Source: Brian Fitzpatrick, (R PA, 8th)
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Read more at The Ponder News Home Page at http://thepondernews.com
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Washington, D.C. - November 1, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Four Members of Congress—two Republicans and two Democrats—today have introduced the Closing the Bump Stock Loophole Act, new bipartisan legislation to close the “bump stock” loophole after a shooter in Las Vegas, using bump stock devices, killed 58 people and injured 489, making it the deadliest mass shooting in modern history.
The measure, introduced by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-08), Congressman Dan Kildee (MI-05), Congresswoman Dina Titus (NV-01) and Congressman Dave Trott (MI-11), would allow the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to immediately regulate bump stocks and functionally equivalent devices that substantially increase the rate of fire of a firearm in the same way it regulates machine guns and suppressors. The registration process for anyone in possession of or purchasing bump stock devices would include a rigorous background check, fingerprinting and a $200 registration fee.
Under the National Firearms Act, it is illegal for Americans to own fully automatic firearms and machine guns manufactured after May 19, 1986. Due to a loophole in the law, however, bump stocks—devices attached to semi-automatic rifles that increase their rate of fire to that similar to machine guns—are currently legal and unregulated. ATF has said it does not currently have the legal authority to address bump stocks or similar devices and has urged Congress to act to remedy this problem.
“Four weeks ago, our country experienced the deadliest mass shooting in modern American history. As former law enforcement professionals, it is difficult to swallow the fact that the horror of this event was exacerbated by the bump stock, a device engineered to avoid regulation under federal law -- but unfortunately, it is not surprising. We are grateful to Representatives Fitzpatrick, Kildee, Titus and Trott for introducing this proposal that will regulate these dangerous weapons under the National Firearms Act, and for recognizing the need for Congress to act to keep American communities safe. We urge Congress to support this bipartisan legislation and pass this bill,” said Michael Bouchard, President of the ATF Association.
“This bipartisan legislation will block the availability of these and other dangerous devices, and demonstrates a serious bipartisan commitment to keeping our communities safe,” said Congressman Fitzpatrick, a former federal gun crimes prosecutor and FBI agent. “We must do everything in our power to prevent the kind of evil we see in horrifying incidents like the Las Vegas shootings, and resolve as a nation to confront this evil through meaningful, bipartisan legislative action and an ongoing commitment to keep our communities safe from gun violence.”
“After the deadliest mass shooting in modern history, Congress must act to prevent gun violence. This bill will not prevent all senseless gun deaths—rather, it seeks to address one dangerous loophole in existing law that allows anyone to acquire a bump stock, no questions asked. This bipartisan legislation will give law enforcement the ability to regulate bump stocks and keep them out of the hands of criminals and violent people. Such deadly devices that can turn firearms into fully-automatic machine guns have no place on America’s streets,” said Congressman Kildee.
“Following the October tragedy in my district, I vowed to study and draft solutions with members on both sides of the aisle to prevent future acts of gun violence in our nation’s communities,” said Congresswoman Titus. “Since then, Reps. Fitzpatrick, Kildee, Trott and I have developed a bipartisan bill to regulate bump stocks or similar devices the same as machine guns and the deadliest of weapons. I believe the majority of Americans would agree: Anyone who wants a device that modifies a firearm to shoot hundreds of rounds per minute should undergo thorough background checks and oversight. Congress must take meaningful action to address this national epidemic. We cannot stand in silence any longer.”
“In the wake of the tragedy in Las Vegas, I promised my constituents that I would work on a legislative solution to close the loophole that allows legal semi-automatic firearms to be modified to perform like illegal fully-automatic weapons, and, today, my colleagues and I deliver. Most importantly, this bill ends the cycle of knee-jerk legislation, hastily thrown together in the wake of these all too common tragedies. Rather this is a proactive approach, that gives the ATF the regulatory flexibility it needs to hold these devices to the highest level of scrutiny while protecting Americans’ 2nd amendment right,” said Congressman Trott.
The Unpopular Truth
Showing posts with label gun loopholes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gun loopholes. Show all posts
Wednesday, November 1, 2017
Thursday, October 5, 2017
Nelson sponsors bill to ban sale of ‘bump stocks’
Washington, D.C. - October 5, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) has sponsored legislation to ban the sale of so-called “bump stocks” that can be used to increase the firing rate of a semi-automatic weapon, essentially converting it into a fully-automatic assault weapon.
