War Powers Resolution, EPA, Census, PFAS Act, Fishery FUNDD Act

Iran and the War Powers Resolution

Guthrie Votes ‘No’ on War Powers Resolution
Source: Brett S. Guthrie (R-KY, 2nd)
January 9, 2020
“President Trump acted in America’s best interest when he ordered the strike that killed Iranian General Soleimani,” said Guthrie. “This afternoon, I voted against Speaker Pelosi’s War Powers Resolution that would undermine President Trump’s authority to protect American troops in the Middle East. This resolution fully ignores President Trump’s clear ongoing efforts to avoid war and bring Iran to the negotiating table, and it would further prevent President Trump from keeping our troops safe. I will continue to pray for our brave men and women abroad, and I stand ready to work with President Trump and my colleagues to negotiate with Iran on a deal that keeps our nation safe.”

Read more...

Congressman Guest Votes Against Resolution That Would Weaken American Strength
Source: Michael Guest (R-MS, 3rd)
January 10, 2020
Following the vote, Congressman Guest admonished the resolution for its political nature. “Democrats are so focused on continuing political battles with President Trump that they are willing to abandon their responsibility to our nation,” Guest said. “The sole reason Democrats introduced this resolution is to score points with their base by attacking President Trump. In reality, they are undermining our national security. After a major foreign policy victory that put an end to the brutal leadership of terrorist Qassem Soleimani, we should be uniting our country to capitalize on a successful military operation against an enemy of the United States.”

Read more...

Haaland Votes for the War Powers Resolution
Source: Debra Haaland (D-NM, 1st)
January 9, 2020
“The Trump Administration has shown the American people that they are willing to take us to the brink of war and put our troops, diplomats, and Americans abroad in harm’s way. This War Powers Resolution reflects the constitutional power of Congress to prevent dangerous escalations into another endless war,” said Congresswoman Deb Haaland.

Read more...

Harris Statement on Iran and War Powers Resolution
Source: Andy Harris (R-MD, 1st)
January 9, 2020
“Today I voted against the Democrats’ purely political resolution seeking to tie the President’s hands as he responds to the terrorist threat posed by Iran, its proxies, and radical Islamic terrorists. I fully support the President’s targeted and proportional actions that responded to the attacks orchestrated by General Soleimani. Soleimani was intimately involved in the planning of the raid on the American Embassy in Baghdad last week, and intelligence indicated he was actively planning further attacks on Americans. As the longtime leader of the Quds Forces within the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (the first state military institution to earn the “terrorist organization” designation by a presidential administration), he was directly involved in the training of terrorists and the building and deploying of improvised explosive devices, which resulted in the death or brutal maiming of thousands of American troops in the Middle East. Additionally, his organization supported and coordinated multiple Shiite terrorist militias which pose significant and ongoing threats to the U.S. and our allies. While the Iran apologists in Congress continue to attempt to politicize our national security, I support the President, and am confident that he will wisely evaluate all options in response to Iranian threats, including military action if Americans are at risk. We should not tie his hands in the fight to save Americans from radical Islamic terrorists.”

Read more...

Hern reacts to Trump announcement on Iran
Source: Kevin Hern (R-OK, 1st)
January 8, 2020
“President Trump has resurrected the credibility of the American name overseas after years of the apologetic Obama administration. There’s certainly a lot of work left to do, but I believe that through the work of our President and our foreign allies, we will continue to make progress in the region and eliminate the nasty threat of terrorism.”

Read more...

STATEMENT BY CONGRESSMAN BRIAN HIGGINS IN RESPONSE TO CONFLICT WITH IRAN
Source: Brian Higgins (D-NY, 26th)
January 8, 2020
“This President repeatedly says he wants to bring our troops home, but he isn’t doing it. Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have cost nearly $5 trillion U.S. dollars and taken the lives of nearly 7,000 U.S. soldiers. America needs nation building here at home. This Congress must step up to rein in these actions to prevent another conflict that further disrupts this part of the world and forsakes American resources and lives.”

Read more...

