Assault Weapons, Timber, Republican Agenda, Continuing Resolution, Poultry, Nurse Shortage

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to February 21, 2022

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Sen. Johnson Issues Statement on Continuing Resolution
Source: Senator Ron Johnson (R - WI)
February 18, 2022
“Continuing to operate under the threat of a government shutdown is the height of dysfunction we see every day in Washington. In Wisconsin, if the governor and state legislature can’t pass the budget, we don’t shut down the state government, we spend at last year's level. This is why we need to pass my ‘Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.’ It would enforce the same discipline at the federal level. It is a common-sense bipartisan piece of legislation that would address this particular flaw and it should have been enacted a long time ago. I did not support this legislation because it continues Biden’s pointless and harmful vaccine mandates. There is no rationale for these mandates and every day we see the costs of them growing, leading to severe worker shortages and supply chain crises across the country.”
Read more...

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REP. MONDAIRE JONES AND SEN. ELIZABETH WARREN LEAD COLLEAGUES IN SLAMMING PROPOSED SANDERSON-WAYNE POULTRY MERGER AND CALL ON DOJ TO TAKE ACTION AS AMERICANS FACE SOARING POULTRY PRICES
Source: U.S. Representative Mondaire Jones (D-NY, 17th)
February 17, 2022
Poultry is one of the most heavily concentrated industries with the dominant “Big Four” companies — JBS Foods, Tyson, Perdue, and Sanderson — holding a combined 54% of the market. Sen. Warren, Rep. Jones and their colleagues are extremely concerned that further consolidation will raise poultry prices even higher for Americans — chicken prices have increased by 15% compared to pre-pandemic prices — cut pay for farmers, and limit protections for workers.
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GOP eyes ambitious agenda if House flips
Source: U.S. Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA, 4th)
February 16, 2022
Republicans are eyeing an ambitious legislative agenda if they flip the House in November’s elections, setting the stage for countless clashes with President Biden on a host of thorny issues, from COVID-19 protocols and Big Tech to border security and the national debt.
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SOUTH DAKOTA, WYOMING DELEGATIONS CONTINUE TO URGE USDA TO PRIORITIZE THE HEALTH OF THE BLACK HILLS NATIONAL FOREST AND ITS TIMBER SALE PROGRAM
Source: U.S. Representative Dusty Johnson (R-South Dakota at Large)
February 16, 2022
"For more than 100 years, the timber sale program on the BHNF has been the primary tool for successfully managing the forest and minimizing insect epidemics and catastrophic wildfires that continue to plague other western national forests. In recent years, the BHNF successfully defeated the mountain pine beetle epidemic because of its collaborative work with partners to target and coordinate forest treatments, thereby increasing the overall amount of management. While the forest products companies’ limited annual capacity to treat acres was a primary bottleneck in those efforts, retaining and utilizing the forest products companies’ sawmill infrastructure was central in the strategy to eradicate the pine beetle and protect the BHNF. This was further confirmed in lessons learned documents prepared by the BHNF and others through the collaborative process."
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Joyce, Ross Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Address Shortage of SANE-certified Nurses, Improve Care for Survivors of Sexual Violence
Source: U.S. Representative David Joyce (R-OH, 14th)
February 15, 2022
Congressman Dave Joyce (OH-14) and Congresswoman Deborah Ross (NC-02) introduced the Supporting Access to Nurse Exams (SANE) Act to address the nation-wide shortage of Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs) and improve care for survivors of sexual violence. The bipartisan bill is endorsed by the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN), the American Nurses Association (ANA), the International Association of Forensic Nurses, and the National Task Force to End Sexual and Domestic Violence.
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Locke Joins Friend-of-the-Court Brief In Case Challenging Maryland’s Ban on So-Called “Assault Weapons”
Source: John Locke Foundation
February 14, 2022
In Bianchi v. Frosh, Dominic Bianchi is challenging Maryland’s law against widely owned semi-automatic rifles such as AR-15s, guns the state law deems military-style “assault weapons.” Maryland residents are banned from owning and possessing these firearms. A Supreme Court decision in the case would help to clarify the types of firearms that are constitutionally protected.
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ICE, Unruly Passengers, Biden's Mental Health, Illegal Immigration, Veterans

