Tommy Tuberville and GOP Colleagues urge Joe Biden to negotiate on debt limit
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt joined U.S. Senator Mike Lee and dozens of Republican colleagues in calling for fiscal responsibility and spending control measures in debt ceiling negotiations. Tuberville joined a GOP letter to Majority Leader Chuck Schumer declaring broad Republican opposition to any debt ceiling legislation that lacks significant spending control measures. “It is now clear that Senate Republicans aren’t going to bail out Biden and Schumer. They have to negotiate,” said Sen. Lee. “I thank my colleagues for joining my effort to emphasize this point in the clearest possible terms.” “The Senate Republican conference is united behind the House Republican conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling,” wrote the senators. “This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms.” The letter emphasizes the GOP senators’ united front with the House Republican conference, advocating for spending cuts and structural budget reforms as prerequisites for any negotiation on raising the debt ceiling. “Dear Leader Schumer, The Senate Republican Conference is united behind the House Republican Conference in support of spending cuts and structural budget reform as a starting point for negotiations on the debt ceiling. Our economy is in free fall due to unsustainable fiscal policies. This trajectory must be addressed with fiscal reforms. Moreover, recent Treasury projections have reinforced the urgency of addressing the debt ceiling. The House has taken a responsible first step in coming to the table with their proposals. It is imperative that the president now do the same. As such, we will not be voting for cloture on any bill that raises the debt ceiling without substantive spending and budget reforms,” the Senators wrote. Senators Tuberville, Britt, and Lee, current signatories include U.S. Senators Marsha Blackburn, Ted Cruz, Mike Crapo, Ted Budd, Mike Braun, James Lankford, Cynthia Lummis, Roger Marshall, M.D., Ron Johnson, James Risch, Eric Schmitt, Rick Scott, John Cornyn, Kevin Cramer, Markwayne Mullin, Roger Wicker, Steve Daines, Lindsey Graham, John Barrasso, Deb Fischer, Tim Scott, John Hoeven, Thom Tillis, and J.D. Vance. The debt limit — commonly called the ‘debt ceiling’ — is the highest amount the government can borrow under federal law. The federal government hit the debt limit in January 2023. Since then, the U.S. Treasury has employed ‘extraordinary measures’ to continue making payments on debt and new expenses. According to the U.S. Treasury, the United States is on track to exhaust those measures and run out of financial liquidity in a matter of weeks, meaning the federal government would no longer be able to make all of its payments. The debt is continuing to rise. The debt ceiling will have to be increased in the coming weeks. Democrats have advocated for an increase in the amount of money the federal government is allowed to borrow without any reduction in federal spending. Republicans say they will not support any debt ceiling increase without significant reductions in spending. President Biden has repeatedly refused to negotiate a debt ceiling deal with Republicans even though the GOP controls the U.S. House of Representatives. The House Republicans passed the Limit, Save, Grow Act of 2023 — a debt ceiling increase paired with spending cuts — on April 26, 2023. In Fiscal Year 2022, federal tax revenue hit a record high of $4.9 trillion. However, in the same year, the federal government had a deficit of more than $1.38 trillion even though the country is not at war and the economy is at full employment. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville continues to denounces taxpayer-funded elective abortions at VA facilities
Earlier this week, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville sent a letter to U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary Denis McDonough demanding answers about the agency’s new rule that funds abortions at VA medical facilities. “I have asked several times for data and materials on the implementation of the rule, but your Department has refused to provide information, claiming privacy and sensitivity issues,” wrote Senator Tuberville. “As a Member of this Committee, with a duty to provide oversight of services to veterans, taxpayer funding, and effective legislation, I reject the notion that VA can intentionally withhold information from Congress.” Tuberville has been asking questions about the VA’s revised abortion rule since a committee hearing in September 2022. Tuberville followed up with submitted questions in writing the same month and again in February 2023. “I have asked several times for data and materials on the implementation of the rule, but your Department has refused to provide information, claiming privacy and sensitivity issues,” Tuberville wrote. “I submitted a question for the record related to the hearing on September 21, 2022, regarding to this rule’s implementation. On February 15, 2023, I asked, again, for information related to this rule. On March 15, 2023, at a hearing of the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on the Electronic Health Record Modernization program, I asked Under Secretary for Health, Dr. [Shereef] Elnahal, for information on the implementation of the rule, and he refused to provide any information. As of today, I still have not received answers to my questions.” Tuberville claims that to this point, the VA and Secretary McDonough have refused to fully comply with his requests for information. “I have asked several times for data and materials