Higgins Votes Against Democrats’ Resolution to Weaken President Trump’s Authority as Commander-in-Chief
Source: Clay Higgins (R-LA, 3rd)
January 9, 2020
“The President operated squarely within Article II enumerated powers as Commander-in-Chief, in compliance with the War Powers Act of 1973, and within the Executive Branch powers delineated in the 2002 AUMF regarding security threats and enemy combatants inside Iraq. President Trump’s decisive action eliminated two dangerous terrorists, interrupted future attacks on U.S. service members, and delivered a clear message to Iran and its proxies that we will defend our position. As the theater of engagement evolves, the President’s continued authority to protect U.S. forces and interests against all threats is critical for operational success.

Read more...

Rep. Hill Statement Opposing Speaker Pelosi’s War Powers Resolution
Source: French Hill (R-AR, 2nd)
January 9, 2020
Speaker Pelosi knows that President Trump’s strike against Iran’s architect of terror was well within his Article II authority to defend the nation as Commander-in-Chief. She supported the same legal authorization that President Obama used to conduct more than 500 drone strikes against terrorist targets in the Middle East.

Read more...

Rep. Holding's Statement on the Death of Qassem Soleimani
Source: George Holding (R-NC, 13th)
January 6, 2020
Qasem Soleimani was one of the world's most ruthless terrorists. He is directly responsible for the deaths of hundreds of Americans & thousands of civilians across the globe.

Read more...

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence released two reports tallying drone strikes under the Obama Administration. The first reported that there were 473 strikes between January 20, 2009, and December 31, 2015, in “areas of active hostilities” that included Afghanistan, Iraq, and Syria. The second reported that there were another 53 strikes in the same region for 2016, bringing the total to 526.

Under the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), the president has the authority to defend the national security of the United States against threats emanating from Iraq—where General Soleimani spent years cultivating violent Iran-backed proxy attacks against Americans. Following the January 3, 2020 drone strike against Soleimani, President Trump promptly notified Congress under the rules of the War Powers Act within the required 48 hours.

Environmental Protection Agency

Haaland, Sarbanes, Rouda Lead Effort to Prevent Trump EPA from Weakening Water Quality Standards
Source: Debra Haaland (D-NM, 1st)
January 6, 2020
“We write to express our serious concerns regarding the proposed rule … which attacks state and tribal rights under Section 401 of the Clean Water Act (CWA),” the Members wrote. “We urge EPA to withdraw this harmful proposal.”

Read more...

2020 Census

Haaland Questions Lead Expert to Express Concerns About Census Bureau Operational Decisions to Reach Indian Country During the 2020 Census
Source: Debra Haaland (D-NM, 1st)
January 9, 2020
At a House Oversight and Reform Committee hearing, Congresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01) asked questions that led experts to raise concerns about the Census Bureau’s operational decisions to reach Indian Country during the 2020 Census. During the hearing, experts explained that undercounting any community would result in more crowded classrooms, disparities in health care services, less funding for roads and infrastructure, and discrepancies in affordable housing investments in all communities.

Read more...

PFAS Act

Haaland: Bill Will Protect New Mexico’s Water From Toxic Chemicals
Source: Debra Haaland (D-NM, 1st)
January 10, 2020
“New Mexicans deserve clean water to raise their families, grow their businesses, and support agriculture, but harmful chemicals have taken a toll on our communities. I’ve seen what happens to the health of family and friends when toxic sites are not cleaned up, and it’s not something we should risk. The bill that passed today will protect our water and our families from toxic chemicals,” said Haaland.

Read more...

Rep. Hayes Votes to Implement More Stringent PFAS Standards
Source: Jahana Hayes (D-CT, 5th)
January 10, 2020
United States Congresswoman Jahana Hayes (CT-05) voted to pass H.R. 535, the PFAS Action Act of 2019. Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) chemicals are known to cause certain types of cancer and can adversely impact the development of babies and young children. This critical legislation requires the Environmental Protection Agency to designate all PFAS as hazardous, prohibits the development of new PFAS, and specifically establishes a new contamination safety standard. The bill passed the House of Representatives 247 to 159.

Read more...