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to February 12, 2022

ICE’s Ability To Detain Immigrants Through Mass Raids And Traffic Stops Will Be Significantly Limited
Source: Illinois Coalition for Immigrants and Refugee Rights
February 8, 2022
The use of illegal traffic stops and arrest practices by federal immigration enforcement officials will be curtailed under a settlement resolving a lawsuit brought by Chicago area residents detained in ICE sweeps in 2018. Today, the District Court for the Northern District of Illinois approved a class action settlement which will require U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to end its practice of making unlawful “collateral arrests” through vehicle stops and other community enforcement actions in Illinois and five other Midwestern states.
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REP. JACKSON RENEWS CALL FOR PRESIDENT BIDEN TO IMMEDIATELY UNDERGO A COGNITIVE TEST
Source: U.S. Representative Ronny Jackson (R-TX, 13th)
February 9, 2022
“This is not a partisan issue. When I discussed taking a cognitive test with President Trump, he was eager to assure the American people and to put the fake news media’s stories to bed. Why won’t President Biden do the same? We can only assume the worst if he doesn’t submit to the same standard that his own party demanded of the last Administration. The precedent has been set.”
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IAM and Other Transportation Unions Raise Concerns About Customer Assaults
Source: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers
February 10, 2022
Over the past few months, passenger service members across the country have experienced serious physical and verbal assault and harassment incidents, with few repercussions for the offending passenger imposed by law enforcement.
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Issa to Craft Legislation to Stop Biden Administration Plan to End Illegal Immigrant Detention, Provide Them Private Housing
Source: U.S. Representative Darrel Issa (R-CA, 50th)
February 10, 2022
“Ending the detention of illegal migrants in custody and placing them in private housing at taxpayer expense is an insult to the American people and will make this Biden crisis even worse."
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JACOBS, MACE INTRODUCE LEGISLATION TO IMPROVE HOUSING CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES FOR VETERANS
Source: U.S. Representative Sara Jacobs (D-CA, 53rd)
February 10, 2022
Congresswoman Sara Jacobs (D-CA-53) and Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC-01) have introduced the HUD-VASH Improvement Act, a bipartisan bill to support housing case management services for veterans. The bill encourages the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to look for contractors that have experience providing case management services to veterans in administering the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) program.
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Transgender Swimmers, Border Security, Afghanistan

Today's News

The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+) civil rights organization, condemned USA Swimming for its abrupt about-face on inclusion of transgender swimmers. Read it

U.S. Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-Miss.) said Congress must take strong action to overcome inaction by the Biden administration to secure the southern border, calling the record-breaking crisis of illegal crossings by migrants, criminals, and illicit drugs into the United States “beyond a cause for alarm.” Read it

U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has responded after a closed briefing about Afghanistan with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin: “I don’t think this briefing should have been in an entirely classified format. Many Americans — especially our service members and veterans — were disturbed by what they saw last summer, and they want this information as much as I did. So today, I secured commitments from both Secretary Blinken and Secretary Austin to return for a public hearing on Afghanistan.” Read more

Freedom Convoy, SOTU 2022

Today's News

Freedom Convoy
Source: Freedom Fighter Nation
February 1, 2022
Recently, Freedom Fighter Nation was informed that approximately 38,000 Canadian truckers were walking off the job due to mandates going into effect on January 15 and 22, 2022, that would prevent Canadian and US truckers from crossing the border if they are unvaccinated. We immediately reached out to our Canadian brothers and sisters to better understand the issue, at which point we discovered that it was NOT just the Truckers. Apparently, large segments of an otherwise peaceful and relaxed citizenry north of our border have had it: Canada is taking their country back, by way of a nationwide Convoy-Freedom-Protest, and we are uniting efforts and taking ours back too!
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Whoopi Goldberg is in some deep doo doo for remarks made about the holocost on a recent episode of "The View". She has apologized sincerely, but it doesn't seem to make much difference on some fronts. She has been suspended for two weeks. Is that long enough?

Juanita Broaddrick tweeted that she thought it was hilarious that Whoopi's real name was Caryn. "She is a real-life 'Karen!'", said Broaddrick.