on the implementation of the rule, but your Department has refused to provide information, claiming privacy and sensitivity issues,” Tuberville charged. Tuberville gave the VA a deadline of May 17 to fully comply with his formal request for information and answer the questions he posed to the Biden Administration. Abortions are illegal in Alabama, but the Biden Administration has sought to thwart state law and the Alabama Constitution. Tuberville has voted to defund abortions at VA facilities. Sen. Tuberville has drawn criticism from the Biden administration and the Department of Defense for his holding up of military and Department of Defense promotions over his disagreement with the Biden administration’s controversial abortion policies in pro-life states. The Biden administration has denounced the Dobbs v. Jackson U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade and maintains that abortion is a necessary healthcare procedure. Tuberville was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 following a long successful career as a football coach, sports broadcaster, and educator. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville and Bill Cassidy demand answers of Joe Biden’s nominee for Labor Secretary
U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville and Sen. Bill Cassidy, M.D. demanded answers from California regarding Julie Su, President Joe Biden’s nominee to be secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), about her previous alleged obstruction of immigration officials. “As part of the Committee’s vetting process for presidentially-appointed nominees, it has come to our attention that, in July 2017, as California State Labor Commissioner, Julie Su issued a memorandum to her staff which allegedly instructed them to refuse entry to U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents who visited state labor offices,” wrote the senators. “In response to her questions for the record, and in response to Senator Tuberville requesting the production of this memorandum, Julie Su stated that she ‘does not have access to this reported memo and do[es] not recall its precise contents. Therefore, pursuant to our constitutional responsibilities, we request that your office produce a copy of the 2017 memorandum issued by Julie Su to the Committee by May 8, 2023.” Public reports indicate that Su, while chief of California’s Division of Labor Standards Enforcement (DLSE), ordered DLSE employees to obstruct requests from ICE. Su’s nomination was approved in the HELP Committee on an 11 to 10 vote on Wednesday. She now faces consideration by the full Senate. Tuberville, Cassidy, and all the other Republicans voted against confirming Su. During last week’s nomination hearing before the HELP Committee, Tuberville asked Su about the existence of a memorandum from July 2017 instructing DLSE staff to tell ICE agents “to leave our office” and to demand a search warrant signed by a judge before allowing them onto the premises. Su responded that she neither had a copy of the memo nor could she provide one. When Senator Tuberville submitted a Question for the Record (QFR) asking for the memo after the hearing, Su again failed to provide a copy. On Monday, Senators Tuberville and Cassidy requested the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency (LWDA) provide the memo Su admitted during the hearing. The two Senators wrote, “Under Article II, § 2 of the U.S. Constitution, the Senate has the responsibility to advise the president about presidentially-appointed nominees and the authority to consent to those nominations.1 On April 20, 2023, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee held a confirmation hearing for Julie Su, President Biden’s nominee for the Department of Labor (DOL) in Washington, D.C.2 As part of the Committee’s vetting process for presidentially-appointed nominees, it has come to our attention that, in July 2017, as California State Labor Commissioner, Julie Su issued a memorandum to her staff which allegedly instructed them to refuse entry to U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) agents who visited state labor offices.3 The memorandum also allegedly directs staff to tell ICE agents “to leave our office” and to demand a search warrant signed by a judge before allowing them onto the premise.” “In response to her questions for the record, and in response to Senator Tuberville requesting the production of this memorandum, Julie Su stated that she “does not have access to this reported memo and do[es] not recall its precise contents.” Therefore, pursuant to our constitutional responsibilities, we request that your office produce a copy of the 2017 memorandum issued by Julie Su to the Committee by May 8, 2023.” President Joe Biden is defending the nomination. “Julie knows in her bones as well the people who get up every morning and go to work and bust their necks just to make an honest living deserve something — someone to fight on their side to give them an even shot,” President Biden said. “Just a — just a shot so they don’t get stiffed. Well, that’s been happening to too many workers for much too long. Fighting to make sure they have a fair shot is — and no one is left behind. Julie has spent her life fighting for that vision, her entire professional career. “ “And as a civil rights lawyer and a leader of California’s state labor department, the biggest in the entire country, Julie spent two years [decades] representing workers — many without college degrees, many who didn’t speak English but who worked long, long hours at low pay and were just looking for a little bit of dignity — just a little bit of dignity for