Small Business

Rep. Hagedorn’s Small Business Legislation, H.R. 5146, Passes the U.S. House
Source: Jim Hagedorn (R-MN, 1st)
January 8, 2020
The measure works to remove barriers to entry for small businesses seeking to compete for federal prime contracts by requiring contract officers to consider the relevant past performance and subcontractor experience of these companies. H.R. 5146 will now be sent to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.

Read more...

Fishery FUNDD Act

Herrera Beutler, Kilmer Lead Legislation to Improve Federal Fishery Disaster Process, Increase Accountability
Source: Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA, 3rd)
January 8, 2020
U.S. Representatives Jaime Herrera Beutler (WA-03) and Derek Kilmer (WA-06) led the introduction of the Fishery Failures: Urgently Needed Disaster Declarations Act (Fishery FUNDD Act), which aims to improve the federal fishery disaster process and ensure more timely disaster relief for impacted communities.

Read more...

Prescription Drugs, Iraq, Iran, Census

Rep. Angie Craig Votes to Pass Historic Drug Pricing Bill
Source: Angie Craig (D-MN, 2nd)
December 30, 2019
“Working families cannot wait for action on the outrageous cost of prescription drugs,” said Rep. Craig. “I cosponsored this historic piece of legislation to put common-sense solutions in place to cap out-of-pocket costs for seniors, invest in research for more effective treatments, and hold big drug companies accountable for profiting off the backs of Minnesota families. It is now the Senate’s turn to take up this essential piece of legislation.”

Read more...

The Elijah E. Cummings Lower Drug Costs Now Act is estimated to save over $500 billion over ten years according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office. The bill would:

Allow Medicare to negotiate prices for a minimum of 50 of the most expensive drugs and to extend the negotiated price to all health plans

Create a $2,000 cap on out-of-pocket drug costs for seniors

Expand Medicare benefits to include vision, dental, and hearing for the first time, which would benefit over 100,000 people in Minnesota’s Second District alone

Invest in research for new innovation, cures and treatments

Crenshaw Statement on U.S. Strike Killing Qassem Soleimani
Source: Joe Courtney (D-CT, 2nd)
January 2, 2020
Tonight’s strike was historic and America is better off because of it. One of the world’s most pre-eminent sponsors of terrorism, Qassem Soleimani, is now dead. He spent more than 20 years spreading death and destruction across the region, to include engineering and providing IEDs to Shia militias in Iraq that were used to kill hundreds of Americans.

Read more...

The Democrats are "up in arms" about the recent killing of a dangerous terrorist. Some of them claim that it was a "declaration of war" and that Trump acted without proper approval from Congress. Debate on whether or not Trump was declaring war is eminent, but the Democrats are concerned that this could inevitably lead to a decades long war.

The Democrats are right about Congress having the authority to declare war. (Read the Constitution.) But, Republicans and Trump supporters agree that this dangerous terrorist needed killing. AND, according to a resolution passed by Congress after 9-11-2001, Trump was well within his authority.

The Ponder wants to know: Who still supports Trump after this?

The Ponder supports the killing of the General. We support any war that may happen as a result. This war was eminent from the start. Without it, the U.S. has already surrendered to terrorists. And, when Congress refused to Act, WE THE PEOPLE elected a man who would.

Rep. Courtney Statement On US Air Strike In Iraq
Source: Joe Courtney (D-CT, 2nd)
January 3, 2020
“The unilateral decision by President Trump to strike down a bad actor such as Soleimani unfortunately does not close the book on the threat Iran poses to America. Not consulting with the American people, Congressional leadership and our allies before taking this escalatory action in a part of the world where we have been entangled for eighteen long years is the wrong way to isolate Iranian bad behavior and wind down our involvement in the Middle East.”

Read more...

REP. COX ON KILLING OF IRANIAN GENERAL
Source: TJ Cox (D-CA, 21st)
January 3, 2020
"Last night’s airstrike was unprecedented with incalculable consequences that will play out over the coming days, weeks, and months. Given the immense gravity of this situation, Congress needs to hear from the Administration about the intelligence that led to this airstrike and how it fits into our broader strategy to counter Iran’s destabilizing presence in the region, consolidate our gains in Iraq, and combat violent extremism. Soleimani was a brutal killer responsible for the death of hundreds of Americans, but his death is not a substitute for thoughtful foreign policy. Without a full account of the facts on the ground, whether or not the Administration acted within its authority in carrying out this strike remains in question. However, this much is clear: the Administration cannot take any action that will bring us closer to a conflict with Iran without the consent of Congress. Right now, our top priority must be preventing further escalation and protecting the lives of American servicemembers and diplomats overseas."