While current law bans the sale, manufacture and transfer of most automatic weapons, the legislation Nelson filed today with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and others would close a current loophole in the law that allows semi-automatic weapons to be easily modified to fire at the same rate as automatic weapons.
“I’m a hunter and have owned guns my whole life,” Nelson said, “But these automatic weapons are not for hunting, they are for killing. And this commonsense bill would, at the very least, make it harder for someone to convert a semi-automatic rifle into what is essentially a fully-automatic machine gun.”
The legislation would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and similar accessories that accelerate a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire. While a typical semi-automatic rifle can fire at a rate of between 45 and 60 rounds per minute, a fully-automatic weapon can fire at a rate of 400 to 800 rounds per minute.
The bill makes clear that its intent is to target only those accessories that increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire. Legitimate accessories used by hunters would be exempt. The bill also contains exceptions for lawful possession of these devices by law enforcement and the government.
While current law bans the sale, manufacture and transfer of most automatic weapons, the legislation Nelson filed today with Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) and others would close a current loophole in the law that allows semi-automatic weapons to be easily modified to fire at the same rate as automatic weapons.
“I’m a hunter and have owned guns my whole life,” Nelson said, “But these automatic weapons are not for hunting, they are for killing. And this commonsense bill would, at the very least, make it harder for someone to convert a semi-automatic rifle into what is essentially a fully-automatic machine gun.”
The legislation would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and similar accessories that accelerate a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire. While a typical semi-automatic rifle can fire at a rate of between 45 and 60 rounds per minute, a fully-automatic weapon can fire at a rate of 400 to 800 rounds per minute.
The bill makes clear that its intent is to target only those accessories that increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire. Legitimate accessories used by hunters would be exempt. The bill also contains exceptions for lawful possession of these devices by law enforcement and the government.
SENATORS INTRODUCE “NO CHECK, NO SALE” BILL TO CLOSE LOOPHOLE ALLOWING GUN SALES WITHOUT A COMPLETED BACKGROUND CHECK
Washington, D.C. - October 5, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) joined Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) to introduce legislation to close a current loophole that allows gun sales to proceed if a background check is not completed after 72 hours, even if the gun buyer is not legally allowed to purchase a gun. The gap in existing law has allowed thousands of gun sales to prohibited buyers, including the sale of the firearm used by Dylann Roof in his deadly attack at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina last year.
"Background checks can help keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them," said Markey. "If you cannot pass a background check, you should not be able to buy a gun, period. As the tragedy in Charlestown made clear, giving law enforcement the time to perform a full background check could help save lives."
“No check, no sale must be the rule. When Dylann Roof walked into a gun store two years ago, he shouldn’t have been able to walk out with a weapon. But a loophole in current law allowed Dylann Roof – and thousands of others like him every year – to access weapons they are already legally ineligible to buy. Waiting for a background check, even if longer than 72 hours, is a minor inconvenience far outweighed by the benefit of keeping lethal weapons out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Blumenthal.
“If you can’t pass a background check, you shouldn’t be able to walk out of a store with a gun. As we saw in Charleston, this loophole allows dangerous people to get their hands on deadly weapons – it has literally cost innocent lives. This is a commonsense bill to give law enforcement the time it needs before a gun leaves the store,” said Murphy.
“Current law allows gun sales to proceed after 72 hours—even if background checks aren’t approved. This is dangerous loophole that could allow criminals and those with mental illness to complete their purchase of firearms even though it would be unlawful for them to possess them,” said Feinstein. “The shooter in Charleston who killed nine parishioners of Emmanuel AME Church would have failed his background check if the law had allowed it to be completed. Our commonsense proposal will ensure all background checks are completed before sales can move forward.”
When a criminal background check indicates that a firearm purchaser may have a criminal record, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tries to determine whether the purchaser can legally buy a gun. If this process takes longer than 72 hours, gun dealers can complete the sale even though there is a heightened risk that the purchaser is legally disqualified from purchasing a gun.
The Background Check Completion Act would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer.
The Background Check Completion Act is co-sponsored by: U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).
"Background checks can help keep guns out of the hands of people who should not have them," said Markey. "If you cannot pass a background check, you should not be able to buy a gun, period. As the tragedy in Charlestown made clear, giving law enforcement the time to perform a full background check could help save lives."