themselves and their families,” Biden said. “She’s increased the minimum wage, cracked down on wage theft, protrec- — protected trafficked workers, established and enforced workplace safety standards, and so much more.” “Born in Wisconsin, she’s the daughter of Chinese immigrants,” Biden continued. “Mom of a union worker — her mom was a union worker, and her dad was a small-business owner. She went on to law school, served the people of California. Julie is the American Dream. And she is what the American Dream is about. More importantly — I think even more importantly, she is committed to making sure that dream is within the reach of every American. Every American. That’s what she’s all about. She is going to make sure it happens as the fourth Asian American woman in my Cabinet.” Su is the Acting Secretary of Labor following Secretary Marty Walsh’s having left the administration. Su was deputy labor secretary prior to Walsh’s leaving the cabinet. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to build an economy where no one feels invisible, where every individual and community not only gets to benefit from the President’s transformative vision for America but also gets to help make it real,” Su said. “So let’s build together.” Tuberville serves on the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee. Cassidy is the Ranking Member. Tuberville is also a member of the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, and Veterans’ Affairs Committees. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville: “We have got to get out of this war in Ukraine”
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville told Alabama Today, “We have got to get out of this war in Ukraine. Ukraine can’t beat Russia.” During Tuberville’s weekly phone call with media members, Alabama Today asked Sen. Tuberville if now would be a good time for the United States and its allies to press Ukraine and Russia to negotiate an end to the fighting. “The war in Ukraine is a disaster for the United States,” Tuberville responded. “We jumped in all four feet, knowing that we didn’t have enough munitions to help Ukraine. We don’t want to put boots on the ground. I am all for Ukraine, but you have got to have an opportunity to win, and we don’t have one person that has any insight in terms of diplomacy from this White House or this administration. Secretary [Antony] Blinken has done zero. You know, the Chinese laugh at the guy. President [Joe] Biden needs to be on the phone every day to stop this. We have gotten hundreds of thousands of people killed. There is all kinds of rumors about money that has been stolen from the American taxpayer that is going over there. We don’t know.” Tuberville says that the Biden Administration is sharing very little intelligence on the situation with the Senate Armed Forces Committee, on which he serves. “I am on the Armed Services Committee,” Tuberville said. “We get very little intel and obviously very embarrassed about this administration when they tell us about all these documents that have been released. They were caught. They were caught red-handed with lying to the American people, lying to the media, and you can’t trust them. You can’t trust our government up here, so every day, there is something different.” Tuberville said it is important to end this war as soon as possible. “It is unfortunate that it is like that, but somehow, we have got to get out of this war in Ukraine,” Tuberville continued. “We have got to get Ukraine out in terms of getting more people killed. Russia is not going to let up. It is going to continue to go on. They are waiting for the ground to dry out, and they will have an offensive of their own.” Tuberville blamed hawks in Washington for this situation. “It is unfortunate this has happened,” stated Tuberville. “We have got way too many hawks up here that wanted to jump in there thinking that Ukraine can beat Russia. Ukraine can’t beat Russia. We would be lucky to beat Russia right now, given the few munitions that we have. Given how much that has been given away. There is not a lot of thought that has gone into this other than just them sticking their chest out, saying we are going to do it this way. It’s gotten us in pretty deep in terms of problems that we are having right now as the United States.” Tuberville did not mince words in his criticism of the Biden Administration and its foreign policy. “They have lied to us about Ukraine,” Tuberville told reporters. “They have lied to us about a lot of different things. This administration has just absolutely been a joke when it comes to foreign policy.” Tuberville was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2020 following a forty-year career as an educator, coach, and sports broadcaster. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Steve Flowers: Alabama has a host of outstanding political leaders under 45
