materials, many of which have been sitting for years in piles on government and private land out West. The items up for auction this week are “excess border wall materials that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers turned over to the DLA for disposition and are now for sale,” a DLA spokesperson said. Leading the liquidation is Gov Planet, an online auction marketplace run by publicly traded Canadian company Ritchie Bros. Auctioneers. This week, Gov Planet began posting photos on its website and social media of large sections of the unbuilt wall, understood to be worth hundreds of millions of dollars. Sens. Tuberville and Wicker were joined by Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Nebraska), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota), Joni Ernst (R-Iowa), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Kevin Cramer (R-North Dakota), Rick Scott (R-Florida), Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), Ted Budd (R-North Carolina), and Eric Schmitt (R-Missouri). Tuberville stated that 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. Senator Tuberville has spoken about his concerns on the floor of the U.S. Senate and called on the Biden administration to act. Tuberville has made multiple visits to the southern border to bring attention to the border situation. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt and Roger Wicker introduce resolution to designate August as National Catfish Month
U.S. Senators Katie Britt and Tommy Tuberville recently joined Senator Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) and 10 colleagues in introducing a resolution to designate August 2023 as National Catfish Month. This resolution recognizes the importance of the U.S. catfish to our economy and praises catfish farmers and industry workers for their contributions. “Nearly 33% of all catfish produced in the United States comes from right here in sweet home Alabama,” said Sen. Britt. “Catfish is a vital part of our state’s economy, and I will always support our hardworking farmers and processors. I’m proud to join my colleagues in bringing forward this resolution to recognize the catfish industry’s contributions to our state and country.” “Mississippi is recognized across the country for our farm-raised catfish production, which helps provide American families with a fresh, local, and delicious source of fish,” Wicker said. “Designating the month of August as National Catfish Month would recognize catfish producers for their work to support this industry that contributes almost $2 billion to our national economy.” Sens. Britt, Tuberville, and Wicker were joined on the resolution by Sens. Raphael Warnock (D-Georgia), Thom Tillis (R-North Carolina), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), Bill Cassidy (R-Louisiana), Tom Cotton (R-Arkansas), Mike Braun (R-Indiana), John Boozman (R-Arkansas), and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Mississippi). The full text of the resolution states: “Whereas the Catfish Institute recognizes August to be National Catfish Month; Whereas the States of Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas recognize August to be National Catfish Month; Whereas the States of Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Tennessee embody the Channel Catfish as their State Fish; Whereas the farm-raised catfish industry in the United States employs over 9,000 people and contributes almost $2,000,000,000 to the economy of the United States; Whereas the United States has 55,855 surface water acres used for catfish production in 2023, and catfish growers in the United States had $447,039,000 in sales during 2022; Whereas the average catfish farmer produces 6,800 pounds of catfish per acre; Whereas 99 percent of all United States farm-raised catfish are grown in Alabama, Arkansas, California, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, and Texas; Whereas catfish is the largest farm-raised seafood product, by weight, in the United States, representing more than 50 percent of the food fish produced by the United States aquaculture industry; Whereas United States farm-raised catfish are consistently high quality and, unlike ocean-caught fish, are available all year long; Whereas United States farm-raised catfish are a sustainable and environmentally friendly seafood product; Whereas catfish is a lean fish and an excellent source of protein; and Whereas catfish is a versatile fish in cuisine of the United States, with a myriad of regional and national recipes to be enjoyed by all people of the United States: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the Senate— (1) designates August 2023 as ‘‘National Catfish Month’’; (2) recognizes the contributions of all workers, past and present, that produce, process, and provide catfish for the people of the United States; and (3) recognizes that purchasing United States farm-raised catfish supports farmers, jobs, and the economy of the United States.” Over the last 25 years, American catfish farmers have faced increasing pressures from foreign competitors as imports of foreign catfish and catfish-like products have increased exponentially in the U.S. Katie Britt was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt votes for legislation to fight fentanyl epidemic
U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) recently joined her Senate colleagues in passing the bipartisan Fentanyl Eradication and Narcotics Deterrence (FEND) Off Fentanyl Act. This legislation seeks to stop the flow of deadly fentanyl into our country by choking off the income source of those who traffic synthetic opioids. Drug overdoses killed 107,000 Americans in 2021, and 65% of those deaths were attributed to fentanyl. “The devastation that this deadly poison has brought to our communities, schools, and families must end now,” said Sen. Britt. “Truly stopping this nationwide crisis means that we have to go after the well-financed, well-organized, and well-connected individuals profiting from fentanyl trafficking. This bipartisan legislation would ensure that the Treasury Department has the tools they need to protect Americans and hold bad actors accountable. I’m proud to have cosponsored this legislation and grateful to my colleagues for supporting it.” This legislation was introduced by Ranking Member Senator Tim Scott (R-South Carolina) and cosponsored by Senator Britt, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), Senate Committee on Armed Services Chairman Jack Reed (D-Rhode Island), Ranking Member Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi), and 59 other senators. “Mexican traffickers and Chinese drug suppliers are fueling America’s fentanyl crisis. My FEND Off Fentanyl Act targets the financial assets of these criminal groups, cutting off their income right at the source,” said Sen. Scott. “By including this bill in the NDAA, we’re one step closer to ensuring our country can defend our communities from this deadly drug and protecting our national security.” The FEND Off Fentanyl Act is a bill designed to target the flow of the deadly narcotic into the United States by