President Joe Biden's State of the Union Address, 2022
Source: Ballotpedia
February 1, 2022
President Joe Biden accepted an invitation from Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) to deliver his first State of the Union address on March 1, 2022. This will be the first time in United States history that a president has delivered a State of the Union address during the month of March.
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Rumor has it that Pelosi is only going to allow 25 people to attend the SOTU. Really????

Oil and Gas, ERA, Automated Vehicles, Mineral Leases, Crypto Mining

Today's News

The District Court of the District of Columbia had decided to revoke oil and gas leases in the Gulf of Mexico.

House Representatives have pushed a resolution that acknowledges the Equal Rights Amendment as the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

The House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure will be holding a hearing on automated vehicles on February 2, 2022.

The Biden administration has revoked existing mineral leases for the Twin Metals mine in Minnesota.

House Representatives are sending letters to six cryptomining companies raising concerns over their extraordinarily high energy usage. Bitcoin mining alone has consumed as much energy in the past year as whole countries.

Ponder the News January 30, 2022

Today's News

The Treasury Department is planning on scaling back on Emergency Rental Assistance, in spite of the fact that less than two-thirds of the $46 billion of rental aid has been disbursed or allocated over a year after the program launched. (Source)

Apparently, there is currently a lawsuit, West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), that is challenging the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions under the Clean Air Act (CAA). (Source)

North Dakota's Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem has passed away. (Source)

Apparently, the Biden Administration has been flying illegal immigrants into the U.S. in the dead of night, on the taxpayers' dime, according to leaked video footage showing federal contractors flying illegal immigrants into New York. This has prompted U.S. Representative Ashley Hinson (R-IA, 1st) to introduce the "Stop the Betrayal Act", legislation that would prohibit taxpayer dollars from funding secret charter flights transporting illegal immigrants into the interior of the U.S..

Funding Abortion, Oil and Gas, Illegal Immigration

Today's News

Hartzler, Blackburn, Smith, Colleagues Request GAO Report on Federal Funding for Abortion Advocacy Groups
Source: U.S. Representative Yvette Herrell (R-NM, 2nd)
January 18, 2022
"The Biden Administration’s treatment of New Mexico’s energy industry as a political football is both unlawful and counterproductive," said Rep. Herrell. "Energy produced in New Mexico powers our nation and provides needed revenues for education. With every passing day, decisions by the administration put both of these at risk. For these reasons, we call on Secretary Haaland to provide greater certainty to producers and account for the anti-energy decisions she has made to date. My constituents deserve to know the reasoning behind decisions that negatively impact both their family and their community."
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Reps Herrell, Westerman Lead House GOP Demand to Reinstate Oil and Gas Lease Sales
Source: U.S. Representative Vicky Hartzler (R-MO, 4th)
January 19, 2022
A previous GAO report for FY2016-FY2018 found that nearly $2 billion in taxpayer dollars went to three abortion advocacy groups: Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA), Marie Stopes International (MSI), and International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF). Current federal law prohibits federal funding of abortions but has no limitation on funding abortion providers.
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AG Todd Rokita: Recent visits to U.S.-Mexico border and court battles affirm our resolve to protect Hoosiers from illegal immigration
Source: Todd Rokita (Indiana Attorney General)
January 20, 2022
“Indiana may not be a border state,” Attorney General Rokita said, “but the 6 million people I represent are negatively impacted by illegal border crossings due to increased crime, drug use, lack of shared values and through their lawlessness, the deterioration of individual liberties.”
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HERRERA BEUTLER INTRODUCES BILL TO INCENTIVIZE STATES LIKE WASHINGTON TO REVERSE BAD POLICE LAWS
Source: U.S. Representative Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA, 3rd)
January 21, 2022
“I’ve had countless conversations with local law enforcement officers and without exception, they point to Washington’s so-called police reform bills as contributors to rising crime in our communities. The stated goals for these bills are admirable, but what has resulted is emboldened criminals, demoralized officers whose jobs are more dangerous, and rising crime,” Herrera Beutler said. “It’s time for Washington to reverse course on failed police laws, which is why I’m introducing the Refund the Police Act in Congress to encourage Washington to pursue policies that support safer communities.”
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CONGRESSMAN HICE ON WHY WE MARCH FOR LIFE
Source: U.S. Representative Jody Hice (R-GA, 10th)
January 21, 2022
Saturday marks the 49th anniversary of the disastrous Supreme Court decision of Roe v. Wade. And today, all across America, even right here in Washington, D.C., thousands of people from various walks of life gather here at the National Mall, and we'll march to the Supreme Court in honor of and in remembering those who have lost their lives. You know, 2021 right here in America alone, some 700,000 babies were killed to abortion, by far the number one killer ­- beyond drugs, beyond accidents, beyond cancer, beyond heart attacks, and yes, beyond any virus – the number one killer, abortion.
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Voting Rights, COVID-19, Vaccine Mandate