Read more...

Davids Statement on Killing of Qassem Soleimani
Source: Sharice Davids (D-KS, 3rd)
January 3, 2020
"Qassem Soleimani committed atrocious crimes against American troops and innocent people. But his killing will only serve to further destabilize an already dangerous region and put more American and civilian lives at risk. The American people deserve to know that this Administration has a strategy for how to deal with the aftermath of this major escalation.”

Read more...

Rep. Davidson Praises Airstrike that Killed Iranian General
Source: Warren Davidson (R-OH, 8th)
January 3, 2020
General Soleimani should not have been in Iraq. He was behind the violent demonstrations against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad and was planning further attacks on Americans.

Read more...

Rep. Susan Davis Statement on Killing of Qasem Soleimani
Source: Susan Davis (D-CA, 53rd)
January 3, 2020
“There is no doubt that Qasem Soleimani was responsible for countless deaths and violence, what is not clear is the Trump Administration’s justification and the strategy for the aftermath of this dangerous escalation. The administration needs to explain to the American people and to Congress, which was not consulted, about the ‘imminent attack’ and provide reassurance that it has the diplomatic capabilities to prevent this from spiraling into a major conflict with Iran.”

Read more...

Cunningham Statement on the Death of Qassem Soleimani
Source: Joe Cunningham (D-SC, 1st)
January 3, 2020
"Last night’s airstrike was unprecedented with incalculable consequences that will play out over the coming days, weeks, and months. Given the immense gravity of this situation, Congress needs to hear from the Administration about the intelligence that led to this airstrike and how it fits into our broader strategy to counter Iran’s destabilizing presence in the region, consolidate our gains in Iraq, and combat violent extremism. Soleimani was a brutal killer responsible for the death of hundreds of Americans, but his death is not a substitute for thoughtful foreign policy. Without a full account of the facts on the ground, whether or not the Administration acted within its authority in carrying out this strike remains in question. However, this much is clear: the Administration cannot take any action that will bring us closer to a conflict with Iran without the consent of Congress. Right now, our top priority must be preventing further escalation and protecting the lives of American servicemembers and diplomats overseas."

Read more...

STATEMENT FROM REP. PETER DEFAZIO ON U.S. KILLING OF IRANIAN GENERAL QASSIM SULEIMANI
Source: Peter DeFazio (D-OR, 4th)
January 3, 2020
If we are not careful, President Trump’s impulsive recklessness will lead the United States into yet another endless war in the Middle East. Our founders ensured that the Constitution grants Congress—not the executive branch—the power to declare war, specifically to act as a check on presidential war-mongering.

Read more...

DeGette Statement on U.S. Airstrike in Iraq
Source: Diana Degette (D-CO, 1st)
January 3, 2020
“I’m deeply concerned by the escalation of violence with Iran that occurred overnight. Congress has the sole constitutional authority to declare war. And while Iran continues to pose a serious threat to our nation’s security, and our interests abroad, no one wants to see America drawn back into a decades-long war in the Middle East.

Read more...

DeLauro Statement on United States Airstrikes Killing Iranian Military Leaders
Source: Rosa L. DeLauro (D-CT, 3rd)
January 3, 2020
“The actions authorized by President Trump may have accomplished their tactical objective, but I am deeply concerned by the ripple effects this attack may have by destabilizing the region. The use of lethal force by the United States in the international arena must always be carefully considered—taking into account the potential backlash and harm that may befall our servicemembers, our diplomats, our national security interests, and our allies. In a volatile region where we have seen our embassy attacked in the last week, and where we have deployed additional troops to support our personnel, every action must be carefully considered to ensure that we avoid bringing the United States into another deadly, protracted armed conflict.”

Read more...