“No check, no sale must be the rule. When Dylann Roof walked into a gun store two years ago, he shouldn’t have been able to walk out with a weapon. But a loophole in current law allowed Dylann Roof – and thousands of others like him every year – to access weapons they are already legally ineligible to buy. Waiting for a background check, even if longer than 72 hours, is a minor inconvenience far outweighed by the benefit of keeping lethal weapons out of the hands of dangerous people,” said Blumenthal.
“If you can’t pass a background check, you shouldn’t be able to walk out of a store with a gun. As we saw in Charleston, this loophole allows dangerous people to get their hands on deadly weapons – it has literally cost innocent lives. This is a commonsense bill to give law enforcement the time it needs before a gun leaves the store,” said Murphy.
“Current law allows gun sales to proceed after 72 hours—even if background checks aren’t approved. This is dangerous loophole that could allow criminals and those with mental illness to complete their purchase of firearms even though it would be unlawful for them to possess them,” said Feinstein. “The shooter in Charleston who killed nine parishioners of Emmanuel AME Church would have failed his background check if the law had allowed it to be completed. Our commonsense proposal will ensure all background checks are completed before sales can move forward.”
When a criminal background check indicates that a firearm purchaser may have a criminal record, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) tries to determine whether the purchaser can legally buy a gun. If this process takes longer than 72 hours, gun dealers can complete the sale even though there is a heightened risk that the purchaser is legally disqualified from purchasing a gun.
The Background Check Completion Act would require a completed background check for every gun buyer who purchases a gun from a federally-licensed gun dealer.
The Background Check Completion Act is co-sponsored by: U.S. Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Bob Menendez (D-NJ), Jack Reed (D-RI), Tim Kaine (D-VA), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bob Casey (D-PA), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Kamala Harris (D-CA), Ron Wyden (D-OR), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Bernie Sanders (I-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).
Wednesday, October 4, 2017
Blumenthal and Murphy Introduce Bill to Close Automatic Weapon Loophole
And, so it starts.
Washington, D.C. - October 4, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introducing the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act, a bill to close a loophole that allows semi-automatic weapons to be easily modified to fire at the rate of automatic weapons, which have been illegal for more than 30 years.
“Bump stock devices are carnage force-multipliers. The searing noise of that staccato firing in Las Vegas that we have all now heard countless times should be a wakeup call to this Congress. We should come together to stop the sale of a device that is patently designed just to kill people. The bump stock device essentially circumvents the law – widely accepted – and enables law breaking. What excuse can there be for the continued sale of bump stocks? None,” said Blumenthal.
Murphy said, “Bump fire stocks skirt the law to effectively make a semi-automatic weapon mimic an illegal fully automatic weapon – that’s literally the only reason it exists. People in Connecticut know this shouldn’t even be a debate. Automatic weapons are outlawed for a reason, and the horror in Las Vegas made clear why. Congress needs to pass this bill ASAP or we will see them seized by even more mass murderers and terrorists.”
The sale, manufacture and transfer of new fully automatic weapons have been illegal since 1986. However, bump stocks, slide fire devices and other similar accessories are able to be attached to semi-automatic weapons, allowing them to reach fully-automatic rates of fire.
Semi-automatic rifles typically have a rate of fire between 45 and 60 rounds per minute. A bump stock or other similar device increases the semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute.
The Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and similar accessories that accelerate a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire.
The bill also makes clear that its intent is to target only those accessories that increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire. Legitimate accessories used by hunters would be exempt. The bill also contains exceptions for lawful possession of these devices by law enforcement and the government.
“We must close this loophole that allows the sale of devices to convert guns into unlawful automatic weapons meant for war zones,” said Senator Maria Cantwell - (D - WA).
“It’s past time this Congress pursued common sense policies to address the rampant gun violence in this country, and this legislation is a good place to start,” said Senator Patty Murray - (D - WA). “Like so many people I’ve heard from over the past few days, I refuse to believe the politics are just too tough to do whatever is possible to prevent another senseless, horrific mass shooting like we just saw in Las Vegas.”
Under the National Firearms Act, the sale, manufacture and transfer of automatic weapons are illegal. However, bump stocks, slide fire devices, and other similar accessories can be attached to semi-automatic weapons, allowing them to reach fully-automatic rates of fire.