It may appear to you and most casual observers of Alabama politics that our Alabama elected officials are old. That observation is accurate when you observe our current leaders in the highest offices. The governor’s office has been held by mature folks in recent years. Our current Governor, Kay Ivey, is 78 and has been the object of national media humor for appearing to be a pistol-toting great-grandmother. Dr. Robert Bentley, her predecessor, was in his 70’s, but he may have been sprier than he appeared. Bob Riley was no spring chicken while governor at age 65, although he looked younger. Our iconic senator, Richard Shelby, retired in January at 88 after a record-breaking 36 years in the U.S. Senate. Our new Senior Senator, Tommy Tuberville, is 68. This was not always the case in the Heart of Dixie. In the period from 1930 through 1970, we elected the youngest political leaders in the nation, beginning with our legendary tandem of United States Senators Lister Hill and John Sparkman, who served together close to 30 years. Lister Hill was elected to Congress from Montgomery in 1923 at age 29 and was elected to the U.S. Senate at age 44. John Sparkman was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1946 at 46 after serving as the Congressman for the Tennessee Valley. If you think Hill and Sparkman were young when they went to Washington, you have not seen anything like the governors we elected from 1946 -1966. James E. “Big Jim” Folsom was 38 when he was elected in 1946. John Patterson was 37 when he was elected in 1958. Patterson was referred to as the “Boy Governor.” When George Wallace was elected to his first term in 1962, he was only 43. When his wife Lurleen Wallace was elected in 1966, she was 40. She died in office of cancer less than two years later at 41. Lurleen Wallace was succeeded by Lt. Governor Albert Brewer, who had been Speaker of the Alabama House at 34, Lt. Governor at 38, and was 39 when he became governor. Bill Baxley was the youngest Attorney General in America when he was elected Attorney General of Alabama at 29 years old in 1970. He had been a 25-year-old District Attorney in Houston and Henry Counties. Baxley still practices law in Birmingham at 81. Well, folks, a cursory look at our current top elected officials may appear old. However, we have a generation of young political leaders arriving on the scene in Alabama. We already have superstars on the horizon and already on the scene who are under 45. Our new United States Senator, Katie Britt, is only 40 years old. She has the ability and youthfulness to be one of Alabama’s greatest senators. She has gotten to the Senate at a younger age than Hill, Sparkman, or Shelby. Marshall County has become the hotbed and breeding ground for the next generations of Alabama political leaders. This beautiful pristine lake area of North Alabama lays claim to Lt. Governor Will Ainsworth, age 41, State Senate Majority leader Clay Scofield, age 42, and State Representative Wes Kitchens, who is 35 and is Vice Chairman of the House Republican Caucus. Andrew Sorrell, the newly elected State Auditor, is only 37. He has a bright future. The brightest star in the Democratic ranks is Huntsville State Representative Anthony Daniels. At age 40, Daniels is a superstar. He is in his third term in the House from Huntsville. He is the Minority Leader in the House. This gentleman is also a successful high-tech businessman in Rocket City. There are several other stars under 45 in the Alabama House of Representatives besides Daniels and Kitchens, including Kyle South of Fayette, Matt Simpson of Daphne, Joe Lovvorn of Auburn, Ben Robbins of Sylacauga, Scott Stadthagen of Madison, Corey Harbison of Cullman, and very young newcomers James Lomax of Huntsville and Brock Colvin of Albertville. Joining the affable and accomplished 42-year-old Senate Majority Leader, Clay Scofield in the powerful State Senate in the under 45 superstar group are Senator Chris Elliott, 42, of Baldwin, Senator Andrew Jones, 38, of Cherokee, and newly elected Senator Josh Carnley from Coffee County who is 44. Alabama has a host of under 45 political leaders. See you next week. Steve Flowers is Alabama’s leading political columnist. His weekly column is seen in over 60 Alabama newspapers. Steve served 16 years in the legislature. He may be reached at: www.steveflowers.us.
Senators Tommy Tuberville and John Thune introduce bill to promote apprenticeships
U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and John Thune led a group of four Republican Senators that introduced new legislation that would require the Department of Labor to restart apprenticeship programs for high-demand industries. The Training America’s Workforce Act would make apprenticeship programs more responsive to industry workforce needs. “Workforce development programs benefit us all,” said Sen. Tuberville. “I’m proud that Alabama leads the way with many outstanding industry-education partnerships that create accessible pathways to good jobs. This legislation is one way I’m working to promote apprenticeships so our students can reach their God-given potential.” “Workforce shortages are one of the top issues I continue to hear about from businesses across South Dakota,” said Sen. Thune. “I’m proud to lead this legislation that would help address these ongoing workforce challenges by providing employers with another way to adequately train prospective employees and help expand the pool of skilled workers.” John Thune is the Senate Republican Whip. The legislation is cosponsored by Sens. Tim Scott and Mike Braun. “Every child deserves the opportunity to achieve their version of the American Dream. Oftentimes, that doesn’t include attending a 4-year college or university,” said Sen. Scott. “In fact, quality apprenticeship programs can put young Americans on the path to a lifelong, good-paying job. Rather than imposing a heavy-handed, government-run program, our legislation seeks to expand industry-led workforce development initiatives to get qualified workers into well-paying jobs.” “Coming from the business world, I have long been a supporter of expanding access to workforce development and skills training programs,” said Sen. Braun. “When I travel across Indiana each year on my annual 92 county tour, I visit a number of workforce development programs that provide job training to prepare the next generation of talent. This legislation will allow us to expand programs like these in