empowering the U.S. Department of the Treasury to target, sanction, and block the financial assets of transnational criminal organizations trafficking fentanyl. In addition, the proceeds from any seized assets would be used to further law enforcement efforts. “Truly stopping the influx of this deadly poison into our communities, schools, and families means that we have to go after the well-financed, well-organized, and well-connected individuals profiting from fentanyl trafficking,” said Senator Britt. “The fact that this legislation passed the committee unanimously shows that the Senate is working on a bipartisan basis to ensure that we empower the Treasury Department with the tools they need to protect Americans and hold bad actors accountable. I urge Senator Schumer to bring this legislation to the Senate floor with the urgency this crisis demands.” The FEND Off Fentanyl Act was passed as part of the Fiscal Year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Fentanyl is now the leading cause of death for Americans under 45, and more than 150 people die each day from overdoses related to fentanyl. Multiple national organizations have supported the bill, including Mothers Against Prescription Drug Abuse (MAPDA), the American Association for the Treatment of Opioid Dependence, the Fraternal Order of Police, the National Sheriffs’ Association, and FDD Action. Last year, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) seized over 379 million deadly doses of fentanyl. That is enough to supply a lethal dose to every American. Given the sharp increase in fentanyl-caused deaths, Scott claims that it is clear that a staggering amount of fentanyl is making its way into our country from the chemical suppliers in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) and drug cartels in Mexico. Katie Britt is the Ranking Member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee for the Senate Committee on Appropriations. Sen. Britt has led hearings on fentanyl and spoken out against the Biden Administration’s proposed budget cuts to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Katie Britt votes for National Defense Authorization Act
On Thursday, U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Alabama) voted to pass the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2024 (NDAA) on a bipartisan basis. The NDAA has been approved annually by Congress for the last 63 years. The NDAA authorizes funding for the U.S. military for the next year, outlines national security priorities, and sets targets for modernizing defense technologies and munitions. “With adversaries such as China, Russia, and Iran becoming increasingly more aggressive, there is no more important priority than our national defense,” said Sen. Britt. “To achieve peace through strength, our warfighters must remain the best trained, best equipped, and best resourced in the world. This legislation makes great strides to ensure that we maintain a robust military through strategic investments and modernization efforts. I will always make the security of our country and the wellbeing of our servicemembers a top priority.” Senator Britt secured passage of a key amendment in the legislation requiring the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to submit a report to Congress on the feasibility of allowing American servicemembers and their dependents to keep previously retained mental healthcare via telehealth services while transferring between postings. Sen. Jack Reed (R-Rhode Island) chairs the Senate Armed Services Committee. “This forward-looking defense bill will go a long way toward keeping the American people safe, deterring conflict, and confronting the national security threats we face,” Sen. Reed said. “This bipartisan NDAA provides a historic level of support for our troops and their families, including the largest military pay raise in decades. It authorizes record-level investments in the people, platforms, and programs that our forces need to safeguard the nation and advance U.S. interests worldwide. The bill also accelerates the development of cutting-edge technologies like hypersonics and artificial intelligence to provide our forces with key advantages on the battlefield.” “Our bipartisan approach netted a major win for America’s military men and women and their families,” Reed added. “I appreciate Majority Leader Schumer and Minority Leader McConnell for working to facilitate a thorough debate that allowed all senators to engage and contribute to this bill. I salute Senator Wicker for his continued leadership and partnership. I look forward to working together in conference to produce a strong NDAA that takes on the real threats facing our military.” Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Mississippi) is the Ranking Member of the Committee. “Although I would have preferred a topline defense spending number that better reflects the most dangerous threat environment that the United States has faced since World War II, I appreciate the hard work that the Senate has put into this year’s NDAA,” Sen. Wicker said. “The bill we have delivered takes care of our troops with a substantial pay raise and reforms that will improve quality of life for our servicemen and women. We are also taking pivotal steps toward the monumental investments in our naval power, munitions capacity, and defense industrial base that the moment demands. The bill also harnesses defense innovation through procurement reform and investments in high-tech research.” The Fiscal Year 2024 NDAA authorizes a 5.2% military pay raise, invests in the U.S. Navy, rebuilds our nation’s arsenal by adding critical munitions to the Pentagon’s multi-year procurement (MYP) program, prioritizes individual merit in our military, helps secure the southern border by using previously procured materials to continue building the border wall, and prevents foreign adversaries from investing in, purchasing, leasing, or acquiring American farmland. The 63rd annual NDAA authorizes a total budget of $886 billion in fiscal year 2024 funding for national defense. Within this topline, the legislation authorizes $845 billion for the Department of Defense (DOD) and $32 billion for national security programs within the Department of Energy (DOE). The U.S. House of Representatives passed a separate version of the NDAA earlier this month along partisan lines, with Republicans adding amendments on the House floor that Democrats would not support. The two chambers are expected to take the bill to a Conference Committee to work out differences and agree on a final version before the end of the year. “The Congress once again has an opportunity to send an unmistakable message to China and Russia that we are stalwart in our commitment to a ‘peace through strength’ agenda,” Wicker said. “I am hopeful that working alongside the House, we will send a bill to the president’s desk that puts our national defense on a path toward improving our deterrent capabilities. I am especially grateful for the partnership of Chairman Reed on my first NDAA as ranking member.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
