Syria

CNN: Neoconservatives are blind to the risks in Syria
Senator Rand Paul - (R - KY)
April 19, 2017
It seems that every dictator and every atrocity in that region is met with a call for action without a thought to consequences. Those who wish to send our soldiers to "take care" of every atrocity in the world might want to take a glance at Maplecroft's Human Rights Risk Atlas, which currently lists 35 countries as extreme risks for committing atrocities. Are we prepared to send our military to right the wrongs of all 35 countries?
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Law Enforcement

Fox News Op-Ed: Sen. Paul, Scott Bullock: Civil forfeiture has ruined countless lives. It's long overdue for reform
Senator Rand Paul - (R - KY)
April 21, 2017
Justice Clarence Thomas made headlines last month when he criticized civil forfeiture, a notorious police practice that allows law enforcement to confiscate property, even from people who have never been charged with a crime. “This system,” he wrote, “has led to egregious and well-chronicled abuses.” Hearing one of the Supreme Court’s most conservative members denounce such a shameful violation of our civil liberties gives us hope that civil forfeiture can be drastically curtailed.
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Trump Administration

Congressman Brown Statement After Firing of FBI Director Comey
Anthony Brown (D-MD, 4th)
May 9, 2017
"The termination of FBI Director James Comey is highly troubling at best, or Nixonian at worst, given that the Director was leading the ongoing investigation into the ties between the Russian government and Trump campaign, and Russian efforts to undermine our democracy. I renew my call for a special counsel and independent commission to fully and impartially investigate Russian interference in our elections. Nothing less will restore trust in our justice system."
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CLUB FOR GROWTH CELEBRATES 100 DAYS OF PRO-GROWTH PROGRESS
Club for Growth
April 26th, 2017
“Imagine the economic devastation we’d be talking about today if Hillary Clinton had been elected: Higher taxes, more job-crushing government regulations, an expansion of government-run health care, and massive government overreach into the private sector,” said Club for Growth president David McIntosh. “In less than 100 days, President Trump and his administration have not only prevented that nightmare, but they have halted the economic destruction caused by eight years of Obama Administration policies, and have restored consumer and business confidence with strong and effective pro-growth policies (see below). The result of these policies has been a 15% gain in the stock market, which has added at least $2 trillion of wealth to all Americans in their retirement funds and savings.”
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Citizens Against Government Waste Praises President Trump's First 100 Days
April 24, 2017
Citizens Against Government Waste
Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW), America’s largest taxpayer watchdog group, applauded the numerous effective actions taken by President Donald Trump during his first 100 days in office to curb rampant waste, fraud, abuse, and mismanagement in the federal government.
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MURPHY STATEMENT ON TRUMP DEMANDING RESIGNATION OF SURGEON GENERAL DR. VIVEK MURTHY
Senator Christopher Murphy- (D - CT)
April 22, 2017
“Dr. Murthy is another in a long list of political targets by the Trump administration. U.S. Surgeons General are not supposed to be fired mid-term. They have served administrations of both political parties because keeping Americans safe and healthy isn’t a partisan issue,” said Murphy. “Dr. Murthy helped steer our country through the frightening Ebola and Zika outbreaks, and rightfully focused on the devastation of addiction. He didn’t shy away from speaking the truth about gun violence as a public health crisis. By firing Dr. Murthy, President Trump is politicizing the position of Surgeon General and risking the credibility of our nation's top public health official.”
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Portman Praises Trump Administration for Acting to Protect Steel Industry Jobs
Rob Portman- (R - OH)
April 20, 2017
“I applaud the Administration for its commitment to protecting the U.S. steel industry and American jobs. Addressing worldwide steel overcapacity is crucial to ensuring that American steel workers have a level playing field. This crisis is particularly acute in Ohio where more than 1,500 steelworkers have been laid off over the last two years. I look forward to continuing to work with the Commerce Secretary and the administration to protect Ohio jobs and stop trade cheats from unfairly trading steel into the U.S. market.”
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Drug Addiction