Semi-automatic rifles typically have a rate of fire between 45 and 60 rounds per minute. However, bump stocks or other similar devices increase the semi-automatic rifle's rate of fire between 400 and 800 rounds per minute.
The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
Washington, D.C. - October 4, 2017 (The Ponder News) -- U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) and Chris Murphy (D-CT) joined U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) introducing the Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act, a bill to close a loophole that allows semi-automatic weapons to be easily modified to fire at the rate of automatic weapons, which have been illegal for more than 30 years.
“Bump stock devices are carnage force-multipliers. The searing noise of that staccato firing in Las Vegas that we have all now heard countless times should be a wakeup call to this Congress. We should come together to stop the sale of a device that is patently designed just to kill people. The bump stock device essentially circumvents the law – widely accepted – and enables law breaking. What excuse can there be for the continued sale of bump stocks? None,” said Blumenthal.
Murphy said, “Bump fire stocks skirt the law to effectively make a semi-automatic weapon mimic an illegal fully automatic weapon – that’s literally the only reason it exists. People in Connecticut know this shouldn’t even be a debate. Automatic weapons are outlawed for a reason, and the horror in Las Vegas made clear why. Congress needs to pass this bill ASAP or we will see them seized by even more mass murderers and terrorists.”
The sale, manufacture and transfer of new fully automatic weapons have been illegal since 1986. However, bump stocks, slide fire devices and other similar accessories are able to be attached to semi-automatic weapons, allowing them to reach fully-automatic rates of fire.
Semi-automatic rifles typically have a rate of fire between 45 and 60 rounds per minute. A bump stock or other similar device increases the semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire to between 400 and 800 rounds per minute.
The Automatic Gun Fire Prevention Act would ban the sale, transfer, importation, manufacture or possession of bump stocks, trigger cranks and similar accessories that accelerate a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire.
The bill also makes clear that its intent is to target only those accessories that increase a semi-automatic rifle’s rate of fire. Legitimate accessories used by hunters would be exempt. The bill also contains exceptions for lawful possession of these devices by law enforcement and the government.
“We must close this loophole that allows the sale of devices to convert guns into unlawful automatic weapons meant for war zones,” said Senator Maria Cantwell - (D - WA).
“It’s past time this Congress pursued common sense policies to address the rampant gun violence in this country, and this legislation is a good place to start,” said Senator Patty Murray - (D - WA). “Like so many people I’ve heard from over the past few days, I refuse to believe the politics are just too tough to do whatever is possible to prevent another senseless, horrific mass shooting like we just saw in Las Vegas.”
Under the National Firearms Act, the sale, manufacture and transfer of automatic weapons are illegal. However, bump stocks, slide fire devices, and other similar accessories can be attached to semi-automatic weapons, allowing them to reach fully-automatic rates of fire.
Semi-automatic rifles typically have a rate of fire between 45 and 60 rounds per minute. However, bump stocks or other similar devices increase the semi-automatic rifle's rate of fire between 400 and 800 rounds per minute.
The bill is co-sponsored by U.S. Senators Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), Ed Markey (D-MA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Bob Casey (D-PA), Jack Reed (D-RI), Maggie Hassan (D-NH), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Tom Carper (D-DE), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Kamala D. Harris (D-CA), Al Franken (D-MN), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Ben Cardin (D-MD), Chris Coons (D-DE), Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Maria Cantwell (D-WA).
Saturday, March 4, 2017
House News: Regulations, Jeff Sessions, gun loopholes, Classified Information, Digital Currencies, Congressional Address, Anti-Semitism, tax returns, invasive species
The United States House of Representatives' passed H.R. 998, Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act of 2017. It now heads to the Senate.
#####
Democrats are calling for the resignation of Jeff Sessions, in spite of the press conference he has attended. They are simply out for blood with no thought to what is best for America. Sessions, on the other hand, has stated explicitly that the question asked in the investigation was did he meet with Russians concerning the Trump Campaign, and his answer was, truthfully, NO. He did meet with the Russians about other matters but that is not the question that was asked. Therefore he did not lie under oath and does not need to resign.
However, there is at least one reasonable Democrat in the House:
“It is imperative that we hold a full and fair investigation into Russian election interference and ties between Russian officials and the Trump campaign. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the investigation is a big step towards that goal,” said Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL, 7th).