Delgado Statement on the Airstrike that Killed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp Commander General Qassem Soleimani
Source: Antonio Delgado (D-NY, 19th)
January 3, 2020
“Qassem Soleimani was responsible for the deaths of American servicemembers and innocent civilians throughout the Middle East—he met the fate he deserved. That said, last night the Administration took an enormous and escalatory step in a volatile area of the world without clear coordination with our allies, Congress, or stakeholders in the region, and with no explanation for how it will manage the inevitable repercussions. Moving forward, I have serious questions about how the Administration plans to keep our men and women in uniform and diplomats serving across the region safe, and avoid the march to another costly war in the Middle East. Congress should be briefed immediately on the situation, including the Administration’s legal justification for the strike, and concrete plans going forward.”

Read more...

Dingell Statement on the Airstrike that Killed the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp Commander General Qasem Soleimani
Source: Debbie Dingell (D-MI, 12th)
January 3, 2020
“Qasem Soleimani was an evil man responsible for the death of thousands of innocent people. However, I deeply fear the consequences of this action, which was made without consulting Congress, or our allies and partners in the region. Congress must be briefed on the Administration’s strategy, and we must be prepared for an almost certain escalation of activities and conflict in the Mideast, as well as the safety of Americans throughout the world.

Read more...

Doggett Reacts to Trump Assassination Order
Source: Lloyd Doggett (D-TX, 35th)
January 3, 2020
“While Soleimani was undoubtedly evil, our foreign policy must focus on protecting Americans. Trump, who claims to know more than our generals, the intelligence community, and our foreign service officers, now risks endless escalation from an aggressive and malicious adversary. Through many years of disastrous conflict in Iraq and Afghanistan—so costly in both blood and dollars, we surely know wars are easier to get into than to get out of. To avoid war, both Presidents Bush and Obama rejected assassination of this detested figure, which may well violate President Ronald Reagan’s anti-assassination Executive Order. At the very time when more Iraqis have been protesting Iranian influence, Trump’s actions strengthen anti-American forces and Iranian zealots. His recklessness has little to do with protecting Americans and everything to do with protecting Trump, the Master of Distraction. To avoid the loss of even more lives through endless escalation, we must find a better path forward.”

Read more...

Duncan Statement on Death of Terrorist Qassem Soleimani
Source: Jeff Duncan (R-SC, 3rd)
January 3, 2020
“I applaud President Trump for taking decisive action to take out Qassem Soleimani, a brutal terrorist with the blood of countless Americans on his hands. This action shows Iranian attacks and aggression against Americans will not go unnoticed under President Trump’s leadership. Our military is the best of the best, and may God bless them for their efforts in making the world a safer place without murderous terrorists like Qassem Soleimani.”

Read more...

Eshoo Statement on Airstrike in Iraq Against High-Level Iranian Military Officials
Source: Anna G. Eshoo (D-CA, 18th)
January 3, 2020
“No Member of Congress carries a brief for Iran or Soleimani, however, this act is exactly why I wrote legislation in 2018, HR 2354 (and reintroduced in 2019), that specifically prohibits the use of any federal funds for military operations in or against Iran without Congressional approval. I did so based on the provocations of Iran by the President, and the dangers of escalation.”

Read more...

REPRESENTATIVE ADRIANO ESPAILLAT STATEMENT ON KILLING OF QASEM SOLEIMANI
Source: Adrianno Espaillat (D-NY, 13th)
January 3, 2020
“Soleimani was, without doubt, responsible for much violence and the deaths of Americans in the Middle East for many years,” said Rep. Adriano Espaillat. “The Trump Administration has continuously shown a lack of preparedness or a coherent strategy regarding Iran and the entire Middle East. The various strikes conducted over the last week by the administration, culminating with the escalation in last night’s targeted killing of Qasem Soleimani, appear to be part of this ad hoc approach. My primary concern with the administration’s reckless escalation is for the safety of U.S. servicemembers, diplomats, personnel, and our allies in the region who are now at heightened risk of aggressive Iranian retaliation. The administration has claimed that the goal of this latest strike was to prevent future attacks by Iran, yet it is clear that this action may have the opposite effect.

Read more...