Today's News for the Week Prior and Up to January 19, 2022

GOA AND GOF SUBMIT OSHA COMMENTS AMID SCOTUS VACCINE MANDATE RULING FOR LARGE BUSINESSES
Source: Gun Owners of America
January 13, 2022
In the comments, GOA and GOF wrote, “The federal government possesses only the few and limited powers set out in the U.S. Constitution. None of those powers give the federal government a general police power to order mandatory vaccines. The federal government has no other source of authority, such as the commerce power, to command health decisions by Americans.” The comments continued to argue that, “if the OSHA vaccine mandate regulations were to be upheld, it could readily open the door to the federal government infringing the rights of Americans in many other areas of their lives, including their right to keep and bear arms, which is why GOA and GOF have a particular interest in these proposed regulations.”
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Congressman Guest: SCOTUS Made Right Call; OSHA Lacks Authority to Enforce Vaccine Mandate
Source: U.S. Representative Michael Guest (R-MS, 3rd)
January 13, 2022
“Vaccine mandates—a prototypical state police power—are not within the purview of the OSH Act, let alone something on which Congress intended OSHA to take unilateral action under its ‘emergency’ powers. The ETS Mandate proposed by OSHA cannot stand,” the amici curiae argue.
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Rep. Grijalva Votes to Protect Voting Rights and Future of Our Democracy
Source: U.S. Representative Raul Grijalva (D-AZ, 3rd)
January 13, 2022
The Senate must pass this ​critical legislation. It’s their turn to fight back against undemocratic policies and to prevent Republicans from overturning the will of the people. ​For Arizona, the stakes are too high. In Arizona and around the nation, we have Republican political candidates running as pawns in Trump’s Big Lie movement using brazen tactics of intimidation and lies to​ sow distrust and undermine the integrity of future elections.
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Guthrie Responds to Supreme Court Rulings on President Biden’s Overreaching Vaccine Mandates
Source: U.S. Representative Brett S. Guthrie (R-KY, 2nd)
January 14, 2022
“While the Supreme Court’s decision is a win for workers at private businesses with 100 employees or more, its ruling to allow the vaccine mandate for health care workers to move forward is disappointing for our health care heroes and the patients they serve. This overreaching mandate could result in the loss of millions of health care workers and cause delays in health care services for Kentuckians most in need. I believe Americans should make the decision that’s best for them with COVID-19 vaccines and will continue to fight against President Biden’s one-size-fits-all vaccine mandates,” said Guthrie.
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GROTHMAN CALLS FOR MORE MONOCLONAL ANTIBODY TREATMENTS
Source: U.S. Representative Glenn Grothman (R-WI, 6th)
January 18, 2022
Last September, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notified states that the federal government would be taking over control of distribution access to mAb treatments. Since then, Wisconsin and other states have experienced significant shortages in access to mAb treatment for COVID-19 patients, despite President Biden’s promise to ramp up distribution.
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Definition of Vaccine: a substance used to stimulate the production of antibodies and provide immunity against one or several diseases, prepared from the causative agent of a disease, its products, or a synthetic substitute, treated to act as an antigen without inducing the disease.

The Ponder's View:

What we are receiving is not a vaccine. If it were, it would prevent the virus from invasion, and shut it down before illness occurred.

What we are receiving is a preemptive treatment. It does not prevent the virus, it helps us deal with the virus when we get it.

There is a difference.

Therefore, Biden is mandating us to get a medical treatment, not a vaccine. That is like telling you that you HAVE to go to the doctor if you have a cold to get it taken care of, rather than taking OTC medications.