Senator McConnell Comments on HHS Grants to Combat Opioid Addiction
Senator Mitch McConnell- (R - KY)
April 19, 2017
“I applaud the Trump Administration for its work to help fight the opioid addiction that is plaguing the Commonwealth and our nation. The implementation of the 21st Century Cures bill, bipartisan legislation that I helped shepherd through the Senate, will bolster medical innovation by promoting critical investments in research and treatment development. It also puts patients first and helps strengthen the kind of research and treatments needed to cure the most devastating diseases. The funding provided by this grant program will be welcome news to those in Kentucky and across the country working to help fight opioid abuse.”
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Department of Homeland Security

Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars Is Focus of McCaskill’s Bipartisan Bills
Senator Claire McCaskill- (D - MO)
April 19, 2017
As part of her ongoing efforts to save taxpayer dollars, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana introduced four bills that target wasteful spending at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Wasteful Spending

Safeguarding Taxpayer Dollars Is Focus of McCaskill’s Bipartisan Bills
Senator Claire McCaskill- (D - MO)
April 19, 2017
As part of her ongoing efforts to save taxpayer dollars, U.S. Senator Claire McCaskill, the top-ranking Democrat on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and Republican Senator Steve Daines of Montana introduced four bills that target wasteful spending at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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Egypt

Rubio Welcomes Aya Hijazi Home from Three-Year Imprisonment in Egypt
Marco Rubio - (R - FL)
April 21, 2017
“During President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi’s visit to Washington earlier this month, I and many others in Congress urged him to free Aya, her husband and Belady Foundation colleagues, and all other political prisoners being held by the Egyptian government. I am glad President el-Sisi chose to take this step, and I appreciate President Trump’s work over the last few weeks to ensure Aya’s safe return. I welcome Aya home, and am very glad to see her reunited with her family.
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STATEMENT BY SENATORS McCAIN & GRAHAM ON RELEASE OF AYA HIJAZI FROM PRISON IN EGYPT
Senator John McCain - (R - AZ)
April 21, 2017
“We join the entire nation in welcoming home Aya Hijazi and her husband Mohamed Hassanein who have been wrongly imprisoned for the last three years in Egypt. President Trump has made this case a top priority, and we applaud him for working with the Government of Egypt to secure their long-overdue release, as well as the release of four of their colleagues."
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SENATORS WELCOME RELEASE OF UNJUSTLY IMPRISONED EGYPTIAN-AMERICAN AYA HIJAZI
Senator Tim Kaine - (D - VA)
April 19, 2017
“Today, Aya Hijazi, an Egyptian-American citizen, was released from prison in Egypt and reunited with her family. Although Ms. Hijazi’s trial faced far too many delays, we welcome the April 16th verdict by an Egyptian court clearing Ms. Hijazi and her co-defendants of all charges. We applaud Ms. Hijazi’s strength throughout this difficult process and commend the tireless efforts of her family in pressing for her release. The positive resolution of this case follows Egyptian President al-Sisi’s visit to Washington several weeks ago. During President al-Sisi’s visit, we made clear our support for a strong U.S.-Egypt relationship, while also emphasizing that Egypt’s respect for human rights and the rule of law are of critical importance to our bilateral relations, and to Egypt's stability and security.”
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Immigration