#####
Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) announced the introduction of legislation to close the “ghost guns” loophole which allows purchasers to avoid federal background checks by buying unassembled firearms online.
#####
Congressman Peter Welch (VT-AL) introduced the Department of Defense Overhead Cost Savings and Transparency Act which would declassify the entirety of a report from the Pentagon which revealed $125 billion in administrative waste. The Pentagon commissioned the report in 2015 and subsequently covered up its findings. The report lays out suggested ways to cut through bureaucracy and obsolete technologies at the department, ultimately saving $125 billion over five years in administrative waste. Isn't this just like a Democrat? Wanting to declassify sensitive documents for any reason? Just because we might not have needed to spend money on it doesn't make it less sensitive.
#####
Congressman Schweikert sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) regarding digital currencies and their underlying technologies. The Congressman has been an avid supporter of blockchain technology, the technology behind many cryptocurrencies and distributed ledgers, as sees this as the future of financial services. In the letter, the Congressman asks for clarification from the OCC on how it plans to regulate the future of this space. Interesting.
#####
“I had hoped that in his first address to a joint session of Congress the President would have provided more concrete details about his vision for our country. Instead we heard more empty rhetoric with very little specifics.” Robert C. Scott (D-VA, 3rd)
I didn't hear empty rhetoric, did you?
“In tonight’s Joint Address, President Trump outlined a straightforward and optimistic vision for the future of this nation. He spoke to the concerns of every American and extended an olive branch across the aisle, highlighting the need to work cooperatively to find serious, lasting solutions to the fundamental issues that weaken our economy, hurt hardworking American families, and threaten our country’s future.” James F. Sensenbrenner (R-WI, 5th)
Sensenbrenner obviously didn't, either.
“Finally, now more than ever, our country needs to put politics aside and find common ground for the greater good. I am willing, many of my colleagues are willing, and the American public needs to be willing as well to seek and pursue what unites us in order to move our country forward.” Mike Simpson (R-ID, 2nd)
Simpson is preaching to the choir.
“The President’s address tonight was a home run. How could anyone disagree with putting Americans first?" Lamar Smith (R-TX, 21st)
AMEN!
#####
“This week the House worked to put this agenda in motion by passing three critical measures that responsibly reform our regulatory system while enforcing measures of accountability, transparency, and integrity. Regulations have run rampant these last eight years but enough is enough. Republicans have made a concerted and focused effort to eliminate unnecessary rules and regulations to give the American people the relief that they need.” Pete Sessions (R-TX, 32nd)
For more information on H.R. 1009, OIRA Insight, Reform, and Accountability Act, click here.
For more information on H.R. 1994, Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017, click here.
For more information on H.R. 998, SCRUB Act, click here.
#####
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) engaged in a colloquy on the House Floor today with Majority Leader McCarthy, where he asked to see the House GOP’s draft Affordable Care Act repeal bill and whether committees will mark that bill up next week.
#####
The Members of Congress joined in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to share a deep concern with increasing number of alarming bomb threats targeting Jewish Community Centers in over thirty states, sowing fear and anxiety in our communities. The letter requests that in the wake of these threats, as well as the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, the DOJ and FBI must tirelessly investigate these matters, and prosecute all offenders to the fullest extent possible.
#####
U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL, 9th) introduced the “Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act” or SMASH Act. This bill supports and expands programs for mosquito-borne and vector-borne disease, surveillance and control.
#####
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) on Thursday introduced the Strengthening Investigations into Foreign Entanglements Act, bipartisan legislation that would give congressional intelligence committees the authority needed to acquire tax returns – including those of the President and future presidential candidates.
#####
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Invasive Species Caucus, re-introduced two pieces of legislation to help combat and raise awareness about the threat invasive species pose to our ecosystems.
#####
#####
Democrats are calling for the resignation of Jeff Sessions, in spite of the press conference he has attended. They are simply out for blood with no thought to what is best for America. Sessions, on the other hand, has stated explicitly that the question asked in the investigation was did he meet with Russians concerning the Trump Campaign, and his answer was, truthfully, NO. He did meet with the Russians about other matters but that is not the question that was asked. Therefore he did not lie under oath and does not need to resign.
However, there is at least one reasonable Democrat in the House:
“It is imperative that we hold a full and fair investigation into Russian election interference and ties between Russian officials and the Trump campaign. Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ decision to recuse himself from the investigation is a big step towards that goal,” said Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell (D-AL, 7th).