order to address the nationwide skills shortage and fill American jobs.” The Training America’s Workforce Act would require the U.S. Department of Labor to restart industry-recognized apprenticeship programs (IRAPs) that were previously formalized during the Trump administration and ended by President Joe Biden. These programs would expand apprenticeship opportunities by making it easier for students to receive required training and certifications to ensure skills learned during training align with in-demand job skills. Alicia Huey is the Chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). “The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) commends Senators Thune, Scott, Braun, and Tuberville for introducing the Training America’s Workforce Act to help address the persistent labor shortage that is facing the construction industry,” said Chairman Huey. “The legislation will help ease the housing affordability crisis by allowing the home building industry to expand its workforce training reach through IRAPs. With the addition of IRAPs to existing training options, this bill would provide the training and education needed to promote and advance a variety of careers in residential construction.” Kristen Swearingen is the Vice President of legislative and political affairs at Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC). “The Training America’s Workforce Act will support the industry-recognized, market-driven apprenticeship programs that many Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC) chapters and members use to provide their workers with the skills they need for a successful career,” said Vice President Swearingen. “While President [Joe] Biden and his allies in Congress attempt to narrow pathways to a profession in the skilled trades through the unnecessary requirement of union-only apprenticeships for critical construction projects, we know that the flexible and modern approach of industry-recognized programs provides new opportunities for all of America’s workers. ABC appreciates Senator Thune, Scott, Braun, and Tuberville’s efforts to better serve construction professionals throughout the country.” Tuberville was an educator and coach for more than 40 years. He says that that experience has made him passionate about ensuring students can access educational options that create pathways to good-paying jobs. Tuberville is a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, serving on the Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety. He also serves on the Senate Armed Services, Agriculture, Veterans Affairs, and HELP Committees. He was elected to his first term in the Senate in 2020. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Sens. Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt vote to defund abortions at VA facilities
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate held a procedural vote on U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville’s resolution to block the Biden Administration’s rule authorizing abortions at VA healthcare facilities. U.S. Senator Katie Britt is an original cosponsor of Tuberville’s resolution and voted in favor of the resolution on Wednesday. The Congressional Review Act (CRA) gives Congress the authority to review major rules issued by federal agencies before they take effect. If Congress disapproves of a rule via resolution, the rule will have no force or effect under the law. Since this is a resolution rather than formal legislation, it is easier procedurally to bring it to the floor. “We’re going to vote to overturn it because it is illegal, it is wrong, and it abuses taxpayer dollars,” Tuberville said at a press conference prior to the vote. “In September, the VA announced they were going to start performing abortions. The VA had never done abortions before.” “Congress banned abortion at the VA 30 years ago,” Tuberville explained. “It was unanimous. One of the Senators who voted for that bill was Joe Biden. We have never repealed this law. It is still on the books, and the Administration needs to follow it. The Administration doesn’t get to change the law without a vote in Congress.” “This is about taxpayer dollars. The Administration is spending money Congress never authorized and never appropriated,” stated Tuberville. “We’re supposed to have an appropriations process in this city. Yet the Biden Administration seems to think they don’t need to follow the appropriations process.” “The Biden Administration is clearly using the VA to circumvent and erode the longstanding, bipartisan, and lifesaving law of the land that prohibits hard-earned taxpayer dollars from being used for abortions,” said Sen. Britt. “At the end of the day, the VA should be focused on eliminating bureaucratic barriers, clearing backlogs, and ensuring our veterans have access to the world-class health care that they deserve, not funding the far-left’s radical political agenda. 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.” The measure did not gain the majority threshold needed to advance. In September, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) new rule directs VA facilities to perform abortions, even in jurisdictions like Alabama where state law regulates or outlaws abortion in conflict with the federal rule. Tuberville voiced concerns that the rule makes VA healthcare facilities unfriendly workplaces for Christian doctors and nurses and potentially violates their constitutional rights to practice their religion. “We’ve got Christian doctors and nurses at VA facilities worried about getting fired because of who they are,” Tuberville said. “We don’t need to purge medical staff from our VA system right now. We want to attract people to work at the VA, not drive them away.” To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Senate to Vote on Tuberville resolution overturning the VA’s abortion policy