Fraud in the "Credible Fear" Process
Center for Immigration Studies
April 24, 2017
Since the 2016 presidential campaign, significant attention has been focused on refugees to the United States and the potential dangers that they may pose. Scarce attention has been directed to aliens in expedited removal proceedings with "credible fear" claims, even though they may pose a greater risk to the United States than potential refugees.
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Elections have consequences, build the wall
Americans for Limited Government
April 24, 2017
“One of the fundamental promises Trump made was to secure the border by expanding the nation’s border wall infrastructure, which already consists of about 600 miles of walls, fencing and other barriers. This is not a binary choice of wall or no wall. We already have walls. It’s about whether the Republican Congress can keep the basic promise the President made to secure the border that was one of the major issues that united Trump’s electoral coalition and propelled Republicans to majorities in both houses of Congress, and not cave into the temper tantrum of the left still trying to figure out how it lost everything in 2016.”
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Inhofe Tours U.S.-Mexico Border, Touts Trump's Immigration Reform Successes
Senator James M. Inhofe - (R - OK)
April 20, 2017
“Because of Trump’s strong rhetoric for enforcing our laws, illegal border crossings have seen a decline of over 60% since the beginning of his administration,” Inhofe said. “America has long been a welcoming home to those who wish to enter our country legally, and by securing our borders we succeed in protecting the freedom and liberty of American citizens including those who immigrate legally into the U.S. President Trump, Attorney General Sessions, and Secretary Kelly have been working hard to enforce the laws of the land and to sharpen the focus on deporting illegal aliens who commit crimes in our communities and pose a risk to law enforcement officials. I applaud the ongoing efforts by the administration and look forward to advancing legislation that further supports the administration’s already strong stance on this critical issue.”
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Money

Senator Pat Toomey Issues Statement on ‘Too Big To Fail' Executive Order
Senator Patrick J.Toomey - (R - PA)
April 21, 2017
"I applaud the President's two Executive Orders today focused on examining the Financial Stability Oversight Council's (FSOC) determination of ‘systemically important financial institutions' and Dodd Frank's Orderly Liquidation Authority (OLA). The FSOC and the OLA are two of the most egregious provisions of the Dodd-Frank Act, and are counterproductive to ending both taxpayer bailouts for banks and so-called ‘Too Big To Fail.' Bailouts, and the potential for bailouts, undermine market discipline and unfairly put America's taxpayers on the hook for Wall Street's mistakes.
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MERKLEY STATEMENT ON VOLCKER ENFORCEMENT ACTION AGAINST DEUTSCHE BANK
Jeff Merkley - (D - OR)
April 21, 2017
Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley released the following statement after the Federal Reserve fined Deutsche Bank $157 million for infractions, including violating the Volcker Rule. The fine is the first related to enforcement of the Volcker Rule, which Merkley co-authored along with former Senator Carl Levin as part of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. The Volcker Rule, which places a firewall between traditional banking and risky proprietary trading activities, was implemented by regulators in July 2015.
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Rare Op-Ed: Ron and Rand Paul: Now is the time to pass Audit the Fed
Senator Rand Paul - (R - KY)
April 18, 2017
While it took our nation more than 225 years to accumulate nearly $20 trillion in debt (and much, much more if you factor in unfunded liabilities), our central bank can put Americans on the hook for trillions without blinking by simply creating whatever funds it needs out of thin air. Its status as “the lender of last resort” signs a blank check for politicians to spend to their heart’s content without worrying about the immediate consequences.
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Graham on Ex-Im: Well Done, Mr. President
Senator Lindsey Graham - (R - SC)
April 12, 2017
“The Ex-Im Bank makes money for the American taxpayer and allows American manufacturers to compete for business in the developing world on a level playing field. Well done, Mr. President.”
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Trump reverses stances on China as currency manipulator, Ex-Im Bank
Politico
April 12, 2017
During his presidential campaign, Trump said he would designate China as a currency manipulator on the first day of his presidency to “force China to the negotiating table.” And he criticized Yellen last year precisely because she kept interest rates low, accusing her of keeping rates “artificially low” to boost the economy and help President Barack Obama.
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Education

Sen. Franken Announces New Bill to Spur Innovative School-Industry Partnerships
Senator Al Franken - (D - MN)
April 17, 2017
Sen. Al Franken announced that he will continue his years-long effort to tackle the nation's "skills gap," and give students a leg up on landing a good-paying job by introducing his Advancing Career Pathways Innovation Act after he returns to Washington, D.C. in the coming weeks.
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