Rep. Cuellar Continues to Fight for a Fair and Accurate Census
Source: Henry Cuellar (D-TX, 28th)
January 3, 2020
“Our founding fathers were committed to creating a government that represents of the people of this great and diverse nation,” said Congressman Cuellar. “With an accurate Census count, we can ensure that every American has the opportunity to send a representative to Congress that will fight for them in Washington. I will continue to ensure that we make the 2020 Census the best it can be so our communities receive their fair share of resources and representation.”

Read more...

The fight over the Census citizenship question isn’t over yet

Source: New York Daily News
June 10, 2019
Chief Justice John Roberts and the four liberal justices determined that the Justice Department’s stated reason for including the question — that it would improve administration of the Voting Rights Act — was not the real and complete story. It was, in their view, a pretext, even though it is a perfectly valid and sufficient reason.

This defeat, such as it was, is extremely narrow. “We do not hold that the agency decision here was substantively invalid,” Roberts wrote for his 5-4 majority. They simply “remanded” the case, asking the Commerce Department to show the “real” reason and assure the lower court that it’s not improper

Read the whole story...

Opinion on the Citizenship Question

By Shonda Ponder

Several Senators are calling for the Census paperwork to start printing without the "politically motivated" citizenship question.

Here is my personal opinion:

It doesn't matter whether the citizenship question is "politically motivated" or not. What matters is, IS IT A VALID QUESTION!

The answer is yes.

If we have people being counted on the census, we need to know if they are citizens. If they are not, we need to know why they are not. Are they permanent legal residents? Are they temporary workers or visitors? Are they here legally? WE NEED TO KNOW ALL THAT!

Yes. That information is important.

If the census can ask us whether we are black, white, Native American or Hispanic, then it should be able to ask us if we are a citizen.

Citizenship Question not Allowed in Census

The United States Supreme Court's decision in Department of Commerce v. New York sends the Citizenship question back to the Commerce Department. The Liberals are claiming victory, but nothing is decided officially yet.

Ridiculous – Supreme Court Punts on Census Citizenship Question – Sending Issue Back to Commerce Dept….
Source: The Conservative Treehouse
June 27, 2019
The legacy of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts is a legacy of abject shame. Today the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 to send the issue of a citizenship question on the 2020 Census back to the Commerce Department. The justices did not decide the question was unconstitutional, quite the opposite, they indicated the question was entirely up to the Dept. of Commerce, but disputed the motive behind the Commerce dept. position.

Read more...

Census

Today's News about the Census

Supreme Court shows split during arguments on census citizenship question
Source: UPI
April 24, 2019
A divided Supreme Court heard opening arguments Tuesday about whether the 2020 U.S. census should include the controversial question about citizenship status, a landmark case that can affect elections and federal funding for years.

Read more...

Conservative justices signal willingness to allow census citizenship question
Source: The Hill
April 23, 2019
Conservative justices on Tuesday appeared in favor of allowing a Trump administration-backed effort to include a citizenship question in the 2020 census.

Read more...

ENGEL STATEMENT ON SCOTUS HEARING HOUSE ARGUMENTS AGAINST CITIZENSHIP QUESTION ON 2020 CENSUS
Source: Eliot Engel (D-NY, 16th)
April 23, 2019
“Today, the House presented oral arguments to the Supreme Court in opposition to the Trump Administration’s proposed citizenship question on the 2020 census. We feel strongly that adding this question would drive down response rates, leading to an inadequate count and undermining the entire purpose of the census. We also believe the true intent of this maneuver is to further stress immigrant communities, which continue to be vilified by this Administration, and to punish certain states that did not support the President in the 2016 election. Adding this citizenship question would have real consequences for New Yorkers across the board by reducing our congressional representation and our share of federal resources over the next decade. We hope the Supreme Court will see through this Administration’s petty ploy and deem the question unconstitutional.

Read more...

U.S. Census Bureau Releases 2018 Voting and Registration Data
Source: The U.S. Census Bureau
April 23, 2019
Today the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2018 voting and registration table package. These November 2018 election data come from the Voting and Registration Supplement to the Current Population Survey, which surveys the civilian noninstitutionalized population in the United States.

Read more...