On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on a resolution to overturn a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs rule that turned VA medical facilities into de facto abortion clinics. U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville will lead a bipartisan group of Senators in voting for the resolution he co-authored. In February, Senator Tuberville and Congressman Michael Cloud introduced a bicameral resolution of disapproval under the Congressional Review Act (CRA) to reverse the rule. “Using our VA medical facilities to provide taxpayer-funded abortions is illegal and wrong,” said Sen. Tuberville. “The VA’s new policy is a blatant violation of federal law. It forces taxpayers to fund abortions at VA facilities. And it provides limited conscience protections for doctors and nurses with religious objections to performing abortions. This rule is wrong on every level, and a bipartisan majority in Congress will stand up to overturn it.” The resolution has 35 Senate cosponsors and 51 cosponsors in the Republican-controlled U.S. House of Representatives. The resolution has been endorsed by Susan B. Anthony Pro Life-America, Heritage Action for America, National Right to Life, Catholic Vote, United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, Concerned Women for America Legislative Action Committee, Family Research Council, Family Policy Alliance, and March for Life Action. “I agree that the Department of Defense’s policy is atrocious, and it is a departure from a decades-long understanding of federal public policy,” said Sen. John Thune. SBA Pro-Life American wrote on Facebook, “Thank you, Senator Thom Tillis, for joining Senator Tommy Tuberville in standing against DOD’s illegal new policy funding abortion travel with taxpayer dollars.” The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops wrote on their website: “Abortion is a marginal practice, neither performed nor accepted by most health care providers; it does not improve (and can even jeopardize) women’s life and health; and American law has recognized for decades that it is not “just another medical procedure.” Far from being integral to our health care system, abortion is something that supporters seek to impose on that system by force of law.” Before the vote, Senator Tuberville will lead a bipartisan group of senators to urge passage of the resolution at a press conference. On September 9, 2022, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced its intention to begin providing abortion services for veterans and their dependents through the taxpayer-funded VA healthcare system. This seemingly blatantly violates Section 106 of the Veterans Health Care Act of 1992, which explicitly prohibits the VA from providing abortion services. Tuberville joined a letter with 38 colleagues following that announcement denouncing the decision. Tuberville says the policy defies an existing statute limiting abortions at VA facilities. Tuberville is in his first term representing Alabama in the U.S. Senate following his 2020 election – defeating incumbent Democrat Senator Doug Jones. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
AG Steve Marshall declares victory against Biden Administration’s water rules
Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall released a statement after learning that Alabama and a coalition of 23 other states secured a preliminary injunction against the Biden Administration’s Waters of the United States (WOTUS) Rule. AG Marshall believes the WOTUS Rule represents an unprecedented expansion of federal authority over questions of local land management. The preliminary injunction halts enforcement of the rule in Alabama and the other plaintiff states pending further judicial review. “The Biden Administration’s latest power grab has been brought to a halt with the court’s announced injunction against the WOTUS Rule,” said Attorney General Marshall. “While the Clean Water Act granted the federal government important powers to regulate ‘navigable waters’ like rivers, the Biden Administration seeks to claim authority over even isolated ditches and ponds. But these local matters are reserved to the States, which are best equipped to manage them. Alabama, its farmers, and landowners play a critical role in protecting our dynamic and robust aquatic ecosystems, and managing local waters is their responsibility, not that of a bureaucrat in Washington.” In February, Attorney General Marshall joined a coalition of 24 states in a lawsuit against the EPA, asking a federal court to vacate the newly published final rule redefining WOTUS and declare it unlawful—West Virginia, Georgia, Iowa, and North Dakota were joined in the lawsuit by Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and Wyoming. In March, U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville and Katie Britt voted in favor of a formal challenge to the WOTUS rule through a Congressional Review Act (CRA) joint resolution of disapproval. “The Biden administration is using the same playbook as the Obama administration — blatant land grabs and burdensome regulations,” said Sen. Tuberville. “These policies hurt our farmers and landowners and do virtually nothing for our environment or our water resources. Our farmers and landowners need consistency, and for the federal government to get out of the way. Today I voted to block the President’s land grab attempt and stand up for Alabama farmers and producers.”