#####
Congressman Brad Schneider (IL-10) and Adriano Espaillat (NY-13) announced the introduction of legislation to close the “ghost guns” loophole which allows purchasers to avoid federal background checks by buying unassembled firearms online.
#####
Congressman Peter Welch (VT-AL) introduced the Department of Defense Overhead Cost Savings and Transparency Act which would declassify the entirety of a report from the Pentagon which revealed $125 billion in administrative waste. The Pentagon commissioned the report in 2015 and subsequently covered up its findings. The report lays out suggested ways to cut through bureaucracy and obsolete technologies at the department, ultimately saving $125 billion over five years in administrative waste. Isn't this just like a Democrat? Wanting to declassify sensitive documents for any reason? Just because we might not have needed to spend money on it doesn't make it less sensitive.
#####
Congressman Schweikert sent a letter to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) regarding digital currencies and their underlying technologies. The Congressman has been an avid supporter of blockchain technology, the technology behind many cryptocurrencies and distributed ledgers, as sees this as the future of financial services. In the letter, the Congressman asks for clarification from the OCC on how it plans to regulate the future of this space. Interesting.
#####
“I had hoped that in his first address to a joint session of Congress the President would have provided more concrete details about his vision for our country. Instead we heard more empty rhetoric with very little specifics.” Robert C. Scott (D-VA, 3rd)
I didn't hear empty rhetoric, did you?
“In tonight’s Joint Address, President Trump outlined a straightforward and optimistic vision for the future of this nation. He spoke to the concerns of every American and extended an olive branch across the aisle, highlighting the need to work cooperatively to find serious, lasting solutions to the fundamental issues that weaken our economy, hurt hardworking American families, and threaten our country’s future.” James F. Sensenbrenner (R-WI, 5th)
Sensenbrenner obviously didn't, either.
“Finally, now more than ever, our country needs to put politics aside and find common ground for the greater good. I am willing, many of my colleagues are willing, and the American public needs to be willing as well to seek and pursue what unites us in order to move our country forward.” Mike Simpson (R-ID, 2nd)
Simpson is preaching to the choir.
“The President’s address tonight was a home run. How could anyone disagree with putting Americans first?" Lamar Smith (R-TX, 21st)
AMEN!
#####
“This week the House worked to put this agenda in motion by passing three critical measures that responsibly reform our regulatory system while enforcing measures of accountability, transparency, and integrity. Regulations have run rampant these last eight years but enough is enough. Republicans have made a concerted and focused effort to eliminate unnecessary rules and regulations to give the American people the relief that they need.” Pete Sessions (R-TX, 32nd)
For more information on H.R. 1009, OIRA Insight, Reform, and Accountability Act, click here.
For more information on H.R. 1994, Regulatory Integrity Act of 2017, click here.
For more information on H.R. 998, SCRUB Act, click here.
#####
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) engaged in a colloquy on the House Floor today with Majority Leader McCarthy, where he asked to see the House GOP’s draft Affordable Care Act repeal bill and whether committees will mark that bill up next week.
#####
The Members of Congress joined in sending a letter to the Department of Justice (DOJ), as well as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) to share a deep concern with increasing number of alarming bomb threats targeting Jewish Community Centers in over thirty states, sowing fear and anxiety in our communities. The letter requests that in the wake of these threats, as well as the desecration of Jewish cemeteries, the DOJ and FBI must tirelessly investigate these matters, and prosecute all offenders to the fullest extent possible.
#####
U.S. Representative Darren Soto (D-FL, 9th) introduced the “Strengthening Mosquito Abatement for Safety and Health Act” or SMASH Act. This bill supports and expands programs for mosquito-borne and vector-borne disease, surveillance and control.
#####
Congresswoman Jackie Speier (CA-14) on Thursday introduced the Strengthening Investigations into Foreign Entanglements Act, bipartisan legislation that would give congressional intelligence committees the authority needed to acquire tax returns – including those of the President and future presidential candidates.
#####
Congresswoman Elise Stefanik (R-NY-21), Co-Chair of the bipartisan Congressional Invasive Species Caucus, re-introduced two pieces of legislation to help combat and raise awareness about the threat invasive species pose to our ecosystems.
#####
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