National Security, Rural Hospitals, Voting Rights, Illegal Immigration, Vaccine Mandates, National Preparedness

Congressman Al Green Proudly Stands with President Biden and Vice President Harris in the Fight for Passage of Alleged National Voting Rights Legislation
Source: U.S. Representative Al Green (D-TX, 9th)
January 11, 2022
“S.2747 The Freedom to Vote Act and H.R. 4 The John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act are both crucial pieces of legislation that are currently at an impasse in the Senate. Both need to pass without deleterious filibustering to preserve our constitutional right to safe, free, and fair elections. Indeed, as Vice President Harris said in her speech, accepting voting restrictions currently in place as normal is dangerous. Complacency with a status quo hostile to voting rights subverts democracy and the founding principles upon which our nation was built. This is why sweeping voting rights legislation must move forward,” Congressman Al Green stated.
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Gooden Demands Transparency on Taxpayer Funds Going to Organizations Promoting Illegal Immigration
Source: U.S. Representative Lance Gooden (R-TX, 5th)
January 13, 2022
The U.S. Department of State, via the United Nations’ International Office of Migration (IOM), provides loans to refugees that are subsequently collected by non-profit organizations acting as resettlement agencies. These non-profits are then permitted to keep 25% of the loans they recoup, giving these organizations a financial interest in the number of refugees brought into the United States. This creates an obvious conflict of interest for organizations advocating for the Biden Administration to lift the refugee admissions cap. Read more...

Rep. Green Issues Statement on Supreme Court Vaccine Mandate Ruling
Source: U.S. Representative Mark Green (R-TN, 7th)
January 13, 2022
“President Biden had no constitutional authority to mandate sweeping federal vaccine requirements. Today’s #SCOTUS ruling protects the freedom of healthcare choice for millions of hardworking Americans. This is a win for the American people." Read more...

Saving America's Rural Hospitals
Source: U.S. Representative Sam Graves (R-MO, 6th)
January 13, 2022
Facing tighter budgets, rural hospitals have been faced with few good choices. They have to cut costs, find more money, or go bankrupt. Sadly, many have nothing left to cut, no way to find new revenue, and have been forced to close. Since 2005, more than 170 rural hospitals have closed their doors.
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RELEASE: GOTTHEIMER ANNOUNCES BIPARTISAN LEGISLATION TO STRENGTHEN THE STRATEGIC NATIONAL STOCKPILE, COMBAT SHORTAGES, MODERNIZE HEALTHCARE SUPPLY CHAIN
Source: U.S. Representative Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ, 5th)
January 14, 2022
U.S. Congressman Josh Gottheimer (NJ-5) announced new bipartisan legislation, the Medical and Health Stockpile Accountability Act, to strengthen the Strategic National Stockpile and ensure the U.S. is better prepared for future crises and pandemics. This legislation will combat equipment shortages and provide near real-time tracking of medical and health supply inventories in New Jersey and nationwide — for supplies that frontline workers desperately need.
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Graham Responds To Shocking Admission By DOJ National Security Leadership
Source: Senator Lindsey Graham (R - SC)
January 15, 2022
“I was shocked to hear the responses this morning from the Assistant Attorney General of the National Security Division at the Department of Justice in charge of domestic and international terrorism as well as the responses from the Executive Assistant Director of the National Security Branch of the FBI who said she had not visited our southern border."
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OVER $530 MILLION TO REPAIR TEXAS BRIDGES

McAllen, TX - January 15, 2022 - (The Ponder News) -- On Friday, January 14, 2022, U.S. Representative Vincente Gonzalez (D-TX, 15th) announced that the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) will disperse more than $537.1 million, allocated through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, to renovate and enhance bridges across the state of Texas over the next five years. This is largest bridge formula program in American history.

Under the formula, Texas is set to receive $107.4 million for Fiscal Year 2022 that will create good-paying jobs and provide much needed updates to bridges across the 15th District of Texas.

“South Texans know that bridges keep our community moving in more ways than one,” said Congressman Gonzalez. “Thanks to the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, many of the decrepit bridges within our community will be upgraded to ensure proper safety and reliability. I look forward to working with local leaders, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), and the Federal Highway Administration to ensure that our roads and bridges keep up with the growth of our region.”

According to the latest data from FHWA, out of the 1,398 bridges in the 15th District of Texas, almost 50% are considered “fair” or “poor”. The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) will notice local apportionments of the $107.4 million at a later date.