Katie Britt: Hit the ground running in first 100 days, but just getting started
Today marks my 100th day in office as U.S. Senator for the great state of Alabama. To say that this responsibility is an honor of a lifetime would be an understatement. I continue to be humbled by the people of Alabama’s trust, confidence, and prayers, and as your Senator, I am working to make you proud every single day. Alabama sent a mom to the U.S. Senate to actually get things done, and I am happy to report that I hit the ground running immediately to do just that. From the minute I was sworn into office on January 3, I took the fight for faith, family, and freedom to Washington, D.C., as my team and I have been laser-focused on advocating for our people, our liberties, our values, and our interests. While we are off to a fast start, these past 100 days have also made it crystal clear, we have a lot more work ahead of us. In my first week as your Senator, I traveled to the Del Rio Sector of the U.S.-Mexico border in my first official trip to witness President Joe Biden’s border disaster firsthand. What I witnessed on that trip was gut-wrenching and reaffirmed that we truly have an unprecedented national security and humanitarian crisis at the southern border. 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. Following this trip, I joined Senators Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) in introducing the “Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act” to ensure human and drug traffickers are not subsidized by hardworking American taxpayers while these criminals await prosecution and conviction. In February, I joined Senator Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) and a bicameral congressional delegation to visit the epicenter of fentanyl trafficking in the San Diego Border Sector, where we also met with Border Patrol Council leaders. We then traveled to Mexico City to hear from top leaders in the Mexican military about the latest tactics being used by cartels and other criminals to avoid detection, capture, and prosecution while trafficking lethal drugs through Mexican territory and international waters to the United States. Senator John Cornyn (R-Tex.) also afforded me the opportunity to visit the border for a third time in March in the Rio Grande Valley sector in Texas, where we heard about the 488% annual surge in Chinese nationals attempting to illegally enter our country. Taking what I learned and experienced across my visits, my team and I worked hard to formulate and introduce tangible solutions in a package of four pieces of legislation aimed at sealing and securing our nation’s southern border, keeping American communities and families safe, and ultimately ending the ongoing crisis. This legislation includes the “Keep Our Communities Safe Act” to close Obama-Biden catch-and-release policies, the “Asylum Abuse Reduction Act” to fix America’s broken asylum process, and the “WALL Act” to complete building the wall on the southern border. I have cosponsored nine additional bills related to border security, including Senator Marsha Blackburn’s (R-Tenn.) Stop Taxpayer Funding of Traffickers Act; Senator Chuck Grassley’s (R-Iowa) Immigration Parole Reform Act of 2023 and Accountability Through Electronic Verification Act; Senator Ted Budd’s (R-N.C.) Build the Wall Now Act; Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-Fla.) No Coyote Cash Act and Felony Murder for Deadly Fentanyl Distribution Act; Senator Mike Lee’s (R-Utah) Stopping Border Surges Act; Senator Tommy Tuberville’s (R-Ala.) Border Safety and Security Act; and Senator John Kennedy’s (R-La.) Fairness in Fentanyl Sentencing Act of 2023. In addition to those nine bills, I have cosponsored 60 pieces of legislation thus far in the 118th Congress. This is the most of any United States Senator in this timeframe, underscoring the urgency with which my team and I have approached this incredible responsibility. These five dozen pieces of legislation span a wide range of pressing issues facing hardworking Alabamians – they would bolster American energy independence, lower taxes, combat inflation and our runaway national debt, slash burdensome red tape, safeguard the sanctity of life, uphold the rule of law, protect the ability of girls and young women to compete in sports, defend the right to work, support our tremendous law enforcement officers, strengthen our supply chains, fortify Americans’ retirement savings, hold elected officials accountable to the people, advance election integrity, stand up for our family farmers, and much more. Already, 13 of these measures passed the Senate, including three that reached President Biden’s desk. One of my top priorities, especially as the ranking member of the Homeland Security Subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, has been to stand up to the Biden Administration’s dangerously weak national security policies. There is no doubt that the Chinese Communist Party is our greatest geopolitical and national security threat, and everything they do is as our adversary. From stealing our intellectual property and spying on our children through TikTok, to buying up American farmland near military installations and engaging in unfair trade practices that undercut Alabama steelmakers and shrimpers, we must hold the CCP accountable. Defending hardworking Americans and protecting our homeland is not a responsibility I take lightly, which is why I have joined my colleagues in introducing five pieces of legislation holding the Chinese Communist Party accountable for their continued aggression. This includes cosponsoring a bipartisan resolution condemning the unlawful incursion into the United States airspace by the People’s Republic of China high-altitude surveillance balloon, and the Foreign Adversary Risk Management (FARM) Act, introduced by Senator Tuberville, which would crack down on the CCP’s growing ownership of U.S. farmland and agricultural companies. I have also cosponsored the Cutting-off Communist Profiteers (CCP) Act, prohibiting any former U.S. presidential appointees from knowingly representing, aiding, or advising the Chinese Communist Party or Chinese military companies, and the Protecting America from Spies Act, targeting Chinese Communist Party spies that are committing espionage toward American technology firms and businesses. Most recently, I joined Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) in introducing the “Not One More Inch or Acre Act,” legislation that would prevent any Chinese national or entity from owning American land. I believe that the
Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville, and John Thune lead effort to repeal the death tax
U.S. Senators Katie Britt, Tommy Tuberville, John Thune, and 39 of their Senate colleagues reintroduced The Death Tax Repeal Act, which would permanently repeal the federal estate tax, more aptly known as the Death Tax. Sponsors say that The Death Tax Repeal Act would end this purely punitive tax that can potentially kill family farms, ranches, and businesses due to the owner’s death. “Alabama’s incredible farmers and cattlemen work tirelessly throughout their lives to feed and clothe our state, nation, and world while responsibly stewarding their land for future generations,” said Sen. Britt. “The Death Tax effectively forces the next generation of farm families to decide between bankruptcy or selling their farm to a corporation or a foreign entity. No American farm family, already suffering from the loss of their loved one, should be faced with this devastating choice. This is not only a matter of what is just, but also one that affects our food security. Repealing the Death Tax safeguards Alabama’s over 44,000 farms, 97% family-owned. I will continue to fight to protect the ability of Alabama farmers, cattlemen, and small business owners to live the American Dream and pass on their family’s legacy and livelihood to their children.” “The Death Tax destroys American jobs by stifling profitable businesses that employ hardworking Americans,” said Sen. Tuberville. “Our government should be focused on creating an economic environment that preserves small businesses and family farms instead of taxing them out of operation. I will keep pushing for policies that incentivize our next generation of farmers and business owners so that we can continue to rely on their contributions for a strong economy.” “Agriculture is the backbone of South Dakota’s economy,” said Thune. “For years, I have fought to protect farm and ranch families from the onerous and unfair death tax. Family-owned farms and ranches often bear the brunt of this tax, which makes it difficult and costly to pass these businesses down to future generations. I will continue to do everything in my power to remove these roadblocks for family businesses and repeal the death tax once and for all.” The Senators argue that the Death Tax is a form of double taxation, which is inherently unfair. Adding insult to injury, the Death Tax can be more burdensome on people with smaller estates – meaning it predominantly harms working-class landowners, small businesses, and family farmers and cattlemen. The sponsors claim that studies have shown that repealing the Death Tax would spur economic growth, create jobs, and increase wages. Senators Britt and Thune were joined in cosponsoring the legislation by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. The bill is supported by members of the Family Business Coalition and the Family Business Estate Tax Coalition, including the American Farm Bureau Federation, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the National Federation of Independent Businesses, the Associated General Contractors of America, the National Association of Home Builders, the National Association of Manufacturers, and many others. Katie Britt was elected to the Senate in 2022. Tuesday will be day 8 of the 2023 Alabama Regular Legislative Session. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
Tommy Tuberville says Donald Trump has faced “witch hunt after witch hunt”
On Wednesday, U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville issued a statement in reaction to former President Donald Trump’s arraignment and indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. “Yesterday was a sad day for our country. President Trump has faced witch hunt after witch hunt since the moment he came down the escalator at Trump Tower,” Sen. Tuberville said. “Progressives in the media, the government, and the courtroom have tried relentlessly — and unsuccessfully — to stop him. The liberal activist district attorney in Manhattan should spend more time going after actual criminals in his own city than investigating former presidents in Florida. This is an unacceptable abuse of our justice system.” Trump turned himself into the New York City DA on Tuesday. The former President has been charged with 34 separate charges in a case involving allegedly improper payments of hush money to women he was involved with. The payments were part of what New York City Assistant District Attorney Christopher Conroy called “an unlawful plan to identify and suppress negative information that could have undermined his campaign for president” in court. Conroy claimed that the payments were made to “protect his candidacy” in the 2016 election. “It’s not just about one payment,” Bragg told reporters. “It is 34 false statements and business records that were concealing criminal conduct,” Bragg told reporters. Tuberville has been an outspoken supporter of Trump for years. While still President, Trump endorsed Tuberville in his 2020 Republican primary race for U.S. Senate against former Trump Attorney General Jeff Sessions and his successful general election run against incumbent Sen. Doug Jones. Tuberville was the first U.S. Senator to endorse Trump when he announced his candidacy for President in 2024. “He’s the leader America needs in 2024,” Tuberville said on Twitter immediately after the former President announced his 2024 run. “That’s why I’m proud to endorse Donald J. Trump for President of the United States!” The indictments mean that Trump will face criminal charges while campaigning for the Republican nomination in 2024. It is unclear whether that will be a net positive for the campaign. The scandal may keep some voters away, and it could only strengthen the intensity of Trump’s supporters. Tuberville has represented Alabama in the United States Senate since his election in 2020. To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email brandonmreporter@gmail.com.
